This Thursday is the Feast of St George.
We will be having High Mass
here in the parish at 7pm
with celebratory refreshments afterwards.
Given St George's links to the Middle East (most sources think he was probably born in Syria) and the fact that he was a soldier and a martyr, it seems particularly appropriate that we offer Mass for those being persecuted by the extremist Islamist group ISIS at this time. The reports are all over the place about its barbarity to Christians, to culture and to humanity in general. There is shocking footage of the destruction of Christian churches on the "This is Christian Syria" Facebook page:
The Christian News Network reports on a gruesome new video released by the barbaric Islamic group ISIS, which shows approximately 30 Ethiopians, who they identified as “followers of the cross,” being massacred in Libya.
Christians in Iraq continue to try to worship in the midst of persecution.
Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr,
St. George;
favored by God with the gift of faith,
and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ,
thou didst fight valiantly
against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit.
Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death
could part thee from the love of Christ.
I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love
to help those suffering persecution
to bear bravely
the terrible trials that oppress them,
so that they may patiently carry the cross
which is placed upon them;
and let neither distress or difficulties,
nor the insufficient response of the world,
separate them from the love of
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Valiant champion of the Faith,
assist them in the combat against evil,
that they may win the crown promised to them
that persevere unto the end.
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