Put Forth the Effort

~~~Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church~~~

~~~ Titus 1:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 24 ~~~ Luke 17:1-6 ~~~

For a bishop as God’s steward must be...

 hospitable, a lover of goodness,

temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled,

holding fast to the true message as taught

so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine

and to refute opponents.

This description applies to those holding the title of bishop

and to the whole order of presbyters.

Three of these characteristics stand out as most necessary...

lover of goodness, holy, and self-controlled.

Pope Leo tightened the reigns of the Catholic church

 because of the numerous heresies in the Fifth Century church.

Leo was the first pope to be called 'great'.

Leo's writings focused on the person of Jesus, Christology.

Leo defended the true divinity and the true humanity

of the one Christ, Jesus.

This teaching caused a major schism within the church.

One piece of trivia...Leo was instrumental in Attila the Hun

sparing Italy from being invaded. 

Leo the Great embodied all of the characteristics

 Paul lists in his letter to Titus.

These expectations of good character are expected today as well.

Leo the Great had great faith.

What we believe about the person of Jesus 

today comes directly from his teachings.

Life is consistently filled with obstacles and often the easiest way

is to succumb to sin...to give into temptation.

Our human frailty clouds our intention to be holy.

It is by keeping our faith nourished that we have a better chance of 

'moving the mulberry tree'.

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

you would say to this mulberry tree,

‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Saint Leo the Great increased the faith of the entire church

through his teachings, writings, and sermons.

"The devil is always discovering something novel against the truth."

"Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, 

for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife." 

Pope Saint Leo the Great

We cannot just coast downhill as we make our way through life.

The trials and conflicts of our daily lives are meant for us to overcome.

We may not always claim victory, but we can always

 put forth the effort to resist.

Blessed with the teaching of Saint Leo the Great

 on the person of Jesus Christ,

both divine and human.

~~~Peace~~~