Subj : February 14th - Blessed Nicholas Palea, Visionary To : All From : rich Date : Sat Feb 13 2021 09:16:10 From: rich February 14th - Blessed Nicholas Palea, Visionary (also known as Nicholas the Prior) Born in Giovinazzo near Bari, Naples; died in Perugia, Italy, in 1255; cultus confirmed in 1828. Born of a noble Neapolitan family, Nicholas was named for the great wonder-worker who had once lived in the kingdom. At 8 he was already practicing austerities. He would not eat meat, even on feast days, because he had been favored by a vision of a young man of great majesty who told him to prepare for a lifetime of mortifications in an order that kept perpetual abstinence. Sent to Bologna for his studies, he met Saint Dominic and was won by him to the new order. He was the companion of Saint Dominic on several of the founder's journeys to Italy, and warmed his heart at the very source of the new fire which was to mean resurrection to so many souls. Saint Nicholas of Bari had been noted for his astounding miracles, and his young namesake began following in his footsteps while yet a novice. When on a journey with several companions, he met a woman with a withered arm. Making the Sign of the Cross over her, he cured her of the affliction. At one time, as he entered his native Bari, he found a woman weeping beside the body of her child, who had been drowned in a well. He asked the woman the name of the child, and being told it was Andrew, he replied, "After this, it's Nicholas. Nicholas, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise!" The little one revived, alive and well. The child of his sister Colette, mute from birth, brought her famous uncle a basket of bread. "Who sent the bread, child?" Nicholas asked her. "My mother," she replied, and from then on she was cured. As provincial of the Roman province, Nicholas was wise, prudent, and kind. He established priories in Perugia in 1233 and Trani in 1254. He received many novices and did much of his work among the young religious. Once he was called to the assistance of a novice who had been deceived by the devil and would not go to confession. He showed the young man the true state of his soul and undid the work of the evil one. Nicholas earned great fame as a preacher. On one occasion, when he was preaching in the cathedral of Brescia, two irreverent young men began disturbing the congregation and soon made such a commotion that Nicholas could not make himself heard. Nicholas left the cathedral to go to a neighboring hill and there called to the birds to come to listen to him. Like the birds in the similar story of Saint Francis, flocks of feathered creatures fluttered down at his feet and listened attentively while he preached. At the end of the sermon they flew away singing. After a lifetime of preaching and miracles, Nicholas, forewarned of his death by a visit from a brother who had been dead many years, went happily to receive the reward of the faithful. Miracles continued to occur at his tomb and through his intercession. Among these was the miracle by which life was given to a baby born dead. His parents had promised to name the baby Nicholas if the favor were granted, and to their great joy their child lived (Benedictines, Dorcy). In art, Saint Nicholas is presented as a Dominican with a birch and a book (Roeder). He is venerated in Giovinazzo and Perugia, Italy (Roeder). Saint Quotes: "Take away justice, and what are kingdoms but mighty bands of robbers " "And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and so great evils peace. ... they sacrifice their own children, ... they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery: And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good, -- St. Augustine (Doctor, 354-430) -- "City of God" Bible Quotes: "Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness" ... for two things they shall be punished, because they have thought not well of God ... and have sworn unjustly in guile despising justice. (Wisdom 14:22-26) "the land is filled with blood, and the city is filled with perverseness: for they have said: The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. Therefore neither shall my eye spare, nor will I have pity: I will requite their way upon their head"=C2 (Ezechiel 9:9-10) <><><><> STORMING HEAVEN I have one foot in Heaven dear Jesus, So don't think of slamming the door! My arms are quite loaded with graces; Please don't say that I'll need much more! I could ransom my soul with a good heart, Or the souls that I=E2=80=98ve tried to bring You. I could gather the Prayers, the hard knocks, The sparse wares=E2=80=94 But would that be enough to please You? In my hand there's an earthly visa Signed by Mary and dear Saint Theresa. They had told me=E2=80=94it's true, That whatever I do, Do with love, and it's sure to please you! So I'll plead my cause once more=E2=80=94 Won't You please Jesus, open the door? My soul may have been weak with sin, But that all changed when I let You in! So those doors will be opened wide=E2=80=94 I'll see all Paradise inside. Then I'll bask in the light that binds, A true soul to the Heaven he finds! --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .