Subj : April 16th - Blessed Joachim Piccolomini To : All From : rich Date : Wed Apr 15 2020 10:00:12 From: rich April 16th - Blessed Joachim Piccolomini, OSM (RM) (also known as Joachim of Siena) Born in Siena, Italy; died 1305; beatified by Paul V. Joachim, a member of the illustrious Piccolomini family, was blessed by piety from his youth. He had a singular devotion to the Blessed Virgin. His greatest childhood pleasure was to pray the sweet Ave Maria before her image. His charity for the poor was no less extraordinary than his devotion. He stripped himself to clothe and relieve them: whatever pocket money he was given, he bestowed in alms. Moreover, he urged his parents to increase their aid to the distressed. His father one day remonstrated with Joachim that prudence ought to set bounds to his liberality, or he would reduce his whole family to poverty. The compassionate youth modestly replied: "You have taught me that an alms is given to Jesus Christ, in the persons of the poor: can we refuse him any thing? And what is the advantage of riches, but that they be employed in purchasing treasures in heaven?" The father wept for joy to hear such generous sentiments of virtue from one of so tender an age, and so dear to him. When he was 14, Joachim joined the Servites as a lay-brother under Saint Philip Benizi. In that community, he became a perfect model of conspicuous virtue. Early in life, Joachim would often be found at midnight praying while the rest of the household slept. Now his fervor grew and instilled in him a still greater degree of extraordinary humility. His religious brothers urged him to the priesthood, but he resisted because he believed himself absolutely unworthy; to serve at Mass was the height of his ambition. His whole life appears to be an attempt to hide himself from the eyes of others, to live in obscurity. Because of this, he requested to be moved to another house when he became too respected at Siena. Thus he was assigned to Arezzo but when his impending departure became known, the people of Siena demurred and caused him to remain there until his death (Benedictines, Husenbeth). Joachim is pictured as a Servite in a black habit holding a book and flower (Roeder). He is venerated at Arezzo and Siena, Italy (Roeder). Saint Quote: Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve. -- Saint Agnes of Rome Bible Quote If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also. (John 13:14) <><><><> Useless reflections Useless reflections upon ourselves and upon exterior things occasion us to lose much time, many graces, and much merit. Did we but endeavor to substitute a respectful remembrance of God, in place of a vain and hurtful attention to ourselves and to creatures, we should be always well employed. To consider God as within us, and ourselves as existing in God: to live under the eye of Jesus Christ by means of recollection, in His hands by resignation and at His feet by humility and a sincere acknowledgment of our miseries, is to live really as Christians; for we can only be such in proportion as we are devoted to Jesus Christ. Why then are we so much and so frequently attracted by news, curiosities, and vanity, and so little interested with God, our duties, and our salvation? It is because we are indifferent to the things of eternity, and too much attached to those which pass away with time. Let us, therefore, begin to be now what we hope to be forever occupied only with God, in God, and for God. Prayer: Correct in me, O Lord; that indolence of mind in which I squander away my time with trifles, and that uselessness of thought which withdraws me from the enjoyment of Thy presence, and distracts my attention in the time of prayer; or if, when I recite my prayers, I cannot always think of Thee, grant that my distractions may not be voluntary, so that whilst they divert my mind, they may never withdraw my heart from Thee. Teach me, O Lord, before prayer, to prepare=C2 my soul, that, urged by my many necessities, and by a desire of pleasing Thee, I may fulfill this important duty with a becoming sense of Thine awful presence, and of the subject on which I seek relief from Thy bounty and mercy --Thomas =C3 Kempis --Imitation of Christ --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .