• =?UTF-8?Q?March_21st_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Benedict=2C_Father_of_Western_Mona

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Wed Mar 20 09:28:47 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    March 21st =E2=80=93 St. Benedict, Father of Western Monasticism

    Saint Benedict, blessed by grace as his prophetic name seemed to
    foretell, was born of a noble Italian family in Umbria, in the year
    480. As a boy he showed great inclination for virtue, and maturity in
    his actions. He was sent to Rome at the age of 7, to be placed in the
    public schools. At the age of 14, alarmed by the licentiousness of the
    Roman youth, he fled to the desert mountains of Subiaco, 40 miles from
    Rome, and was directed by the Holy Spirit into a deep, craggy, and
    almost inaccessible cave, since known as the Holy Grotto. He lived
    there for 3 years, unknown to anyone save a holy monk named Romanus,
    who clothed him with the monastic habit and brought him food.

    He was eventually discovered, when, one Easter day, God advised a
    priest who lived about four miles from there, to take food to His
    servant, who was starving. The priest searched in the hills and
    finally found the solitary, and they took their meal together. Some
    shepherds also knew of his retreat, and soon the fame of this hermit=E2=80= =99s
    sanctity began to spread. The demon persecuted him, but to no avail;
    when a temptation of the flesh assailed him, he rolled in a clump of
    thorns and nettles, and came out of it covered with blood but sound in
    spirit.

    Disciples came to him, and under his direction, numerous monasteries
    were founded. The rigor of the rule he drew up, however, brought upon
    him the hatred of some of the monks, and one of them mixed poison with
    the Abbot's drink. When the Saint made the sign of the cross on the
    poisoned bowl, it broke and fell in pieces to the ground.

    Saint Benedict resurrected a boy whose father pleaded for that
    miracle, saying =E2=80=9CGive me back my son!=E2=80=9D He replied, =E2=80= =9CSuch miracles are
    not for us to work, but for the blessed apostles! Why will you lay
    upon me a burden which my weakness cannot bear?=E2=80=9D But finally, moved=
    by
    compassion, he prostrated himself upon the body of the child, and
    prayed: =E2=80=9CBehold not, O Lord, my sins, but the faith of this man, an=
    d
    restore the soul which Thou hast taken away!=E2=80=9D And the child rose up=
    ,
    and walked to the waiting arms of his father. When a monk lost the
    iron head of his axe in a river, the Abbot told him to throw the
    handle in after it, and it rose from the river bed to resume its
    former place.

    Six days before his death, Saint Benedict ordered his grave to be
    prepared, then fell ill of a fever. On the sixth day he asked to be
    carried to the chapel, and, having received the sacred Body and Blood
    of Christ, with hands uplifted and leaning on one of his disciples, he
    calmly expired in prayer, on the 21st of March, 543.

    Reflection. The Saints never feared to undertake any work for God,
    however arduous, because distrusting self they relied for assistance
    and support wholly upon prayer.

    Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on
    Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea


    Saint Quote:
    If you want God to hear your prayers, hear the voice of the poor. If
    you wish God to anticipate your wants, provide those of the needy
    without waiting for them to ask you. Especially anticipate the needs
    of those who are ashamed to beg. To make them ask for alms is to make
    them buy it.
    --St. Thomas of Villanova


    Bible Quote
    And it came to pass afterwards, that he went into a city that is
    called Naim; and there went with him his disciples, and a great
    multitude. 12 And when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a
    dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a
    widow: and a great multitude of the city was with her. 13 Whom when
    the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, he said to her:
    Weep not. 14 And he came near and touched the bier. And they that
    carried it, stood still. And he said: Young man, I say to thee, arise.
    15 And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him
    to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on them all: and they
    glorified God, saying: A great prophet is risen up among us: and, God
    hath visited his people.=C2 (Luke 7:11-16)


    <><><><>
    O Jesus King Most Wonderful:
    From The Raccolta

    O Jesus, King most wonderful,
    Thou Conqueror renowned!
    Thou Sweetness most ineffable,
    In Whom all joys are found!

    When once Thou visitest the heart,
    Then truth begins to shine;
    The earthly vanities depart;
    Then kindles love Divine.

    O Jesus, Light of all below!
    Thou Fount of life and fire,
    Surpassing all the joys we know,
    And all we can desire!

    May every heart confess Thy Name,
    And ever Thee adore;
    And seeking Thee, itself inflame
    To seek Thee more and more.

    Thee may our tongues forever bless;
    Thee may we love alone;
    And ever in our lives express
    The image of Thine Own. Amen.

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)