On Asking God's Help and the Certainty of his Grace [V]

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On Asking God's Help and the Certainty of his Grace [V]

CHRIST.
If you are wise and have right judgement, you will never despair or
be discouraged. On the contrary, if I scourge you with trouble and do
not spare you,(Job 6:10) be glad and grateful, and regard it as cause
for joy. For, `as My Father has loved Me, so do I love you,(John 15:9)
were My words to my well loved disciples, whom I did not send out to
enjoy the pleasures of the world, but to fight hard battles; not to
win honours, but contempt; not to be idle, but industrious; not to
rest, but to bring forth much fruit with patience.(Luke 8:15)
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ, Bk 3, Ch 30

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30 April – Saint Gualfardus of Augsburg
Also known as
Gualfardus of Verona
Wolfhard of….

Memorial
30 April
27 October (translation of relics)
11 May on some calendars


(1070-1127)
Hermit, Monk, Miracle-worker. Born in 1070 at Augsburg, Germany and
died on 30 April 1127 at San Salvatore Priory, Verona, Italy of
natural causes. Patronages – harness makers, saddlers. Also known as –
Gualfardus of Verona, Gualfardo of … Wolfhard of… (Germanic version of
his name). Additional Memorials – 1 May in Verona and 27 October
(translation of relics).

The Roman Martyrology states today: “In Verona, Saint Gualfardo, who,
a saddler from Germany, after many years spent in solitude, was
welcomed in this City by the Monks of San Salvatore.”

A saddle-maker by trade, Gualfardus, obeying his inner desire for a
life entirely dedicated to God, after spending some time in Verona,
withdrew into solitude, in a nearby place. known as all’Adige.

Following the example of St Romuald, Founder of the Camaldolese Order
of Hermits, at Mount Corona, Gualfardus spent twenty years in hiding
in this solitary place, in prayer to God. Then some boatmen, who were
sailing on the river discovered him and it wasn’t long before others
sought him out, thus forcing him to move to Verona to the Church of St
Peter.

After a while, he passed to the Church of the Blessed Trinity outside
the city walls and was finally received with great joy as an oblate by
the Camaldolese Monks of St Salvatore di Corteregia in Verona. There,
Gualfardus remained for ten years until his death.

Gualfardus reached the highest degrees of contemplation and holiness,
with incessant prayer, night vigils, fasts, penances; all interwoven
with serenity, modesty and prudence, which reflected peace and
intimate union with God.

A contemporary Monk, who was the author of his first ‘Vita,’ described
the fervour with which Gualfardus conversed with the faithful and with
the Camaldolese Monks and the many miracles obtained by Gualfardus
both in life and after his death. He died in the Convent of Verona on
30 April 1127. The Veronese celebrate his feast on 1 May, as protector
of saddlers, while the Camaldolese Order and the Roman Martyrology
remember him on 30 April, the anniversary of his birth into heaven.

https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/30


The Three Grades of Perfection – The Third Grade

“The Third Grade of perfection consists in preferring suffering to
pleasure, humiliation to honours and the cross, to an easy life.
By these means, we imitate Christ better and show our love for Him.
The way of the cross, is the way of Jesus and is the only path to holiness.
It is easier for those who walk this path to be detached from sin and
from the world and to remain close to Jesus.
This is the way which the Saints chose.
In which grade of perfection are we?
Even if we are still far from the peak of the third grade of
perfection, we should, nevertheless, work hard to reach it,
It is particularly essential that we should stand firm in the first
grade of being faithful to the motto of St Dominic Savio: “Death
rather than sin!”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/24/thought-for-the-day-24-april-the-three-grades-of-perfection-introduction/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/14/thought-for-the-day-14-february-the-three-grades-of-perfection-one-and-two/


Saint Quote:
Do not think yourself better than others lest, perhaps, you be
accounted worse before God Who knows what is in man. Do not take pride
in your good deeds, for God's judgments differ from those of men and
what pleases them often displeases Him.
--Imitation of Christ

Bible Quotes:
And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth
in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; thy
greatness all the day long. (Psalms 70:8)


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Rosary of the Holy Wounds of Our Lord Jesus or the Chaplet of Mercy
May be said on the standard Dominican (Five Decade) Rosary beads.

On the large beads: Eternal Father, I offer Thee the WOUNDS of Our
Lord Jesus Christ -- To heal the wounds of our souls

On the small beads: My Jesus, pardon and mercy -- Through the merits
of Thy HOLY WOUNDS.


These two invocations were taught by Our Lord to Sr. Mary Martha
Chambon, in the Visitation of Chambery, France, Marcy 21, 1907. The
Sister received from Our Lord a double "Mission": constantly to invoke
the HOLY WOUNDS herself, and to revive this devotion in the world.