St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians

My Dear Parishioners,

This week we continue to hear from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. On a little side note, one would think that the Pauline Epistles would be listed in the New Testament by their date of composition. However, that is not true. The Pauline Epistles are listed by their length, with the longest being the first listed.

The Church in Philippi was very near and dear to St. Paul. It was in Philippi that St. Paul had established the first Christian community in Continental Europe. He did so on what is called his “Second Missionary Journey” which occurred around the years 49-50 AD. The Church in Philippi, in turn, showed St. Paul constant love and appreciation for bringing them to Jesus Christ. St. Paul’s first visit to Philippi is recorded here in the Acts of the Apostles:

We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city.

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God (a Jew), listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.

As we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl with an oracular spirit, who used to bring a large profit to her owners through her fortune-telling. She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, “These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” Then it came out at that moment.

When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These people are Jews and are disturbing our city and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack on them, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.

About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew [his] sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors (court officers) with the order, “Release those men.” The jailer reported these words to Paul, “The magistrates have sent orders that you be released. Now, then, come out and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, even though we are Roman citizens and have not been tried and have thrown us into prison. And now, are they going to release us secretly? By no means. Let them come themselves and lead us out.” The lictors reported these words to the magistrates, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and placated them, and led them out and asked that they leave the city. When they had come out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and then they left. (Acts 16: 11-40)

There was never a dull moment in the life and ministry of St. Paul. We are blessed to be beneficiaries of his work. With him, we continue to profess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This Thursday, October 1st, is the Feast of the Little Flower. She is so dear to many of us. I have included a Litany to the Little Flower in this newsletter. May she continue to rain down roses from Heaven on us, our families, and our parish family.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Church, and our Patron, pray for us!

Fr. Michael J. Pawelko, Pastor

Litany of Saint Therese

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.
Saint Therese, servant of God, pray for us.
Saint Therese, victim of the merciful love of God, pray for us.
Saint Therese, spouse of Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Therese, gift of Heaven, pray for us.
Saint Therese, remarkable in childhood, pray for us.
Saint Therese, an example of obedience, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of the will of God, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of peace, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of patience, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of gentleness, pray for us.
Saint Therese, heroic in sacrifice, pray for us.
Saint Therese, generous in forgiving, pray for us.
Saint Therese, benefactress of the needy, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Therese, devoted to the Holy Face, pray for us.
Saint Therese, consumed with divine Love of God, pray for us.
Saint Therese, advocate of extreme cases, pray for us.
Saint Therese, persevering in prayer, pray for us.
Saint Therese, a powerful advocate with God, pray for us.
Saint Therese, showering roses, pray for us.
Saint Therese, doing good upon earth, pray for us.
Saint Therese, answering all prayers, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of holy chastity, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of voluntary poverty, pray for us.
Saint Therese, lover of obedience, pray for us.
Saint Therese, burning with zeal for God’s glory, pray for us.
Saint Therese, inflamed with the Spirit of Love, pray for us.
Saint Therese, child of benediction pray for us.
Saint Therese, perfect in simplicity pray for us.
Saint Therese, so remarkable for trust in God pray for us.
Saint Therese, gifted with usual intelligence, pray for us.
Saint Therese, never invoked without some answer pray for us.
Saint Therese, teaching us the sure way, pray for us.
Saint Therese, victim of Divine Love, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord.

LET US PRAY:

O God, Who inflamed with Thy Spirit of Love the soul of Thy servant Therese of the Child Jesus, grant that we may also love Thee and may make Thee much loved. Amen.