Subj : March 10th - Bl. Peter Geremia To : All From : rich Date : Sat Mar 09 2019 08:04:05 From: rich March 10th - Bl. Peter Geremia d. 1452 THE life of this holy man was written by one of his brethren who knew him well and had lived with him in the same friary. Born in Palermo, Peter was the son of a jurist and fiscal agent to King Alfonso I and at the age of eighteen was sent to the University of Bologna to study law with a view to succeeding to his father's office. There he made such progress that he was often called upon to take the chair of the professor when the latter was prevented from delivering his lectures. Peter was on the eve of taking his degree when he had a strange experience which he ever afterwards looked upon as a supernatural interposition. He was sitting one evening in his room, buried in study, when he was disturbed by loud and persistent rapping on his window--which was on the third story. Startled, he inquired who the unseen visitor could be and what he wanted. =E2=80=9CI am your cousin=E2=80= =9D, replied a voice.=C2 =E2=80=9CAfter I had taken my degree, I also was cal= led to the bar where, as you know, I gained honour and distinction. Blind and miserable wretch that I was, I spent my whole time in defence of others, and I even, against my conscience, undertook unjust cases in order to obtain money and fame. I found no one to plead my own case before the judgement-seat of God, and I am now condemned to everlasting torment. But before I am cast into Hell I am sent to warn you to flee from the courts of men if you wish to be acquitted before the judgement-seat of God.=E2=80=9D Peter lost no time in acting upon the warning. Then and there he took a vow of perpetual chastity, and the next morning he bought an iron chain which he wound 3 times round his body and riveted there, This was found embedded in his flesh fifty-one years later when his body was being prepared for burial. He then obtained admission into the Dominican convent at Bologna. When news of this reached the ears of his father he was greatly incensed and travelled to Bologna, intending to remove the novice by force and compel him to complete his legal studies. Peter refused to see his parent, but sent a message saying that he was well and needed nothing that his relations could give him except their prayers. Whilst the father raged and threatened, the young man was asking as a special grace that he might neither be unfaithful to his vocation nor forfeit the love of his parents, to whom he was greatly attached. When an interview was at last arranged, the father was completely softened and gave Peter his blessing. After he was raised to the priesthood he became a celebrated preacher and brought many to repentance and newness of life. St. Vincent Ferrer when he visited Bologna sought him out to congratulate him on the work he was doing and to urge him to continue labours which God had so wonderfully blessed. Summoned as a theologian to the Council of Florence, Bl. Peter found his learning and eloquence greatly extolled by Pope Eugenius IV, who wished to raise him to high ecclesiastical honours. He declined all preferment, but was obliged to accept the post of apostolic visitor in Sicily, though he stipulated that his powers should be limited to the restoration of regular observance in religious houses where irregularities had crept in during the Great Schism. In this delicate task he was entirely successful, and his preaching to the people was no less popular than in Italy. He died at Palermo in 1452, and his cultus was confirmed in 1784. A picturesque story is told of Bl. Peter when he was prior of Palermo. One day the procurator told him that there was no food in the house. It was a Friday, and the prior, knowing that a fisherman in the neighbourhood had had a good haul of tunny, took boat and went to beg a few of the fish for his brethren. The man refused roughly. Peter said nothing and started back in his boat, when lo! all the fish broke through the nets and were escaping out to sea. The fisherman, aghast, followed in pursuit of Peter and besought pardon. He made the sign of the cross over the sea, and thereupon the fish again became entangled in the nets, and the man eagerly bestowed on the prior as much fish as he needed. See the Acta Sanctorum, March, vol. i; Taurisano, Catalogus Hagiographicus O.P. p. 38; Mortier, Ma=C3=AEtres G=C3=A9n=C3=A9raux O.P., v= ol. iv, pp. 152-212 and M. A. Coniglione, Pietro Geremia (1952). Saint Quote: And even if the sins of soul are as dark as night, when the sinner turns to My mercy he gives Me the greatest praise and is the glory of My Passion. (378) --St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in my Soul Bible Quote: =C2 "Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start?=C2= Is it not precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves?=C2 You want something and you lack it; so you kill.=C2 You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force.=C2 It is because you do not pray that you do not receive; when you do pray and do not receive, it is because you prayed wrongly, wanting to indulge your passions."=C2 =C2 [James 4:1-3] <><><><> Prayer To Mary Consoler of the Afflicted O Immaculate Mary, Dear Mother, Consoler, I take refuge in your most lovable Heart with all the trust of which I am capable. You shall be dearest object of my love and my veneration. From you, the dispenser of heavenly treasures, I shall always seek peace in my troubles, light in my doubts, defence in my dangers, help in my needs. Be therefore my refuge, my strength, my consolation O Mary Consoler. At the hour of my death, graciously receive the last beats of my heart, and obtain for me a place in that heavenly country, where as one, all hearts shall praise forever the adorable Heart of Jesus, with your most lovable Heart, O Mary, my Mother. Consoler of the Afflicted, pray for us, who have recourse to you. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .