The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church

We pray with the Church’s words, offering our whole day to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary and uniting it to the Mass throughout the world. We then hear Saint Augustine challenge people pleasing, reminding us to seek salvation, keep a clean conscience, and let every good work give glory to the Father. 
• remembering the first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church 
• opening prayers asking God for help and giving glory to the Trinity 
• offering prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with the Mass 
• Saint Augustine on slander, suspicion, and the witness of conscience 
• refusing self-glory while still living visibly as imitators of Christ 
• reconciling “let your light shine” with “do not parade good deeds” 
• protecting weaker believers by not troubling the waters 
• choosing unity, humility, patience, and practical care for others 
• praying to live as children of light in the truth 
If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our publications now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org. 

Transcript

The First Martyrs Remembered

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The first martyrs of the Holy Roman

Opening Prayer And Glory Be

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Church. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Morning Offering Through Mary

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O my Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular, for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

Saint Augustine On True Glory

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From a sermon by Saint Augustine, Bishop. This is our glory, the witness of our conscience. These are men who rashly judge, who slander, whisper, and murmur, who are eager to suspect what they do not see, and eager to spread abroad things they have not even suspicious of. Against men of this sort, what defense is there save the witness of our own conscience? My brothers, we do not seek, nor should we seek our own glory, even among those whose approval we desire. What we should seek, rather, is salvation, so that if we walk as we should, they will not go astray in following us. They should imitate us if we are imitators of Christ, and if we are not, they should still imitate him. He cares for his flock, and he alone is to be found with those who care for their flocks, because they are all in him. And so we seek no advantage for ourselves when we aim to please men. We want to take our joy in men, and we rejoice when they take pleasure in what is good, not because this exalts us, but because it benefits them. It is clear who is intended by the Apostle Paul. If I wanted to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. And similarly, when he says, Be pleasing to all men in all things, even as I in all things please all men. Yet his words are as clear as water, limpid, undisturbed, unclouded, and so you should, as sheep, feed on and drink of his message. Do not trample

Pleasing People Without Losing Christ

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on it or stir it up. You have listened to our Lord Jesus Christ as he taught his apostles, let your actions shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven, for it is the Father who made you thus. We are the people of his pasture, the sheep of his hands. If then you are good, praise is due to him who made you so. It is no credit to you, for if you were left to yourself, you could only be wicked. Why then do you try to pervert the truth, in wishing to be praised when you do good, and blaming God when you do evil? For though he said, Let your works shine before men, in the same Sermon on the Mount he also said, Do not parade your good deeds before men. So, if you think there are contradictions in Saint Paul, you will find the same in the Gospels, but if you refrain from troubling the waters of your heart, you will recognize here the peace of the Scriptures, and with it you will have peace.

Living Well Without Scandal

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And so, my brothers, our concern should not be only to live as we ought, but also to do so in the sight of men, not only to have a good conscience, but also so far as we can in our weakness, so far as we can govern our frailty, to do nothing which might lead our weak brother into thinking evil of us. Otherwise, as we feed on the good pasture and drink the pure water, we may trample on God's meadow, and weaker sheep will have to feed on trampled grass and drink from troubled waters.

Unity Humility And Care For Others

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Fill me with happiness by being one in mind and one in love. Humbly consider others better than yourselves. Do not think of your own interests alone, but look to the interests of others. Support the weak, be patient with all, seek to do what is good for each other and for all men. Do not think of your own interests alone, but look to the interests of others.

Prayer For Light And Truth

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O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant we pray that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error, but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Consecration And Closing Invocations

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All that I have, and all that I am, I give to your hands, Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Invitation To Join Cristaros

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If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristaros and purchasing our publications now available on Amazon.com. The Cristuros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristuros can be found at theCristaros.org.