Monday, January 24 : Saint John Cassian

“There are good reasons why these beings are called principles and powers. Namely, they dominate and rule over a peoples and lord it over lesser spirits and demons, about whom the gospels testify and also by their own assurance are legion. For they cannot be called dominations unless there are those over whom they can exercise the sway of their dominations, nor can they be named powers or principalities unless there are those over whom they might claim to be princes. We find it spoken of very openly in the Gospel by the blaspheming Pharisees: “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he casts out demons.” (Mt 12:24) We also read that they are called “the rulers of darkness” (Eph 6:12) and yet another has the title of “the prince of this world.” (Jn 14:30) Yet the blessed Apostle asserts that these grades will be eliminated in the world to come when all things have been subjected to Christ, when, as he says, he has handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has “fed every principality and power and dominion.” (1 Cor 15:24) This could certainly never happen unless they were removed from the sway of those over whom powers and dominations and Principalities are known to exercise authority in this world.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team