- 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. Catald of Taranto (Tarentum), Bishop
(Also known as Cataldus, Cathaluds, Cattaldo, Cathal)
Born in Munster, Ireland, 7th century. Saint Cataldus was a pupil, then
the
headmaster of the monastic school of Lismore in Waterford after the death
of its
founder, Saint Carthage. Upon his return from a pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, he
was ****pwrecked at Taranto in southern Italy and chosen by the people as
their
bishop. He is the titular of Taranto's cathedral and the principal patron
of the
diocese. This epitaph is given under an image of Saint Catald in Rome:
Me tulit Hiberne, Solyme traxere, Tarentum Nunc tenet: huic ritus,
dogmata, jura
dedi.
This has been loosely translated as: Hibernia gave me birth: thence wafted
over,
I sought the sacred Solymean shore. To thee Tarentum, holy rites I gave,
Precepts divine; and thou to me a grave.
It is odd that an Irishman, should be so honoured throughout Italy, Malta,
and
France, but have almost no recognition in his homeland. His Irish origins
were
discovered only two or three centuries after his death, when his relics
were
recovered during the renovation of the cathedral of Taranto. A small
golden
cross, of 7th- or 8th- century Irish workman****p, was with the relics.
Further
investigations identified him with Cathal, the teacher of Lismore.
Veneration to Catald spread, especially in southern Italy, after the May
10,
1017, translation of his relics when the cathedral was being rebuilt
following
its destruction at the hands of Saracens in 927. Four remarkable cures
occurred
as the relics were moved to the new cathedral. When his coffin was open at
that
time, a pastoral staff of Irish workman****p was found with the inscription
Cathaldus Rachau. There is a town of San Cataldo in Sicily and another on
the
southeast coast of Italy (Benedictines, D'Arcy, Farmer, Husenbeth, Kenney,
Montague, Neeson, Tommasini).
Saint Catald is depicted in art as an early Christian bishop with a mitre
and
pallium in a 12th century mosaic at Palermo (Roeder). He is the subject of
a
painting on the 8th pillar of the nave on the left in the Basilica of the
Nativity in Bethlehem (D'Arcy, Montague). There are also 12th-century
mosaics in
Palermo and Monreale depicting the saint (Farmer). Catald is invoked
against
plagues, drought, and storms (Farmer).
From:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0510.shtml
<><><><>
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. -Matt. 5:4
At times a single word is sufficient to cool a person who is burning with
anger; and, on the other hand, a single word may be capable of desolating
a
soul, and infusing into it a bitterness which may be most hurtful.
-St. Vincent de Paul
Three monks, being on a journey, lost their road, and so were obliged to
pass through a field of grain, which they consequently injured. A peasant,
seeing this, began to reproach them and call them false monks. Then the
oldest told his companions not to reply, and when he came near the man, he
said to him, "My son, you have said well". And as he continued to insult
them, he added: "You tell the truth, my son; for if we were true monks, we
should not have done you this harm. Now, pardon us for the love of God,
for
we know that we have done wrong' At these words, the rustic, amazed at
such
great meekness, threw himself at their feet, asked for pardon, and then
for
the habit, and went away with them.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". May - Meekness)
Bible Quote
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth.
For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear,
he
shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you.
(John 16:13)
<><><><>
ON THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY
1. On the throne on which the chaste body of St. Catharine of Bologna is
honored, one reads the words in which the Holy Spirit pronounces the
praise of
chastity: "O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory; for the
memory
thereof is immortal. It triumphs, crowned for ever, winning the reward of
undefiled conflicts" (Wisd 4:12). Undefiled purity requires a struggle in
every
state of life, in every period of human life; but such a reward is well
worth
the struggle. Have you fought faithfully for this precious treasure?
2. Consider, on the other hand, what an abominable vice impurity is. While
chastity makes men similar to angels and sometimes preserves them from
corruption after death, impurity degrades them to the level of the beast
and
sometimes produces corruption even before the soul has left the body. The
unchaste person become an abomination in the sight of God, in the sight of
men,
and in his own eyes. Here on earth, impurity deprives a man of all peace
of
heart and of all the joys of life; and if he is not sincerely converted,
he
shall in eternity have "his ****tion in the pool burning with fire and
brimstone"
(Apoc 21:8). Who would not be frightened at beginnings which lead to so
terrible
an end?
3. Consider the dangers that lead to the defilement of chastity. The
softness
and sensuality with which we pamper our bodies are the principal ones
among the
dangers. In the sensual appetite we carry a slumbering serpent in our
bosom. If
we nourish it with sensuality, it will not be long ere we feel its
poisonous
sting. Reading dangerous books, looking at shameful pictures, attending
frivolous plays and dances, and associating with dissolute companions
aggravate
to a still greater degree this evil propensity. No poison is so infectious
as
that of impurity. Amid so many dangers, Christians may well say with the
Apostle: "Unhappy man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this
death?" (Rom 7:24). But we, too, can gain the victory with the help of God
and
through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary as did all the
other
chaste souls who are now triumphing in heaven.
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