#Bishop Clemente

[ryuzatodraws-archive]

Sometimes when you’re not feeling it, you need to draw some Ocs

[100-art]

FAMOUS PAINTINGS, PRINT

#Frida Kahlo #Edvard Munch #Vincent Van Gogh #Will Barnet #Salvador Dalí #Andy Warhol #Pablo Picasso #Henri Matisse #Francesco Clemente #Avigdor Arikha #Angel Planells #Leon Bakst #Gordon Bennett #Bielers  #Isabel Bishop #Beckmann  #Basquiat #Eduardo Arroyo #Juan Barjola #Balthus 

[heckcareoxytwit]

Jubilee, Bishop, Rogue and Gambit go to the concert to watch Dazzler's performance. However, Sinister's Nasty Boys turn up to kidnap Dazzler for a nefarious purpose. Fortunately, the X-Men foil the kidnapping attempt on Dazzler and show is able to go on.

This story in the comic is a prelude to the X-Men 97 cartoon.

X-Men 97 #1, 2024

[whencyclopedia]

The Letters of Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles

Paul was a member of the Jewish Pharisees in the 1st century CE, who experienced a revelation of the resurrected Jesus Christ. In this vision, Jesus commissioned him to be the apostle (herald) to the Gentiles (non-Jews). After this experience, he traveled widely throughout the Roman Empire, spreading the "good news" that Jesus would soon return from heaven and usher in the kingdom of God on earth.

In the New Testament, we have 14 letters traditionally assigned to Paul, but the scholarly consensus now recognizes that of the 14, seven were written by Paul:

1 Thessalonians

Galatians

Philemon

Philippians

1 & 2 Corinthians

Romans

2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, and Colossians remain debatable among some scholars. The other major letters (1 &2 Timothy and Titus) were most likely written by disciples of Paul’s, using his name to carry authority. The letters that have survived range between 52 and 60 CE, and although we cannot pinpoint when Paul’s letters were collected, Clement, a bishop in Rome in the 90s CE, quoted from 1 Corinthians.

The Nature of the Letters

We understand these letters to be circumstantial. They were not written as systematic theology or as treatises on Christianity. The letters are responses to specific problems and circumstances as they arose in his communities. Paul spent time in cities establishing a group and then moved on. He received letters and sometimes reports with detailed questions or advice on how to settle conflicts. Unfortunately, when Paul’s letters were saved and circulated, the original letters from the communities were not preserved. The reconstruction of the original problems can only be determined by Paul’s responses.

Known as the most famous convert in history (from the Acts of the Apostles), Paul did not actually undergo conversion. Conversion assumes changing from one religious system to another, but at the time, there was no Christian system for him to convert to. Paul himself was ambiguous when it came to his self-identity:

To the Jews I became like a Jew... To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) ... To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) ... I have become all things to all people. (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)

In relation to what happened to Paul, it is better to follow what he says, in that he was 'called'. This is the tradition of the way in which the Prophets of Israel were called to their individual missions.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12).

Paul argued that this experience gave him as much authority as the original circle in Jerusalem (Peter, James, and John). Paul’s call to be the Apostle to the Gentiles was shocking because, as he freely admitted, he had previously "persecuted the church of God" (Galatians 1:13). He never really explained what he did, nor why he did it. It is in Paul’s letters that the name Jesus is combined with Christ, the Greek for the Hebrew messiah ("anointed one"). Understood as a title, "Jesus the Christ", it became common as a phrase that indicated his identity and function.

Continue reading...

[girlactionfigure]

THURSDAY HERO: Clement and Andrey Sheptytsky

Clement and Andrey Sheptytsky were leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church who spoke out against the Nazis and saved dozens of Jews after the Nazi takeover of Ukraine.

The brothers were born in a small village called Prylbychi to an aristocratic family featuring many prominent leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Andrey, the oldest, was born in 1865 with the title “Count.” Clement was born four years later. The boys received their primary education at home, and then went to high school in Krakow.

Young Andrey, already 6’10”, got to know some Jews while attending school in Krakow, and became interested in their religion. He learned Hebrew, and maintained his close ties with the Jewish community over the ensuing decades.

After graduating from high school, Andrey joined the Austro-Hungarian army, but got sick soon after and had to return home. As his health improved, Andrey attended law school and received his doctorate in 1888. During that time he traveled throughout Europe, and was granted an audience with Pope Leo XIII at the Vatican.

Despite his promising law career, Andrey felt a vocation to serve God and, despite fierce opposition from his father, he entered the Jesuit Seminary in Krakow. He was ordained as a priest in 1892 and over the ensuing years rose to increasing prominence in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In 1899, Andrey was nominated by Emperor Franz Joseph as a Bishop, and the nomination was approved by the Pope. Andrey was consecrated as a bishop, and a year later, at the age of 36, he became Metropolitan Archbishop of Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine. Andrey traveled throughout the country making pastoral visits, and was welcomed warmly by local Jews. Sometimes they would even greet him with a Torah scroll.

Meanwhile, younger brother Clement was following a similar career path, but on a different timeline. Clement also went to law school, but instead of practicing law he returned home to take care of his aging parents, and manage the family’s vast real estate holdings.

In 1911, almost twenty years after his older brother became a priest, Clement also chose a life of religious devotion. He enrolled in theological seminary and was ordained a priest in 1915. He entered the Holy Dormition monastery, and became its prior in 1926. The brothers remained very close, and in 1937 when Andrey became sick, Clement left his monastery and moved to Lviv to care for him.

As the Nazi party rose to power in the 1930’s, Andrey was the first (and sadly, one of the only) European church leaders to speak out forcefully against persecution of the Jews. He issued an important pastoral letter, “Thou Shalt Not Kill” to protest Nazi violence. As First Bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church he sent a letter to Hitler and Himmler protesting their treatment of Jews. His letter was ignored, so Andrey took action. He directed his clergy and lay leaders to save Jews by hiding them in churches, providing for their basic needs, and helping them escape to safety.

In addition to hiding Jews in Ukrainian Greek Catholic churches, Andrey and Clement took 16 Jews into their own home and cared for them until the area was liberated by the Red Army in 1944. One of those Jews was David Kahane, who became chief rabbi of the Israeli air force and later chief rabbi of Argentina. Rabbi Kahane said, “Andrey Sheptytsky deserves the undying gratitude of the Jews and the honorific title ‘Prince of the Righteous.”

Andrey, who had been in poor health for many years, died in 1944 and is buried in St. George’s Cathedral in Lviv. Church historian Jaroslav Pelikan wrote, “Arguably, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky was the most influential figure… in the entire history of the Ukrainian Church in the twentieth century.”

After the war, Clement was arrested by  Soviet authorities and pressured to renounce his faith. He refused to do so, and was sentenced to eight years in prison, which amounted to a death sentence for the frail, 74 year old man. While incarcerated, he ministered to other inmates, cared for those who were sick, and shared his food with the weakest among them. He died in Vladimir Central Prison in 1951, at age 81.

The brave brothers received many posthumous honors. Clement was beatified in 2001 by Pope John Paul II, and was honored as Righteous Among the Nations by Israeli Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem. Andrey received the honorific “Venerable” for his life of heroic virtue by Pope Francis in 2015. In their home town of Prylbychi, a monument to the Sheptytsky brothers was erected in 2011.

For bravely saving Jews from the Nazi death machine, and ordering their flock to do the same, we honor the holy Sheptytsky brothers as this week’s Thursday Heroes.

[eliaswoodt]

The Name List

Organized from A-Z (yes I will add more names whenever I find more I like, probably in reblogs)

I currently have 1035 names (and that’s only including the first names. I have a list of last names, too.)

Angel, Atticus, Atlas, Apollo, Ares, Athena, Achilles, Artemis, Adonis, Avery, Aubrey, Aubry, Aceline, Ashlynn, Aislinn, Anjanette, Arthur, Archer, Addison, Arrietty, Amity, Autumn, Alastor, Alastair, Alasdair, Alistair, Alison, Arren, Arin, Astra, Aoife, Adalyn, Adeleine, Astoria, Agnes, Angus, Abigail, Ann, Anne, Ambrose, Adeline, Avarsel, Agatha, Ari, Azariah, Aniyah, Armani, Anastasia, Annabelle, Adah, Adelaide, Avis, Amelia, August, Axel, Adelina, Amir, Amin, Ayala, Arne, Averett, Adil, Astro, Ava, Anti, Ailun, Akemi, Asahi, Akari, Asako, Atsuko, Azumi, Aka, Aren, Akko

Blossom, Bambi, Babs, Bo, Bella, Blair, Bea, Bonnabel, Badeea, Betty, Bailey, Boris, Bee, Bugs, Blaise, Benjamin, Bog, Buford, Beatrice, Bryce, Bryan, Bazil, Brutus, Bellamy, Brigitte, Bailee, Bailey, Bao, Belladona, Belladonna, Bell, Bill, Bishop, Bones, Boneothy, Benno, Behemoth, Barry, Bellynn, Bowie, Bunki

Clover, Canyon, Cleo, Cameron, Celestial, Celestino, Ciro, Camilo, Cain, Charlotte, Clara, Corey, Cin, Charlie, Cassidy, Chiara, Callista, Cisco, Cynthia, Casper Clinton, Celestina, Clement, Christopher, Cornelius, Clifford, Claudius, Carey, Carrie, Coatl, Cyrus, Cyril, Cecil, Caisus, Castiel, Calla, Cosmos, Cherry, Cheryl, Crowley, Crow, Cassius, Cliodna, Clíodhna, Cliona, Conan, Cordelia, Calypso, Cas, Cillian, Chiyo, Chiaki, Chihiro, Calcifer

Danny, Darlene, Dex, Dot, Diana, Daphne, Demeter, Daedalus, Daeddel, Darphel, Dawn, Derrick, Derek, Dravan, Dravid, Drae, Dallas, Dimas, Dominic, Damien, Drew, Delilah, Dakota, Darian, Darius, Darwin, Devan, Darla, Dagmar, Daelyn, Dale, Dae, Dacey, Desmond, Dabria, Daniel, Daniela, Danialla, David, Davis, Donnel, Dennis, Demitrius, Delaney, Daiki, Daiyu

Everest, Emery, Ember, Elliott, Elliot, Earlana, Eliseo, Ezequiel, Emie, Evan, Eloise, Eric, Emmet, Elizabeth, Eugene, Ethan, Eret, Ester, Elias, Eos, Ellis, Edwin, Ebony, Elijah, Eliza, Enzo, Elissa, Edward, Eddalyn, Esther, Eda, Edalyn, Edalynn, Edison, Eddison, Estervan, Emma, Eden, Erfan, Eun-hae, Erytheia, Egan, Errol, Eiichi, Eiji, Eriko, Etsu, Etsuko, Eiichiro, Ezume

Flint, Finn, Fae, Fred, Fritz, Fang, Frankie, Frank, Fermin, Freddie, Freddy, Finley, Freya, Fai, Felix, Freda, Faolan, Frey, Feylynn, Faelynn, Failynn, Felipa, Febby, Febbie, Febie, Feby, Flynn, Fuji, Feiyu, Fukiko, Fumitaka, Fumito, Fuyuko

Griffin, Garnet, Gothi, Gertrude, Gabe, Grant, Giovanni, George, Gage, Gregory, Gabriel, Gabrielle, Guy, Gilbert, Guadalupe, Gerry, Grey, Gray, Gia, Grace, Gracian, Gracis, Gracie, Gretel, Gideon, Griffilow, Ghost, Ghazaleh, Gavin, Gryphon, Griffith, Goliath, Grayson, Greyson

Harmony, Hannah, Harlei, Harlie, Haritha, Haris, Harry, Harlan, Harvey, Hadrian, Harley, Hari, Harlow, Howl, Hank, Harper, Herbert, Humphrey, Hestia, Helios, Hephaestus, Hollis, Hunter, Hero, Henry, Helda, Hajar, Hasta, Hadis, Howard, Howie, Hannan, Haoyu, Hisako, Hachi, Hiroto, Hoshiko, Honoka, Hiroshi, Hiro, Haitao, Hamako, Haruhi, Harue, Hayate, Hide, Hideyo, Hidetaka, Hisaye, Hisayo, Heiji, Higari

Ivy, Ivey, Ivo, Ida, Iris, Ilyssa, Illy, Irene, Iren, Isaiah, Ira, Idelle, Ivan, Illaoi, Isabel, Isabell, Isabelle, Isobell, Isabella, Ismelda, Io, Ismael, Isolt, Icarus, izuru, Isamu, Itona, Ichiro, Ichiko, Ichigo, Isoko, Ishiko, Isaye, Inari, Ikuko, Itsuki, Itsuko, Inosuke

Juniper, Jupiter, Jinx, Jamie, Javier, Josiah, Joan, Jake, Julia, Jamil, Jamila, Jesse, Jessie, Jess, Jasper, Janus, Jordan, Joshua, Julian, Juilliard, Julius, Juliana, Jeremiah, Jace, June, Junebug, Jazzy, Jackson, Jackie, Jackalynn, Jodie, Johnnie, Jan, Jaime, Jason, Jorge, Justin, Justice, John, Jay, Janelle, James, Jennifer, Jillion, Jill, Jana, Jonah, Jaycee, Jaxen, Junpei, Jona, Jun, Jin

Kenneth, Kat, Kas, Kris, Keith, Kingston, Kaeton, Kingsley, Kent, Katherine, Kyle, Knox, Kristen, Kristin, Kristeen, Kylie, Kaylee, Kamila, Kehlani, Kendall, Kerry, Kry, Kenny, Kath, Kathleen, Krow, Kix, Kedrick, Kennon, Klaus, Killian, Korallia, Krank, Kaz, Kaede, Kirara, Katsuhiko, Keisuke, Kanako, Kenji, Kaemon, Kamin, Katsu, Kaki, Kazane, Kazuyuki, Kazushige, Kenta, Kei, Kimi, Kin, Kohako, Koichi, Kota, Koji, Koharu, Kosuke, Kuma, Kumi, Kuniko, Kuniyuki, Kideko, Kazuko

Lullaby, Lotte, Lapin, Lorelei, Loralai, Lorelai, Luna, Lily, Lucy, Lee, Liana, Lola, Lethe, Lance, Laurence, Luther, Luca, Lennon, Logan, Lennox, Ilias, Liu, Lui, Luis, Lefu, Liam, Lyall, Lowell, Luella, Leona, Leonie, Leon, Lev, Lincoln, Lin, Link, Laverna, Lazarus, Lewis, Louis, Louise, Levi, Leslie, Lesley, Leilana

Marley, Marlai, Mei, May, Mae, Marceline, Marshall, Marshalee, Millie, Mallorie, Marcela, Melanie, Maddison, Mary, Mirabel, Marsh, Murphy, Montgomery, Mildred, Memphis, Molly, Maverick, Maurice, Muiris, Morgen, Max, Moses, Marion, Merrill, Monroe, Melanthios, Maxwell, Matias, Melissa, Maëlle, Marlene, Meredith, Maybelle, Margaret, Maeve, Moss, Mara, Maria, Myrtle, Mona, Mark, Markus, Michael, Micheal, Michelle, Mahsa, Minoo, Mehdi, Mohammad, Matin, Morpheus, Marlowe, Monica, Marilia, Magnus, Malachi, Malachy, Maggie, Makoto, Megumi, Mio, Maemo, Maemi, Masa, Masaaki, Masashi, Michi, Midori, Michinori, Momo, Motoko

Natasha, Noelle, Noni, Neville, Nixon, Neda, Natalio, Ned, Nausicaä, Noxis, Nova, Nathen, Newt, Noah, Nash, Nox, Nathara, Nathaira, Nathair, Nyoka, Nagisa, Nathan, Nate, Nik, Nick, Naohiro, Naoko, Nara, Natsu, Naoya, Nishi, Nobuko, Nori

Olindo, Ollie, Oliver, Ophelia, Odysseus, Orion, Osono, Oxen, Onyx, Otto, Ottoline, Otitile, Ottavia, Octavio, Olivia-Marie, Oakley, Omar, Olivia, Oscar, Octavian, Octavia, Oz, Octavius, Otta, Oisin, Orson, Orlos, Osiris, Owen, Odalis, Odell, Ozuru

Penelope, Patton, Paddy, Percy, Paulie, Page, Pazu, Phoebe, Phebe, Prairie, Porter, Parlay, Pally, Piper, Parker, Payton, Phil, Paul, Philip, Pyre, Piers, Phylis, Patricia, Payne, Payneton, Pip

Quinn, Quincy, Quil, Quinley, Quinstin, Quinlan, Quillen, Quavon, Quaylon, Quensley, Qing, Qrow, Quilla, Quianna, Quita, Qiao, Quinella, Queenie, Qaylah, Qailah, Qitarah, Quenby, Qadira, Qudsiyah, Quan, Qian, Quinby, Quella

Roseline, Raul, Rahul, Rafael, Roque, Rogelio, Remmy, Rei, Rey, Ray, Robin, Ro, Reika, Rowen, Rowan, Rose, Rosie, Ralsei, Riley, Remus, Rosalyn, Rosalin, Rosaline, Renata, Ron, Rat, Ratt, Reef, Roxy, River, Reed, Rufus, Robbie, Renee, Rivia, Ross, Rex, Ruth, Rosemary, Rosabe, Rosabee, Rosabell, Rosabelle, Rosabel, Rai, Rain, Rosella, Rosalie, Rhody, Robert, Raelinn, Rebane, Ren, Rollin, Ralph, Roxanne, Rox, Roderick, Reginald, Reggie, Rio, Ryu, Ryo, Ryoji, Rinmaru

Sage, Sam, Syd, Selkie, Storig, Sal, Sirius, Summer, Susie, Scott, Sunni, Sosuke, Sophie, Satsuki, Sheeta, San, Sulley, Sully, Savannah, Sappho, Selene, Shaw, Sean, Seán, Shaun, Sawyer, Sabrina, Sebastian, Shane, Stan, Socks, Snom, Stolas, Spencer, Sammie, Stevie, Samus, Sarff, Sullivan, Seth, Susiebell, Susiebelle, Sadreddin, Shellaine, Sverre, Saoirse, Sylvania, Sanae, Silas, Sumi, Shiori, Shinzu, Sile

Toby, Tobias, Teddy, Ted, Tomas, Thomas, Tomothy, Tyche, Taiga, Tundra, Tracy, Timothy, Troy, Tatum, Tommie, Tommy, Theia, Tae, Trix, Trixy, Thanathos, Tod, Todd, Toddy, Tora, Torie, Theodore, Theo, Theophania, Talos, Thanatos, Teddy, Tomohito, Tazu, Tanjirou, Touya

Ulysses, Urijah, Uriyah, Urina, Ukiah, Ulnar, Ursula, Ulric

Virgil, Vanessa, Vito, Venacio, Vylad, Veronica, Valentina, Violet, Velma, Venus, Verna, Veld, Victoria, Victorie, Vinyl, Vincent, Vasuki, Vex, Valor, Valentine, Valerie, Valeria, Valerius, Vitoria, Vic, Victor, Vik, Vikktor, Viktor, Vick, Vicky, Vicke, Vickie, Vidya

Wynn, Willow, Warren, Wilbur, Wylie, Will, Walle, Whisp, Wade, Wendell, Wendy, Willard, Wes, Wallace, Wilber, Wyatt, Wybie, Wynnie, Wennie, Winnie, Wynnston, Wynston, Wynsten, Wiles

Xenophon, Xuan, Xio, Xori, Xanthos, Xander, Xavier

Yen, Yukio, Yae, Yoko, Yume, Yaeko, Yui, Yuzuki

Zane, Zana, Zion, Zachary, Zach, Zachariah, Zander, Ziana, Zoe, Zula, Zenix, Zenith, Zaharia, Zaria, Zack, Zakaeia, Zara, Zakaria, Zev, Zaira, Zanata

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Excerpts from Faith Among the Stars: A History of the New Avalon Catholic Church

By Father Benedict Lucien, Archivist of the Curia, New Avalon Catholic College of Theology Published in the Year of Our Lord 3098

The New Avalon Catholic Church (NACC) was not born of careful reform, nor of theological dispute, but of necessity. Separated from Terra by war and distance, the faithful of the Federated Suns found themselves without a shepherd, abandoned not by malice but by the sheer devastation of the Inner Sphere’s greatest conflict. Though its founding was born of crisis, the NACC has since become one of the most influential religious institutions in the Federated Suns, an independent faith molded by war, exile, and the unshakable belief that no matter how far humanity has traveled among the stars, the light of God will always follow.

Now, nearly three hundred and fifty years since its foundation, the Church stands not merely as a remnant of old Terra’s Catholicism but as a distinct, evolving force, shaped by the unique realities of the Inner Sphere.

Even in this era of unprecedented peace, the Church remains firm in its purpose: to guide the lost, to shield the faithful, and to wield its strength in the service of justice.

Origins: The Schism of the Star League Era

The New Avalon Catholic Church was founded in one of the darkest chapters of human history—the fall of the Terran Hegemony. When Stefan Amaris launched his coup in 2766, Terra was severed from the rest of the Star League, and with it, the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church. In response, after Amaris began a campaign of terror in 2770, Pope Clement XXVII issued emergency directives to senior clergy across the Star League member states, granting them extraordinary authority to maintain the faith in his absence - an absence that would be rendered permanent within the week.

Among the clergy who received the message was Cardinal Kinsey de Medici, the highest-ranking prelate in the Federated Suns. Misunderstanding the garbled transmission he received, and faced with the collapse of interstellar communication and the seeming destruction of the Vatican itself, de Medici saw no path forward except self-reliance. By 2774, he declared that the Church in the Federated Suns would no longer be bound by Rome and proclaimed himself Pope Thomas X, establishing New Avalon as the new seat of Catholic authority in the region.

By the time interstellar communication was restored five years later, in 2779, and news arrived that John Paul V had been elected as Pope in Rome, the divide had already solidified. Thomas X and his successors refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Terran papacy, arguing that the Vatican had lost touch with the needs of its people. Thus, the schism between Rome and New Avalon became permanent. House Davion, recognizing the influence of the Church, gave its quiet support, ensuring that the NACC would become deeply ingrained in the cultural and spiritual fabric of the Federate Suns.

Reform and Inclusion: A Church That Evolves

While the New Avalon Catholic Church preserved many of the theological principles of its Roman predecessor, it quickly distinguished itself through its willingness to adapt. Unlike the Vatican, which often resisted social and technological change, the NACC embraced the belief that faith must evolve to meet the needs of its people.

The first major departure from Roman Catholic tradition came in 2815, when the NACC formally abolished clerical celibacy, arguing that priests and bishops could better guide the faithful if they understood the challenges of family life firsthand. Less than two decades later, in 2827, the ordination of women was formally recognized, with the first female bishops taking office by the end of the decade.

By the time of Pope Juliana III’s election in 2897, she was not the first woman to hold the papacy—she was the third. However, she was unique in another way: she was the first openly transgender Supreme Pontiff. To this day, Juliana III is remembered for her wisdom, diplomacy, and unwavering commitment to social justice, guiding the Church through the political upheavals of the early 30th century and ensuring that it remained independent of House Davion’s direct influence. Juliana III’s reign solidified many of the progressive stances that define the Church today. By the end of the second decade of the 30th century, the NACC had fully embraced gender equality, same-sex marriage, and personal conscience in matters of family planning and reproductive rights. The Church continued to hold the sanctity of life as a core principle, but it prioritized compassion, education, and social support over rigid legalism.

In keeping with its willingness to reform in matters of social doctrine, the New Avalon Catholic Church has maintained a accepting stance on technological advancements concerning the human body. Unlike some religious movements that viewed such modifications as unnatural or an affront to divine design, the NACC framed its position through the lens of stewardship, arguing that just as medicine and surgery were gifts that allowed humanity to heal, so too were the innovations that could replace a lost limb, correct failing organs, or even enhance cognitive faculties when necessary. The same principle was applied to biotechnology, including the widespread use of cloned body parts and cultivated organ replacements, which the Church ruled were ethically indistinguishable from traditional transplants. Even during the Word of Blake Jihad, when cybernetic enhancements became associated with the fanatical Manei Domini, the Church never wavered in its support for responsible augmentation, refusing to allow the corruption of one sect to taint an entire field of scientific advancement. Today, the NACC remains one of the more technologically progressive religious institutions in the Inner Sphere, fully embracing the ethical application of cybernetics and bioengineering in the service of human dignity.

Alongside its acceptance of medical advancements, the NACC has also long pursued a mission of reconciliation and interfaith outreach, recognizing that faith among the stars could never be bound to a single tradition. For centuries, the Church has maintained cordial, if distant, relations with its Roman Catholic counterpart on Terra, though true reunification remains unlikely. Of greater significance, however, have been the Church’s efforts to welcome converts from outside traditional Catholic communities. The greatest test of their inclusivity came with the arrival of the Clans in 3050. While the Clans themselves had few formal religious institutions save the The Way espoused by the ever-distant Clan Cloud Cobra, some of their warriors—particularly those who had been captured, exiled, or defected—began to seek a new sense of spiritual belonging after being severed from their former caste-based society. This presented an unprecedented theological challenge, as Clan culture held no belief in an afterlife, no organized system of worship, and little respect for the concept of faith as an institution. Many among the faithful viewed Clan eugenics and warrior caste ideology as fundamentally irreconcilable with Catholic teaching. The Church’s initial attempts at evangelization were met with indifference at best, open scorn at worst, but over time, some Clan-born individuals found solace in the principles of sacrifice, duty, and redemption that the NACC espoused. While these converts remained a minority, their presence forced the Church to engage in deep theological reflection on what it meant to offer salvation to those who had never sought it. The first Clan-born individual to seek entry into the church, the now Abbess Anya Bekker, formerly of Clan Ghost Bear, was met with fierce resistance from within. The debate reached the highest levels of the Church, culminating in Pope Pius XXI’s historic ruling in 3072:

"Faith is not a matter of blood or birth, but of the choices we make and the burdens we take upon ourselves. If an individual of the Clans renounces the cruelty of their past and chooses the path of righteousness, who are we to deny them?"

With those words, the gates of the Church were opened to Clan-born converts, provided they rejected the ideals of genetic supremacy and the rigid hierarchy of the caste system. By the 3080s, the NACC had fully embraced the idea that faith is not simply inherited, but chosen, and that those willing to walk the path of righteousness—regardless of their origins—could find a home within the Church’s embrace. Today, many former Clansfolk are part of the Church, and many former warriors serve as full-fledged Knights Defensor, proving that faith, like honor, is something that must be chosen rather than inherited.

The Knights Defensor: The Sword and Shield of the Faithful

For much of its early history, the New Avalon Catholic Church had no formal military order. Though some individual bishops maintained private security forces on particularly volatile worlds, there was no centralized institution akin to the Teutonic Knights or Swiss Guard of old.

That changed in 3084, when Pope Beneficent XV established the Knights Defensor, a holy order dedicated to protecting the faithful and upholding the Church’s moral authority.

The Knights quickly became more than just a military arm of the Church. They took on a broader role as warriors, peacekeepers, and champions of the oppressed, often operating beyond the borders of the Federated Suns. Though many House Lords viewed them as aligned with the Davion state, the reality was far more complex—the Knights answered only to the Supreme Pontiff, and on more than one occasion, they had openly challenged corrupt or unjust rulers, even within the Federated Suns itself.

Faith in the Era of the Republic

As the 31st century gave way to the 32nd, the New Avalon Catholic Church remained a pillar of stability within the Federated Suns. Though closely tied to House Davion, it has never been a mere extension of state power, and more than once, it has stood in opposition to rulers who strayed too far into tyranny.

Now, in this new age of the Republic of the Sphere, the Church faces new challenges. Will it align with this new order, lending its moral authority to a cause that claims to unify humanity? Or will it remain independent, as it has since its founding? Regardless of the answer, one truth remains certain: The New Avalon Catholic Church is no longer a relic of ancient Terra. It is a faith born in exile, tempered by war, and shaped by the stars. And wherever humanity’s future leads, it will be there to guide them.

[cowplantblues]

History nerd and ex-Catholic (i wasnt GOOD at it but i did go to Catholic school) here to say:

If you see anyone saying anything about Francis being “the last pope” because of The Prophecy of Popes by Saint Malachy, that is a 16th century hoax that holds NO water.

Supposedly a 12th century Irish bishop had a vision in 1139 of the next 112 popes.

Some big issues:

- There have only been 102 popes since Celestine 2 who the prophecies start with.

- The prophecies are good up until Clement VIII and then become really cryptic and make no sense to the popes after that

- Which makes sense when you consider that the book was only published in 1595 during Clement VIII’s reign

-And “found” in 1590 during the papal conclave that elected Gregory XIV

It’s a forgery. This is agreed amongst almost EVERY scholar who has ever studied it.

This has been your lesson on obscure Catholic mysticism history today thanks

[thatsastepladder]

I know it's October but the plotbunny won't leave so:

Broke: Santa Claus is an immortal, magical being who classifies children into "naughty" and "nice", flies in a sleigh drawn by magical flying reindeer, and drinks Coca-Cola.

Woke: St. Nicholas, former Bishop of Myra, was given the gift of a supernaturally long life by God in order to show generosity and the love of Christ to children at Christmas each year. He's frustrated about how his legend has spiraled out of control, eclipsing the true purpose for the holiday, and would probably punch Clement Moore in the face if he had the chance - but still serves faithfully regardless, awaiting the day God finally calls him home.

[antiochianorthodoxcumberlandmd]

Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Fast Free

Feasts and Saints celebrated today:

Renewal Tuesday: The Commemoration of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, and the Other Newly-revealed Martyrs of Lesbos

Theodore of Sykeon

Nathaniel, Luke, & Clemente the Apostles

Gregory Gravanos of Nisyros

Nearchos the Martyr

Readings for today:

Acts of the Apostles 2:14-21

Luke 24:12-35

Renewal Tuesday: The Commemoration of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, and the Other Newly-revealed Martyrs of Lesbos

Reading from the Synaxarion:

On the island of Mytilene (Lesbos in ancient times), near the village of Therme, the villagers had a custom of ascending a certain hill on this day to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the ruins of a small chapel, although no one knew whence the tradition sprang. In the year 1959, certain villagers began seeing persons who spoke to them, first in dreams, then awake, both by day and by night. Through these wondrous appearances, which were given to many people independently, the holy Martyrs Raphael, Archimandrite of the ancient monastery, and Nicholas, his deacon, together with other Saints who had been martyred on the island, told the villagers the whole account of their martyrdom, which had taken place at the hands of the Moslem Turks ten years after the fall of Constantinople, in 1463. The twelve-year-old Irene had been tortured, then burned alive in a large earthenware jar in the presence of her parents. On Tuesday of Renewal Week, Saint Raphael had been tied to a tree and hi s head sawn off through his jaws; Saint Nicholas had died at the sight of this. Although the feast is celebrated today because it is the day of their martyrdom, through the appearances of the Saints as living persons five hundred years after their martyrdom, it is also a singular testimony to the Resurrection of Christ.

Apolytikion of Renewal Tues. in the Fourth Tone

On Lesbos, ye strove in contest for the sake of Christ God; ye also have hallowed her with the discovery of your relics, O blessed ones. O God-bearer Raphael, with thee, we all honour Nicholas the deacon and Irene the chaste virgin, as our divine protectors, who now intercede with the Lord.

Kontakion of Renewal Tues. in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Ye shone on the world like stars first as ascetics, then as athletes slain for Christ, and were translated to the heights through the great torments that ye endured; and them that praise you, ye keep and protect, O Saints.

The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion of Renewal Tues. (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA

Kontakion of Renewal Tues. (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA

Theodore of Sykeon

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Theodore was born out of wedlock in Sykeon, a village of Galatia in Asia Minor. From his childhood, he was under the protection and guidance of the holy Great Martyr George, who often appeared to him, and was as it were his trainer in the hard ascetical discipline which he took upon himself all his life. After a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he became a monk in his native Galatia. About 584 he was ordained Bishop of Anastasiopolis in Galatia, where he shepherded his flock for ten years. After this, he asked to be allowed to be relieved of the duties of governing the diocese. His request was granted but he was commanded to retain his rank as bishop. Saint Theodore was a great worker of miracles, and also received from God the power to cast out even the most obstinate demons, who called him "Iron-eater" because of his stern way of life. Having passed throughout many regions, worked numerous miracles, and strengthened the faithful in piety, he departed this life in 613.

Apolytikion of Theodore of Sykeon in the Fourth Tone

Since thou hadst been known from thy swaddling bands to be sanctified, and hadst been shown to be filled with graces, thou didst illuminate the world with miracles, and dist drive off the swarms of demons, O sacred minister Theodore; wherefore do thou beseech the Lord in our behalf.

Kontakion of Theodore of Sykeon in the Third Tone

As thy fiery chariot, thou didst ascend on the virtues, O God-bearer, mounting up unto the dwellings of Heaven; and thou wast an Angel living on earth among men, and a man dancing for joy with the holy Angels. Hence, O Theodore, thou hast proved a godly vessel of awesome wonders and signs.

The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion of Theodore of Sykeon (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA

Kontakion of Theodore of Sykeon (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA

Prayer Before Reading Scripture

Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that having conquered all sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 2:14-21

In those days, Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maid servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day. And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from the Gospel According to Luke 24:12-35

At that time, [Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. That very day] two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And He said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" and they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was not it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into this glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

[ryuzatodraws-archive]

Clemente but with his hair untied

Acid reacting all starstruck in the background

He should cut his hair but tht would look like Cardinal Ryu

[cruger2984]

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINTS THOMAS MORE AND JOHN FISHER Feast Day: June 22

"If we lived in a state where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us saintly. But since we see that avarice, anger, pride and stupidity commonly profit far beyond charity, modesty, justice and thought, perhaps we must stand fast a little, even at the risk of being heroes." -Thomas More

"Penance is a needful thing to the sinner, who desires to recover health of his soul. And, in doing penance, there be three things to be considered: serious compunction of heart, confession of mouth and satisfaction by deed." -John Fisher

John Fisher and Thomas More are the most outstanding English martyrs who were killed during the persecution of King Henry VIII.

The problem started in 1527, when Pope Clement VII refused to declare null the King's marriage with Catherine of Aragon, his spouse for 18 years. The king who wanted to have a son from Anne Boleyn, was maddened by the denial and separated from Rome.

In 1534, with the Act of Supremacy, he appointed himself the sovereign of the Church of England, and began persecuting those who remained Catholic. The Martyrs of England, as they are known, were tortured in a barbarous manner. Some were put on the rack and dismembered; others were hanged and eviscerated while still alive.

John Fisher, the bishop of Rochester, was imprisoned in Tower Hill after he refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church of England and for upholding the Catholic Church's doctrine of papal supremacy. He was beheaded on June 22, 1535 at the age of 65, and his head was displayed on London Bridge for several days. He died with the Holy Gospel in his hands for pronouncing words of pardon for his executioner.

After him, Sir Thomas More, the Lord High Chancellor of England, preferred to disobey the king rather than God. A devout Catholic, father of four children and prestigious lawyer, in 1527 he refused to support Henry VIII's claim for a divorce.

Five years later, he resigned from his office rather than separate from the Catholic church. He was convicted of treason and beheaded on July 6, 1535 at Tower Hill at the age of 57.

More is widely quoted as saying (to one of the officials): 'I pray you, master Lieutenant, see me safe up and for my coming down, let me shift for my self.'

Before his death, he said: 'I am the King's servant, but God's first.'

After he had finished reciting the Miserere (Psalms 51) while kneeling, the executioner reportedly begged his pardon, then More rose up merrily, kissed him and gave him forgiveness.

[shefollowedthestars]

intro ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀/𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 - she/her. minor. swiftie. gracie abrams and olivia rodrigo enthusiast. max verstappen's biggest defender. pepe marti fanatic. marvel girlie. kate bishop's wife and ravi singh's gf. unhealthily obsessed with motorsports. goodreads. letterboxd. spotify. masterlist.

current watch: nothing atm

hi!! i'm nova <3 welcome to my blog!! feel free to talk to me or anything like that, i love meeting new people here :)

some of my fave...

artists: taylor swift, gracie abrams, conan gray, olivia rodrigo, niall horan, sabrina carpenter, chappell roan, lana del rey, lorde, domonic fike, hailee steinfeld, maisie peters, noah kahan, one direction, renee rapp and tate mcrae.

movies/shows: desperate houswives, what a girl wants, the love witch, ms marvel, hawkeye, heartstopper, the society, little women (2019), sydney white, juno, the dead poets society, scott pilgrim vs. the world, bumblebee, tsitp, the princess and the frog, eternals, the marvels and daredevil.

books: tbosas, six of crows, tshoeh, the inheritance games series, agggtm series, the words we keep, salt to the sea, people we meet on vacation, five survive, little fires everywhere, love & gelato, the drowned woods and the book thief.

racing drivers: max verstappen, alex albon, oscar piastri, marta garcia, marcus armstrong, liam lawson, jamie chadwick, the leclerc brothers, pepe marti, callum ilott, david malukas, sebastian vettel, ollie bearman, lewis hamilton, clement novalak, jm correa and kimi raikonnen.

characters: robin buckley, gil pender, jonah simms, inej ghafa, frank castle, kate bishop, kamala khan, pippa fitz amobi, lorelai gilmore, alex nilsen, jo march, conrad fisher and druig.

random things: jewelery, sunsets, card & board games, concept art books, movie nights, the screaming meals podcast, going on drives, clickety clackity keyboards, posters, reese's pieces chocolate, toy cars, vinyls, enamel pins and sweaters.

[wonder-worker]

"Angelberga, wife of Louis II, had a very active role both during her reign and her widowhood. She is considered as an extraordinarily charismatic figure, for she embodied all the aspects of a queen’s powers: political, relational and patrimonial."

— Roberta Cimino, Italian Queens in the Ninth and T3nth Centuries (PhD Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2014) / Patricia Skinner, Women in Medieval Italy 500-1200

"Angelberga’s career has received a certain amount of attention from scholars. When she married Louis II she obtained land from her husband in eastern Lombardy and western Emilia, as her will of 879 shows. She and Louis became the heads of a government which moved round with them, and it is clear that she shared in his power. Odegaard cites her role in diplomatic missions and in warfare as evidence of her prominence. She also intervened in disputes between Louis and his brother Lothar, as well as between the latter and the pope. Her relationship with Pope John VIII was particularly close, and several extant papal letters were addressed to her. In 874 she was commended into papal protection.

Angelberga and the two monasteries of St Salvator at Brescia (the royal convent) and St Clement Casauria (founded in 873) were the only recipients of large land donations from Louis. Louis died in 875 without a son. In his last years his nobles, ‘regarding Engelberge as hateful because of her insolence’, had [unsuccessfully] petitioned him to divorce Angelberga in favour of the daughter of the count of Siena. This was clearly owing to the fact that she had only two daughters by Louis, Ermengard, who went on to control St Salvator, and Gisela, who predeceased her parents in 868. However, her position was much stronger than such a challenge suggests. Bougard points out that of eighteen precepts issued by Louis between 855 and 874, eight were addressed to Angelberga. She was responsible for the foundation of the female house of St Sistus in Piacenza, and her position as a powerful patron is clear. She also controlled the royal house of St Salvator/St Julia at Brescia. Both houses were to function as places of refuge for her and her daughter, if necessary, reflecting earlier patterns of monastic foundations with protective duties towards female kin. Besides her ecclesiastical contacts, Angelberga also worked for her own family. Her kinsman Suppo was recompensed for his mission to Constantinople in 869/870 with the duchy of Spoleto, which probably owed as much to his kinship with the empress as to his work there. Angelberga also procured the deposition of the bishop of Piacenza, Seufrid, in favour of her nephew Paul, provoking a reaction from Pope Nicholas I (although the Liber Pontificalis is silent on the issue)."

[whencyclopedia]

The Letters of Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles

Paul was a member of the Jewish Pharisees in the 1st century CE, who experienced a revelation of the resurrected Jesus Christ. In this vision, Jesus commissioned him to be the apostle (herald) to the Gentiles (non-Jews). After this experience, he traveled widely throughout the Roman Empire, spreading the "good news" that Jesus would soon return from heaven and usher in the kingdom of God on earth.

In the New Testament, we have 14 letters traditionally assigned to Paul, but the scholarly consensus now recognizes that of the 14, seven were written by Paul:

1 Thessalonians

Galatians

Philemon

Philippians

1 & 2 Corinthians

Romans

2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, and Colossians remain debatable among some scholars. The other major letters (1 &2 Timothy and Titus) were most likely written by disciples of Paul’s, using his name to carry authority. The letters that have survived range between 52 and 60 CE, and although we cannot pinpoint when Paul’s letters were collected, Clement, a bishop in Rome in the 90s CE, quoted from 1 Corinthians.

The Nature of the Letters

We understand these letters to be circumstantial. They were not written as systematic theology or as treatises on Christianity. The letters are responses to specific problems and circumstances as they arose in his communities. Paul spent time in cities establishing a group and then moved on. He received letters and sometimes reports with detailed questions or advice on how to settle conflicts. Unfortunately, when Paul’s letters were saved and circulated, the original letters from the communities were not preserved. The reconstruction of the original problems can only be determined by Paul’s responses.

Known as the most famous convert in history (from the Acts of the Apostles), Paul did not actually undergo conversion. Conversion assumes changing from one religious system to another, but at the time, there was no Christian system for him to convert to. Paul himself was ambiguous when it came to his self-identity:

To the Jews I became like a Jew... To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) ... To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) ... I have become all things to all people. (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)

In relation to what happened to Paul, it is better to follow what he says, in that he was 'called'. This is the tradition of the way in which the Prophets of Israel were called to their individual missions.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12).

Paul argued that this experience gave him as much authority as the original circle in Jerusalem (Peter, James, and John). Paul’s call to be the Apostle to the Gentiles was shocking because, as he freely admitted, he had previously "persecuted the church of God" (Galatians 1:13). He never really explained what he did, nor why he did it. It is in Paul’s letters that the name Jesus is combined with Christ, the Greek for the Hebrew messiah ("anointed one"). Understood as a title, "Jesus the Christ", it became common as a phrase that indicated his identity and function.

Continue reading...

[anastpaul]

Saint of the Day – 23 November – St Clement of Metz (3rd-4th Centuries) The 1st Bishop of Metz, now in France, Miracle-worker. Also known as Clemens and The Dragon Slayer.

(via Saint of the Day – 23 November – St Clement of Metz (3rd-4th Centuries) the Dragon-slaying Bishop – AnaStpaul)