The homeless
Plenty of strangers wander the roads, and everywhere we see their
outstretched
hands begging for help. Their home is the open air; they shelter in
****ticos,
streets, and deserted
corners of the marketplace, lurking in nooks and crannies like owls, and
clothed
in tattered rags.
Their food is whatever they may get from a passerby, and they drink from
the
fountains with
animals, using the hollow of their hands as a cup. Their storeroom is
their
pockets if these are not
too torn to hold anything. For a table they use their knees pressed
together;
their bed is the
pavement, and to bathe they have simply a river or pool which God gives
for
the
use of everyone.
Such is the rough, wandering path they follow, not because their life was
like
that from the start,
but because misfortune has driven them to it.
You can help them through your fasting. Be generous to your brothers and
sisters
who are in
trouble, giving to the hungry what you deny yourself, and making a fair
distribution in the fear
of God.
-Gregory of Nyssa De pauperibus amandis, oratio 1: PG 46, 447-460.
<<>><<>><<>>
April 9th - St. Waudru of Mons, OSB Widow (RM)
(Also known as, Waldetrudis, Waltrude, Vaudru)
Died April 9, c. 686-688. The family of Saint Waudru, patroness of Mons
(Belgium), was amazingly holy, too. Both her parents (Walbert and
Bertille)
and
her sister (Aldegund) were canonized. Her four children were also declared
saints (Landericus, Dentelin, Aldetrude, and Madelberte) and so was her
husband
(Madelgaire).
Madelgaire was the count of Hennegau (Hainault), and one of the courtiers
of
King Dagobert I. After their children were born both he and Waudru longed
to
live lives totally devoted to meditation and prayer. He retired to an
abbey
he
had founded at Haumont near Maubeuge, where he took the name Vincent. For
two
additional years, Waudru remained in the world, devoting herself to the
care
of
the poor and the sick under the direction of Saint Gislenus.
After Madelgaire's death, Waudru received the religious veil from Saint
Autbert
in 656, built a tiny home for herself near Castriloc (Châteaulieu), and,
giving
away her possessions, lived there alone. Though she clung to her solitude,
her
great wisdom and piety meant that countless men and women pressed on her
for
advice. Eventually Waudru had so many followers that she was obliged to
found
her own convent at Châteaulieu. She dedicated this convent to the Mother
of
Jesus, and around it grew the present town of Mons. By the time of
Waudru's
death she had become famous not only for her charity but also for her
miraculous
powers of healing, her patience in the face of trials, continual fasting,
and
prayer. Her relics are considered the most precious treasure of the church
that
bears her name in Mons (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia,
Husenbeth, Walsh).
In art, Saint Waudru is depicted protecting her children under her mantle,
offering her husband a crucifix, and refusing a crown of roses (Roeder).
She
is
venerated in Mons (Roeder).
Saint Quote:
"One ounce of the Cross is worth more than a million pounds of prayer. One
day
of crucifixion is worth more than a hundred years of all other exercises.
It
is
worth more to remain a moment upon the Cross, than to taste the delights
of
Paradise"
-Ven. Sister Maria Vittoria Angelini
St Bridget once received and bore patiently a succession of trials from
various
persons. One of them made an insulting remark to her; another praised her
in
her
presence, but complained of her in her absence; another calumniated her;
another
spoke ill of a servant of God, in her presence, to her great displeasure;
one
did her a grievous wrong, and she blessed her; one caused her a loss, and
she
prayed for her; and a seventh gave her false information of the death of
her
son, which she received with tranquillity and resignation. After all this,
St.
Agnes the Martyr appeared to her, bringing in her hand a most beautiful
crown
adorned with seven precious stones, telling her that they had been placed
there
by these seven persons. Then she put it upon her head and disappeared. How
could
so much have been gained by any other exercise?
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote
49 But one of them, named Caiphas, being the high priest that year, said
to
them: You know nothing. 50 Neither do you consider that it is expedient
for
you
that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish
not. 51
And this he spoke not of himself: but being the high priest of that year,
he
prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation. (John 11:49-51)
<><><><>
LAUDA SION
By St. Thomas Aquinas
Praise, O Sion, your Redeemer.
Praise your Prince and Shepherd
With canticle and hymn.
Dare to praise Him as you can,
For He is greater than all praise.
Our brightest praises are but dim.
This truth to Christians is proclaimed:
That to flesh, bread is transformed,
And transformed to blood is wine.
Good Shepherd, Bread of Truth,
Lord Jesus, show Your clemency.
May You feed us, may You guard us,
May You let us see good things
In our homeland eternally.
You Who know and do all things
Feed us, though still captive here.
Make us fellow-citizens,
Co-heirs, and friends of all the saints
In that City bright and clear. Amen.
|
