— James 1:17 —

=E2=80=94 James 1:17 =E2=80=94

 Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of
alteration.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
How sad to be in a senseless world without a changeless God. We have a
God with whom there is no variation nor shadow of turning. He doesn't
have shifting moods, bad days, "oops" moments, momentary breakdowns,
or changes of mind or heart. He's as consistent as a plumb line, as
steady as a rock, and as unchanging as eternity. He is as he has
always been and will always be. Forever he is enthroned in the
highest, and forever his Word is fixed in the heavens. Culture
changes. Churches change. Life changes. GOD DOESN'T CHANGE.

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April 19th - St. Leo IX

St. Leo IX lived from 1002 to 1054. His life was extraordinary in many
ways. He came from a family of high nobility, and carried out every
ecclesiastical office he exercised with excellence. When he was Bishop
of Toul, he was considered the most handsome man of his time. His
exterior appearance was set off by his distinguished elegance in dress
and manners. In him the astuteness of the serpent was joined with the
innocence of the dove, and for this reason the wise men of his time
considered him the most prudent of all. He was so charitable that
often he distributed so many of his goods to the poor that he himself
was reduced to poverty.

He excelled in both the human and divine sciences, especially in
music. In this field he composed hymns in honor of St. Cyriac, Blessed
Odilia and Pope St. Gregory the Great, Apostle of England. Humble and
patient, he had an invincible constancy amid trial. The violence of
the battle did not trouble him, nor did ambushes surprise him. Every
year he used to make a pilgrimage to Rome to venerate St. Peter and
the relics of other saints. His strong personality and great virtue
raised up hatred against him, but he was deeply loved by the upright
souls of his flock.


Comments of the late Prof. Plinio Corr=C3=AAa de Oliveira: (died 1995)

I consider this a monumental description. It is a depiction of a grand
seigneur. Pope Leo IX is a saint who had all the characteristics of a
grand seigneur--tall, handsome, distinguished in dress, elevated in
manners, dignified in everything he did. In this sense one can say
that he was a flower of the aristocracy who was plucked by Divine
Providence to be placed over the altar.

Along with this exceptional exterior appearance, he had an
extraordinary intelligence, a great learning and an erudition that
made him famous in his times. This was not a dry erudition, dusty and
dead as so often happens. It was an erudition that was alive and
vibrant. He was also a musician.

Then, parallel to these qualities he had great virtue and a strong
supernatural life. You can see that he had all the qualities necessary
to make him a precious vase, a vessel for a singular flower, that is,
his spiritual life--for which all his other qualities were ordained.

He had a remarkable sanctity, a hard sanctity, the sanctity of a
fighter, of a man who does not become discouraged, who does not step
back, who understands that it is natural to face difficulties and so
he faces them. Because of this spirit he was victorious throughout his
life.

The different moral elements that shaped his sanctity were as complete
as his natural qualities. He was very pious, meditative, with a
learning turned toward the spirit, toward religion. He was a fighter,
a man who carried the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Replete with
these many qualities he was raised to the most elevated post that
exists, which is to be Roman Pontiff, successor of St. Peter and
representative of Our Lord on earth.

Another interesting thing to note is that he was appreciated. He had
enemies, but all the wise men of his time valued him. You can see that
there was a public opinion that was open to saints, disposed to
understand, support and applaud them. St. Leo IX, then, was like a
lighted candle placed in a candelabrum that shone in a room that
received its light. This was the reason why he was elected Pope and
illuminated all Christendom.

He was one of those men to whom God decided to give a plenitude of
marvelous gifts. It would be difficult to say when God shows his
splendor more: when He creates persons like St. Leo IX with so many
qualities and gifts, or when He makes the spiritual life triumph in
men deficient by nature and filled with contradictions. These are two
kinds of marvelous works of God, both so great that it is beyond human
capacity to compare them.

One can only conclude with this generic statement: that God is
admirable in His saints. Each saint is a masterpiece of God. The
greatest masterpiece of God, however, is the ensemble of the saints,
the heavenly court with the superb irradiation of all the saints,
whose various lights shine with multiple and different expressions and
are all synthesized in Our Lady, the Mirror of Justice. She is the
faithful mirror in which one can contemplate Our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself.

http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j018sdSt.LeoIX_4-19.htm


Saint Quote:
Be careful to give no credit to yourself for anything; if you do, you
are stealing from God, to whom alone every good thing is due.
--St. Vincent de Paul

Bible Quote:
The Son of man is to come with His Angels in the glory of His Father,
and then He will render to everyone according to his works.  (Matthew
16:27)


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Prayer

"Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to
count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not
to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of
knowing that we do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord."  (Prayer
of Ignatius Loyola)