February 28th - Francis Possenti
*(In Leap Year the 28th Day of February)
Born in Assisi, Italy, March 1, 1838; died on Isola di Gran Sasso,
Abruzzi,
Italy, on February 27, 1862; canonized in 1920.
Francis Possenti, the 11th of thirteen children of the lawyer Sante
Possenti,
was raised in a wealthy family that was both pious and cultured. His
mother died
when he was only four years old, and his father had just been appointed
the
registrar of Spoleto.
He was so inordinately vain and innocently, but passionately, devoted to
worldly
pleasures, that his friends referred to him as il damerino ('the ladies'
man').
Before he finished school at the Jesuit college at Spoleto, he fell
dangerously
ill, and he promised that if he recovered, he would enter religious life.
Upon
his recovery, however, he did not act immediately upon his promise. Sure,
he
joined the Jesuits at age 17 but delayed entering the novitiate.
A year or two later, when he fell ill again, he renewed his promise. Once
again
he recovered. This time he fulfilled his vow and astonished everyone when
he
announced that he was entering the Passionist Order at Morovalle near
Macerata
immediately upon his graduation in 1856.
His religious life was one of love throughout-joyous love made all the
sweeter
by the penances prescribed by his rule, which he fulfilled to the letter.
There
was nothing extraordinary about him except his fidelity to prayer, his
love of
mortification, and his joyfulness of spirit.
He was ordained, but, at the age of 23, just after finishing his studies,
he was
stricken with tuberculosis and died at age 24. Through his intercession it
is
believed that Saint Gemma Galgani was cured of spinal tuberculosis
(Attwater,
Benedictines, Butler, Delaney, Encyclopedia, White).
Gabriel is the patron saint of students, particularly those in colleges
and
seminaries (acting as a model to them), of the clergy, and of young people
involved in Catholic Action in Italy (White).
This version taken from:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0227.shtml
Saint Quote:
I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the
chosen
Ones, whose privilege it will be, to sacrifice themselves for the
salvation of
the souls of the poor Islanders.. I am not afraid of any disease, hence it
would
be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned 'lepers.'
-Blessed Mother Marianne Cope
Bible Quote:
29 Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and
humble of
heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. (Matthew 11:29)
<><><><>
The Fifteen Secret Tortures of Our Lord
Revealed to the pious, God-loving Sister Mary Magdalen of the Sancta
Clara
Order, Franciscan, who lived, died and was beatified in Rome. Jesus
fulfilled
the wish of this Sister who desired ardently to know something about the
secret
tortures which He endured the night before His death.
"The Jews considered Me as the most wretched man living on earth so that
is why
.. . ."
"They fastened My feet with a rope and dragged Me over the stepping stones
of
the staircase, down into a filthy, nauseating cellar."
"They took off my clothes and stung My body with iron joints."
"They attached a rope around My body and pulled Me along the ground, from
end to
end."
"They hanged Me on a wooden piece with a slipknot until I slipped out and
fell
down. Overwhelmed by this torture, I wept bloody tears."
"They tied Me to a post and pierced My body with arms."
"They struck Me with stones and burnt Me with blazing embers and torches."
"They pierced Me with awls; sharp spears tore My skin, flesh and arteries
out of
My body."
"They tied Me to a post and made Me stand, barefoot, on an incandescent
metal
sheet."
"They crowned Me with an iron crown and wrapped My eyes with the dirtiest
possible rags."
"They made me sit on a chair covered with sharp pointed nails, causing
deep
wounds in My body."
"They poured on My wounds liquid lead and resin and, after this torture,
they
pressed Me on the nailed chair, so the nails went, deeper and deeper into
my
flesh."
"For shame and affliction, they drove needles into the holes of My
uprooted
beard. Then they tied My hands behind My back and led Me walking out of
prison
with strikes and blows."
"They threw Me upon a cross and attached Me so tightly that I could hardly
breathe any more."
"They threw at My head as I lay on the earth, and they stepped on Me,
hurting My
breast."
"They poured into My mouth the most immodest excretions, as they uttered
the
most infamous expressions about Me."
Then Jesus added:
"My daughter, I desire that you let everyone know these fifteen secret
tortures,
in order that every one of them be honored."
"Anyone who daily offers Me, with love, one of these sufferings and says
with
fervor the following prayer, will be rewarded with eternal glory on the
day of
judgement."
Devotional Prayer:
"My Lord and My God, it is my unchangeable will to honor You in these
fifteen
secret torments when You shed Your Precious Blood. As many times as there
are
grains of sand around the seas, as grains of wheat in the fields, as
blades of
grass in the meadows, as fruit in the orchards, as leaves on the trees, as
flowers in the gardens, as stars in the sky, as angels in Heaven, as
creatures
on earth - so many thousands of times may You be glorified, praised and
honored,
O most love-worthy Lord Jesus Christ - Your Holiest Heart, Your Precious
Blood,
Your Divine Sacrifice for mankind, the Holiest Sacrament of the Altar, The
Most
Holy Virgin Mary, the nine glorious choirs of Angels and the Blessed
Phalanx of
the Saints, from myself and everyone, now and forever, and In the eternal
ages."
There is an Important prayer which is called the "Jesus Prayer." It should
be
recited devoutly often each day and is as follows:
"Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, a sinner."
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