Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?May_25th_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Zenobius_of_Florence?=
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From : rich
Date : Sun May 23 2021 10:15:28

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

May 25th =E2=80=93 St. Zenobius of Florence
(Also known as Zanobi, Zenobio)

Born in Florence, Italy; died c. 390. Bishop Zenobius of Florence,
Italy, was a great friend of Saint Ambrose and Pope Saint Damasus. He
was well educated, particularly in philosophy. In his search for
wisdom, Zenobius discovered the folly of idolatry and opened his ears
to the Gospel preached by Christians. His parents reacted violently
against what they deemed an infraction of parental authority when they
discovered that Zenobius had been baptized privately by the bishop of
Florence. Zenobius placated them by answering with meekness and
constancy and interweaving a rational account of his faith. Soon he
was able to win them over to Christ. Because of his zealous desire to
serve Christ in His church, Zenobius was ordained a deacon. In that
role he preached with such great efficacy that his reputation became
known to both Bishop Ambrose of Milan and Pope Damasus, who called him
to Rome and sent him to Constantinople as papal legate in connection
with the Arian problem.

Upon the death of Damasus, Zenobius returned to Florence, where he
succeeded to the episcopal chair. Through his admirable humility,
modesty, abstinence, and charity, Zenobius proved himself a true
successor to the Apostles. The words of his teaching were confirmed by
miracles. The prayers and work of Zenobius was blessed with great
fruit as many people converted to the faith. Saint Zenobius died
during the reign of Honorius and his relics placed with veneration in
the great church at Florence (Benedictines, Husenbeth).

In art, Saint Zenobius is a bishop raising to life a child killed by
an ox cart. He may sometimes be shown with a child near him or with
the city of Florence behind him (or the Florentine lily on the morse
of his cope). Zenobius, patron and principal apostle of Florence, is
invoked against headache (Roeder).


Saint Quote:
O Holy Mary! My Mother; into thy blessed trust and special custody,
and into the bosom of thy mercy, I this day, and every day, and in the
hour of my death, commend my soul and body. To thee I commit all my
anxieties and sorrows, my life and the end of my life, that by thy
most holy intercession, and by thy merits, all my actions may be
directed and governed by thy will and that of thy Son.
-- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Bible Quote:
For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not
the same office:=C2  So we, being many, are one body in Christ; and every
one members one of another:=C2  And having different gifts, according to
the grace that is given us...=C2  [Rom 12:4-6a]=C2  DRB


<><><><>
O Mother and Handmaid of God
By St Methodius (c 815 =E2=80=93 885)
(Brother of St Cyril)

Your name, O Mother of God,
is replete with all graces and Divine blessings.
You have contained Him, Who cannot be contained
and nourished Him, Who nourishes all creatures.
He Who fills heaven and earth
and is the Lord of all,
was pleased to be in need of you,
for it was you who clothed Him with that flesh
which He did not have before.
Rejoice, then, O Mother and Handmaid of God!
Rejoice, because you have made Him a debtor
who gives being to all creatures.
We are all debtors to God but He is a debtor to you.
That is why, O most holy Mother of God,
you possess more goodness and greater charity,
than all the other Saints
and have freer access to God, than any of them,
for you are His Mother.
Be mindful of us, we beg you, in our miseries,
for we celebrate your glories
and know how great is your goodness.
Amen


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