Subj : September 3rd - Blessed Guala of Brescia, Bishop, Visionary To : All From : rich Date : Wed Sep 02 2020 10:23:31 From: rich September 3rd - Blessed Guala of Brescia, Bishop, Visionary (also known as Walter or William of Bergamo) Born in Bergamo, Italy; died in San Sepolcro d'Astino, Italy, in 1244; cultus approved in 1868 by Pope Pius IX. Guala was one of the first disciples of Saint Dominic, attracted by the Dominican ideal in 1219, when he heard the founder preach. He received the habit from Dominic at the time the friary opened in Bergamo. After a short novitiate, he was appointed prior there. Guala proved to be an able superior and a practical administrator and builder. He was on the committee that planned the convent of Saint Agnes in Bologna. During a delay in the construction of the convent because of the opposition of the family of Blessed Diana d'Andal=C3=B2, who was financing the project, Guala was sent to Brescia to assume the position of its first prior. During this period Guala had the revelation of Saint Dominic's greatness that became the subject of many early legends. Although they were good friends, Guala did not know that Dominic was dying on their return from a chapter. Guala had fallen asleep with his head leaning against the belltower of the conventual church at Brescia when he had a vision of two ladders coming down from heaven. Our Lord was visible at the top of one ladder, and Our Lady at the top of the other. Angels were ascending and descending on them. As Guala watched, a friar, who sat at the foot of one ladder with his face covered was drawn up to heaven and great glory surrounded him. Guala awoke, deeply affected by the vision, and went immediately to Bologna, where he found that Saint Dominic had died at the time of his vision. In 1226, Guala was named the prior of Bologna's Saint Nicholas abbey, famous for its regularity and fervor. While there, Pope Honorius III appointed him arbiter between Bologna and Modena. Guala worked hard to forge a treaty that lasted 10 years. The following year Pope Gregory IX asked him to negotiate between Emperor Frederick II and the Lombard confederacy--an even more daunting diplomatic task. Guala was also commissioned to convince Frederick to keep his vow to lead a crusade. He was unable to resolve matters between the parties, but at least they maintained the status quo of an uneasy peace. In 1228, Guala was consecrated bishop of Brescia. As such, he negotiated a number of treaties between warring cities. Frederick broke all the promises he had made and attacked the cities that had remained loyal to the pope. In 1238, Frederick's army besieged Brescia, but the attackers had to withdraw within 3 months, which is credited to Guala. Guala's contemporaries described him as "a man of great prudence, well acquainted with the world, and of accomplished manners," and said that "he governed the diocese entrusted to his care with such holiness that, both during his life and after his death, he wrought many wonders through God." The years of labor and civil strife wore him down. He resigned his see in 1242 in order to enter complete seclusion and pray without interruption in preparation for death. Therefore, he retired to the Vallumbrosan monastery of San Sepolcro d'Astino, where he lived as a hermit until his death. He was buried in the Benedictine church, and after many miracles at his tomb, his cause was promoted (Benedictines, Dorcy, Encyclopedia). Saint Quote: We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self. --Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Bible Quote: "If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into fiery Gehenna"=C2 (Matthew 18:8-9). <><><><> Prayer Of Trust In the Immaculate Heart To the refuge of thine Immaculate Heart, O Heavenly Mother Mary, I come to be enclosed as in a most choice garden of sweetness and delight. I am the [son/daughter] of thine Immaculate Heart, O Mother of God. Thou, O Spouse of the Holy Ghost, Daughter of God the Father, Mother of the Son, in thy loving relationship to the Most Blessed Trinity, serve as Mediatrix of all grace that comes to me from the Heavenly throne, flowing forth from the Sacred Heart of thy Son, passing through the Immaculate Heart of thy Heavenly intercession.The love of thine Immaculate Heart showing forth in tender care gives me confidence in thee, O Heavenly Mother Mary. In thee I trust. Thine intercession, united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is powerful to tend to every need of body and soul upon earth and to lead me lovingly home to thine eternal embrace, where thou wilt introduce me to thy Divine Son, with the Holy Ghost dwelling always in my soul, and the Heavenly Father forever providing for my every temporal and spiritual need as all three Persons in the one Godhead see in thee, O Mary , the Mother of this thy [son/daughter] upon earth. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .