- Isaiah 40:6-8 -
A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."
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People are compared here to grass and flowers that wither away. We are
mortal, but God's Word is eternal and unfailing. Public opinion changes
and
is unreliable, but God's Word is constant. Only in God's eternal Word will
we find lasting solutions to our problems and needs.
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August 3rd - Blessed Augustine Gazotich of Lucera
Born in Trau, Dalmatia, c. 1260-1262; died 1323; cultus reconfirmed by
Pope
Clement XI in 1702. Augustine was born into a wealthy family who provided
him with an excellent education. At 18, he and an Italian friend headed to
the Dominican novitiate in France. Near Pavia, Italy, they were attacked
by
enemies of his family, who left the bodies of the two boys in the snow by
the side of the road. Augustine was badly injured; his friend died. When
he
recovered from his injuries, Augustine continued to the novitiate.
Augustine
spent most of his life battling heresy: In his native Dalmatia, he fought
the Manichæen heresy; in Sicily, Islam; in Hungary both. In every
situation
in which he found himself, Augustine gave proof of his virtue and good
judgment. When Cardinal Boccasini came to Hungary as legate, he noted the
wisdom and tact of his brother Dominican, and when he himself ascended the
papal throne as Benedict XI, he appointed Augustine bishop of Zagreb in
Croatia in 1303.
This diocese was in chaos when Augustine assumed the cathedra. His three
predecessors had all tried, but failed, to repair the ravages of heresy,
plague, and schism. The new bishop began by reforming the clergy. He
finished building the cathedral and made a complete visitation of his
diocese. His work was to bring him into violent conflict with the
government, but, spiritually, he restored the entire see during his
episcopacy.
Several charming miracles are related about Augustine. The river water of
Zagreb was unfit to drink, so the Dominican fathers asked Augustine to
pray
for a new supply. At his prayer a fountain sprang up in the yard of the
convent, abundantly supplying their needs. Another time he planted a tree
in
a little village and the leaves turned out to have healing properties. On
one occasion, when Bishop Augustine was dining with Benedict XI, the pope,
feeling that a missionary bishop must eat well to preach well, had a dish
of
partridge set before Augustine, who never ate meat. Because he did not
want
to offend the pope, he prayed for a resolution to the situation. The
legend
says that God turned the partridges into fish!
Augustine was transferred from Zagreb to Lucera (Nocera), Sicily. Here he
continued his holy government, using his characteristic gentleness and his
gift of healing. He promoted devotion to Saints Dominic, Thomas Aquinas,
and
Peter Martyr-all brother Dominicans. Feeling that he was near death, he
returned to the Dominican convent in Nocera to die among his brethren.
Under
his statue in the cathedral of Nocera is the legend, "Sanctus Augustine
Episcopus Lucerinus Ordinis Praedicatorum," an indication of the
veneration
in which he is held (Benedictines, Dorcy).
Quote:
I am a Christian. It seemed a while ago as if God rejected me as a stone
unfit to enter His building, but He has the goodness to take me now to be
placed in it; I am ready to suffer all things for His name, that I may
have
a part in His kingdom with His Saints.
--St Serenus
Bible Quote
This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.
/13.
Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his
friends. /14. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you.
(John 15:12-14)
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NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST
O Holy Ghost, O my God, I adore Thee, and acknowledge, here in Thy divine
presence, that I am nothing and can do nothing without Thee. Come, great
Paraclete, Thou father of the poor, Thou comforter the best, fulfil the
promise of our blessed Savior, Who would not leave us orphans, and come
into
the mind and the heart of Thy poor, unworthy creature, as Thou didst
descend
on the sacred day of Pentecost on the holy Mother of Jesus and on His
first
disciples. Grant that I may participate in those gifts which Thou didst
communicate to them so wonderfully, and with so much mercy and generosity.
Take from my heart whatever is not pleasing to Thee, and make of it a
worthy
dwelling-place for Thyself. Illumine my mind, that I may see and
understand
the things that are for my eternal good. Inflame my heart with pure love
of
Thee, that I may be cleansed from the dross of all inordinate attachments,
and that my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God. Strengthen my
will,
that I may be made comfortable to Thy divine will, and be guided by Thy
holy
inspirations. Aid me by Thy grace to practice the divine lessons of
humility, poverty, obedience, and contempt of the world, which Jesus
taught
us in His mortal life.
Oh, rend the heavens, and come down, consoling Spirit! That inspired and
encouraged by Thee, I may faithfully comply with the duties of my state,
carry my daily cross most patiently, and endeavor to accomplish the divine
will with the utmost perfection. Spirit of love! Spirit of purity! Spirit
of
peace! Sanctify my soul more and more, and give me that heavenly peace
which
the world cannot give. Bless our Holy Father the Pope, bless the Church,
bless our bishops, our priests, all Religious Orders, and all the
faithful,
that they may be filled with the spirit of Christ and labor earnestly for
the spread of His kingdom.
O Holy Ghost, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant me, I
beseech
Thee, the intentions of this novena. May Thy will be done in me and
through
me. Mayest Thou be praised and glorified forevermore! Amen.
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