Re: Embracing the Gospel

On 21/06/2013 3:34 am, Weedy wrote:
> Embracing the Gospel
> 
>     "You must realize that I fondly love the perfection about which the Lord spoke when he said to the rich young man: "Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me." Not by my own strength, but with the aid of God's grace have I done this.
>     Persons who give up both what they possess and what they hope to possess give up the whole world. I encourage others to embrace this holy goal."
> --St. Augustine--Letter 157, 39
> 
> Prayer: Come, Lord, into my soul, which you have prepared for your own reception by inspiring in me a longing for your goodness.
> --St. Augustine--Confessions 13, 1
> 
> 
> <<>><<>><<>>
> June 20th - St. John of Matera, abbot of Pulsano
> D. 1139
> 
> THE founder of the Benedictine congregation of Pulsano was born at Matera, a town in the Basilicata, part of the kingdom of Naples. While yet a boy John longed to be a hermit, and on reaching manhood he left his father's house and made his way to an island off Taranto, where he joined a monastery in the capacity of shepherd. His austerity, however, and his refusal to join his brethren in any form of recreation, made him unpopular, so he left them and went, first to Calabria, then on to Sicily. Afterwards, in obedience to what he regarded as a divine admonition, he returned to the mainland, and at Ginosa for two and a half years he maintained unbroken silence, without making his presence known to his parents, whom war had compelled to take refuge in the vicinity. He now had a vision of St. Peter, who bade him rebuild a ruined church dedicated in his honour about a mile from Ginosa. This task he successfully accomplished with the help of a few companions who rallied round him. But then he was accused of having discovered and appropriated hidden treasure, and was brought up before the governor of the province, by whom he was committed to prison. He managed to escape--liberated, it is said, by an angel-and reached Capua.
> 
> He was not permitted to remain there. An inward voice bade him return to his own land, and he entered the community of St. William of Vercelli on Monte Laceno. John stayed with them until their dwellings were destroyed by fire. The rest then moved to Monte Cagno, but John went to Bari, where he preached to the people with wonderful effect. His very success seems to have aroused jealousy and he found himself once more under accusation--this time on a charge of heresy. He was able, however, to clear himself triumphantly. He then returned to Ginosa, where he was welcomed by his former disciples, and he conducted in St. Peter's church what appears to have been a very fruitful mission. His wanderings were now nearly at an end. Still directed by the voice which had led him in the past, he betook himself to Monte Gargano, and at Pulsano, three miles from the spot hallowed by the appearance of St. Michael, he built a monastery. Disciples flocked to join his community, which soon numbered sixty monks, over whom he ruled until his death. Honoured by all for his wisdom, his miracles and his prophetical gifts, he passed to his reward on June 20, 1139. Other religious houses were afterwards affiliated to his, and the congregation of Monte Pulsano was at one time a recognized part of the great Benedictine family. It has long since disappeared.
> 
> There is a Latin life in tolerably full detail, which seems to have been written before the end of the twelfth century. It is printed in the Acta Sanctorum, June, vol. v. A metrical account, of which the Bollandists have only extracted a specimen, may be read in full in G. Giordano, Chroniche de Monte Vergine (1640), pp. 520-527. A life has been published in more recent times (1930-) by M. Morelli, and see Analecta Bollandiana, vol. lvii (1939), pp. 174-176.
> 
> 
> Saint Quote:
> "The man who has purified all the powers of his soul from every form of sin will be able to see that essential Beauty which is the source of everything else that is beautiful and good. The eye that has been cleansed of rheum is able to see heavenly phenomena that may be far distant. So too, the soul, by her incorruptibility, receives the power of seeing that Light; and true virginity and her longing for incorruptibility come to rest in her final goal; for by this she is enabled to see God. For no one could be so blind as not to realize that the God of all things is the first, supreme and unique Goodness, Beauty and Purity."
> --St. Gregory of Nyssa.
> 
> Bible Quote:
> "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."   (Ephesians 5:1-2 )
> 
> 
> <><><><>
> Prayer to Invite the Blessed Virgin Mary
> to be Present at our Death
> 
> Most Holy Virgin Mary, by the love and fidelity with which thy Divine
> Son, when fastened to the Cross, confided thee to Saint John, I confide to
> thee my soul, my body, my thoughts, words, actions and life, especially the
> end thereof--that moment which will decide my fate for eternity.
> 
> As thou didst invite thy Son to thy most holy death, so I also invite
> thee to mine, entreating thee to be present there--at, in the name of the
> love with which thou didst assist at the death of thy Jesus. By the tears
> thou didst shed at seeing Him incline His head and expire in such torments,
> vouchsafe in thy maternal bounty, to watch beside me and the members of my
> family, and leave us not until thou hast introduced us into paradise.
> Amen.
> 
> Taken from: The Precious Blood & Mother Prayerbook
> 

Interesting post.