Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?31_December_=E2=80=93_Blessed_Alain_de_Solminihac_OSA?= To : All From : rich Date : Wed Dec 30 2020 09:01:05 From: rich 31 December =E2=80=93 Blessed Alain de Solminihac OSA Also known as Alain de Solminihac Alamus de Solminihac Alan av Solminihac Alan of Solminihac Alanus av Solminihac Memorial 31 December 3 January (Augustinians) Bishop of Cahors from 1636 until his death, religious of the Order of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Chancelade in P=C3=A9rigueux (now the Confederation of St Augustine).=C2=A0 Blessed Alain was Abbot, Reformer, Marian devotee most especially to Our Lady of Rocamadour, Apostle of the Holy Eucharist especially by his promotion of Adoration, he was also a member of the Compagnie du Saint-Sacrement. Born on 25 November 1593 in the family castle at Belet, Dordogne, France and died on 31 December 1659, aged 66, at Mercues, Lot, France of natural causes. Patronage =E2=80=93 the Diocese of Cahors. Alain was born into an aristocratic family in castle Belet near Perigueux in France. He wanted to become a member of the Knights of Malta in order to serve God but felt a strong call to the Priesthood and to the religious life so joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Chancelade in 1613 as a postulant.=C2=A0 The completion of his theological studies soon saw him Ordained to the Priesthood on 22 September 1618.=C2=A0 While still a young man he became the Abbot of Chancelade, which had fallen into disrepair as a result of the turmoil of the times. He strove with great effort and effect to reform his brothers in the Congregation of the Canons Regular of Chancelade. In 1636 he became Bishop of Cahors. He was as a zealous shepherd of the flock with which he was entrusted. As Bishop he visited each of his 800 parishes at least nine times during the course of his episcopate and he held an episcopal consecration on one occasion. His great devotion to the Holy Eucharist prompted him to promote Eucharistic Adoration as well as restoring many pastoral devotions within his Diocese. He attended the Council of Trent and followed the lead of Saint Charles Borromeo in enforcing it=E2=80=99s decrees in his diocese. During t= his time, he met Saint Francis de Sales during Lent in 1619 and the two became friends and had many more meetings following this. Another friendship was his close relationship with Saint Vincent de Paul. His reform work not only blessed his Diocese but influenced other parts of France. Moreover, he remained always faithful to the Holy See. Misconceptions, which surrounded him, were resolved in his favour. His convincing love of neighbour made him a brilliant light of faith in 17th Century France. After a long, zealous, faithful and strenuous life he died on 31 December 1659. He was declared a Servant of God after Pope Pius VI opened his cause for sainthood on 6 August 1783 and Pope Pius XI declared him to be Venerable on 19 June 1927. St Pope John Paul II Beatified him on 4 October 1981. The miracle required for his Beatification involved the cure of Marie Ledoux on 29 June 1661 in France. Saint Quote: =E2=80=9CYou must follow the good pleasure of God as soon as you know it and accomplish it by immediately turning your eyes to God, remaining in a simple expectation, to receive another sign or command, without wasting time, delight in the satisfaction of having accomplished this adorable Will of God.=E2=80=9D --Blessed Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659) Bible Quote His disciples say to him: Behold, now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now we know that thou knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. (John 16:29-30) <><><><> He came to his own home and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God=E2=80=A6. John 1:11-12 REFLECTION =E2=80=93 =E2=80=9CLord, we have heard Your works and we have be= en astounded. We have pondered Your marvels and we have fainted. As Your Word descended, our heart has been melted and all our innermost being, trembling, has been laid bare to Him. For while silence, held all things and night, in her journey reached her mid-course, Your Almighty Word came from its royal abode (cf. Wis 18:14-15). You poured out, O Father, the tenderness of Your love upon us and You could no longer contain the multitude of Your mercies. You shed light in the darkness, dew upon the dryness and in the bitter frost, You kindled a raging fire. Your Son appeared to us as an abundance of food when grievous famine threatened, as a spring of living water, to a life in distress and fainting from thirst in the heat. Or surely, just as there is wont to appear, a strong helper and deliverer for men besieged, who are about to rush out into battle, with death before their eyes and with the enemy=E2=80=99s threatening sword (=E2=80=A6): so He appeared for us and became our Salvation. Yet it is an excellent and salutary thing to recount again the beginning of our Salvation and to treat of His incarnation, to recall whence He came and in what sort He descended.=E2=80=9D \ =E2=80=A6 St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) Cistercian Monk, Bishop =E2=80= =93 On the praises of the Blessed Mary, homily III, SC 72. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .