Subj : February 7th - St. Luke, Thaumaturgus
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Thu Feb 06 2020 07:19:47

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

February 7th - St. Luke, Thaumaturgus
[i.e., the Wonder-worker] (Greek, hermit, mystic, miracle-worker, c. 946)

Saint Luke of Hellas was a native of the Greek village of Kastorion.
The son of poor farmers, the saint from childhood had toiled much,
working in the fields and shepherding the sheep. He was very obedient
to his parents and very temperate in eating. He often gave his own
food and clothing to the poor, for which he suffered reproach from his
parents. He once gave away almost all the seed which was needed for
planting in the fields. The Lord rewarded him for his charity, and the
harvest gathered was greater than ever before.

As a child, he prayed fervently and often. His mother saw him more
than once standing not on the ground, but in the air while he prayed.

After the death of his father, he left his mother and went to Athens,
where he entered a monastery. But through the prayers of his mother,
who was very concerned about him, the Lord returned him to his
parental home in a miraculous manner. He spent four months there, then
with his mother's blessing he went to a solitary place on a mountain
called Ioannou (or Ioannitsa). Here there was a church dedicated to
the holy saints Cosmas and Damian, where he lived an ascetical life in
constant prayer and fasting. He was tonsured there by some Elders who
were on pilgrimage. After this, St. Luke redoubled his ascetic
efforts, for which the Lord granted him the gift of foresight.

After 7 years on Ioannou, the saint moved to Corinth because of an
invasion of the Bulgarian armies.

Hearing about the exploits of a certain stylite at Patras, he went to
see him, and remained for ten years to serve the ascetic with humility
and obedience. Afterwards, the saint returned again to his native land
and again began to pursue asceticism on Mount Ioannou.

The throngs of people flocking there disturbed his quietude, so with
the blessing of his Elder Theophylactus, St. Luke went with his
disciple to a still more remote place at Kalamion.

After three years, he settled on the desolate and arid island of
Ampelon because of an invasion of the Turks. Steiris was another place
of his ascetic efforts. Here brethren gathered to the monk, and a
small monastery grew up, the church of which was dedicated to the
Great Martyr Barbara.
Dwelling in the monastery, the saint performed many miracles, healing
sicknesses of soul and of body.

Foreseeing his end, the saint confined himself in a cell and for three
months prepared for his departure. When asked where he was to be
buried, the monk replied, "Throw my body into a ravine to be eaten by
wild beasts." When the brethren begged him to change these
instructions, he commanded them to bury his body on the spot where he
lay. Raising his eyes to heaven, he said, "Into Thy hands, O Lord, I
commend my spirit!"

St. Luke fell asleep in the Lord on February 7, 946. Later, a church
was built over his tomb. Myrrh flowed from his holy relics, and many
healings occurred.


<><><><>
Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself.  (Matthew 16:24)

"There are some so much inclined to mortify themselves that they take
care to find in everything some means of mortification. What a
beautiful practice is this, and of how much advantage"
--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

Sister Joanna Maria of the Trinity, a Discalced Carmelite, had this
excellent custom of seeking and finding mortification in everything.
And so she always selected what was most insipid in food; poorest in
clothing and shelter; most laborious in work; most unpleasant in
matters of inclination. In a word, she always chose what was most
inconvenient and disagreeable for herself, seeking in all things only
the pleasure, honor, and glory of God.

(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)

Bible Quote:
And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his
eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O god, be merciful
to me a sinner.  (Luke 18:13)


<><><><>
Prayer of Saint Gertrude

Eternal Father, I offer thee the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son,
Jesus Christ, in union with the Masses said today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)

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