Today's saint, St. Lydia Purpuraria, was the first Christian convert in Europe, a businesswoman who dealt in luxury goods. She is the patron saint of cloth dyers. Saint Lydia was born during the first century in Thyatira, a town famous for its dye works in Asia Minor, famous for its dye works, (hence, her name which means purple seller). She was a seller of purple dye and was St. Paul's first convert at Philippi. The following is from the Acts of the Apostles: And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, did hear: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to those things which were said by Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. ~Acts 16:14-15 She was baptized with her household. Thereafter, Paul made his home with her while in Philippi. Lydia was a woman of hospital...
I haven't read the Pope's new encyclical yet, although I plan to, but I read the comments from another blog which were nearly all anti-Catholic, and it's amazing how many people STILL don't understand how much the Pope and his Church do for the poor. These people incessantly rail against the Church for possessing so many articles of value and how She should sell them and give the money to the poor. It's such a tired argument. Jesus Christ is Charity Himself, and through His Church on earth, has done more or the poor than any other organization in history. These folks need to get a grip on the facts.
ReplyDeleteI have no issues with the author of this blog, but I take great offense to the term (father) used in addressing the pope, Jesus in the N.T mandated in plain speech to -call no man father upon the earth!- I am confused! Is Jesus the Principle theme of the bible? Do we not take him at his word on such plain and simple instructions?...good day
ReplyDeleteHi Peter,
ReplyDeleteThis is a common misunderstanding and easily reconciled. Please read this article for more information.
http://www.catholic.com/library/Call_No_Man_Father.asp
Have a great day and God Bless!
Sarah