- John 14:27-29 -
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as
the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If
you
loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father
is
greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it
does
happen you will believe."
___________________________________________________________________
Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt and numerous other forces are at war with
us.
The
peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile
forces
and offer comfort in place of fear and conflict. Jesus says he will give
us
that
peace if we are willing to accept it from him.
<<>><<>><<>>
May 10th - St. John of Ávila
Apostolic preacher of Andalusia and author, b. at Almodóvar del Campo, a
small
town in the diocese of Toledo, Spain, 6 January, 1500; d. at Montilla, 10
May,
1569. At the age of fourteen he was sent to the University of Salamanca to
study
law. Conceiving a distaste for jurisprudence he returned after a year to
his
father's home, where he spent the next three years in the practice of most
austere piety. His wonderful sanctity impressed a Franciscan journeying
through
Almodóvar, and at the friar's advice he took up the study of philosophy
and
theology at Alcalá, where he was fortunate to have as his teacher the
famous
Dominican De Soto. His parents died while he was a student and after his
ordination he celebrated his first Mass in the church where they were
buried,
sold the family property and gave the proceeds to the poor. He saw in the
severing of natural ties a vocation to foreign missionary work and made
preparation to go to Mexico in America. While awaiting, at Seville in
1527,
a
favorable op****tunity to start for his new field of labour, his
extraordinary
devotion in celebrating Mass attracted the attention of Hernando de
Contreras, a
priest of Seville, who re****ted his observations to the archbishop and
general
inquisitor, Don Alphonso Manrique. The archbishop saw in the young
missionary a
powerful instrument to stir up the faith of Andalusia, and after
considerable
persuasion Blessed John was induced to abandon his journey to America. His
first
sermon was preached on 22 July, 1529, and immediately his reputation was
established; crowds thronged the churches at all his sermons. His success,
however, brought with it the hatred of a certain class, and while living
at
Seville he was brought before the inquisitor and charged with exaggerating
the
dangers of wealth and closing the gates of heaven to the rich. His
innocence
of
the charges was speedily proved, and by special invitation of the court he
was
appointed to preach the sermon on the next great feast in the church of
San
Salvador, in Seville. His appearance was a cause of public rejoicing. He
began
his career as apostolic preacher of Andalusia at the age of thirty. After
nine
years in that province he returned to Seville only to depart for the wider
fields of Cordova, Granada, Bolza, Montilla, and Zafra. For eighteen years
before his death he was the victim of constant illness, the results of the
hard****ps of his apostolate of forty years. He was declared Venerable by
Clement
XIII, 8 Feb., 1799, and beatified by Leo XIII, 12 Nov., 1893. He was
canonized
by Pope Paul VI in 1970
Among the disciples drawn to him by his preaching and saintly reputation
may
be
named St. Theresa, St. John of God, St. Francis Borgia, and Ven. Louis of
Granada. The spread of the Jesuits in Spain is attributed to his
friend****p
for
that body. Blessed John of Avila's works were collected at Madrid in 1618,
1757,
1792, 1805; a French translation by d'Andilly was published at Paris in
1673;
and a German translation by Schermer in six volumes was issued at Ratisbon
between 1856 and 1881. His best known works are the "Audi Fili" (English
translation, 1620), one of the best tracts on Christian perfection, and
his
"Spiritual Letters" (English translation, 1631, London, 1904) to his
disciples.
From
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08469a.htm
Saint Quote:
Make a little cell in your heart for Jesus of the Agony; take refuge
there,
when
you hear Him outraged by men, try to make reparation; you, at least, love
Him
and keep your heart quite pure for Him. Oh! If you only knew how the good
God
loves pure hearts! It is there that He loves to reign.
--Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
Bible Quote:
The just shall stand with great constancy against those that have
afflicted
them, and taken away their labors. These seeing it, shall be troubled with
terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected
salvation, saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish
of
spirit. These are they whom we had some time in derision, and for a
parable
of
reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without
honor.
Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is
among
the saints (Wisdom 5:1-5)
<><><><>
A prayer to Mary, and an triple invocation:
O dearest Lady, Sweet Mother mine, watch the hour
when my departing soul shall lose its hold on all earthly
things, and stand unveiled in the presence of its Creator.
Show thyself as my tender Mother then, and offer to the
Eternal Father the precious Blood of thy Son Jesus for my
poor soul, that it may, thus purified, be pleasing in His
sight. Plead for thy poor child at the moment of his (or
her) departure from this world, and say to the Heavenly
Father: Receive him (or her) this day into Thy Kingdom!
Amen.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in
peace with you.
Imprimatur: +John Farley, Archbishop of New York,
Sept 19, 1908.
<><><><>
Prayer to St. Dymphna - Chastity
Most pure virgin, St. Dymphna, we live at a time when many
are intent on satisfying every carnal appetite. Your single-
minded dedication to Christ alone is providential and
inspiring. Please help us by your power with God to see life in
pro****tion as you did. With your aid we propose to perform all
our actions for a pure motive, and promptly to resist all our
evil inclinations. Amen.
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