Subj : January 10th - St. Peter Orseolo To : All From : rich Date : Sat Jan 09 2021 09:09:58 From: rich 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) .