(1) A good source on the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire is a textbook by Everett Ferguson for a History of Christianity course I am currently taking, particularly the chapter entitled “The Church and the Empire.” Everett Ferguson, Church History. Volume one: From Christ to Pre-Reformation. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004) 64-85.
(2) Ephesians 2:19
(3) Ephesians 2:21-22
(4) Ephesians 2:19
(5) cf. Philippians 3:5, Acts 22:25-28
(6) cf. Luke 22:54-65
(7) cf. Luke 22:47-48
(8) cf. John 20:24-29
(9) cf. Matthew 9:9
(10) cf. Luke 6:15. See also the Wikipedia article on “Zealotry,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealotry.
(11) cf. Luke 6:16
(12) Notes on “Saint Simon and Saint Jude,” in “Living with Christ,” Vol. 15, No. 10 (Montreal: Novalis, October, 2009) 170.
(13) cf. Luke 6:17. Tyre and Sidon were ancient Phoenician cities.
(14) Ephesians 2:19

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(1) Luke 1:68
(2) Luke 1:69
(3) cf. Luke 1:70
(4) Luke 1:76
(5) Luke 12:20
(6) cf. Luke 12:19, 21
(7) Luke 1:68

WRS

(1) Psalm 119:66
(2) For example, my New American Bible translation reads, “Teach me wisdom and knowledge.” The Greek Septuagint translation, “χρηστότητα καὶ παιδείαν καὶ γνῶσιν δίδαξόν με,” transliterated as “chrēstotēta kai paideian kai gnōsin didaxon me,” (see http://mlbible.com/psalms/119-66.htm) became “Bonitatem et disciplinam et scientiam doce me” in the Latin Vulgate. This is the motto of the Congregation of St. Basil. See also an essay on the Basilian motto, “Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and knowledge,” linked to our Order’s website, http://www.basilian.org/Meet_the_Basilians/motto_en.php.
(3) cf. New American Bible, Note on Psalm 119. (New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1970), 682 (Old Testament).
(4) Luke 12:56
(5) cf. Luke 12:54-55
(6) Basilian Way of Life, 7.
(7) cf. John 20:17
(8) cf. Luke 12:57-59
(9) cf. Basilian Way of Life, 7.

WRS

(1) The memorial of the Canadian Martyrs, as the eight Jesuits, six priests and two donnés, are known in Canada, is celebrated on September 26. St. Isaac Jogues died on October 18, 1646 (see the Catholic Encyclopedia article on Isaac Jogues at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08420b.htm). In the United States the memorial of all eight North American Martyrs is celebrated on October 19, since three of the eight, Sts. Isaac Jogues, René Goupil, and Jean de la Lande, died on what is now U.S. soil. For a more complete story of the Canadian or North American Martyrs, see my series of three articles on this blog:

Part 1- A Holy and Sacred Temple, http://catholiccanada.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/canadian-martyrs-part-1-a-holy-and-sacred-temple/

Part 2- No Reward but Paradise,
http://catholiccanada.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/canadian-martyrs-part-2-no-reward-but-paradise/

Part 3- Washed in the Blood of the Lamb,
http://catholiccanada.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/canadian-martyrs-part-3-washed-in-the-blood-of-the-lamb/
(2) The course was officially entitled “Thèmes d’histoire du Canada français au XXe siècle” (“Topics in the History of French Canada in the Twentieth Century”), offered at the then-Faculté Saint-Jean, now Campus Saint-Jean, of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. See http://www.csj.ualberta.ca/
(3) cf. Marie Marguerite d’Youville, Foundress of the Sisters of Charity, http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19901209_youville_en.html
(4) cf. On This day- December 9, 1990- CBC Archives, “First Canadian-born saint is canonized,” http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/12/09/
(5) 1 Corinthians 13:13
(6) cf. Matthew 25:40
(7) cf. Matthew 25:34

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I enjoyed very much reading your blog recounting your days in Cali before you attended the Basilian Novitiate. I, too, attended the Basilian Novitiate many years ago in 1963-64–and with Frank Amico with whom I graduated high school. There were about 50 novices that year mostly from various Basilian high schools across the country. Fifty young people trying to do good for the Church, for others, and for themselves. One by one, many left the Order, including myself, so that in the end, many years later, only about five were actually ordained within the Congregation of St. Basil–and Frank was one of them. I respect Frank’s determination and courage. He always knew he had a vocation. I can’t speak for the others, but I know now that I did have a vocation, but years ago I did not. To some extent, I feel, at times, like a lost soul trying to find my way back to the right path. To have a vocation is a precious thing–and to have lost it is a very sorrowful thing indeed.

(1) cf. Luke 11:2-4
(2) cf. Malachi 3:15
(3) Luke 11:8
(4) cf. Luke 11:5-8
(5) cf. Luke 11:11-13
(6) cf. Luke 11:13

WRS

(1) cf. especially Ezra 1:1-4
(2) cf. The Book of Ezra, Introduction, in The New American Bible. New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1970. Old Testament 444.
(3) Nehemiah 5:17
(4) Nehemiah 1:11
(5) cf. Nehemiah 2:2
(6) cf. Nehemiah 2:4-8
(7) cf. Nehemiah 2:8
(8) I addressed this triplet of hyperbolic proverbs from Luke’s Gospel in my blog article, “He Set His Face- Luke 9:51-62″.
(9) Luke 9:58
(10) cf. Luke 9:59-60
(11) cf. Luke 9:62
(12) A good short biography of St. Jerome with the details in this paragraph about his life is in the Living with Christ missalette for September, 2009. cf. Living with Christ, Large Print Edition, Vol. 15 No. 9 September, 2009. Montreal, QC: Novalis, 167.
(13) Wikipedia article on St. Jerome, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Jerome

WRS

(1) Ezra 4:4
(2) cf. Ezra 1:1-4, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23
(3) cf. Ezra 4:5
(4) cf. Ibid.
(5) Ibid.
(6) Ezra 6:3, 17 cf. Ezra 6:1-12
(7) cf. Exodus 20:12
(8) Luke 8:21
(9) cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19
(10) Ezra 6:15-22
(11) All four Eucharistic prayers contain the command of Jesus at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of Me,” from Luke 22:19. cf. also “Living with Christ.” Large-Print Edition, Vol. 15 No. 9. Montreal: Novalis, September 2009. 19, 21, 23, 26.

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