-- Proverbs 6:16-19 --

 -- Proverbs 6:16-19 --

There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
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Scripture tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8,16), but it also tells
us there are some things he hates-- and it says so in a book of
wisdom. That's because wisdom is much more than getting principles and
instructions from God. If wisdom were simply good advice-- information
passed on to us impersonally-- we could develop some religious
practices and call it righteousness. But in God's Kingdom, wisdom is
much more relational. We can't become wise outside of personal
interaction with God. He doesn't just give wisdom; he is wisdom. When
we spend time with God and learn what he loves and hates, that affects
our hearts. We begin to cultivate the same passions. We develop a
distaste for pride, deception, violence and scheming, and we develop
an affection for what he loves, including his people and his mission.
When our passions align with God's, wisdom happens much more naturally
than when we try to absorb principles and implement them in our lives.
A heart that beats with God's inevitably generates thoughts and
actions consistent with God's heart.

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March 30th - St. Peter Regaldo
(1390-1456)

 Peter lived at a very busy time. The Great Western Schism (1378-1417)
was settled at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). France and
England were fighting the Hundred Years=E2=80=99 War, and in 1453 the
Byzantine Empire was completely wiped out by the loss of
Constantinople to the Turks. At Peter=E2=80=99s death the age of printing h=
ad
just begun in Germany, and Columbus's arrival in the New World was
less than 40 years away.

Peter came from a wealthy and pious family in Vallodolid, Spain. At
the age of 13, he was allowed to enter the Conventual Franciscans.
Shortly after his ordination, he was made superior of the friary in
Aguilar. He became part of a group of friars who wanted to lead a life
of greater poverty and penance. In 1442 he was appointed head of all
the Spanish Franciscans in his reform group.

Peter led the friars by his example. A special love of the poor and
the sick characterized Peter. Miraculous stories are told about his
charity to the poor. For example, the bread never seemed to run out as
long as Peter had hungry people to feed. Throughout most of his life,
Peter went hungry; he lived only on bread and water.

Immediately after his death on March 31, 1456, his grave became a
place of pilgrimage. Peter was canonized in 1746.

Comment:

Peter was an effective leader of the friars because he did not become
ensnared in anger over the sins of others. Peter helped sinning friars
rearrange the priorities in their lives and dedicate themselves to
living the gospel of Jesus Christ as they had vowed. This patient
correction is an act of charity available to all Franciscans, not just
to superiors.


Saint Quote:
"The principal thing upon which we have to turn our attention, that we
may mortify it and eradicate it from our hearts, is the predominant
passion--that is, the affection, inclination, vice, habit, which
reigns most in us, which makes us its captive, which brings us into
greatest danger, and most frequently causes us to fall into grave
transgressions. When the king is taken, the battle is won. And until
we do this, we shall make no great advance in perfection"
--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

Bible Quote:
"And let all the brothers, both the ministers and servants as well as
the others, take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the
evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many through the
fault of one; but they should spiritually help [the brother] who has
sinned as best they can, because it is not the healthy who are in need
of the physician, but whose who are sick (cf. Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17)" (Rule
of 1221, Chapter 5).


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A hymn of glory let us sing;
New songs throughout the world shall ring:
Christ, by a road before untrod,
Now rises to the throne of God.

The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand;
And with his followers they see
Their Lord's ascending majesty.

To them the angels drawing nigh,
"Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
This is the Savior," thus they say;
"This is his glorious triumph day. "

Again shall ye behold him so
As ye today have seen him go,
In glorious pomp ascending high,
Up to the portals of the sky."

O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to thee let earth accord,
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit one.