Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?April_22nd_=E2=80=93_Bl=2E_Wolfhelm_of_Brauweiler?= To : All From : rich Date : Sun Apr 21 2019 09:39:29 From: rich April 22nd =E2=80=93 Bl. Wolfhelm of Brauweiler d. 1091 =C2 The Rhinelander Wolfhelm joined the Benedictines at Saint Maximinus, Trier, Germany. From there he migrated to Saint Pantaleon's at Cologne, and then became abbot successively of Gladbach, Siegburg, and Brauweiler, where he ended his days. He is described as a great student of Holy Scripture and a lover of the Benedictine Rule. Although he was renowned in his time and well respected, few details are known regarding his career (Attwater2, Benedictines). Bl. WOLFHELM was educated at the cathedral school of Cologne, and after his confirmation, which made a great impression upon him, he determined to conse=C2=ADcrate himself to God. He secretly left Cologne where he was well known, and received the habit from Abbot Bernard in the monastery of St Maximinus at Trier. Powerful representations led to his recall to Cologne, where he became a monk in the abbey of St Pantaleon, then under the rule of his uncle Henry. He had been there but a short time when he was made abbot of Gladbach, from whence he was chosen to rule the abbey of Siegburg; but he found himself overburdened with secular affairs and preferred to retire to the secluded monastery of Brauweiler, where he remained until his death. He was remarkable for his devotion to the rule and for his love of the Bible, the study of which he urged upon all those under his charge. An admirable superior, he instilled into others what he practised himself--a life well balanced between action and contemplation. He was unflinching in maintaining the rights of the Church, whilst never resenting personal slights. Moreover, although he was intensely strict with himself, he was considerate with others and as lenient as was compatible with discipline. In a letter which he addressed to the abbot of Gladbach upon the errors of Berengarius he said: =E2=80=9CIn order= to see the bread and the wine, he [Berengarius] uses the eyes of the body, but at the same time he closes the eyes of the soul and so he does not see the Body and Blood of the Lord=E2=80=9D. Bl. Wolfhelm died at the age of seventy-one. His literary activity was consider=C2=ADable and has left many traces in the controversies of the time. A full but rather characterless life of Wolfhelm, written for edification after the manner of that period by Conrad, a monk of Brauweiler, is printed by Mabillon, by the Bollandists, and in Pens, MGH., Scriptores, vol. xii, pp. 180-195. Wolfhelm played a sufficiently conspicuous part in the history of the times to be noticed in such a work as Hauck's Kir=C2=ADchengeschichte Deutschla= nds, vol. iii, pp. 964-965. Saint Quote: "Observe that we gain more in a single day by trials which come to us from God and our neighbor, than we would in ten years by penances and other exercises, which we take up of ourselves" --St. Teresa Bible Quote: 61 But he held his peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him: Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God? 62 And Jesus said to him: I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God and coming with the clouds of heaven.=C2 [Mark 14:61-62] DRB <><><><> THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL=C2 (Imprimatur 1946) Twenty-Ninth Day PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED Holy Church, our good and tender mother, most ardently desires that her children be admitted to the beatific vision of God, and incessantly offers pious supplications, during the Holy Sacrifice of Mass and the Divine office, to obtain mercy for the holy suffering souls, thereby teaching us to think of them frequently; for to the end of time there shall be souls in the flames of Purgatory in need of assistance and fervent prayers, which we should never fail to offer in their behalf. The ways of God are often inscrutable, and His designs concerning the holy souls are unknown to us; hence there may be among their number some who have a just claim on our assistance, although a long time may have passed away since the close of their earthly career. Should the souls of our own beloved dead no longer be in need of our suffrages, they will be bestowed upon others, who are deserving of our mercy as well; thus, our prayer, our labor of love, will not be less salutary and meritorious, and, indeed, life is not too long for us to practice this genuine charity to the end. Prayer: We beseech Thee, O Lord! grant us the grace to persevere in our charity towards the souls in Purgatory; deign to look with eyes of mercy upon these penitent souls; deliver them from their suffering, and open to them the portals of Heaven. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Special Intercession: Pray for the souls who suffer for inconstancy in the service of God. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them; may they rest in peace. Amen.=C2 =C2 (Three times) Practice: Examine how you have kept your good resolutions, particularly in what manner you have performed your devotions and works of charity for the suffering souls. Invocation:=C2 =C2 =C2 My Jesus, mercy! --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .