From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
June 10th - Blessed Diana d'Andalo
Memorial 10 June
8 June or 9 June on some calendars
The first cloistered nuns of the Dominican Order are not necessarily
as =E2=80=9Cfamous=E2=80=9D as their counterpart in other orders, such as S=
t. Clare of
Assisi; nor even as well-known as their own later Third Order sisters,
St. Catherine of Siena and St. Rose of Lima. Yet there were, from the beginning, women whose prayers in the cloister supported the Holy
Preaching. The best known of these is Blessed Diana d'Andalo of
Bologna, a young woman whose life was touched by the three most famous
friars of the new Order of Preachers. In his book, To Heaven With
Diana, Gerald Vann writes, =E2=80=9COf her childhood we know nothing; but w=
e
know a good deal about her as she was when she first came into contact
with the friars. She was of outstanding beauty. ...Her contemporaries
also speak of her as eloquent and learned; and there is no doubt about
her charm, her high spirits, her courage, and that faculty of making
swift and sure decisions which, as one of her modern biographers
remarks, is often found in women who have been brought up in the
society of men. She was full of the joy of living=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D
Around the year 1218 Diana was deeply inspired on hearing the
preaching of Reginald of Orleans, and determined that there should be
a monastery of Dominican nuns in Bologna. Diana made her desire known
to the Dominican friars there, and when St. Dominic himself visited
Bologna in 1221, she made a vow at his feet to establish a monastery,
and to become a nun herself. Shortly thereafter, she fled by night to
the Augustinian nuns, but was followed by her brothers, who brought
her back to their home with such a struggle that some of her ribs were
broken. Diana bided her time as her injuries healed. In 1223 she
escaped again to the Augustinians. This time her family left her in
peace. The new Monastery of St. Agnes was built in Bologna, and Diana
was made the first prioress. Owing to her youth and lack of
experience, however, she was soon replaced as prioress by Sister
Cecilia Caesarini from St. Dominic's recent foundation at San Sisto=
in
Rome. Almost exactly Diana's age, Sister Cecilia was already a more
experienced nun. She was appointed by the new Master of the Order,
Jordan of Saxony, who thought that a more experienced prioress would
help build up the new Bolognese monastery.
Diana made her greatest contribution to the Order in saving all the correspondence that Jordan of Saxony wrote to her in the early years
of the Order. He wrote variously about the unfolding history of the
Order, the many novices who joined it, and his sorrow at the death of
friends. Sometimes he served as her spiritual director. Without
Diana's careful preservation of Bl. Jordan's letters, we wo=
uld lack
what was compiled as the Libellus, the single greatest source of early Dominican history. Diana died in 1236.
Commenting of Diana's holiness of life, Gerald Vann concludes, =E2=
=80=9CDiana
herself had her own very distinctive gifts; and as her religious life
went on she learned with Jordan's help and guidance how to free the=
m
from what was imperfect in them, how to use them for her religious
family's progress in goodness and peace and happiness, how to make
them a more and more perfect offering to God from whom they came.=E2=80=9D
Most significantly, Vann gives us from P=C3=A8re Hyacinthe Cormier, O.P.,
an insight into the grace which Bl. Diana came to personify in her
living of Dominican life, that of perfect love.
<><><><>
All things whatsoever that they command you, observe and do.=C2 (Matt. 2=
3:3)
Saint Quote:
"Obedience is, without doubt, more meritorious than any austerity.
And what greater austerity can be thought of than that of keeping one's
will constantly submissive and obedient"?
--St. Catherine of Bologna
=C2 =C2 When St. Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi was sick, she was accustomed
to refuse any delicate food or costly medicine that was offered her;
but if the bringer required her to take it as an act of obedience,
she made no further objections; but saying only "Blessed be God
she would instantly take it.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints".=C2 June - Obedience)
Bible Quote
But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,
he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever
I shall have said to you.=C2 (John 14:26)
<><><><>
Prayer
"Lord Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your love
and mercy, and the power of your word that sets us free, and brings
healing and restoration to body, mind, heart, and spirit."
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)