The forth Pope St. Clement
Mariner’s Cross also know as St. Clement’s Cross
“So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath,so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:17-20
In my prayer of late, the Anchor keeps coming to me. Now, I have always known that the anchor is a symbol of hope. But what I didn’t know was that the anchor was often used as a symbol in early Christianity. An Anchor represents safety. As I pray, I know our safety lies with the Barque of Peter, Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother. Anchor yourself there.
As I began to read more, I found out Pope St. Clement, the 4th Pope, who was ordained a Bishop by Peter himself, was also associated with the Anchor. He lived at a time of great persecution of the church. He was martyred under Emperor Trajan, and it is said that an anchor was tied around him and he was thrown into the sea for not renouncing Christianity.
He was recorded as teaching, “We must, look upon all the things of this world, as none of ours, and not desire them. This world and that to come are two enemies. We cannot, therefore, be friends to both; but we must resolve which we would forsake, and which we would enjoy. And we think, that it is better to hate the present things, as little, short-lived, and corruptible; and to love those which are to come, which are truly good and incorruptible. Let us contend with all earnestness, knowing that we are now called to the combat. Let us run in the straight road, the race that is incorruptible. This is what Christ saith: keep your bodies pure and your souls without spot, that ye may receive eternal life.” (Taken from Vol. III of “The Lives or the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints” by the Rev. Alban Butler.)
In this time of persecution, where sisters are murdered caring for the elderly, we must remember as Clement did to Anchor ourselves to Christ and His church. The Anchor of the church is where hope and safe harbor lay.
Veil of Veronica 
When I was a child, I remember often looking at the skies and enjoying the fat white clouds. In those days, we often saw only one particular cloud type at one time. Now, in a single frame, there can be up to 4 different sorts. Where I am the winds now come in every direction.
That’s the sign of confusion, when we are buffeted in every direction by those that seek to confuse. To feel the word, Anchor, in your spirit, is a testament to the times we are in.
Susan, looking up Hildegard of Bingen, I came across the term ‘anchor’ or ‘anchoress’:
Countess Jutta von Sponheim (December 22, 1091 – 1136) was the youngest of four noblewomen who were born into affluent surroundings in what is currently the Rhineland-Palatinate. She was the daughter of Count Stephen of Spanheim.
Jutta, instead of entering the convent at an early age, became an “anchoress,” a symbolic “anchor” for the world to God, and thus she closed herself for life in a one-room shelter, with only a small window through which food was passed in, and refused to be taken out. This hut was next to the Benedictine monastery on Disibodenberg, where she was abbess. She tutored several female pupils from wealthy families and they lived with her in her hermitage. She taught and raised them all, but most notably the child Hildegard of Bingen.
Susan, is God’s call to you getting more focused?
Thanks for that Caitlynnegrace. I sometimes in the busyness of life would like to be a hermit too. (Is that bad to say?). I do think focus was stronger, but then an onslaught of stuff happened to pull me away from the quiet time I usually have. Pray for me because stress is high at the moment.
Yes, I had a feeling things were a little rough for you. I’m going to pray to be given the right prayer for you, Susan, and I will say that prayer till ‘it’s taken up’.
And no, nothing wrong in longing for a hermit’s seclusion. I yearn for that every single day, and I suspect many do. I found this beauty of a blog some months back – Cloistered Heart. You might have heard of it. The writer, Nancy Shuman is, in my opinion, Jesus’ voice cutting through the mayhem in my life. While I can never get the hermit’s silence I seek, when I visit her blog, I get a precious few minutes of deep silence. And that helps tons.
Thanks Caitlynnegrace. I will definitely look at that blog. Yours helps me too. And thanks for the prayers. I will be praying for you as well. I’m going to sit in the chapel today and I will ask the Lord to cover over you and your whole family. God Bless.
Thanks, Susan. I need that.
Hi Susan,
What happened to you, as expressed in your Mar 21 comment above, is happening to me now. I had a deep desire to steep myself in prayer and in whatever God calls me to, in the final 10 days of Lent.
And too soon, my cup fills with all the things that should never go into a cup. It has become tough to keep my eyes on His Will because I’m busy analysing stuff in my cup.
Today, I saw the word anchor at least thrice, in my mind. He is reminding me to anchor myself in His Truths and sacred Will.
I thought of you and of this post you wrote. Susan, bless you for writing it.
We have to detach from this world and Anchor ourselves in Christ. It’s hard to do. God Bless. I’m going to Mass now and I will keep you in my intentions.
Pingback: Be in Communion | Veil of Veronica
Pingback: Anchor yourself |
( https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206371184295854&set=a.10205286082968999.1073741861.1155084897&type=3&theater )
+++
Climent_of_Ohrid__(Икона 14-15 в.)
+
++
Description
Saint Climent of Ohrid
Български: Св. Климент Охридски
Date 14 – 15 Century
Source http://www.pravoslavieto.com/poklonnichestvo/starite_bg_stolici/Ohrid/sv_Kliment_Perivlepta/index.htm
Author Unknown
Other versions
At the back Image:Naum-of-Ohrid-Peribleptos.jpg
+++