From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
January 10th - St. Peter Orseolo
(928-987)
An offbeat saint was Peter Orseolo, first the ruler of Venice, then a Benedictine monk in the French Pyrenees. Peter was born into a
distinguished family of the republic of Venice. He married at 18. When
he was 20, he commanded the Venetian fleet in a successful effort to
conquer the pirates that infested the Adriatic Sea.
In 976, there was a popular rising during which the ruler of Venice,
Doge Peter IV Candiano, was murdered. (The head of the Venetian
Republic had borne the title Doge, that is duke, since 697 AD.)
Orseolo probably played some role in this revolution, owing to his
prominence. He was elected to succeed Peter Candiano in the office and
he held the post for two years.
Doge Peter Orseolo's term was brief but marked by good rule. He
promoted peace, solved a burning issue involving the claims of the
widow of his predecessor, built hospitals and took care of widows,
orphans, and pilgrims. St. Mark's Cathedral at the Doge's p=
alace had
been destroyed during the uprising. Doge Orseolo began the
reconstruction with his own funds.
One day at Mass Doge Peter heard read the gospel passage from Luke,
=E2=80=9CHe who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my discipl= e.=E2=80=9D
This experience served to bring into focus a desire the Doge had long
thought about -- to become a monk. He had always been a devout man at
heart. After the birth of his son, he and his wife agreed to live
henceforth as brother and sister.
Suddenly on the night of September 1, 978, the Doge left Venice for
France with two other Venetian men and Abbot Guarin to become a monk
of the latter's reformed abbey on the mountainous French-Spanish
border. Although his wife and son did not yet know where he was, there
was apparently a mutual consent between the pair. Nor did he neglect
his son in taking flight to a nobler form of life. Although he was
happy to be relieved of the chaotic political concerns of Venetian
public life, he carefully instructed his son in the virtues of a
Christian ruler. When that son became Doge (992-1009), he ruled well
and the prestige of Venice was restored.
Once clothed in the habit at Cuxa Abbey, the ex-Doge set out seriously
to become a model monk. He was strong in self-denial and chose to
undertake the most menial tasks of the monastery. Eventually he asked
to embrace the still stricter life of a hermit. This was quite likely
on the recommendation of his friend St. Romuald, another Italian monk
at Cuxa, who would subsequently found in Italy the order of
Camaldolite hermits.
Peter Orseolo died with the reputation for holiness and soon became
venerated as a saint. Many miracles were reported through his
intercession. His relics were brought back to Venice in 1027. In 1731
the Holy See confirmed his veneration at Cuxa and Venice and later
permitted his feast to be celebrated by all Benedictine and
Camaldolite monks.
St. Peter Orseolo's career was unusual but admirable. As a civil ru=
ler
he served his community conscientiously. But as a wise man he chose
the cross in place of the crown.
St. Paul told the Colossians, =E2=80=9CBe intent on things above rather tha=
n
on things of earth.=E2=80=9D It's a question of ultimate values, is=
n't it?
Must not time bow to eternity?
=E2=80=93Father Bob
Saint Quote:
Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is
sorrow for sin, together with a purpose of amendment; confession of
sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works.
--St. Thomas Aquinas
Bible Quote:
Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for of
such is the kingdom of God. (St. Mark 10:14)
<><><><>
Canticle 1 Samuel 2
The song of Hannah, mother of Samuel
My heart rejoices in the Lord,
my strength is raised up in the name of my God.
I cry out in triumph over my enemies
as I rejoice in your deliverance.
No-one is like the Lord, for he is holy;
no-one is like our God, for he is strong.
Do not pile boasting upon boasting:
keep proud words far from your mouth,
for the Lord is the God of all knowledge
and the judge of all actions.
The bow of the mighty is broken,
and the weak are clothed in strength.
Those who fed well must hire themselves out, for bread;
but the hungry are hungry no longer.
The barren woman has given birth to many;
but she who had many sons is left desolate.
The Lord brings death and brings life;
he leads down to the underworld and rescues from it.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he lays low and raises up.
He lifts the needy from the dust and the poor from the dunghill
to sit among princes
to sit on the throne of glory.
To the Lord belong the poles of the earth;
from them he has suspended the world.
He will keep safe the feet of his chosen,
but the impious will be silent in the darkness
=E2=80=93 for it is not by his own strength that a man becomes strong.
The Lord grinds down his enemies:
he will thunder on them from the heavens.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth,
give dominion to his king,
and raise up the standard of his anointed one.;
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beg
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)