San Juan Capistrano

Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.  Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.

  A note on the Wednesday of Passion Week: Three feasts called the Jews to Jerusalem, Passover, to commemorate the departure from Egypt, Feast of Tabernacles, to commemorate the time of living in tents in the desert, and the anniversary of the Dedication of the Temple, which the Machabees had purified after their victory in 164 B.C.  Jesus had come to Jerusalem on this occasion in the third year of his ministry. Here He spoke the words in today's Gospel, under Solomon's Porch. The Gospel of John 10: 22-38, once again sees the priests ready to stone Our Lord for blasphemy.  St. Augustine says, "It was winter and the Jews were cold, for they made no effort to draw near this divine fire. If they drew near it would be to believe, for he who believes approaches, and who refuses to believe draws back. They had become cold in charity and love, but they burned with a desire to do harm. They were far off while yet near, and they approached Him not in order to believe but with the desire to persecute Him."

  Christ told them that they did not believe, "because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice; and I know them and they follow Me: and I give them life everlasting: and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of My hand. That which My Father hath given Me is greater than all; and no one can snatch it out of the hand of My Father. I and the Father are one."  Once again, they wanted to stone Him.

   There are so many today who do not hear His voice, and His followers are suffering in His footsteps. Persecution has come to so many lands in which Christians are being killed. Persecution seems to have arrived in our country in ways we would not have thought possible a few years ago. What does the future hold if what has already started is not stopped?

   It seems to be a fit time, March 28, to celebrate the Feast of St. John Capistran, for whom Mission San Juan Capistrano in California was named.  St. John was born at Capistrano in the Abruzzi region in 1385, and became a Franciscan friar when he was 39. He is credited with helping to save Europe from Islam. It threatened to invade Europe in the 15th century. Mohammed II had taken Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Empire. He was marching on Belgrade. Pope Calistus III decreed a crusade. St. John preached for the crusade in Pannonia and other provinces, supported by a noble Hungarian, John Hunyady. Through his preaching he enrolled 70,000 Christians. All they had for arms were pitchforks and flails. They prevailed over a trained army with superior weapons after severe fighting, and assured the triumph of the Cross over the Crescent. 120,000 Turks were killed or had fled, Mohammed was wounded and renounced his aims for Christian Europe. St. John died in 1456. 

   The history and reality of the Muslim conquests can be seen on Jihad Watch by Raymond Ibrahim.
www.meforum.org/3182/history-muslim-conquests.  The first major conquest occurred in 632, soon after Muhammed the Prophet's death. Before the end of the 7th century A.D. much of what is now called the Muslim world was conquered.  The column above referenced is well worth the read, particularly in light of what is happening today and what is NOT being taught in our children's textbooks. Autoritative books and writings are recommended in the column, as well.