Hungry for God
Additionally, I sought for something to love, for I was in love with love.
There was a hunger within me from a lack of inner food, which is none
other
than yourself,
my God. Yet that hunger did not make me hungry.
I had no desire for incorruptible food. This was not because I was already
filled with it but
because the more I was empty of it the more it was loathsome to me.
-Confessions 3, 1 Augustine
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April 13th - Blessed Margaret of Cittą di Castello, Visionary
(also known as Margaret of Metola)
Born in at Meldola (or Metola, diocese of S. Angelo), Umbria, Italy, in
1287; died 1320; cultus approved in 1609.
Margaret was born blind into a poor, mountain family, who were embittered
by
her affliction. When she was five years old, they made a pilgrimage to the
tomb of a holy Franciscan at Castello to pray for a cure. The miracle
failing, they abandoned their daughter in the church of Cittą-di-Castello
and returned to their home.
Margaret was passed from family to family until she was adopted by a
kindly
peasant woman named Grigia, who had a large family of her own. Margaret's
natural sweetness and goodness soon made themselves felt, and she more
than
repaid the family for their kindness to her. She was an influence for good
in any group of children. She stopped their quarrels, heard their
catechism,
told them stories, taught them Psalms and prayers. Busy neighbors were
soon
borrowing her to soothe a sick child or to establish peace in the house.
Her reputation for holiness was so great that a community of sisters in
the
town asked for her to become one of them. Margaret went happily to join
them, but, unfortunately, there was little fervor in the house. The little
girl who was so prayerful and penitential was a reproach to their lax
lives,
so Margaret returned to Grigia, who gladly welcomed her home.
Later, Margaret was received as a Dominican Tertiary and clothed with the
religious habit. Grigia's home became the rendezvous site of troubled
souls
seeking Margaret's prayers. She said the Office of the Blessed Virgin and
the entire Psalter by heart, and her prayers had the effect of restoring
peace of mind to the troubled.
Denied earthly sight, Margaret was favored with heavenly visions. "Oh, if
you only knew what I have in my heart!" she often said. The mysteries of
the
rosary, particularly the joyful mysteries, were so vivid to her that her
whole person would light up when she described the scene. She was often in
ecstasy, and, despite great joys and favors in prayer, she was often
called
upon to suffer desolation and interior trials of frightening sorts. The
devil tormented her severely at times, but she triumphed over these
sufferings.
A number of miracles were performed by Blessed Margaret. On one occasion,
while she was praying in an upper room, Grigia's house caught fire, and
she
called to Margaret to come down. The blessed, however, called to her to
throw her cloak on the flames. This she did, and the blaze died out. At
another time, she cured a sister who was losing her eyesight.
Beloved by her adopted family and by her neighbors and friends, Margaret
died at the early age of 33. From the time of her death, her tomb in the
Dominican church was a place of pilgrimage. Her body, even to this day, is
incorrupt.
After her death, the fathers received permission to have her heart opened.
In it were three pearls, having holy figures carved upon them. They
recalled
the saying so often on the lips of Margaret: "If you only knew what I have
in my heart!" (Attwater2, Benedictines, Dorcy).
In art, Margaret is pictured as a Dominican tertiary holding a cross,
lily,
and heart with two flames offered to the crucifix (Roeder).
From
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0413.shtml
Saint Quote:
"We have never so much cause for consolation, as when we find ourselves
oppressed by sufferings and trials; for these make us like Christ our
Lord,
and this resemblance is the true mark of our predestination"
-St. Vincent de Paul
No one has understood this great truth so well as St. Andrew the Apostle.
At
first sight of the cross on which he was to be crucified, he was filled
with
joy, and broke forth into this exclamation: "O cross so much desired, so
much loved, and so much sought by me! behold how I come to thee full of
security and joy! Do thou separate me from men, and restore me to my
Master,
so that by thy means He may receive me, who by thy means redeemed me."
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote:
34 And he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death; stay you
here, and watch. (Mark 11:34)
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An Act of Consecration for your family, to the Holy Family:
O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world
with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy
life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of
Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all
Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and
consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and
establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace and concord in Christian
love: in order that by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy
family we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal
happiness.
Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession
make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain
for us His graces and blessings.
O Saint Joseph, most holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy
prayers in all our spiritual and tem****al necessities; that so we may be
enabled to praise our divine Saviour Jesus, together with Mary and thee,
for all eternity.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. (thrice)
Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, May 30,
1951.
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