This saint knew that whether he triumphed or not, his effort would be written in the Book of Life and God would have the victory!!!

         March 18  -- St. Cyril of Jerusalem

St. Cyril was born in 315 and succeeded St. Maximus as Bishop of Jerusalem in 349. He was one of the pillars of the Church in the East because of his unceasing combat against paganism and heresy which was infiltrating into the Catholic milieu because of the spiritual tepidity of the people. 

He spared no effort to fight the good fight even when he realized that defeat might be apparent. Nonetheless, his unwavering fidelity to defend the Church in her hour of need has become a precious legacy to future Catholic generations and established the foundations of Scholasticism which followed.

St. Cyril's life could be summed up by the following examples:

1) he fought with certainty in the Cause of the Church, defending Her knowing that it was part of the plan of God;

2) he was so dedicated to this fight that he was willing to give his life knowing that God would complete the work which he had begun;

3) he knew that whether he experienced victory or not, his effort would be written in the Book of Life and God would have the victory.

Therefore, St. Cyril knew that this work ordained by God would always bear good fruit.

Today, we can make a similar analogy. Recently, the members and  supporters of America Needs Fatima gathered together in Cleveland, Ohio to protest an extremely blasphemous play. Two hundred men, women and children braved the wind and cold to proclaim their certainty that Our Lord is God and should not be mocked. They prayed in public to give evidence that the Truth of the Holy Catholic Faith was alive and well. Their efforts did not close the theater, but their efforts were seen by all of Heaven and they will be remembered on the Day of Judgment.

Let us pray to St. Cyril of Jerusalem to have a greater spirit of Faith knowing without a doubt that our fight will be invincible.