Welcome to the traditional Catholic daily devotional.

Today's Tuesday, February 18th, 2025, a faria, fourth class with the color of violet.

In this episode, The Meditation, St. Bernadette of Lourdes, another Moses.

Today's news from the church is the Vatican a pioneer in quote-unquote energy transition

and today's thought from Archbishop Marcel Lefev. But first the collect of today's Mass.

O Lord, we beseech thee, graciously hear the prayers of thy people that we who are justly punished

for our sins may be mercifully delivered for the glory of

thy name. So today, let's imagine leading a church through war, persecution, and destruction,

twice. That was the life of St. Simeon, the second bishop of Jerusalem. Now, this is a different

Simeon from Simeon and Anna. This is a simeon who comes a little

later. He was the son of Cleophus, making him also the cousin of Jesus. He lived in Nazareth,

followed Christ, and received the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. But his greatest mission came after the

martyrdom of his brother, St. James the lesser. The apostles

chose Simeon as the second leader of the Jerusalem Church. Trouble came quickly. When Roman forces

closed in on the city, Christians, worn by God, fled to Pella under Simeon's guidance.

They returned after the destruction of Jerusalem, rebuilding

their own community among the ruins. Miracles abounded and many Jews converted. But Rome was

watching. Emperor Trajan renewed the hunt for anyone of David's line, especially Christians.

Accused by enemies, the elderly bishop now over 100 years old, was sentenced to crucifixion.

For days, he suffered tortures beyond his years, yet his faith never wavered.

His endurance left even his executioners in awe.

St. Simeon led through chaos, exile, and persecution, but he never abandoned his flock.

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