• January 10th - St. Peter Orseolo

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Tue Jan 9 09:08:30 2018
    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)
  • From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sat Jan 9 09:09:58 2021
    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=E2=80=99s 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=E2=80=99s Cathedral at the Doge=E2=80=99s 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=E2=80=99s 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=E2=80=99s 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=E2=80=99s a question of ultimate values, is= n=E2=80=99t it?
    Must not time bow to eternity?
    =E2=80=93Father Robert


    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)


    <><><><>
    A Prayer for a Pure Heart and Heavenly Wisdom

    Strengthen me, O Lord God, by the grace of Your Holy Spirit.(Ps.
    51:12) Grant me inward power and strength (Eph.3:16) and empty my
    heart of all profitless anxiety and care.(Matt.5:34) Let me never be
    drawn away from You by desire for anything else, whether noble or
    base, but help me to realize that all things are passing, and myself
    with them. Nothing in this world is lasting, and everything in this
    life is uncertain, troubling to the spirit (Eccles.1:14; 2:11) How
    wise is the man who knows these truths! Grant me heavenly wisdom, O
    Lord, that above all else I may learn to search for and discover You;
    to know and love You; and to see all things as they really are and as
    You in Thy wisdom have ordered them. May I prudently avoid those who
    flatter me, and deal patiently with those who oppose me. True wisdom
    cannot be swayed by every wordy argument, (Eph.4:14) and pays no
    regard to the cunning flatteries of evil men. Only thus shall we go
    forward steadily on the road on which we have set out.
    --Thomas =C3=A0 Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 27




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