Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?March_21st_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Benedict=2C_Father_of_Western_Mona To : All From : rich Date : Wed Mar 20 2019 09:28:47 From: rich March 21st =E2=80=93 St. Benedict, Father of Western Monasticism Saint Benedict, blessed by grace as his prophetic name seemed to foretell, was born of a noble Italian family in Umbria, in the year 480. As a boy he showed great inclination for virtue, and maturity in his actions. He was sent to Rome at the age of 7, to be placed in the public schools. At the age of 14, alarmed by the licentiousness of the Roman youth, he fled to the desert mountains of Subiaco, 40 miles from Rome, and was directed by the Holy Spirit into a deep, craggy, and almost inaccessible cave, since known as the Holy Grotto. He lived there for 3 years, unknown to anyone save a holy monk named Romanus, who clothed him with the monastic habit and brought him food. He was eventually discovered, when, one Easter day, God advised a priest who lived about four miles from there, to take food to His servant, who was starving. The priest searched in the hills and finally found the solitary, and they took their meal together. Some shepherds also knew of his retreat, and soon the fame of this hermit=E2=80= =99s sanctity began to spread. The demon persecuted him, but to no avail; when a temptation of the flesh assailed him, he rolled in a clump of thorns and nettles, and came out of it covered with blood but sound in spirit. Disciples came to him, and under his direction, numerous monasteries were founded. The rigor of the rule he drew up, however, brought upon him the hatred of some of the monks, and one of them mixed poison with the Abbot's drink. When the Saint made the sign of the cross on the poisoned bowl, it broke and fell in pieces to the ground. Saint Benedict resurrected a boy whose father pleaded for that miracle, saying =E2=80=9CGive me back my son!=E2=80=9D He replied, =E2=80= =9CSuch miracles are not for us to work, but for the blessed apostles! Why will you lay upon me a burden which my weakness cannot bear?=E2=80=9D But finally, moved= by compassion, he prostrated himself upon the body of the child, and prayed: =E2=80=9CBehold not, O Lord, my sins, but the faith of this man, an= d restore the soul which Thou hast taken away!=E2=80=9D And the child rose up= , and walked to the waiting arms of his father. When a monk lost the iron head of his axe in a river, the Abbot told him to throw the handle in after it, and it rose from the river bed to resume its former place. Six days before his death, Saint Benedict ordered his grave to be prepared, then fell ill of a fever. On the sixth day he asked to be carried to the chapel, and, having received the sacred Body and Blood of Christ, with hands uplifted and leaning on one of his disciples, he calmly expired in prayer, on the 21st of March, 543. Reflection. The Saints never feared to undertake any work for God, however arduous, because distrusting self they relied for assistance and support wholly upon prayer. Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea Saint Quote: If you want God to hear your prayers, hear the voice of the poor. If you wish God to anticipate your wants, provide those of the needy without waiting for them to ask you. Especially anticipate the needs of those who are ashamed to beg. To make them ask for alms is to make them buy it. --St. Thomas of Villanova Bible Quote And it came to pass afterwards, that he went into a city that is called Naim; and there went with him his disciples, and a great multitude. 12 And when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow: and a great multitude of the city was with her. 13 Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, he said to her: Weep not. 14 And he came near and touched the bier. And they that carried it, stood still. And he said: Young man, I say to thee, arise. 15 And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on them all: and they glorified God, saying: A great prophet is risen up among us: and, God hath visited his people.=C2 (Luke 7:11-16) <><><><> O Jesus King Most Wonderful: From The Raccolta O Jesus, King most wonderful, Thou Conqueror renowned! Thou Sweetness most ineffable, In Whom all joys are found! When once Thou visitest the heart, Then truth begins to shine; The earthly vanities depart; Then kindles love Divine. O Jesus, Light of all below! Thou Fount of life and fire, Surpassing all the joys we know, And all we can desire! May every heart confess Thy Name, And ever Thee adore; And seeking Thee, itself inflame To seek Thee more and more. Thee may our tongues forever bless; Thee may we love alone; And ever in our lives express The image of Thine Own. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .