Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?June_10th_=2D_Blessed_Diana_d'Andalo?= To : All From : rich Date : Sun Jun 09 2019 09:28:29 From: rich June 10th - Blessed Diana d'Andalo Memorial 10 June 8 June or 9 June on some calendars The first cloistered nuns of the Dominican Order are not necessarily as =E2=80=9Cfamous=E2=80=9D as their counterpart in other orders, such as S= t. Clare of Assisi; nor even as well-known as their own later Third Order sisters, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Rose of Lima. Yet there were, from the beginning, women whose prayers in the cloister supported the Holy Preaching. The best known of these is Blessed Diana d'Andalo of Bologna, a young woman whose life was touched by the three most famous friars of the new Order of Preachers. In his book, To Heaven With Diana, Gerald Vann writes, =E2=80=9COf her childhood we know nothing; but w= e know a good deal about her as she was when she first came into contact with the friars. She was of outstanding beauty. ...Her contemporaries also speak of her as eloquent and learned; and there is no doubt about her charm, her high spirits, her courage, and that faculty of making swift and sure decisions which, as one of her modern biographers remarks, is often found in women who have been brought up in the society of men. She was full of the joy of living=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D Around the year 1218 Diana was deeply inspired on hearing the preaching of Reginald of Orleans, and determined that there should be a monastery of Dominican nuns in Bologna. Diana made her desire known to the Dominican friars there, and when St. Dominic himself visited Bologna in 1221, she made a vow at his feet to establish a monastery, and to become a nun herself. Shortly thereafter, she fled by night to the Augustinian nuns, but was followed by her brothers, who brought her back to their home with such a struggle that some of her ribs were broken. Diana bided her time as her injuries healed. In 1223 she escaped again to the Augustinians. This time her family left her in peace. The new Monastery of St. Agnes was built in Bologna, and Diana was made the first prioress. Owing to her youth and lack of experience, however, she was soon replaced as prioress by Sister Cecilia Caesarini from St. Dominic's recent foundation at San Sisto= in Rome. Almost exactly Diana's age, Sister Cecilia was already a more experienced nun. She was appointed by the new Master of the Order, Jordan of Saxony, who thought that a more experienced prioress would help build up the new Bolognese monastery. Diana made her greatest contribution to the Order in saving all the correspondence that Jordan of Saxony wrote to her in the early years of the Order. He wrote variously about the unfolding history of the Order, the many novices who joined it, and his sorrow at the death of friends. Sometimes he served as her spiritual director. Without Diana's careful preservation of Bl. Jordan's letters, we wo= uld lack what was compiled as the Libellus, the single greatest source of early Dominican history. Diana died in 1236. Commenting of Diana's holiness of life, Gerald Vann concludes, =E2= =80=9CDiana herself had her own very distinctive gifts; and as her religious life went on she learned with Jordan's help and guidance how to free the= m from what was imperfect in them, how to use them for her religious family's progress in goodness and peace and happiness, how to make them a more and more perfect offering to God from whom they came.=E2=80=9D Most significantly, Vann gives us from P=C3=A8re Hyacinthe Cormier, O.P., an insight into the grace which Bl. Diana came to personify in her living of Dominican life, that of perfect love. <><><><> All things whatsoever that they command you, observe and do.=C2 (Matt. 2= 3:3) Saint Quote: "Obedience is, without doubt, more meritorious than any austerity. And what greater austerity can be thought of than that of keeping one's will constantly submissive and obedient"? --St. Catherine of Bologna =C2 =C2 When St. Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi was sick, she was accustomed to refuse any delicate food or costly medicine that was offered her; but if the bringer required her to take it as an act of obedience, she made no further objections; but saying only "Blessed be God she would instantly take it. (Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints".=C2 June - Obedience) Bible Quote But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.=C2 (John 14:26) <><><><> Prayer "Lord Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your love and mercy, and the power of your word that sets us free, and brings healing and restoration to body, mind, heart, and spirit." --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .