Subj : December 23rd - St. Servulus To : All From : rich Date : Sat Dec 22 2018 07:31:44 From: rich December 23rd - St. Servulus 6th Century Pope St. Gregory the Great is the only writer who has recorded the touching story of this humble Roman saint of his own day. Like the Lazarus of our Lord's parable of the rich man and the poor man, St. Servulus was a crippled beggar whose piety won him a place =E2=80=9Cin Abraham's bosom.=E2=80=9D Servulus, the pope tells us, was paralyzed from infancy. He could not stand. He could not sit up. He could not carry his hand to his mouth. He could not turn himself about. For even the basic services of life he had to depend on others. The poor cripple could do nothing to support himself but beg alms. (There was no state welfare in those days, nor was there any system of private charities for the badly disabled.) So his mother and brother carried him daily to a spot in the porch of St. Clement's Church in Rome. There he besaught the charity of churchgoers and passersby. What was remarkable about this poor man was his devout acceptance of disability. True to his name (=E2=80=9CServulus=E2=80=9D means =E2=80=9Clit= tle servant=E2=80=9D), he did not use his ailments as an excuse to neglect the love of God and neighbor. Whatever alms he received beyond his own needs, he passed on to others. With some of the gifts, he brought books on sacred scripture. Although unable to read himself, he had others read to him; and he memorized, pondered and prayed over what he heard. He likewise learned a number of hymns of praise and thanksgiving, and often sang them as he lay on the cold threshold. Singing served the double effect of honoring God and dulling pain. All this went on, we are told, for a good many years. Eventually, however, Servulus sensed that his life was coming to an end. Confined to his bed at home, he asked that the poor and the pilgrims whom he had come to know, gather at his bedside and join him in singing hymns. Suddenly he cried out. =E2=80=9CDo you hear the great and beautiful music i= n heaven?=E2=80=9D These were his last words. His soul, ever beautiful and agile, left the prison of his contorted frame. The devout beggar of St. Clement's was buried in the very church wh= ere he had begged. Each year on December 23, St. Clement's celebrates t= he feast day of its own special mendicant. St. Gregory speaks of St. Servulus as if he knew him well. He says that one of his own monks who attended the death and funeral commented on the sweet fragrance that arose from the body of the dead cripple. The pope found a profound lesson in the virtues of this wise paralytic. He cried shame upon those people gifted with health and wealth who complained of far lighter crosses and were stingy with their possessions. For St. Servulus, life itself was a gift beyond compare. Saint Quote: In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal. St. Bernard Bible Quote: "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) <><><><> Meditation =C2 =C2 We seek God's presence and "they who seek shall find." It is = not a question of searching so much as an inner consciousness of the Divine spirit in your heart. To realize God's presence you must surrender to His will in the small as well as in the big things of life. This makes God's guidance possible. Some things separate you from God--a false word, a fear-inspired failure, a harsh criticism, a stubborn resentment. These are the things that put a distance between your mind and God. A word of love, a selfless reconciliation, and a kind act of helpfulness--these bring God closer. =C2 =C2 I pray that I may think and say and do the things that bring = God closer to me. I pray that I may find Him in a sincere prayer, a kind word, or an unselfish deed. =C2 From Twenty-Four Hours a Day --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .