Surrounded by wealth, blind to charity

[Rich]

Surrounded by wealth, blind to charity

"'What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many
blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the
words of poverty. He says, 'What should I do?' ... He does not look to
the future. He does not raise his eyes to God. He does not count it
worth his while to gain for the mind those treasures that are above in
heaven. He does not cherish love for the poor or desire the esteem it
gains. He does not sympathize with suffering. It gives him no pain nor
awakens his pity. Still more irrational, he settles for himself the
length of his life, as if he would also reap this from the ground. He
says, 'I will say to myself, "Self, you have goods laid up for many
years. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself." 'O rich man,' one may say,
"You have storehouses for your fruits, but where will you receive your
many years? By the decree of God, your life is shortened." 'God,' it
tells us, 'said to him, "You fool, this night they will require of you
your soul. Whose will these things be that you have prepared?"
by Cyril of Alexandria (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 89)

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• November 15th - St. Malo, Bishop
(also known as Maclovius, Maclou, Mahou or wrongly Machutus)

Born in England or southwest Wales; died on November 15, 621; feast of
his translation is July 11. Saint Malo is said to have been cousin to
Saints Samson and Maglorius. While he was still a youth, Malo was sent
to Ireland for his education in virtue and the humanities, and may
have been a disciple of Saint Brendan. After his priestly ordination,
Malo was elected to a bishopric but declined the dignity, retiring to
Brittany to become its apostle. The port of Saint-Malo takes its name
from this Malo, who ministered and made foundations from the islet in
the estuary of the Rance or from the neighboring Aleth (Saint-Servan)
in Brittany. About 541, Malo was consecrated bishop of Aleth. He is
said to have been driven from his see by his enemies and to have
settled at Saintes, but he was later recalled by a deputation of his
people. He died at Archingeay near Saintes before he could return to
Aleth.

The feast of Saint Malo was celebrated in England, especially in
southern monasteries and in the Sarum calendar, as well as in
Brittany. Farmer claims that his cultus was encouraged by the bishops
of Winchester because the Latin word for Gwent closely resembles that
for Wincester. For this reason his relics were claimed by Bath and
other churches; however, the majority were translated from Saintes and
Aleth to Saint-Malo in Brittany (Attwater, Encyclopedia, Farmer,
Husenbeth).

A primitive vita, now lost, provided the basis for two less reliable
ones in the 9th century. These later biographies depict a rugged man
of truth, who sang psalms in a loud voice as he traveled throughout
the countryside on horseback. Often he found himself "shaking the dust
from his feet" after making enemies, as well as friends, in a
district.

The life of Saint Malo, written five centuries after his death by a
quiet scholar named Sigebert of Gembloux, includes this story of Saint
Malo and the Wren.

"And another miracle he wrought like to this, worthy of record for its
compassion alone. He was a follower of Paul the Apostle, whose own
hands supplied his wants if aught were lacking; and when he had
leisure from his task of preaching the Gospel, he kept himself by the
work of his hands. One day he was busy with the brethren in the
vineyard, pruning the vines, and for better speed in his work took off
his cloak and laid it out of sight. When his work was done and he came
to take his cloak, he found that the small bird whom common folk call
a wren had laid an egg on it. And knowing that God's care is not far
from the birds, since not one of them falls on the ground without the
Father, he let his cloak lie there, till the eggs were hatched and the
wren brought out her brood. And this was the marvel, that all the time
that cloak lay there, there fell no rain upon it. And whoever came to
hear of it, they glorified the power of God, and they praised God's
own pity for man"


Saint Quote:
Have love in your hearts but repress the tendency to appear devout.
--St. Maria Mazzarello

Bible Quote:
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh
the glory of him that sent him, he is true and there is no injustice
in him. (John 7:18) DRB


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Lord Our God

Lord our God, Your power is indescribable, Your glory is
incomprehensible, Your mercy is infinite, and Your love is
immeasurable. Look down with compassion on us and on
Your Holy Church.

Bestow Your bountiful goodness and mercy on us, and all
who pray to You. All glory, honor and worship belong to
You, now and forever unto all eternity.
-Amen.