-- Proverbs 11:29 --

 -- Proverbs 11:29 --

He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds:
 and the fool shall serve the wise.  [Proverbs 11:29] DRB
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
One of the greatest resources God gives us is the family. Families
provide acceptance, encouragement, guidance, and counsel. Bringing
trouble on your family--whether through anger or through an
exaggerated desire for independence--is foolish because you cut
yourself off

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5 January =E2=80=93 St Charles of Mount Argus C.P.
Also known as
    =E2=80=A2 Charles Houban
    =E2=80=A2 Charles Houben
    =E2=80=A2 Charles of Mount Argus Houben
    =E2=80=A2 Charles of Saint Andrew
    =E2=80=A2 Joannes Andreas Houben
    =E2=80=A2 Karel Houben
    =E2=80=A2 Karel of Mount Argus
    =E2=80=A2 Karel of Saint Andrew
    =E2=80=A2 Karel van Sint Andries Houben
    =E2=80=A2 Karl Houben
    =E2=80=A2 Saint of Mount Argus

 Religious Passionist Priest, Apostle of Charity, Spiritual guide,
Miracle-worker =E2=80=93 born Joannes Andreas Houben on 11 December 1821 in
the village of Munstergeleen in the Province of Limburg in the Kingdom
of the Netherlands and died on 5 January 1893 at Mount Argus, Ireland
from an infected leg wound received in a carriage accident.

Fr Charles of St Andrew, known in secular life as John Andrew Houben,
was born on 11 December 1821 in Munstergeleen, in the diocese of
Ruremond (Holland), the fourth of eleven children. He was baptised the
same day with the name John Andrew. He received his First Communion on
26 April 1835 and the sacrament of Confirmation on 28 June in the same
year. He began his formal education in Sittard and then in
Broeksittard. In 1840 he had to interrupt his studies to enter the
military. It was during this latter period that he first heard about
the Congregation of the Passion. At the end of his military service he
completed his studies and requested to be admitted to the
Congregation. He was received by Blessed Dominic Barberi (1792-1849),
Passionist and he entered the novitiate in the Belgium city of Ere,
near Tournai on 5 November 1845. In December of that same year he was
vested with the Passionist religious Habit and was given the name of
Charles of St Andrew. Having completed the canonical year of novitiate
he professed First Vows on 10 December 1850. At the conclusion of his
studies he was ordained a priest by Bishop Labis, the ordinary of
Tournai.

Immediately he was sent to England where the Passionists had founded
three monasteries and it was here that, for a period of time, he
undertook the ministry of vice-master of novices in the monastery of
Broadway. He also did parochial ministry in the parish of St Wilfred
and neighbouring areas until 1856 when he was transferred to the newly
established monastery of Mount Argus, on the outskirts of Dublin.

Blessed Charles Houben lived almost the remainder of his life in this
retreat and was greatly loved by the Irish people to point that they
referred to him, a native of Holland, as Father Charles of Mount
Argus. He was a particularly pious priest. He was outstanding in
exercising obedience, in the practice of poverty, humility and
simplicity and to an even greater degree, to devotion to the Passion
of the Lord.

Due to his poor mastery of the English language, he was never a formal
preacher and he never preached missions. Rather, he very successfully
dedicated himself to spiritual direction, especially through the
sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).

The fame of his virtue was such that great crowds of people would
gather at the monastery to seek his blessing. There are also numerous
testimonies to the outstanding miraculous cures that he worked to the
extent, that even during his lifetime, he was known as a miracle
worker.

Precisely because of this fame that extended throughout all of Great
Britain as well as in America and Australia that in 1866, in order to
afford him some rest, he was transferred to England where he lived for
a time in the communities at Broadway, Sutton and London. There he
ministered as usual and there too, inside and outside the monastery,
he was sought by the faithful, both Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
He returned to Dublin in 1874 where he remained until his death that
took place at dawn on 5 January 1893.

During his very solemn funeral that was attended by people from all of
Ireland there was definite proof of the popular devotion that had
surrounded him throughout his life. In a newspaper of the time we
read: =E2=80=9CNever before has the memory of any man sparked an explosion =
of
religious sentiment and profound veneration as that which we observed
in the presence of the mortal remains of Father Charles.=E2=80=9D The Super=
ior
of the monastery wrote to his family:  =E2=80=9CThe people have already
declared him a saint.=E2=80=9D

The cause of his Beatification and Canonization was introduced on 13
November 1935, and on 16 October 1988, His Holiness John Paul II
proceeded with the Beatification of the one whom everyone called the
saint of Mount Argus.

The miracle that led to his Canonisation was obtained through his
intercession on behalf of Mr Adolf Dormans of Munstergeleen, the
birthplace of the Blessed. The diocesan inquiry super miro was also
undertaken in the diocese of Roermond (Holland) from 6 November 2002
until 19 February 2003 at which time the validity of the miracle was
recognised by a Decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
on 7 November 2003.

The medical consulta was convoked on 24 November 2005 and following
the investigation of the matter, the members unanimously expressed
that the cure of Mr. Dormans of =E2=80=9Cperforated, gangrenous appendiciti=
s
with generalised peritonitis that was multi-organically compromising
and included extenuating and prolonged agony=E2=80=9D was =E2=80=9Cnot scie=
ntifically
explainable=E2=80=9D.

The theologian consultors, in the particular Congress of 21 February
2006 and the Ordinary Congregation of Cardinals and Bishops of 12
December 2006 also gave their unanimous approval of the supernatural
aspect of the said healing. The Decree concerning the miracle was
given in the presence of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI on 21 December
2006=E2=80=A6and he was Canonised on 3 June 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI at Sa=
int
Peter=E2=80=99s Basilica, Rome, Italy=E2=80=A6Vatican.va

During the last years of his life he had many trials. He was also in
failing health, was anxious about death. His family in Holland were
dying. Old injuries returned to plague him. Towards the end of 1892,
it was obvious that the life of Fr Charles was coming to an end. He
said his last Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 1892.
Word of his illness spread through the city, crowds gathered to
enquire about him. Just after Christmas he couldn=E2=80=99t eat, lost his
sight and was like a living skeleton. At 5.30 in the morning of the
5th January 1893 he passed peacefully to his Maker.

His body was brought to the Church and lay in state for five days.
Despite heavy snow, thousands filed past his coffin with the police
keeping order. His funeral was said to have been bigger than Parnell=E2=80=
=99s
two years before. Finally his remains were laid to rest in the
cemetery beside Mount Argus Church. His grave became a place of
pilgrimage where people came daily to pray. When in 1949 his remains
were moved inside the Church the Shrine became the place of prayer.
Today people come twice each day to be blest with the Relic of Blessed
Charles.

https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/05

Saint Quotes:
=E2=80=9DMy God, how great Thou art, how wonderful in all Thy works! Teach =
me
Thy will that I may begin and end all my actions for Thy greater
glory.
--Saint John Neumann

Speak to me, 0 my God, let me know Thy will, for behold I am ready to
fulfill Thy every command. The difficult, the irksome, I will
patiently endure for love of Thee.
--Saint John Neumann

Bible Quote:
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from
the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his
dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins:  (Col.1:12:14)

<><><><>
Merciful Father, You have given me all that I have in this world, even
life itself. In all my daily needs, help me to remember the needs of
others too. Make me aware of the need to pray to You not just for
myself but for the Church, the Pope, for the clergy and for people who
suffer any need. Make me as selfless as Saint John Neumann. Throughout
my life, give me the grace to direct my first thoughts to the service
of You and of others. Make my prayer - =E2=80=9CYour will be done=E2=80=9D =
knowing
that in Your mercy and love, Your will for me is my san