From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
March 10th - Bl. Peter Geremia
d. 1452
THE life of this holy man was written by one of his brethren who knew
him well and had lived with him in the same friary. Born in Palermo,
Peter was the son of a jurist and fiscal agent to King Alfonso I and
at the age of eighteen was sent to the University of Bologna to study
law with a view to succeeding to his father's office. There he made
such progress that he was often called upon to take the chair of the
professor when the latter was prevented from delivering his lectures.
Peter was on the eve of taking his degree when he had a strange
experience which he ever afterwards looked upon as a supernatural interposition. He was sitting one evening in his room, buried in
study, when he was disturbed by loud and persistent rapping on his window--which was on the third story. Startled, he inquired who the
unseen visitor could be and what he wanted. =E2=80=9CI am your cousin=E2=80= =9D,
replied a voice.=C2 =E2=80=9CAfter I had taken my degree, I also was cal=
led to
the bar where, as you know, I gained honour and distinction. Blind and miserable wretch that I was, I spent my whole time in defence of
others, and I even, against my conscience, undertook unjust cases in
order to obtain money and fame. I found no one to plead my own case
before the judgement-seat of God, and I am now condemned to
everlasting torment. But before I am cast into Hell I am sent to warn
you to flee from the courts of men if you wish to be acquitted before
the judgement-seat of God.=E2=80=9D
Peter lost no time in acting upon the warning. Then and there he took
a vow of perpetual chastity, and the next morning he bought an iron
chain which he wound 3 times round his body and riveted there, This
was found embedded in his flesh fifty-one years later when his body
was being prepared for burial. He then obtained admission into the
Dominican convent at Bologna. When news of this reached the ears of
his father he was greatly incensed and travelled to Bologna, intending
to remove the novice by force and compel him to complete his legal
studies. Peter refused to see his parent, but sent a message saying
that he was well and needed nothing that his relations could give him
except their prayers. Whilst the father raged and threatened, the
young man was asking as a special grace that he might neither be
unfaithful to his vocation nor forfeit the love of his parents, to
whom he was greatly attached. When an interview was at last arranged,
the father was completely softened and gave Peter his blessing.
After he was raised to the priesthood he became a celebrated preacher
and brought many to repentance and newness of life. St. Vincent Ferrer
when he visited Bologna sought him out to congratulate him on the work
he was doing and to urge him to continue labours which God had so
wonderfully blessed. Summoned as a theologian to the Council of
Florence, Bl. Peter found his learning and eloquence greatly extolled
by Pope Eugenius IV, who wished to raise him to high ecclesiastical
honours. He declined all preferment, but was obliged to accept the
post of apostolic visitor in Sicily, though he stipulated that his
powers should be limited to the restoration of regular observance in
religious houses where irregularities had crept in during the Great
Schism. In this delicate task he was entirely successful, and his
preaching to the people was no less popular than in Italy. He died at
Palermo in 1452, and his cultus was confirmed in 1784.
A picturesque story is told of Bl. Peter when he was prior of Palermo.
One day the procurator told him that there was no food in the house.
It was a Friday, and the prior, knowing that a fisherman in the
neighbourhood had had a good haul of tunny, took boat and went to beg
a few of the fish for his brethren. The man refused roughly. Peter
said nothing and started back in his boat, when lo! all the fish broke
through the nets and were escaping out to sea. The fisherman, aghast,
followed in pursuit of Peter and besought pardon. He made the sign of
the cross over the sea, and thereupon the fish again became entangled
in the nets, and the man eagerly bestowed on the prior as much fish as
he needed.
See the Acta Sanctorum, March, vol. i; Taurisano, Catalogus
Hagiographicus O.P. p. 38; Mortier, Ma=C3=AEtres G=C3=A9n=C3=A9raux O.P., v= ol. iv,
pp. 152-212 and M. A. Coniglione, Pietro Geremia (1952).
Saint Quote:
And even if the sins of soul are as dark as night, when the sinner
turns to My mercy he gives Me the greatest praise and is the glory of
My Passion. (378)
--St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in my Soul
Bible Quote:
=C2 "Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start?=C2=
Is
it not precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves?=C2 You
want something and you lack it; so you kill.=C2 You have an ambition
that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force.=C2 It is because you do not pray that you do not receive; when you do pray and
do not receive, it is because you prayed wrongly, wanting to indulge
your passions."=C2 =C2 [James 4:1-3]
<><><><>
Prayer To Mary Consoler of the Afflicted
O Immaculate Mary, Dear Mother, Consoler, I take refuge in
your most lovable Heart with all the trust of which I am capable.
You shall be dearest object of my love and my veneration.
From you, the dispenser of heavenly treasures, I shall always
seek peace in my troubles, light in my doubts, defence in my
dangers, help in my needs.
Be therefore my refuge, my strength,
my consolation O Mary Consoler.
At the hour of my death, graciously receive the last beats of my heart,
and obtain for me a place in that heavenly country, where as one,
all hearts shall praise forever the adorable Heart of Jesus,
with your most lovable Heart, O Mary, my Mother.
Consoler of the Afflicted, pray for us, who have recourse to you.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)