Charity, meekness and patience

[Rich]

Charity, meekness and patience

How excellent a means of sanctifying us and of fitting us for Heaven,
is the exercise of that charity by which we support in ourselves and
in others those weaknesses which we cannot correct! For nothing can
humble and confound us before God more than a sense of our own
miseries; and nothing can be more just than that we should bear in
others, those things which we would have them support in ourselves.
We should, therefore, bear with the tempers of others, and endeavor to
give no cause of uneasiness to anyone on account of our own. It is
thus, according to St. Paul, we shall carry one another’s burdens, and
fulfill the law of Jesus Christ, which is a law of charity, meekness
and patience.
--Thomas à Kempis, From the Imitation of Christ

<<>><<>><<>>
13 April – Blessed Albertinus of Fonte Avellana OSB
Also known as
Albertinus of Montone
Albertino….

Memorial
13 April
31 August on some calendars
5 September on some calendars

(Died 1294)
Monk. Prior General, talented Administrator and Peacemaker, not only
in his Monastery but also in the greater world outside it. Born in the
mid 13th-Century in Montone, Italy and died on 13 April 1294 of
natural causes.

Albertinus was born between 1216 and 1220 in the Castle of Montone.
The historical context of the time was characterised by a cruel
conflict which ended with the victory of the Guelfi and subjected
Montone to the rule of Perugia. We do not know when Albertinus became
a Benedictine Monk nor which his first hermitage was.

Albertinus was nominated Prior at the Monastery of Fonte Avellana
(meaning the Venerable Hermitage of the Holy Cross) in Serra
Sant’Abbondio (Marche) when his congregation merged with the
Camaldolese in 1270. At that time, the Abbey was going through a
serious crisis, despite the fact that it was also in a phase of great
power and expansion. Albertinus, a virtuous young man, was called to
solve the problems and restore peace.

The Prior is responsible for the running of the Monastery and for
maintaining the Rule, the traditions and institutions, in the absence
of the Abbot. Due to his moderation and sanctity, Albertinus succeeded
in returning peace to Fonte Avellana.

Albertinus left a collection of “papers” composed of four hundred
original documents, elaborated during his thirty-year Priorship. These
“papers” indirectly inform us about Prior-general’s innovative ideas
and principles which inspired his work.

Throughout Albertinus’ term in office, the lack of recourse to
ordinary justice and the search for the settlement of disputes, was a
constant in Fonte Avellana. Albertinus always managed to remove the
differences and replace them with agreements to ensure better economic
conditions, for a more dignified existence. Albertinus faced difficult
situations, especially conflicts with the neighbouring towns. He
understood that establishing good relations with the people counted
much more than formal laws and through a spirit of peace and
reconciliation, Albertinus was able to establish good relations with
the municipalities, which were the new emerging power.

Albertinus died on 13 April 1294 and was buried in the Church of Fonte
Avellana, where he still rests today. Pope Pius VI Beatified
Albertinus.

https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/13/


“And he released unto them, him who for murder and sedition had been
cast into prison, whom they had desired. But Jesus he delivered up to
their will.” – Luke 23:25

He was struck in the side, making Him more like Adam. But, far from
bringing forth the woman, who, by her straying, gave birth to death,
He made a spring of life to gush out (Gn 2:21; Jn 19:34). And this
gives life to the world by means of a twofold stream – the first
renews and re-clothes us in the garment of immortality in the
baptistery and following this birth, the second, feeds us at God’s
table, just as one suckles a newborn child.” … St Theodoret of Cyrus
(c 393-c 460) Bishop (Treatise on the Incarnation, 26-27).

PRAYER – O God, Who to drive far from us, the power of the enemy,
didst will that Thy Son should suffer for us on the gibbet of the
Cross, grant us Thy servants, that we may obtain the grace of the
resurrection. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who
lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world
without end. Amen (Collect).


“And Jesus said to him:
Judas, dost thou betray
the Son of man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48

“O God, fullness of goodness,
You do not forsake any,
except those who forsake You.
You never take away Your gifts,
except when we take away our hearts.
We rob the goodness of God,
if we claim the glory of our salvation for ourselves.
We dishonour His mercy,
if we say He has failed us.
… We blaspheme His goodness,
if we deny that He has helped and assisted us.
In short, O God, cry loud and clear into our ears:
“your destruction comes from you, O Israel.
In me alone is found your help” (Hos 13:9).
--St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Treatise on the Love of God, Ch 9

Saint Quote:
"We have never so much cause for consolation, as when we find
ourselves oppressed by sufferings and trials; for these make us like
Christ our Lord, and this resemblance is the true mark of our
predestination"
--St. Vincent de Paul


No one has understood this great truth so well as St. Andrew the
Apostle. At first sight of the cross on which he was to be crucified,
he was filled with joy, and broke forth into this exclamation: "O
cross so much desired, so much loved, and so much sought by me! behold
how I come to thee full of security and joy! Do thou separate me from
men, and restore me to my Master, so that by thy means He may receive
me, who by thy means redeemed me."

("A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)


<><><><>
Hail Mary, full of sorrows, the Crucified is with thee; thou art
pitiable amongst women, and pitiable is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of the Crucified, implore for us, the crucifiers of
thy Son, tears of contrition, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.