Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?May_29th_=E2=80=93_Martyrs_of_Toulouse?= To : All From : rich Date : Mon May 28 2018 10:13:45 From: rich May 29th =E2=80=93 Martyrs of Toulouse [18] (died 1242) Saint William Arnaud and 11 companions dies in Avignonet, France, and are known as the =E2=80=9CMartyrs of Toulouse.=E2=80=9D William, a Dominica= n friar, was sent with his companions by Pope Gregory IX, appointed inquisitors, to the regions of France to combat heresy which was spreading under the guise of Albigensianism (a theory of dualism which considered the body evil, thereby preventing resurrection. Christ was thought to have not been man, given that he would have succumbed to evil, had he been. This theory removed the Sacraments of the Church, replacing them with pagan rituals for purification). Along with William, were Bernard of Roquefort and Garcia d'Aure of Comminges, both Dominicans. Two Franciscan friars accompanied them, Stephen Saint-Thibery and Raymond Cortisan. A Benedictine friar, Raymond Cortison, referred to as =E2=80=9Cthe Writer=E2=80=9D originally fr= om Toulouse, joined them, as did Bernard from the cathedral of Toulouse. Pietro d'Arnaud, notary of the Inquisitors, and Fortanerio and Adhemar, clerics of the Inquisitors, completed the group of martyrs. This group of brave men found most every door to them closed in Toulouse, under penalty of punishment from the ruling count at the time. They set up a small farmhouse outside the city gates, preaching throughout the countryside with great success. Many were converted, and many miracles of healing were performed. Eventually, their presence became threatening to the local government, who lured the holy men to an ambush by spreading word that the ruling Count--an acquaintance of Saint William--was ready to reject his heretical beliefs and return to the Church. On the eve of the Ascension of Our Lord, the martyrs, having received a heavenly vision of their imminent martyrdom, traveled as a group to the castle of Count Raymond III of Toulouse, where his soldiers fell upon them in the great hall, slaughtering 7 of the 11. The remaining four--including William--escaped to a local Church, where they were found by the soldiers singing the Te Deum. It was here, in the church, that they were murdered--an act unforgivable in Medieval times due to the principle of sanctuary. Particularly angered by the singing, the soldiers first cut out Saint William's tongue, prior to killing him= ... The bodies of the martyrs were thrown down a ravine and large boulders were rolled on top of them. As evening fell, however, bright, heavenly lights streamed from their bodies, leading the faithful to them to collect their relics. They were interred in the Church of San Romano at the monastery in Toulouse. The church of Avignonet where they were murdered was placed under interdict, the doors closed and locked, because of the sacrilege, and for 40 years no Mass was celebrated there. When the interdict was lifted, the bells rang of themselves, according to legend, to let people know that Avignonet was once more a member of the living Church. Saint Quote We therefore grossly deceive ourselves in not allotting more time to the study of divine truths. It is not enough barely to believe them, and let our thoughts now and then glance upon them: that knowledge which shows us heaven, will not bring us to the possession of it, and will deserve punishments, not rewards, if it remain slight, weak, and superficial. By serious and frequent meditation it must be concocted, digested, and turned into the nourishment of our affections, before it can be powerful and operative enough to change them, and produce the necessary fruit in our lives. For this all the saints affected solitude and retreats from the noise and hurry of the world, as much as their circumstances allowed them. --St. Apollinaris Bible Quote: 4 Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious; 5 and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 2:4-5] RSVCE <><><><> EJACULATIONS TO THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT I adore Thee at all moments, O living Bread, come down from heaven, most august Sacrament. O Jesus, beloved Son of the Virgin Mary, I pray Thee to bless my soul. To Thee I consecrate my heart, O most blessed Jesus, my dear Saviour. Mayest Thou be known, adored, and loved by all, and may thanks be continually given to Thee in the Most Holy and most august Sacrament. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .