February 7th - Richard The King (RM)
Died 722. Perhaps Saint Richard was not really a king-early Italian legend
made him a prince of Wes***-but his sanctity was verified by the fact that
he fathered three other saints: Willibald, Winebald (Wunibald), and
Walpurga
(Walburga). Butler tells us that "Saint Richard, when living, obtained by
his prayers the recovery of his younger son Willibald, whom he laid at the
foot of a great crucifix erected in a public place in England, when the
child's life was despaired of by a grievous sickness. . . . [he was]
perhaps
deprived of his inheritance by some revolution in the state; or he
renounced
it to be more at liberty to dedicate himself to the pursuit of Christian
perfection. . . . Taking with him his two sons, he undertook a pilgrimage
of
penance and devotion, and sailing from Hamble-haven, landed in Neustria on
the western coasts of France. He made a considerable stay at Rouen, and
made
his devotions in the most holy places that lay in his way through France."
He fell ill, died suddenly at Lucca, Italy, and was buried in the church
of
San Frediano. A later legend makes him the duke of Swabia, Germany.
Miracles
were re****ted at his tomb, and he became greatly venerated by the citizens
of Lucca and those of Eichstätt to where some of his relics were
translated.
The natives of Lucca amplified accounts of his life by calling him king of
the English. Neither of his legends is especially trustworthy-even his
real
name is unknown and dates only from the 11th century. A famous account of
the pilgrimage on which he died was written by his son's cousin, the nun
Hugeburc, entitled Hodoe****icon (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill,
Husenbeth, White)
In art, King Saint Richard is ****trayed as a royal pilgrim (ermine- lined
cloak) with two sons-one a bishop and one an abbot. His crown may be on a
book (Roeder). He is venerated at Heidenheim and Lucca (Roeder).
Saint Quote:
We must always choose the most perfect. Two good works present themselves
to
be done, one in favour of a person we love, the other in favour of a
person
who has done us some harm. Well, we must give preference to the latter.
-Saint John Vianney
Bible Quote:
"Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Execute true justice, show mercy and
compassion, every one to his brother: Do not oppress the widow or
fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart
against his brother."
-Zechariah 7:9,10
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Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into heaven didst promise to
send
the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and
disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect
in
my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom
that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only
after
the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my
mind with the light of Thy divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven; the Spirit
of
Fortitude that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with
courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of
Knowledge
that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the
saints; the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable; the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence
towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord,
with the sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all things with Thy
Spirit. Amen.
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