• =?UTF-8?Q?August_16th_=E2=80=93_Bl=2E_Laurence_Loricatus=2C_Solitary?=

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Thu Aug 15 09:24:17 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    August 16th =E2=80=93 Bl. Laurence Loricatus, Solitary

    Born at Fanello or Facciolo, Apulio, Italy, c. 1190; died at Subiaco
    in 1243; cultus approved in 1778 by Pius VI., and while
    still a young man had the misfortune accidentally to kill another. In
    expiation he made a pilgrimage of penance to Compostela, and on his
    return in 1209 went to Subiaco, where he joined a community but was
    soon given permission to be a solitary.=C2 He lived in a mountain cave
    near by the Sacro Speco of St. Benedict for 33 years, and practised
    terrific mortifications of the body: the name Loricatus, "the
    cuirassier", was given to him because of the coat of mail studded with
    sharp points which he wore next his skin.=C2 His cultus was approved in
    1778.

    An account of him is given in the Acta Sanctorum, August, vol. iii,
    which possesses interest from the fact that it embodies documents
    compiled in 1244 during an investigation undertaken at the insistence
    of Pope Innocent IV.

    Laurence was raised to be a soldier, but when he
    accidentally killed a man, he was overcome with remorse.
    Laying aside his arms, he made a pilgrimage of penance
    and expiation to Santiago de Compostella. Upon his return to Italy, he
    entered the Benedictine monastery of Subiaco. He obtained permission
    to begin his 34 years of eremitical life among the ruins of one of the
    12 monasteries founded on the mountain by Saint Benedict. There he
    practiced the strictest poverty by giving away any offerings left by
    visitors to the poor. Shepherds and pilgrims who discovered his hiding
    place soon joined him in building a small community. He was given the
    surname "loricatus" because he wore a coat of chain mail next to his
    skin as an act of penance. His fame attracted Cardinal Hugolino
    (a.k.a. Pope Gregory IX) who persuaded Laurence in 1224 to take off
    his breastplate.

    =C2 At the death of Laurence, Amico de Canterano, who had shared his life
    for 24 years, succeeded him as the leader. He wrote a book of prayers
    that is still extant. Although Pope Innocent IV opened the
    canonization process for Laurence in 1244--just a year after his
    death, it was never completed. His relics, including a manuscript in
    his own hand and his breastplate, are enshrined at the Sagro Speco
    (Saint Benedict's Cave) at Subiaco (Benedictines, Farmer) .


    Saint Quote:
    =C2 =C2 Jesus is working on the ups and downs of human existence: prep=
    aring
    his three leaders for the trials of the Passion by giving them
    something to remember, a moment of glory. Peter wants it to go on for
    ever, to settle down there where it felt so good. Instead Jesus brings
    them down the mountain, bracing them for the bad times ahead.
    =C2 =C2 We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does=
    not
    depend on material success, but on Jesus alone.
    --St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

    Bible Quote:
    =C2 =C2 "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, trusting in hors=
    es,
    and putting their confidence in chariots, because they are many; and
    in horsemen, because they are very strong; and have not trusted in the
    Holy One of Israel, and have not sought after the Lord. Egypt is man,
    and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit; and the Lord
    shall put down his hand, and the helper shall fall, and he that is
    helped shall fall, and they shall all be confounded together." (Isa.
    31:1,3).


    <><><><>
    Angels--Their Unclouded Happiness

    Happiness consists in the unimpeded activity of every part of our
    nature. The nobler our nature, the greater our capacity for happiness.
    Perfect happiness consists in full activity of a perfect nature. The
    Angels have a nature perfect in its order and degree, and their whole
    nature is occupied with the joy of seeing God face to face. Hence
    their happiness is perfect. So too will my happiness be one day, if I
    am faithful to God.

    Happiness requires that we should look forward to the future without
    any misgivings or fear lest we should forfeit our present joy. The
    Holy Angels know that for all eternity nothing in Heaven or on earth
    can cloud the brightness of their vision of God, or hinder the streams
    of delight that flow thence to them unceasingly. We on the other hand
    dread coming evils. Yet why should we do so, when all things work
    together for good to those who love God? If we loved God more, what we
    now fear as evil would lose all its power to terrify us. What we now
    dread most would be gladly accepted by us as certain in the end to
    work for our good.

    The Holy Angels never have their wills crossed, never are thwarted,
    never are disappointed, because they have no will save God's. Before
    they know His will, they tend to do what seems to them the greatest
    good. But they always do so under the condition that God does not will otherwise. Their own will disappears when His is known to them. This
    is the secret of happiness in this world as well as in the next.
    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)