-- Psalm 147:5 –

 -- Psalm 147:5 =E2=80=93=20

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Sometimes we feel as if we don't understand ourselves - what we want, how w=
e
feel, what's wrong with us or what we should do about it. But God's
understanding has no limit, and therefore he understands us fully. If you f=
eel
troubled and don't understand yourself, remember that God understands you
perfectly. Take your mind off yourself and focus it on God. Strive to becom=
e
more and more like him. The more you learn about God and his ways, the bett=
er
you will understand yourself.

<<>><<>><<>>
February 26th - Bl. Leo of Saint-Bertin, Abbot

d. 1163
LEO, 40th abbot of Saint-Bertin, was a native of Fumes in Flanders. He
is described as having received an unusually good education, so that
he became well versed in all branches of sacred and secular learning.
As a very young man he was attached to the court of the Count of
Flanders where he held important offices, including that of
almoner--although he was only twenty. He soon retired from the world
and entered the monastery of Anchin, where he distinguished himself
amongst his brother monks, and ere long was called to rule the abbey
of Lobbes. During the protracted wars that had desolated the country
the affairs of the monas-tery had fallen into a bad state, but Leo
succeeded in setting them in order and in restoring discipline. In
1138 he was recalled to become abbot of Saint-Bertin--an abbey of such
importance that it was known as the Monastery of Monasteries. His name
appears on several contemporary charters. That same year he went to
Rome, where the main purpose of his visit was to free his abbey from
the interference of Cluny, which claimed certain rights over it.
Amongst the works of St. Bernard are two letters addressed "to the
dear and venerable Leo and to all his community".

When in 1146 Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders, took part in the
Second Crusade, he was accompanied by Bl. Leo, but, beyond the fact
that he reached Jerusalem, nothing is known about the abbot's stay in
the Holy Land. On his return he brought with him to the chapel of St.
Blaise in Bruges the relic of the Precious Blood which the count had
obtained and which is still treasured and venerated in that ancient
city. When the abbot was quite an old man, his monas-tery was entirely
destroyed by fire in the year 1152. Undismayed he started at once to
rebuild it, and was fortunate in enlisting the help of a nobleman
known as William of Ypres: in two years the monks were able to return,
and Bl. Leo lived to see the whole monastery entirely reconstructed.
In 1161 he lost his sight, and two years later he died.

See Destombes, Vies des saints du dioc=C3=A8se de Cambrai, vol. i, pp.
284-287; Biographie nationale (de Belgique), vol. xi, pp. 822-824. It
does not seem clear whether the chapel in which the alleged relic of
the Precious Blood was first deposited was dedicated to St. Blaise or
to St. Basil. The relic purported to be drops of the actual blood of
Christ our Lord collected by St. Joseph of Arimathea when he washed
our Saviour's body before laying it in the tomb. The question of the
nature of the veneration to be paid to such relics, apart from the
question of their authenticity, was keenly debated among theologians
in the 15 century. See Jox, Die Reliquien des kostbares Blut.


<><><><>
Whoever humbleth himself shall be exalted. -Lk. 14:11

"Here is one of the best means to acquire humility: fix well in mind
this maxim: One is as much as he is in the sight of God, and no more"
--Thomas a Kempis

St. Francis made a beginning of sanctity by trampling underfoot human
respect; for he had thoroughly penetrated the truth of this holy maxim
which he often revolved in his mind.

(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)

Bible Quote:
The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth
before glory.  (Proverbs 15:33)