Each little flower
I understood too that the love of our Lord is revealed in the simplest
soul
who offers no resistance to his grace as well as in the most sublime soul.
In
fact, since the
essence of love is humility, if all souls were like those of the learned
saints
who have
illuminated the Church by the light of their teaching, it would seem as if
God
would not have
very far to descend in coming to their hearts. But he has created the baby
who
knows nothing
and whose only utterance is a feeble cry; he has created people who have
only
the law of
nature to guide them; and it is their hearts that he deigns to come down
to,
those are his
flowers of the field whose simplicity delights him. In coming down in that
way
the good God
proves his infinite greatness. Just as the sun ****nes at the same time on
cedar
trees and on
each little flower as if it was the only one on earth, so our Lord takes
special
care of each
soul as if it was his only care.
-Thérèse of Lisieux
<<>><<>><<>>
April 18th - St. Galdinus
Ever want to go out in a blaze of glory? Whether he wanted to is unclear,
but
St. Galdinus certainly did.
This 12th century Italian saint was born in Milan into the Della Scalla
family.
He later served as chancellor and archdeacon under two archbishops.
After the election of Alexander III as pope in 1159, a few dissident
cardinals
decided to pick another pope, one favored by Frederick Barbarossa, Holy
Roman
emperor from 1152 to 1190.
Frederick was already annoyed with the people of Milan because they
claimed they
had the power to choose their own judges. When the people of Milan also
accepted
Alexander III as pope, Frederick became even more angry.
He forced Abp. Hubert and Galdinus, who was archdeacon, to flee the city.
The
next year, Frederick encircled Milan with a large army, blockading the
city
until the people surrendered.
Next, Frederick ordered what the people believed to be the remains of the
Three
Magi removed from St. Eustorgius Church and taken to Cologne, where they
still
remain.
Galdinus was elected a cardinal in 1165 and, the next year, elected
Archbishop
of Milan, succeeding the deceased Abp. Hubert.
As archbishop, Galdinus devoted much of his energy to comforting and
encouraging
the people of Milan by preaching and seeking out the poor to help them. He
also
assisted the Lombard states in their effort to rebuild Milan.
Galdinus also worked with the city's priests to restore discipline, which
had
been shattered during the upheaval led by the emperor.
At first, he worked exclusively at restoring Milan, but gradually he
devoted
more and more of his energy to combating Catharism, a heretical offshoot
of
Manichaeism, a third century heresy originating in Persia. Catharism was
dualistic and held that matter is evil and that Jesus was an angelic being
who
did not really undergo human birth or death.
The heresy was particularly common in Lombardy and began to spread to
Milan when
the Lombards helped rebuild Milan. Galdinus preached against Catharism for
many
years.
Finally, one day, the already weakened Galdinus, too ill to celebrate
Mass, took
to the pulpit to deliver another impassioned denunciation of Catharism.
Just
after he finished the homily, and before he could leave the pulpit, he
lost
consciousness. He died as the Mass ended.
(Sources: Butler's Lives of the Saints, Catholic Almanac,
Catholic-forum.com,
Catholic Online, Dictionary of Saints, Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate
Dictionary, www.fiu.edu, www.op.org and www.stpatrickdc.org.)
Saint Quote:
Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions
speak. We
are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the
Lord,
since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only
leaves. It
is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines
its
teaching by his actions.
Bible Quote:
He who loses his life for My sake and for the Gospel's sake will save it.
St.
Mark 8:35
<><><><>
FATHER OF THE HIDDEN FACE
Dearest Father...why do You hide
Behind that brilliant light?
Would we poor mortals perish
At such a cosmic sight?
Will You gather us close to You
When the shackles are cast aside?
Will we bask in this glory
When You claim Your loving brides?
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