Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
St. John the Baptist
1 view
Skip to first unread message
Weedy
Jan 10, 2013, 1:26:28 PM1/10/13
to
St. John the Baptist
"Many things could be said about St. John the Baptist. However, if I attempted to enumerate them, I would never be finished with telling you, nor you with listening.
Now let me round it off in a nutshell. Human beings must be humbled, and God must be exalted."
--St. Augustine--Sermon 293 D, 5
Prayer: This is my glory, Lord my God, that I might proclaim to you forever that there is nothing from myself for me. All good things come from you, for you are God, all things in all.
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Pslam 29, 13
<><><><><>
January 10th - St. Peter Orseolo
Today's saint is probably one of the strangest of 10th century religious history. Peter was born in 928 at Venice, Italy. He was from a well to do Venetian family and at the age of eighteen married. His wife gave birth to a son and then it is believed that husband and wife lived a celibate life as brother and sister.
In 948, at the age of twenty he was the commander of the Venetian fleet in a war against Dalmatian pirates whom he successfully defeated. There is a question of his involvement in the revolution of 976, in which the chief magistrate of the city, Doge Peter Candiani IV, was murdered and a large part of the city was destroyed by fire. The reality of this can not be determined. Peter was however, elected doge of Venice.
His brief administration was marked by tact and energy. He brought peace by ending the political crises. He settled the claims of the widowed dogress Candiani to the satisfaction of Otto II. He also built hospitals, took care of orphans and widows and generally promoted peace in the city. He was praised as one of the greatest doges of Venice.
Then a very unusual happening took place. One tradition tells us that on September 1, 978. Peter disappeared. His wife of thirty-two years and his son had no idea of his whereabouts for some time. Peter had gone to the Benedictine Abbey of Cuxa, in Prades, France, on the borders of Spain. Peter became known as a model religious. He lived a very simple and austere life, devoting himself to the most menial of tasks. He did contact his family and instructed his son, who had been elected dogo in his place, in prudence and the Christian virtues of a good ruler. He later built a hermitage for himself possibly at the suggestion of St. Romuald whom he met at Cuxa.
What the circumstance were which caused him to quietly slip away to the monastery and devote himself to a life just the opposite of what he had been living is unknown. There are some who believe it was in reparation for the revolution and perhaps for involvement in the murder of Doge Candiani. What his wife thought about his monastic life is also only open to conjecture, because this was the 10th century.
Peter died at Cuxa on January 10, 987. Miracles were soon reported by people who asked his intercession to God for them. At first reading he seems hardly the sort of candidate, one would select for sainthood. But, when one reads between the lines a different picture emerges. He chose to give up his wealth and prestige to seek a life dedicated to God. In the 10th century it was not uncommon for both husbands and wives to choose to live a celibate life and it was not unusual for one or both to enter monastic life. When a wealthy individual chose religious life in the 10th century, their spouse and children were first taken care of and settled before they could make a permanent commitment to the monastery. This was common practice.
When we look at Peter as chief magistrate, we see not only a good statesman, but also a man who cared for his people. He took care of those in need, using his own wealth and resources. We also see a man truly desirous of peace for his people. History also shows us that in a letter in 968, before the revolution, Peter had thoughts of monastic life. Perhaps he was an ambitious man at one point, but his final decision was to dedicate his life to God and to the development of the Gospel values within himself. The desire and search for holiness comes in many different ways and different ages for each individual person.
Saint Quote:
“The Body of Christ is meant to be eaten by the faithful, not to be treated with irreverence.”
--St. Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition, 215 AD
Bible Quote:
"The eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers. But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." (Ps. 33:16-17).
<<>><<>><<>>
A prayer of St. Augustine to the Holy Spirit:
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
"Many things could be said about St. John the Baptist. However, if I attempted to enumerate them, I would never be finished with telling you, nor you with listening.
Now let me round it off in a nutshell. Human beings must be humbled, and God must be exalted."
--St. Augustine--Sermon 293 D, 5
Prayer: This is my glory, Lord my God, that I might proclaim to you forever that there is nothing from myself for me. All good things come from you, for you are God, all things in all.
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Pslam 29, 13
<><><><><>
January 10th - St. Peter Orseolo
Today's saint is probably one of the strangest of 10th century religious history. Peter was born in 928 at Venice, Italy. He was from a well to do Venetian family and at the age of eighteen married. His wife gave birth to a son and then it is believed that husband and wife lived a celibate life as brother and sister.
In 948, at the age of twenty he was the commander of the Venetian fleet in a war against Dalmatian pirates whom he successfully defeated. There is a question of his involvement in the revolution of 976, in which the chief magistrate of the city, Doge Peter Candiani IV, was murdered and a large part of the city was destroyed by fire. The reality of this can not be determined. Peter was however, elected doge of Venice.
His brief administration was marked by tact and energy. He brought peace by ending the political crises. He settled the claims of the widowed dogress Candiani to the satisfaction of Otto II. He also built hospitals, took care of orphans and widows and generally promoted peace in the city. He was praised as one of the greatest doges of Venice.
Then a very unusual happening took place. One tradition tells us that on September 1, 978. Peter disappeared. His wife of thirty-two years and his son had no idea of his whereabouts for some time. Peter had gone to the Benedictine Abbey of Cuxa, in Prades, France, on the borders of Spain. Peter became known as a model religious. He lived a very simple and austere life, devoting himself to the most menial of tasks. He did contact his family and instructed his son, who had been elected dogo in his place, in prudence and the Christian virtues of a good ruler. He later built a hermitage for himself possibly at the suggestion of St. Romuald whom he met at Cuxa.
What the circumstance were which caused him to quietly slip away to the monastery and devote himself to a life just the opposite of what he had been living is unknown. There are some who believe it was in reparation for the revolution and perhaps for involvement in the murder of Doge Candiani. What his wife thought about his monastic life is also only open to conjecture, because this was the 10th century.
Peter died at Cuxa on January 10, 987. Miracles were soon reported by people who asked his intercession to God for them. At first reading he seems hardly the sort of candidate, one would select for sainthood. But, when one reads between the lines a different picture emerges. He chose to give up his wealth and prestige to seek a life dedicated to God. In the 10th century it was not uncommon for both husbands and wives to choose to live a celibate life and it was not unusual for one or both to enter monastic life. When a wealthy individual chose religious life in the 10th century, their spouse and children were first taken care of and settled before they could make a permanent commitment to the monastery. This was common practice.
When we look at Peter as chief magistrate, we see not only a good statesman, but also a man who cared for his people. He took care of those in need, using his own wealth and resources. We also see a man truly desirous of peace for his people. History also shows us that in a letter in 968, before the revolution, Peter had thoughts of monastic life. Perhaps he was an ambitious man at one point, but his final decision was to dedicate his life to God and to the development of the Gospel values within himself. The desire and search for holiness comes in many different ways and different ages for each individual person.
Saint Quote:
“The Body of Christ is meant to be eaten by the faithful, not to be treated with irreverence.”
--St. Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition, 215 AD
Bible Quote:
"The eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers. But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." (Ps. 33:16-17).
<<>><<>><<>>
A prayer of St. Augustine to the Holy Spirit:
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
0 new messages