From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
April 21st - Blessed Bartholomew of Cervere PhD
Born at Savigliano, Italy, in 1420; died at Cervere, Piedmont, 1466;
beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1853.
In the venerable tradition of death in the cause of truth, Blessed
Bartholomew of Cerverio was the fourth Dominican inquisitor to win his
crown in the Piedmont--the stronghold of the Catharists, who had taken
the lives of Saint Peter of Verona, Blessed Peter de'Ruffi, and
Blessed Anthony of Pavonio.
Even in his early years Bartholomew displayed a precocious solemnity
and piety. He entered the Order of Preachers in Savigliano and
progressed rapidly in his studies. On May 8, 1452, Bartholomew
received his licentiate, doctorate, and master's degree from the
University of Turin; the only time in the history of the university
that anyone had acquired three degrees in one day.
Bartholomew taught for a year at the university, then was made prior
of his monastery. In his short apostolate of 12 years, he converted
many heretics and worked steadfastly to eradicate heresy. He was
appointed inquisitor in Piedmont, which made it clear to him that a
martyr's death was marked out for him. Being a Dominican in Lombardy
was a dangerous business, at best; to be appointed inquisitor meant
that the heretics were given a target for their hatred.
In many ways the murder of Bartholomew and his companions repeats the
martyrdom of Peter of Verona. Bartholomew knew beforehand that he was
to die, and he made a general confession before starting out on his
last trip. He remarked to his confessor, "They will call me
Bartholomew of Cerverio, though I have never set foot there. Today I
go there as inquisitor, and there I must die."
On the road to Cerverio in the diocese of Fossano, he and his party
were attacked by five heretics. His companions were wounded, but
escaped. Bartholomew died, riddled with dagger wounds, before they
could get help.
Some people of Savigliano saw a bright light in the sky over Cerverio
and surmised what had happened. They went out and brought home the
relics, marveling that, despite all the wounds, the martyr had not
bled. Laying him down in the church of the Dominicans, they saw his
wounds bleed, and they hastily rescued the blood for relics. He was
buried in the Dominican church of Savigliano, and, later, when the
church was ruined by revolution, the relics were moved to the parish
church.
A chapel was built at the site of the martyrdom and richly decorated
with narrative frescoes. Processions were made there several times a
year by the people of Savigliano and Cerverio, invoking Bartholomew
against thunder and hail especially. At the same place, a fig tree was
honored for many years for its connection with Blessed Bartholomew; it
was supposed to have sprung up at the time of the martyrdom, at the
very place the martyr fell (Benedictines, Dorcy).
Saint Quote:
They who voluntarily commit sin show a contempt for life eternal,
since they willingly risk the loss of their soul.
--St. Gregory the Great
Bible Quote:
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
(Matthew 16:27) DRB
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A Morning Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Christ
Dear Lord, I adore Your Sacred Heart, which I desire to enter with
acts of love, praise, adoration and thanksgiving. I offer You my own
heart as I sigh to You from its very depths, asking that You will work
through me in all that I do this day; thus may I draw You closer to me
each day. I offer You all the crosses and sufferings of the world, in
union with Your life on earth, in expiation for sins. Please join my
every action and heartbeat to the pulsations of Your Heart. I unite
all my works of this day to those labors You performed while You were
on earth, bathing them in Your precious Blood, and I offer them to the
Heavenly Father so that many souls may be saved. - Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)