Ecstasy
date December 3, 1878
“This
is my name, I am St. Cassian, Martyr. I was tormented by my students,
of whom I was the instructor chosen to teach them the truths of the
Catholic religion. Here are the projects that were plotted against me
(by) my students.
(“It
seems that these pagan students had been pushed to make this gesture
by the imperial magistrate, accusing their teacher for his refusal to
worship idols.” Note: This
note in parenthesis
appears
to be an observation added by the curators of the “Friends of
Marie-Julie/ Sanctuary Website”.)
St.
Cassian continued:
“Seeing
me absorbed in contemplative prayer, the evil spirit aroused great
discord among my students. And it was, on one night, all assembled
together, they pierced me with arrows and then with razors as strong
as swords. They bound me and then closed (gagged?) my mouth. It is
at their hands I suffered martyrdom.
One
group fled quickly. Only two, tormented by remorse, stood next to my
lifeless body covered with wounds. They felt pressured to confess
their crime. One of them went to the minister who absolved and
forgave and immediately, the justice of men entered my house and
there, the crime of these young hearts was found. (It
appears from the context of the following sentences the saint is
referring to the Justice of God, not earthly magistrates.)
But I obtained close to God, that they (all
his students) would be spared and they would escape the
justice they would have to suffer. The Angel brought the rolled
banner containing this request for forgiveness and they were spared.
But they were regarded as the executioners of a father (i.e. a
priest?) and
as the workers of infernal malice. Three were struck by sudden death
and the two remorseful ones later became repentant and solitaries
(hermits?) to
atone for their crime.
God
generously rewarded His martyr. After my death, the Saviour allowed
to dwell at the place of my martyrdom a blazing star that was visible
every day. Those who came, in that place, prayed with reverence, and
the Saviour accorded them wonders. At the place of my martyrdom a
chapel was built that bears my name.
Now,
a word on behalf of Our Lord.
Dear
brothers and sisters, we see (or, must be on guard) around us,
sometimes, the world is more dangerous than the demons. The demons
do not give death to man and the world makes attempts on the life of
man. The world loves the murder of its brothers and sisters. It has
no mercy when when the rage of the dark prison cells pushes it in the
biggest depth of evil. (? Probably
an expression Marie-Julie could understand but is not explained to us
here. Apparently, the saint is saying the rage of
the world against the followers of Christ reaches its height when it
begins to throw them into prisons, outright public persecution, etc.)
Dear
brothers and sisters, let us put our trust in God our Father and say
to our Guardian Angels, "Mount your guard around us, because
traps are stretched against all men." The blackness of jealousy
torments the hearts of men against their brothers!
Why
this cruel jealousy? Because, again, souls who love God and who love
Him with all their might, are hated and persecuted. It is a Divine
Seal, dear brothers. You wear it visibly, not invisibly. That is why
they read in your words and in your heart, in your face, your
strength and all the good that lives in you, it says that you are the
chosen souls, blessed, surrounded by the tenderness of God. That is
what causes the rage of men who do not like God or His religion.
Dear
brothers and sisters, like the example of the Divine Crucified,
submit yourselves and forgive all your enemies. This forgiveness
opens the door of Heaven, softens the heart of God and gives the soul
an invigorating dew.
Dear
brothers and sisters, you will have on earth but one sure refuge, it
is in the Adorable Wounds of the Saviour that you are safe, in this
prison of love and tenderness.
The
world suffers and endures a kind of martyrdom that is sometimes more
painful than the agony of the iron, the martyrdom of execution,
because the world makes it languishing,
tormenting without a subject. (i.e.,
the suffering the world gives is long, laborious, and appears
pointless.) The world crucifies slowly, while the
martyrdom of iron is rapid.
The
Lord has His eyes open to the sufferer, who is accused, persecuted,
slandered. God makes the road shine on which he travels, loaded with
mountains of all kinds of persecution. Before you where you walk you
see a band of elite and of the Blessed.
These
are your Guardian Angels who bear your cross, the mountains of your
persecution. And you walk on, you, dear brothers and sisters,
unloaded and freely. The men believe you are laden under the weight
so heavy while you feel the lightness of loving blessing …
Walk
bravely through this life of suffering, watering it with our sweat
and our tears. The Eternal Spouse comes to meet those who suffer and
mourn, held by chains of captivity without reason and without crime.
The Lord will wipe away the tears from His chosen and shows them the
eternal crown and their names inscribed on His Heart.
Courage!
You who are still in death. (I.e. in this world still subject to
death and sorrow.) Soon you will be in life when there will be no
sorrow, no tears, no anxieties. It is eternal happiness. Pray, dear
brothers. I will pray for you. The Hand of the Lord threatens to
strike. His angry look says to the earth to be on guard. His promise
consoles and strengthens the just and crushes the sinners (the
unrepentant) like a speck of dust.
In
Heaven, we are happy. In Heaven, all are nourished with love. Heaven,
we live in delight. Heaven, we adore, we love, we enjoy the delights
of love. Dear brothers and sisters, I wish you the triumphant arrival
of happiness ...”
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Notes:
Saint Cassian of Imola (a city in northern Italy) was martyred c. 250
AD. According to the laus
of the Roman
Martyrology (1930 Rome edition): “The birthday of holy
Cassian the martyr. When he refused to worship idols, the persecutor
summoned certain boys whose hatred Cassian had incurred by acting as
their schoolmaster, and afforded them (through his teaching) the
opportunity of killing him. As their efforts were puny, so was his
suffering bitter above the ordinary and his death protracted.”
Feast Day, August 13
(Image: statue of St. Cassian by Adam Baldauf, b.1580- d.1631. )
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