On our own Weakness and the Trials of This Life [II]

On our own Weakness and the Trials of This Life [II]

Consider my lowness and weakness, O Lord, for You know all things.
Have mercy on me, and raise me from the mire, that I may not stick
fast in it, (Ps.25:16; 49:14) nor remain prostrate. It is this that
often defeats and confounds me in Your eyes -- that I am so prone to
fall and so weak in resisting my passions. And although I do not yield
to them entirely, yet their assaults trouble and distress me, so that
I am weary of living constantly at conflict. My weakness is apparent
to me, for evil fancies rush in on me more readily than they depart.
--Thomas =C3=A0 Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 20

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31 October =E2=80=93 St Alphonsus Rodr=C3=ADguez, SJ

Celebrated 30 October on some calendars

 (Spanish: Alonso) was a Spanish Jesuit lay brother, Doorkeeper,
Mystic, Visionary, Apostle of Charity and of Prayer, Spiritual Adviser
=E2=80=93 born 25 July 1532 at Segovia, Spain died on 31 October 1617 at
Palma, Mallorca, Spain of natural causes.  Patronages =E2=80=93 Jesuit
College, Palma, Majorca, Spain.

Alphonsus Rodr=C3=ADguez was the son of a wool merchant. When St Peter
Faber SJ (1506-1546), one of the original Jesuits, visited the city to
preach, the Rodr=C3=ADguez family provided hospitality to the Jesuit. Faber
prepared the young Alphonsus for his First Communion. When he was 14,
his father died and Alphonsus left school to help his mother run the
family business. At the age of 26 he married Mar=C3=ADa Suarez, a woman of
his own station, with whom he had three children. At the age of 31 he
found himself a widower with one surviving child, the other two having
died. From that time on, he began a life of prayer and mortification,
separated from the world around him. On the death of his third child
his thoughts turned to a life in some religious order.

Previous associations had brought him into contact with the first
Jesuits who had come to Spain, Saint Peter Faber among others but it
was apparently impossible to carry out his purpose of entering the
Society as he was without education, having only an incomplete year at
a new college begun at Alcal=C3=A1 by Francis Villanueva (1509-1557). At
the age of 39 he attempted to make up for this deficiency by following
the course at the College of Barcelona but without success. His
austerities had also undermined his health.

After considerable delay, he was finally admitted into the Society of
Jesus as a lay brother on 31 January 1571, at the age of 40. Itis
believed that the provincial said that if Alphonsus was not qualified
to become a brother or a priest, he could enter to become a saint.

Distinct novitiates for seminarians and lay brothers had not yet been
established in Spain and Alphonsus began his term of probation at
Valencia or Gandia=E2=80=94this point is a subject of dispute=E2=80=94and a=
fter six
months was sent to the recently founded college on Majorca, where he
remained in the humble position of porter for 46 years, exercising a
marvellous influence, not only on the members of the household but
upon a great number of people, who came to the porter=E2=80=99s lodge for
advice and direction. As doorkeeper, his duties were to receive
visitors who came to the college, search out the fathers or students
who were wanted in the parlour, deliver messages, run errands, console
the sick at heart who, having no one to turn to, came to him, give
advice to the troubled and distribute alms to the needy. Alphonsus
tells that each time the bell rang, he looked at the door and
envisioned that it was God who was standing outside seeking
admittance.

Among the distinguished Jesuits who came under his influence was St
Peter Claver (1580-1654), who lived with him for some time at Majorca
and who followed his advice in asking for the missions of South
America. He made his final vows in 1585 at the age of 54.

Alphonsus Rodriguez was declared venerable in 1626. In 1633, he was
chosen by the Council General of Majorca as one of the special patrons
of the city and island. In 1760, Pope Clement XIII decreed that =E2=80=9Cth=
e
virtues of the Venerable Alonso were proved to be of a heroic degree=E2=80=
=9D
but the expulsion of the Society from Spain in 1773 and its
suppression, delayed his beatification until 1825. His Canonisation
took place in September 1888. His remains are enshrined at Majorca.

https://anastpaul.com/2018/10/31/


Saint Quote:
=E2=80=9CIn the difficulties which are placed before me,
why should I not act like a donkey?
When one speaks ill of him =E2=80=93 the donkey says nothing.
When he is mistreated =E2=80=93 he says nothing.
When he is forgotten =E2=80=93 he says nothing.
When no food is given him =E2=80=93 he says nothing.
When he is made to advance =E2=80=93 he says nothing.
When he is despised =E2=80=93 he says nothing.
When he is overburdened =E2=80=93 he says nothing.
The true servant of God must do likewise
and say with David:
=E2=80=9CBefore Thee I have become like a beast of burden.=E2=80=9D
--St Alphonsus Rodriguez (1532-1617)

Bible Quote:
 Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly
from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands, ye sinners: and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
[James 4:7-8] DRV


May the Heart of Jesus
be the King of My Heart!
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

May Thy Heart dwell
always, in our hearts!
May Thy Blood ever flow,
in the veins of our souls!
O Sun of our hearts,
Thou givest life to all things,
by the rays of Thy goodness!
I shall not go,
until Thy Heart
has strengthened me,
O Lord Jesus!
May the Heart of Jesus
be the King of my heart!
Blessed be Go forever!
Amen