Subj : February 1st - Blessed Reginald of Saint-Gilles To : All From : rich Date : Thu Jan 31 2019 08:21:32 From: rich February 1st - Blessed Reginald of Saint-Gilles, OP (also known as Reginald of Orl=C3=A9ans) Born at Saint-Gilles, Languedoc, France, c. 1183; died 1220; cultus confirmed in 1885. Reginald received his training at the University of Paris and thereafter taught canon law from 1206 to 1211 with great success. Because of his evident talents and virtues, he was appointed dean of the cathedral chapter (Saint-Agnan) of Orl=C3=A9ans. Here as in Paris, he was renowned for the brilliance of his mind and the eloquence of his preaching, as well as for his tender devotion to the Mother of God. Since he was a very zealous young man, Reginald was not content with his life as it was. He was in truth leading a very holy life, but he yearned for more. He determined on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, perhaps to pray for light to know his vocation, and on his way to Jerusalem he visited Rome. Here he discussed his desires with Cardinal Hugh de Segni, explaining that he felt a great call to the primitive poverty and preaching of the apostles but knew of no way to realize his hopes. The cardinal replied that he knew the exact answer to his seeking and sent him to Saint Dominic, who was in Rome at the time. Reginald hastened to open his heart to the holy founder, and at Saint Dominic's words he knew he had come to the end of his seeking. Reginald had scarcely made his decision to enter the Dominican order when he became so ill that his life was in danger. Saint Dominic, who was greatly attracted to the young man and knew what an influence for good he would be in the order, prayed earnestly for his recovery. It was said of Dominic that he never asked anything of God that he did not obtain. In any case, it was the Queen of Heaven herself who came to cure the dying man and ransom him a little time on earth. Our Lady, accompanied by Saint Cecilia and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, appeared at Reginald's bedside and anointed him with a heavenly perfume. The Blessed Mother showed him a long white scapular and told him it was to be a part of the habit of the order. Going away, she left him completely cured and filled with great joy. The friars, who until that time, 1218, had worn the garb of the canons regular, gladly changed to the scapular especially designed for them by the Mother of God. Reginald was himself clothed with the Dominican habit, and in fulfillment of his vows proceeded to the Holy Land. On his return, Reginald embarked on his brief but brilliant career of preaching. In Bologna and in Paris, his eloquence and the shining beauty of his life drew hundreds to follow him into the order. Among these were not only students but many famous professors and doctors of law. One of his greatest conquests was the young German dynamo, Jordan of Saxony, who was to be like Reginald himself=E2=80=94a kidnapper of souls for the service of God. The first to be given the scapular and the first to wear the Dominican habit in the Holy Land, Reginald was also the first Dominican to die in it. Consumed with the fiery zeal of his work, he died in 1220, mourned by the entire order, when he had worn the habit scarcely two years. He displayed no fear of death=E2=80=94perhaps Our Lady had told him,= on the occasion of the cure, that he was only loaned to life and the order=E2=80=94but received the last sacraments with touching devotion (Benedictines, Dorcy). In art, Reginald is generally portrayed in his sick bed being attended by Saint Dominic, at whose prayer the Blessed Virgin appears with two female saints to anoint Reginald. He may also be shown as a Dominican offering his scapular to the Virgin (Roeder). Saint Quote: Be careful to be found a wise and faithful servant, and communicate the heavenly to your fellow servants without envy or idleness. Do not take up the vain excuse of your rawness of inexperience which you may imagine or assume. For sterile modesty is never pleasing, not that humility laudable which passes the bounds of reason. Attend to your work; drive out bashfulness by a sense of duty, and act as a master. But I am not sufficient for these things, you say. As if your offering were not accepted from what you have, and not from what you have not. Be prepared to answer for the single talent committed to your charge, and take no thought for the test. For he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Give all, as assuredly you shall pay to the uttermost farthing; but of a truth out of what you have, not what you have not. --Bernard of Clairvaux Bible Quote: =C2 =C2 "There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which a= re =C2 =C2 =C2 an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, an= d hands =C2 =C2 =C2 that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked p= lans, =C2 =C2 =C2 feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utte= rs lies, =C2 =C2 =C2 and one who spreads strife among brothers"=C2 (Prov.= 6:16-19). <><><><> Lead Gently Lord, And Slow1 2/6/2015 =C2 By Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) =C2 Lead gently, Lord, and slow, =C2 =C2 For oh, my steps are weak, =C2 And ever as I go, =C2 =C2 Some soothing sentence speak; =C2 That I may turn my face =C2 =C2 Through doubt's obscurity =C2 Toward thine abiding-place, =C2 =C2 E'en tho' I cannot see. =C2 For lo, the way is dark; =C2 =C2 Through mist and cloud I grope, =C2 Save for that fitful spark, =C2 =C2 The little flame of hope. =C2 Lead gently, Lord, and slow, =C2 =C2 For fear that I may fall; =C2 I know not where to go =C2 =C2 Unless I hear thy call. =C2 My fainting soul doth yearn =C2 =C2 For thy green hills afar; =C2 So let thy mercy burn-- =C2 =C2 My greater, guiding star! --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .