Subj : May 4th - Bl. Catherine of Parc-aux-Dames, Virgin
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Mon May 03 2021 10:23:17

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

May 4th - Bl. Catherine of Parc-aux-Dames, Virgin
(13th v. became famous for her visions and miracles)

BL. CATHERINE of Parc-aux-Dames was the daughter of Jewish parents,
resident in the city of Louvain. Amongst the constant visitors to
their house was the duke of Brabant's chaplain, Master Rayner, with
whom his host used to have long discussions on religious subjects.
From the time she was five years old, little Rachel--as she was then
called--was an attentive listener to these talks and one day the
priest, noticing her eager expression, said to her, =E2=80=9CRachel, would =
you
like to become a Christian?=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CYes--if you would tell me how=
!=E2=80=9D was the
prompt reply.

From that time Master Rayner began to give her instruction in the
faith as occasion offered. Rachel's parents, however, became uneasy=
 at
the change which was taking place in their child, and when she was in
her seventh year decided to send her away beyond the Rhine, to remove
her from Christian influences. Rachel was greatly distressed at the
prospect, but one night she had a vision of our Lady, who gave her a
staff and bade her escape. The girl arose at once, slipped out of the
house and made her way to the priest, by whom she was taken to the
Cistercian nuns in the abbey of Parc-aux-Dames, a mile and a half from
Louvain. There she was baptized and clothed with the habit of the
order, assuming the name of Catherine. Her parents appealed to the
bishop of Louvain, to the duke of Brabant and even to Pope Honorius,
that their daughter might be restored to them--at any rate till she
was 12 years old. The bishop and the duke favoured the claim, but it
was successfully opposed by Engelbert, archbishop of Cologne, and
William, abbot of Clairvaux. Catherine accordingly remained at
Parc-aux-Dames until her death, and became famous for her visions and
miracles.

See the account in the Acta Sanctorum, May, vol. i, which is mainly
compiled from such Cistercian sources as Caesarius of Heisterbach and
Henriquez. But the Dominican Thomas de Cantimprd also vouches for the
truth of the story, from his personal knowledge of Catherine.


Saint Quote:
Learn from Saint Th=C3=A9r=C3=A8se to depend on God alone and serve Him wit=
h a
wholly pure and detached heart. Then, like her, you will be able to
say =E2=80=98I do not regret that I have given myself up to Love'.
-- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Bible Quote
So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your
heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.=C2  =C2 (=
John
16:22)


<><><><>
HAPPINESS IS JESUS THE LORD

I wake up in the morning to face another day,
A day filled first with gladness,
For I have learned to pray.
I lift my eyes to Heaven, and ask what I can do to
Face another working day
Along the path to You?
Temptations are beside me, for me to cast aside;
For there has been a promise
To be Your loving bride.
I open wide the door, steadfastly on my way,
To give and take the worst and best
With every passing day.
My mission fills my heart,
There is no room for fear,
I'll always tell the story
Of when you came so near.
They'll never quite believe me,
Though what I say is true
That all these visions that I saw,
Were gifts that came from You!
--St. Teresa

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

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