Catholics From Italy

"Origen embraces the key principle of Christian metaphysics, the theorem of creation. With Clement, he affirms that everything that is not God was drawn from nothing. He is the only principle of all things. (p. 55)"

"The God of Clement's Christian metaphysics is endowed with intelligence, will, freedom, power and goodness. (p. 32)"

"Only thanks to the concept of persona – a being endowed with dignity and absolute value – brought by Christianity, which makes all men images of God created directly by Him, do all forms of discrimination based on sex, age, race, language, power, wealth, religion, etc. All men are equally worthy of esteem, respect and love, even their enemies, especially the weakest, the poorest, the most humble and defenceless. (introduction, p. 10)"

"While man is clearly a finite being, in self-transcendence he reveals himself to be “'capax infiniti”'. Self-transcendence “together with culture and freedom, is the third characteristic trait that clearly separates man from animals: man constantly surpasses himself ... in everything he does, thinks, says, knows, loves and achieves."

"In both Greek and Latin, up until Tertullian, the meaning given to the term “”person“” (which is the equivalent of the Greek “'prosopon”') was that of ‘mask’ or ‘face’. (introduction, p. 9)"

"It is from the new truths contained in the great philosophical potential of Christianity that Christian metaphysics derives its main characteristics. It will always be a “'creationist”', “'personalistic”', “'spiritualistic”' and “'agapic”' metaphysics. (introduction, p. 15)"

"Christianity reveals many mysteries that are completely inaccessible to reason. Such are the mysteries of the Trinity, the Incarnation, sanctifying grace, the Mystical Body, and the resurrection of the flesh. (introduction, p. 7)"

"It is in Christianity that the spirit becomes self-transparent consciousness, a reality ‘in and of itself’ (to use the language of Hegel), free initiative and absolute freedom. (introduction, p. 9)"

"The concept of person is an acquisition of Christianity. Historically, the word ‘person’ marks the dividing line between pagan and Christian culture. (introduction, p. 9)"

"[Natural law] does not come from outside (and therefore is not heteronomous) but from within (and in this sense is autonomous: it is the law that reason itself gives to man or, better still, it is the law that man himself gives himself through his own reason): it is not the result of arduous and abstruse speculation and its perception is so easy that it appears almost intuitive. :*Quoted in Giuseppe Brienza, “”Who was Battista Mondin, missionary and theologian“”, “'Formiche.net”', 4 February 2015."

"The cradle of Christian metaphysics was Alexandria, Egypt. When Christianity was born, this city was the most important cultural centre of the Roman Empire, having taken the place that had previously been held by Athens. (p. 21)"

"There is a faith that is enriched by the concepts of reason, and there is a reason that is enriched by the gifts of faith. (introduction, p. 6)"

"At the school of Philo, Christian doctors from Alexandria learned to do philosophy and to develop Christian metaphysics, creating a synthesis between Greek philosophy and the philosophical potential of Christianity. (p. 22)"

"Great metaphysical creations always coincide with the golden age of a civilisation. Whereas the disappearance of Metaphysics is one of the most eloquent signs of a civilisation's decline. (prologue, p. 7)"

"Christianity is a religion and not a philosophy: an act of salvation (a Heilsgeschichte) and not philosophical speculation. Its goal is not, like philosophy, to provide an exhaustive explanation of reality, but to establish a relationship of communion between man and God. (introduction, p. 7)"

"Then, when she was beheaded, milk flowed from her body instead of blood. The angels took her body and carried it from that place to Mount Sinai, a journey of more than twenty days, and there they buried her with full honors. From her bones flows an oil that heals the limbs of all the sick. Her passion took place under the tyrant Maxentius or Maximinus, who ascended the throne around 310. How Maximinus was punished for this crime, and for many others, can be read in the story of the Invention of the Holy Cross."

"[January 21] Memorial of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, who, while still a girl in Rome, offered the supreme testimony of faith and consecrated the virtue of chastity with martyrdom; in fact, she overcame both her young age and the tyranny of the tyrant and thus acquired great admiration among the people, obtaining even greater glory with God. On this day, we celebrate the deposition of her mortal remains."

"(To the Roman emperor) Why do you want to lose this crowd with the worship of gods? Learn about God, Creator of the world, and His only Son Jesus Christ, who freed humanity from hell with the cross!"

"(To the governor who asked for her hand in marriage) Can you expect me to renounce heaven and choose instead the dust of the earth?"

"Saint Lucy, condemned to work in a brothel, preferred to face the stake, which left her unharmed; and in Naples, more than one Filumena Marturano, who took to the streets to escape the oppressive heat of a basement flat, imagines harmless blackmailing flames. It is almost surprising that such a saint was born in Syracuse and not at the foot of Vesuvius."

"Agnese, a young woman full of wisdom, as Ambrogio tells us in his “Passione,” left death behind and found life at the age of thirteen. Her young age was evident, but the maturity of her mind was extraordinary: young in body, but mature in soul, beautiful in appearance but even more beautiful in faith. It happened that while she was returning from school, the prefect's son fell in love with her. He promised her endless jewels and riches if she agreed to marry him. Agnes replied: "Stay away from me, get out of sin, food of evil deeds, nourishment of death! Another loved me before you."

"Then the prefect had her stripped and taken to the brothel. But the Lord made Agnes' hair so thick that it covered her better than a dress, and when she entered that vile place, she found the angel of the Lord waiting for her, who illuminated the room with a shining light and prepared a pure white stole for her. Thus the place of sin became a place of prayer, so much so that Agnes came out purer than when she had entered, when that great light had honored her."

"(About Saint Catherine of Alexandria) Then, when she was beheaded, milk flowed from her body instead of blood, and the angels took her body and carried it from that place to Mount Sinai, a journey of more than twenty days, and there they buried her with all honours. From her bones flows an oil that heals the limbs of all the sick. Her passion took place under the tyrant Maxentius or Maximinus, who ascended the throne around 310. How Maximinus was punished for this crime, and for many others, can be read in the story of the Invention of the Holy Cross. (p. 969)"

"Lucia, nimica di ciascun crudele"

"(About the martyrdom of Saint Ursula and the eleven thousand virgins she converted to the Christian faith) All the virgins, accompanied by the bishops, set out on their return journey to Cologne, but found it already besieged by the Huns. When the barbarians saw them, they threw themselves at them, screaming, and raged like wolves among lambs, killing the whole multitude. When they had massacred the others and reached Saint Ursula, the leader of the Huns, seeing her beauty, was filled with wonder and, trying to console her for the slaughter of the other virgins, promised to marry her. However, Ursula refused, and the Hun leader, seeing himself despised, shot an arrow at her, which pierced her and killed her. Thus she crowned her martyrdom. (p. 866)"

"(About the request of the King of England, a pagan, to the King of Brittany, a Christian, to give his daughter Ursula in marriage to his son) The king [of Brittany] began to feel anxious, both because it seemed unfair to him that a virgin marked by faith in Christ should be given to an idol worshipper, and because he knew full well that Ursula did not want this in any way; but he was also very afraid of the fury of the boy's father. Ursula, however, inspired by heaven, persuaded her father to agree to the king's request, on condition that the king give her ten other virgins of the highest choice to be her companions and comfort, assigning a thousand virgins to her and to each of the others. Then he asked him to prepare ships to send them. He also asked for three years to dedicate her virginity, and that in the meantime the young man be instructed in the faith for three years: it was a very wise decision, since he could either dissuade him from his purpose with the difficulty of the condition imposed, or at least take advantage of the opportunity to consecrate to God all the virgins mentioned above. (p. 863)"

"There was a very Christian king in Britain named Noto or Mauro, who had a daughter named Ursula. Ursula shone for her honest behaviour, her wisdom and her beauty: her fame had now reached every corner of the land. The King of England was very arrogant and had subjugated many peoples; having heard of Ursola's fame, he declared that his happiness would be complete if the virgin Ursola were to marry his only son. The boy was also burning with desire. Many messengers were sent to the girl's father with great promises, but also with many threats if they returned empty-handed. (p. 863)"

"Lucia, a noble maiden from Syracuse, hearing talk throughout Sicily of the fame of Saint Agatha, went to her tomb with her mother Euticia, who had been suffering from blood loss for four years and whom the doctors had been unable to cure. It so happened that during the celebration of Mass that day, the passage from the Gospel was read in which it is said that the Lord healed a woman from that same illness. Lucia then said to her mother: ‘If you believe what has been read, believe that Agatha always has beside her the one for whom she suffered martyrdom. Therefore, if you touch her tomb with faith, you will immediately regain your health.’"

"After the Lord's ascension, when the apostles dispersed, Martha with her sister Mary Magdalene and her brother Lazarus, accompanied by Maximinus, who had baptised them and to whom the Holy Spirit had entrusted them, and many others, were loaded onto a raft by the infidels and thrown into the sea without oars, sails, rudder or provisions: however, guided by the Lord, they reached Marseille. They then went to the area where Aix-en-Provence stands, where they converted the inhabitants to the faith: Martha was in fact a good speaker and was liked by everyone. (p. 560)"

"[13 December] Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, who, while she lived, kept the lamp lit for her coming Bridegroom, and once she was put to death for Christ, she merited to be wedded to Him, thus possessing the Light that never goes out."

"‘However bad things may go for you, at least may your eyes be spared,’ the beggar wishes, invoking Saint Lucy, patron saint of the eyes."

"Euphemia was the daughter of a senator. Seeing, in the time of Diocletian, that Christians were being torn apart by the most diverse punishments, she presented herself to the judge Priscus and confessed her faith in Christ before everyone, thus setting an example of her steadfastness even to men. As the judge put Christians to death, he tried to force the others to sacrifice, even if only out of fear, as they saw those who remained steadfast in their faith being tortured. While the saints were being beheaded before her eyes, Euphemia, inspired even more by their courage, said aloud to the judge that the punishment she was suffering was unjust. The judge rejoiced at these words, believing that she meant she was willing to sacrifice. However, when he asked her what unjust punishment she was referring to, she replied: 'I am of noble birth: why do you put so many foreigners and strangers before me? Why do you allow them to reach Christ and the promised glory before me? (p. 767)"

"[July 20] In Antioch in Pisidia (Asia Minor), commemoration of St. Marina (or Margaret), who is said to have consecrated her body to Christ in virginity and martyrdom."

"(About Saint Saint Paula of Rome}} Inspired by the virtues of Paulinus, Bishop of Antioch, and Epiphanius, who had come to Rome, she sometimes contemplated leaving her homeland."

"(About Paula of Rome) After her husband's death, until her own death, she never ate with any man, however holy he might be, even if he was at the height of episcopal dignity. She did not go to the baths unless her health was in grave danger. Even when she had a high fever, she did not have soft mattresses in her bed, but slept on the hard ground, covered with a few pieces of sackcloth: if one can even speak of sleep, since she spent her days and nights in almost continuous prayer. (p. 170)"

"Then the prefect had her stripped and taken to the brothel. But the Lord made Agnes's hair so thick that it covered her better than a dress, and when she entered that vile place, she found the angel of the Lord waiting for her, who illuminated the room with a shining light and prepared a pure white stole for her. Thus the place of sin became a place of prayer, so much so that Agnes came out purer than when she had entered, when that great light had honoured her. (from “'Saint Agnes”', p. 141)"

"Cecilia, an illustrious virgin, born of a noble Roman family, was raised from the cradle in the faith of Christ. She always carried an image of Christ hidden in her bosom and never ceased to pray, day or night, asking God to preserve her virginity. Having been promised in marriage to a young man named Valeriano, and the wedding day having already been set, Cecilia wore a hair shirt next to her skin, while above it she wore her gold-woven garments. While the choirs sang, she sang alone, to herself, only for the Lord, saying: “Lord, may my heart and my body remain immaculate, so that I may not be confused at the Judgement”. (from “Saint Cecilia”, p. 942)"

"Almachio then had her taken back to his house and ordered that she be burned by keeping her in a boiling bath day and night. Cecilia remained there as if it were a cold place, and did not even break a sweat. When this was reported to Almachio, he ordered that her head be cut off in the bath. The executioner struck her three times, but failed to sever her head; however, since the law forbade striking the condemned person four times, the executioner, covered in blood, left her dying. She lived for three more days, during which she gave all her possessions to the poor and entrusted to Urban all those she had converted to the faith, saying to him: “I have obtained a three-day reprieve for myself, so that I may entrust myself to your blessedness and so that you may consecrate my house as a church. (from 'Saint Cecilia”, p. 948)"

"The virgin Marina of Bithynia was her father's only daughter. When her father entered the monastery, he changed his daughter's clothes so that she would look like a boy and not a girl, and he begged the abbot and the monks to accept his only child. They listened to his prayers, and everyone called him Brother Marino. He began to live with religious fervour and to show great obedience. (p. 446)"

"Apollonia, a very strong virgin and martyr of Christ, renouncing the pleasures of the world, stifling the blossoming of life with the contempt she had for it in her mind, eager to please Christ her spouse, who with joyful perseverance in her resolve to remain a virgin, resisted every torture with unwavering strength: this glorious and happy virgin therefore stands out and shines among the martyrs in her triumph. (p. 369)"

"Petronilla, whose life was written by Saint Marcellus, was the daughter of Saint Peter. Being too beautiful, she began, at her father's will, to suffer from fevers. Once, when the disciples were with him, Titus spoke up and asked him: “You who heal all the sick, why do you let Petronilla suffer? And Peter replied: 'I do it for her own good. But so that no one should think that her illness is due to my words,” he turned to Petronilla and said: 'Come, Petronilla, quickly, bring us something to eat. Petronilla was immediately healed and served them food. When she had finished, Peter said to her, “Petronilla, go back to your bed.” And Petronilla immediately returned to it and resumed suffering from fevers; but as soon as she reached perfection in the love of God, she was also perfectly healed. (p. 431)"

"Christina was born into a family of very high rank in the city of Tyre, Italy. Her father placed her in a tower with twelve maids, surrounded by idols of gold and silver. She was beautiful and many asked for her hand in marriage, but her parents would not allow it, because they wanted her to continue to devote herself fully to the worship of the gods. However, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Christina was horrified by the sacrifices to idols and hid the incense intended for the sacrifices to the gods in a hole. (p. 531)"

"(About Paula of Rome) The entire population of the cities of Palestine attended her funeral. For which of the monks who had retired to the desert remained in his cell? Which of the virgins remained in the secrecy of her rooms? Everyone considered it sacrilegious not to pay homage to such a woman. She was then buried under the church, next to the tomb of the Lord. The venerable virgin and her daughter Julia Eustochium, like a child who had just been weaned, could not be separated from her mother; she kissed her eyes, did not leave her face, embraced her whole body and wanted to be buried with her mother. Jesus is witness that she left not a penny to her daughter, but gave it to those who needed it most and, what is even more difficult, to the immense multitude of brothers and sisters, who are hard to support and ungodly to abandon. (p. 173)"

"Another legend tells that Maximus, bishop of Nola, trying to escape persecution, exhausted by hunger and cold, had collapsed on the ground; Felix of Nola (bishop) was sent to him by an angel, and although there was no food, he saw a bunch of grapes hanging from a nearby bramble, from which he squeezed wine into Massimo's mouth, and carrying him on his shoulders, he took him with him. After Massimo's death, Felix was elected bishop. Being sought after by his persecutors because he preached, he hid himself by slipping through a narrow passage between some ruined walls. Immediately, by God's will, spiders wove their webs across the passage; the persecutors, seeing the webs, were convinced that no one could have passed through there and left. (from “'San Felice”', p. 124)"

"Sebastian, an exemplary Christian, was a citizen of Milan, but his family was from Narbonne. He was so loved by the emperors Diocletian and Maximian that they entrusted him with the command of the first cohort and always wanted him by their side. He had agreed to wear the military uniform only to be able to comfort the souls of the Christians he saw falling into torment. (from “'San Sebastiano”', p. 132)"

"Then Diocletian had him tied up in the middle of the Campus Martius and ordered the soldiers to pierce him with their arrows. They shot so many arrows at him that he almost looked like a hedgehog. Convinced that he was dead, they left; but after a few days he freed himself and, standing on the steps of the palace, he violently rebuked the emperors who were coming to meet him for all the evil they were doing to Christians. (from “'San Sebastiano”', p.137)"

"Juliana, although already married to Eulogius, the prefect of Nicomedia, refused to consummate the marriage unless her husband was first baptised. Her father then had her stripped naked and severely beaten, then had her taken to the prefect, who said to her: ‘My sweetest Juliana, why have you mocked me and rejected me in this way?’ (p. 223)"

"At that time there lived a venerable virgin, now advanced in age, named Apollonia, adorned with the flowers of chastity, sobriety and purity. Like a solid pillar strengthened by the spirit of the Lord himself, admired for the merits of her steadfast faith and for the virtues that the Lord had given her, she offered men and angels the edifying spectacle of herself. (p. 368)"

"Agnes, a young woman full of wisdom, as Ambrose tells us in his Passion, left death and found life at the age of thirteen. Her young age was evident from her years, but the maturity of her mind was extraordinary: young in body but mature in soul, beautiful in appearance but even more beautiful in faith. It happened that while she was returning from school, the prefect's son fell in love with her. He promised her endless jewels and riches if she agreed to marry him. Agnes replied: “Stay away from me, get out of sin, food of evil deeds, nourishment of death! Another loved me before you. (from 'Saint Agnes”, p. 140)"

"(About Saint Apollonia) After capturing her, her persecutors cruelly raged against her, first pulling out all her teeth; then, gathering wood and preparing a large pyre, they threatened to burn her alive if she did not declare herself a pagan like them. But as soon as she saw the pyre lit, she gathered herself in an instant and threw herself into the very fire with which they threatened her. (p. 368)"