-- John 14:27 --

-- John 14:27 --

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.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
The end result of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives is deep and lasting
peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of
conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Chris=
t's
peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future. If your life is f=
ull
of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with peace

<<>><<>><<>>
March 22nd - Our Lady of the Seven Veils:

In the Cathedral of Foggia one can find an ancient and mysterious
image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This icon, called =E2=80=9COur Lady of th=
e
Seven Veils,=E2=80=9D once caused Saint Alphonsus to go into ecstasy, which=
 I
will describe below. As a young priest, St Pio of Pietreclina would
make a visit to this image every day.

In the 11th century Foggia, Italy was a tiny town perched around the
Tavern of the Owl. One day some local farmers saw three flames over a
small pond or bog. Intrigued, they dug where the miraculous fire had
been and discovered a large =E2=80=9Ctable=E2=80=9D buried in the mud. They=
 realised
that this =E2=80=9Ctable=E2=80=9D was actually a Byzantine icon that had re=
mained
somewhat preserved despite being soaked in water and mud. The image
was cleaned and then cloaked with new veils. I assume there were seven
veils and hence the name but I cannot verify this. The icon was then
placed in the local Tavern of the Owl for veneration. Soon the tavern
became a place of pilgrimage. In 1080 Robert Guiscard built a church
to honour the sacred image. In 1172 the church was expanded by William
II =E2=80=9Cthe Good=E2=80=9D of Sicily. The =E2=80=9Cface hole=E2=80=9D is=
 all that one can now see
of the original wooden icon. It is black and the face is now
indiscernible. However, on Maundy Thursday of 1731, the Virgin Mary=E2=80=
=99s
white face appeared in this portal, which was usually black and dark.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori heard about apparition and went to Foggia to
venerate the Immaculate Mother of the Saviour. He also received an
apparition of the Virgin=E2=80=99s face in the small black portal. He
described the Blessed Virgin=E2=80=99s face on that occasion as a girl of
13-14 with a white veil. The apparitions of the Virgin=E2=80=99s face on th=
e
icon continued until about 1745.

As the city grew larger, the church was decorated and enriched. The
Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, Spaniards and Bourbons
considered the church to be one of the most important in Italy.  It
has served as the site for several royal weddings. Today, the image is
said to be covered in seven layers of precious metal and embroidered
material =E2=80=93 hence the name Madonna of the Seven Veils.

Saint Quote:
As a mother delights in taking her child on her knees, in caressing
and feeding him, so does our God delight in treating with love and
tenderness those souls who give themselves entirely to Him, and place
all their hopes in His goodness and bounty.
-- St. Alphonsus Liguori


<><><><>
"Some pursue their own taste and satisfaction in spiritual things in
preference to the way of perfection which consists in denying their
own wishes and tastes for the love of God, If such persons perform
some exercise through obedience, even though it suit their
inclination, they soon lose the wish for It, and all devotion in It,
because their only pleasure is in doing what their own will directs,
which ordinarily would be better left undone. The Saints did not act
thus".
--St. John of the Cross

 The blessed Seraphino, a Capuchin lay-brother, said to a friend that
he would be glad to be in the house of Loretto or at Rome, that he
might serve as many Masses as possible. When it was suggested that he
might ask this favor of the Superiors, who would have readily granted
it, he replied: =E2=80=98=E2=80=98Oh, not that! Any holy desire would be pr=
ofaned by
one=E2=80=99s own will, and every good intention ought to be subject to
obedience, the only true directress of all holy thoughts."

(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints".  March - Mortification)