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On the Excellence of a Free Mind [I]
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Rich
May 13, 2023, 4:10:42 AM5/13/23
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On the Excellence of a Free Mind [I]
THE DISCIPLE:
Lord, one who desires perfection must make it his first task to keep
his mind at all times set on heavenly things. By so doing, he can pass
carefree through many troubles, not as one who has not the wit to
realize the dangers that beset him, but in the strength of a free
mind, unfettered by undue attachment to worldly things.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 26
<<>><<>><<>>
13 May – Saint André-Hubert Fournet
Priest and Co-Founder with St Jeanne-Élisabeth Bichier des Ages of
the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross, Apostle of the poor,
needy, children and the aged. He is known as “the Good Father.” Born
on 6 December 1752 at Maille, France and died on 13 May 1834 at La
Puye, Vienne, France of natural causes. Patronage – the Daughters of
the Cross.
André-Hubert Fournet was born on 6 December 1752 in Vienne to Pierre
Fournet and Florence Chasseloup. He was the 9th of a family of 10
children. He grew up surrounded by the love of his parents and
siblings. He was a carefree child, laughing, exuberant, he preferred
play to work. As a pupil at the Châtellerault Secondary School, he was
loved by all his classmates for his joyful drive and frankness.
André-Hubert’s first teacher, his mother, was surprised by her child’s
exuberance but she also knew his heart and his great tenderness. “One
day, my good André, you will be a priest. You will go up to the altar
and pray for your mother.” His mother planted the idea and then she
left all the space to God. God did not seem in a hurry… nor did
André-Hubert, who wrote on the first page of one of his books: “This
book belongs to André-Hubert, a good boy, who will never be a monk or
a priest.” God works His plan in His own time…
After his classical studies, he studied law for just a year. But his
studies didn’t go well and so without consulting anyone, he joined the
army. One day, in his military uniform, he went to his uncle’s house,
the priest of Saint-Pierre de Maillé. His uncle received him coldly
with the words: “Your visit is at the wrong address! I don’t have a
nephew in the military service.” However, there was a door which was
always open to him, that of his mother’s heart. Madame Fournet
directed her son to one of his uncles, a priest in Haims, in the
Vienne region. This uncle was reserved, austere, meditative. Haims is
a harsh, isolated and lonely area of the countryside. In this solitary
environment, André-Hubert reflected and prayed. The fruits of this
period of quiet and peaceful reflection led him at 22, to enter the
Seminary and become a Priest.
In 1776 he was Ordained to the Priesthood and was then sent to his own
hometown, (succeeding his uncle) to become the Parish Priest to the
great happiness of his mother who had her wish fulfilled.
One day, whilst awaiting some friends for lunch he prepared a table
filled with food for them. Then, there was the sound of footsteps and
he happily went to open for his guests, only to find a beggar asking
for alms. “I have no money…” “What! No money…” replied the poor man.
“Your table is covered with it!” The beggar’s words were for
André-Hubert, the Words of Jesus Christ. He cried for a long time,
prostrated on the flagstones of the church. Through the beggar’s
words, Jesus Christ entered his heart and completely took possession
of it. The passionate and generous, André-Hubert, had the courage to
change his whole life.
The French Revolution saw him refuse to take the oath and he continued
his now illegal pastoral mission in secret. On 6 April 1792 – on Good
Friday – he was arrested for his activities. He declined being taken
to jail in a carriage and said since Jesus Christ carried His cross
it, behoved His followers to travel on foot. He would escape and at
one point assumed the place of a dead person on a bier. But confident
in Divine Providence, he decided to leave, taking the path of exile to
Spain. Spain welcomed the French priest, the fugitive. From 1792 to
1797, André-Hubert took refuge in Los Arcos, a small town in Navarre.
But he misses his abandoned parishioners of Saint-Pierre de Maillé He
heard their voices. So, he decided to return to France, alone. In
France, calm had not yet returned. Refractory priests were still in
danger. These were very difficult times. It was still the era of
catacombs! But our Pastor is brave. As a precaution, Fr André-Hubert
celebrated the Eucharist clandestinely, sometimes in one place,
sometimes in another.
In 1798 he met St Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages, who had
approached him for spiritual guidance. Their first meeting was
decisive. Elisabeth became his collaborator in the founding of the
Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross. In the aftermath of the
Revolution, Fr André wanted to educate children, the aged and care for
the sick. He entrusted this mission to Elisabeth, the young lady he
met at Les Marsyllis. Around Elisabeth, a small community was born. Fr
André-Hubert became the Spiritual and Apostolic leader of this new
family.
In 1801 as better days dawn, Fr André-Hubert returned to Maillé and in
1802, re-established himself in his rectory. His parish was his
family. In all their homes, he is called “the Good Father.” He knew
all his parishioners. He loved them and is loved by them.
After 40 years of parish ministry, Good Father André retired and left
Maillé to dedicate himself in his aging years to the Congregation of
the Sisters of the Cross, which had moved to a former convent of the
Fontevristes in La Puye. Here, he interceded for many miracles – on
more than one occasion, he multiplied the food for the members of the
new congregation.
Until his old age, the Good Father kept an expression of simplicity
and humility. In the sun of God’s love, the transfiguration of his
being continued in deep holiness, charity, humility and zeal. On 13
May 1834, aged 81, Fr André-Hubert opened his eyes to the sun without
decline. After the approval of 2 miracles, he was Beatified on 16 May
1926 by Pope Pius XI and Canonised on June 1933 by the same Pope,
after a further 2 miracles.
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/05/13/the-centenary-of-the-apparitions-of-our-lady-of-fatima-our-lady-of-the-holy-rosary-13-may-2017/
The Background:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/feast-of-our-lady-of-the-most-blessed-sacrament-13-may/
Saint Quote:
Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to
ask the blessing of heaven.
--G. C. Lichtenberg
Bible Quote:
I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31
Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not,
with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. 32 And now I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build
up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. (Acts
20:29-32)
“Look, my Daughter,”
Our Lady said to Lúcia on 10 December 1925,
“at my heart, surrounded with thorns,
with which ungrateful men pierce me. “
Our Lady assured Lúcia:
“My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge
and the way that will lead you to God.”
Thus, if we devote ourselves to her Immaculate Heart,
Mary will lead us to her Son, Jesus Christ
and we will be on the way to Heaven.
--Our Lady of Fatima
<><><><>
God the End of Our Life [5]
Seek ye, therefore, first the Kingdom of God. (Matt. vi. 33.)
Our life is a circle: whence it first came, thither it must return. As
we proceeded from God, so we must go back to Him if our life is to be
a success. We can never find repose or lasting satisfaction in
anything except God. As long as we do not tend to Him, we shall be
fluctuating, inconstant, uncertain. Until we make Him the end of our
life, we shall feel that we are wandering about in the dark.
What do we mean by making God the end of our life? We mean that to do
His pleasure shall be the motive which shall be first and foremost,
and that when there is a choice between God's pleasure and our own,
when the two seem to be opposed, our disposition shall be to do God's
will and not our own. In spite of the pain involved in giving up his
own will, the man who makes God the end of his life will abandon it
without hesitation, and so will draw nearer to God, his last end.
Every time we do this we break down a barrier between God and
ourselves; we come nearer to the enjoyment of Him, we get a little
closer to Heaven. The self-willed man is never satisfied; the man
whose will is perfectly subjected to God is always happy. The Angels
are always happy because they have no will but God's. If I want to
find happiness in this world or the next, the first thing is to learn
to submit my will to God's.
Pray God to break down your self-will at any cost.
THE DISCIPLE:
Lord, one who desires perfection must make it his first task to keep
his mind at all times set on heavenly things. By so doing, he can pass
carefree through many troubles, not as one who has not the wit to
realize the dangers that beset him, but in the strength of a free
mind, unfettered by undue attachment to worldly things.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 26
<<>><<>><<>>
13 May – Saint André-Hubert Fournet
Priest and Co-Founder with St Jeanne-Élisabeth Bichier des Ages of
the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross, Apostle of the poor,
needy, children and the aged. He is known as “the Good Father.” Born
on 6 December 1752 at Maille, France and died on 13 May 1834 at La
Puye, Vienne, France of natural causes. Patronage – the Daughters of
the Cross.
André-Hubert Fournet was born on 6 December 1752 in Vienne to Pierre
Fournet and Florence Chasseloup. He was the 9th of a family of 10
children. He grew up surrounded by the love of his parents and
siblings. He was a carefree child, laughing, exuberant, he preferred
play to work. As a pupil at the Châtellerault Secondary School, he was
loved by all his classmates for his joyful drive and frankness.
André-Hubert’s first teacher, his mother, was surprised by her child’s
exuberance but she also knew his heart and his great tenderness. “One
day, my good André, you will be a priest. You will go up to the altar
and pray for your mother.” His mother planted the idea and then she
left all the space to God. God did not seem in a hurry… nor did
André-Hubert, who wrote on the first page of one of his books: “This
book belongs to André-Hubert, a good boy, who will never be a monk or
a priest.” God works His plan in His own time…
After his classical studies, he studied law for just a year. But his
studies didn’t go well and so without consulting anyone, he joined the
army. One day, in his military uniform, he went to his uncle’s house,
the priest of Saint-Pierre de Maillé. His uncle received him coldly
with the words: “Your visit is at the wrong address! I don’t have a
nephew in the military service.” However, there was a door which was
always open to him, that of his mother’s heart. Madame Fournet
directed her son to one of his uncles, a priest in Haims, in the
Vienne region. This uncle was reserved, austere, meditative. Haims is
a harsh, isolated and lonely area of the countryside. In this solitary
environment, André-Hubert reflected and prayed. The fruits of this
period of quiet and peaceful reflection led him at 22, to enter the
Seminary and become a Priest.
In 1776 he was Ordained to the Priesthood and was then sent to his own
hometown, (succeeding his uncle) to become the Parish Priest to the
great happiness of his mother who had her wish fulfilled.
One day, whilst awaiting some friends for lunch he prepared a table
filled with food for them. Then, there was the sound of footsteps and
he happily went to open for his guests, only to find a beggar asking
for alms. “I have no money…” “What! No money…” replied the poor man.
“Your table is covered with it!” The beggar’s words were for
André-Hubert, the Words of Jesus Christ. He cried for a long time,
prostrated on the flagstones of the church. Through the beggar’s
words, Jesus Christ entered his heart and completely took possession
of it. The passionate and generous, André-Hubert, had the courage to
change his whole life.
The French Revolution saw him refuse to take the oath and he continued
his now illegal pastoral mission in secret. On 6 April 1792 – on Good
Friday – he was arrested for his activities. He declined being taken
to jail in a carriage and said since Jesus Christ carried His cross
it, behoved His followers to travel on foot. He would escape and at
one point assumed the place of a dead person on a bier. But confident
in Divine Providence, he decided to leave, taking the path of exile to
Spain. Spain welcomed the French priest, the fugitive. From 1792 to
1797, André-Hubert took refuge in Los Arcos, a small town in Navarre.
But he misses his abandoned parishioners of Saint-Pierre de Maillé He
heard their voices. So, he decided to return to France, alone. In
France, calm had not yet returned. Refractory priests were still in
danger. These were very difficult times. It was still the era of
catacombs! But our Pastor is brave. As a precaution, Fr André-Hubert
celebrated the Eucharist clandestinely, sometimes in one place,
sometimes in another.
In 1798 he met St Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages, who had
approached him for spiritual guidance. Their first meeting was
decisive. Elisabeth became his collaborator in the founding of the
Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross. In the aftermath of the
Revolution, Fr André wanted to educate children, the aged and care for
the sick. He entrusted this mission to Elisabeth, the young lady he
met at Les Marsyllis. Around Elisabeth, a small community was born. Fr
André-Hubert became the Spiritual and Apostolic leader of this new
family.
In 1801 as better days dawn, Fr André-Hubert returned to Maillé and in
1802, re-established himself in his rectory. His parish was his
family. In all their homes, he is called “the Good Father.” He knew
all his parishioners. He loved them and is loved by them.
After 40 years of parish ministry, Good Father André retired and left
Maillé to dedicate himself in his aging years to the Congregation of
the Sisters of the Cross, which had moved to a former convent of the
Fontevristes in La Puye. Here, he interceded for many miracles – on
more than one occasion, he multiplied the food for the members of the
new congregation.
Until his old age, the Good Father kept an expression of simplicity
and humility. In the sun of God’s love, the transfiguration of his
being continued in deep holiness, charity, humility and zeal. On 13
May 1834, aged 81, Fr André-Hubert opened his eyes to the sun without
decline. After the approval of 2 miracles, he was Beatified on 16 May
1926 by Pope Pius XI and Canonised on June 1933 by the same Pope,
after a further 2 miracles.
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/05/13/the-centenary-of-the-apparitions-of-our-lady-of-fatima-our-lady-of-the-holy-rosary-13-may-2017/
The Background:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/feast-of-our-lady-of-the-most-blessed-sacrament-13-may/
Saint Quote:
Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to
ask the blessing of heaven.
--G. C. Lichtenberg
Bible Quote:
I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31
Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not,
with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. 32 And now I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build
up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. (Acts
20:29-32)
“Look, my Daughter,”
Our Lady said to Lúcia on 10 December 1925,
“at my heart, surrounded with thorns,
with which ungrateful men pierce me. “
Our Lady assured Lúcia:
“My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge
and the way that will lead you to God.”
Thus, if we devote ourselves to her Immaculate Heart,
Mary will lead us to her Son, Jesus Christ
and we will be on the way to Heaven.
--Our Lady of Fatima
<><><><>
God the End of Our Life [5]
Seek ye, therefore, first the Kingdom of God. (Matt. vi. 33.)
Our life is a circle: whence it first came, thither it must return. As
we proceeded from God, so we must go back to Him if our life is to be
a success. We can never find repose or lasting satisfaction in
anything except God. As long as we do not tend to Him, we shall be
fluctuating, inconstant, uncertain. Until we make Him the end of our
life, we shall feel that we are wandering about in the dark.
What do we mean by making God the end of our life? We mean that to do
His pleasure shall be the motive which shall be first and foremost,
and that when there is a choice between God's pleasure and our own,
when the two seem to be opposed, our disposition shall be to do God's
will and not our own. In spite of the pain involved in giving up his
own will, the man who makes God the end of his life will abandon it
without hesitation, and so will draw nearer to God, his last end.
Every time we do this we break down a barrier between God and
ourselves; we come nearer to the enjoyment of Him, we get a little
closer to Heaven. The self-willed man is never satisfied; the man
whose will is perfectly subjected to God is always happy. The Angels
are always happy because they have no will but God's. If I want to
find happiness in this world or the next, the first thing is to learn
to submit my will to God's.
Pray God to break down your self-will at any cost.
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