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On Obedience and Discipline: (II)
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Jul 12, 2014, 3:08:52 PM7/12/14
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On Obedience and Discipline: (II)
Everyone gladly does whatever he most likes, and likes best those who
think as he does; but if God is to dwell among us we must sometimes
yield our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise that he
knows all things? So do not place too much reliance on the rightness
of your own view but be ready to consider the views of others. If your
opinion is sound, and you forego it for the love of God and follow
that of another, you will win great merit. I have often heard that is
safer to accept advice than to give it. It may even come about that
each of two opinions is good; but to refuse to come to an agreement
with others when reason or occasion demand it is a sign of pride and
obstinacy.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 9
<<>><<>><<>>
July 12th - St. John Gualbert, Abbot
Born in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, c. 993; died at Passignano (near Florence) in 1073; canonized in 1193. Because of his birth into the noble Visdomini family, John Gualbert had no more thought of following a life of austerity and humility than did his noble Florentine friends and companions. Bred to be a soldier, he spent his time in worldly amusements. Indeed, so far from intending to follow the precepts of Our Lord, his one over-riding ambition was to avenge the murder of his elder brother, Hugh. To him this was a matter of justice and, more importantly, a matter of honor. It happened that one Good Friday as he was riding through a narrow pass on his way to Florence, Gualbert came face to face with the man he had been seeking. The man was alone and there was no means of escape. Gualbert drew his sword and moved forward, but at his approach the murderer, in a gesture not so much of supplication as of despair, fell to his knees, threw out his arms and commended his soul to God.
Gualbert hesitated, and as he looked down on his victim he was suddenly reminded of the image of Christ suffering on the Cross and of the forgiveness which Our Lord had asked for those who murdered him. Sheathing his sword, he embraced and forgave the man. Having pardoned his brother's murderer, he saw the image of the crucifix miraculously bow its head in acknowledgment of Gualbert's good action and they separated in peace.
Continuing his journey, Gualbert went to the monastery of San Miniato del Monte in Florence where, as he prayed before the crucifix, he was filled with divine grace. He asked the abbot for permission to be admitted. But the abbot delayed, fearing the anger and resentment of Gualbert's parents. To demonstrate the seriousness of his call, Gualbert shaved his head himself and put on a habit that he had borrowed.
For the next few years he remained at San Miniato, leading the life of a penitent and hoping to end his days there; but when the abbot died and the new one bribed his way to office, he left in disgust. (Other sources say that he left with a companion to find solitude when it looked likely that he would be appointed abbot.) He wanted to find a life untouched by the current abuses in the Church: clerical concubinage, nepotism, and simony. For a while he stayed with the Camaldolesi at Saint Romuald's abbey, but then decided to make an entirely new foundation.
The abbess of Sant'Ellero gave him some land in the Vallis Umbrosa (Vallombrosa), about 20 miles east of Florence near Fiesole; and there, with the help of a few companions, he built a small and unpretentious monastery of timber. The monks followed the austere rule of Saint Benedict to the letter, except for a special provision admitting conversi, or lay- brothers who could take on the manual labor and free the choir monks for contemplation and more prayer.
He was dedicated to poverty and humility. He never became a priest, in fact, he declined even to receive minor orders. Vallombrosa inspired other communities with its hospices for the poor and sick. These became part of his new order under John's rule, in spite of rival claims to jurisdiction. In this and other ways John became involved in the reform movement in the Church, for which he was commended by popes.
Other monasteries were established, but in all cases Gualbert insisted that the buildings should be constructed as modestly and cheaply as possible and that the money saved should be given to the poor. Indeed, his zeal for charity was such that he often gave away all the monastery's supplies to the poor who came to its gates. The area in which the first monastery was located was wild and barren, but the monks planted fir and pine trees and transformed it into a parkland.
Gualbert was known for his wisdom, miracles, and prophecies. Pope Saint Leo IX, traveled specially to Passignano to speak with him, as did Stephen X. Pope Alexander II attributed the eradication of simony in his country to him. Though respected and visited by popes, Gualbert retained his humility. He died aged about 80. The congregation of Vallombrosan Benedictines that he founded spread chiefly throughout Tuscany and Lombardy, but it still exists today and includes more than six monasteries (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, White).
John Gualbert is the patron on foresters and park keepers (White).
Saint Quote:
By interior recollection we retire into God, or draw God within ourselves. But when and where can we have recourse to it? At all times, and in all places. Neither repast, nor company, nor change, nor occupation can hinder it, as neither does it hinder or interfere with any action. On the contrary, it is a salt which seasons every kind of meat, or a sugar which spoils no sauce. It consists only in interior looks between the soul and God.
-- St. Francis of Sales
Bible Quote:
But we all, beholding the glory of the Lord with open face,
are transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
as by the Spirit of the Lord. [2 Corinthians 3:18] D.V.
<><><><>
But, lest we forget and grieve Our Blessed Lord, by trying to bypass His Most Holy Mother:
21 St. Bernard (Doctor, 1090-1153) - "The Glories of Mary" (St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Tan, 1977, p.144)
"He [God] has decreed that He will grant no graces otherwise than by the hands of Mary. ... Whoever asks and expects to obtain graces without the intercession of Mary, endeavours to fly without wings."
Therefore we gladly cry:
"There is no need, Mary,
nor ever has been,
which thou canst not succour,
Immaculate Queen. Ave...
"In grief and temptation,
in joy or in pain,
we'll ask thee, our Mother,
nor seek thee in vain. Ave...
"O bless us, dear Lady,
With blessings from heaven.
And to our petitions
Let answer be given. Ave...
Everyone gladly does whatever he most likes, and likes best those who
think as he does; but if God is to dwell among us we must sometimes
yield our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise that he
knows all things? So do not place too much reliance on the rightness
of your own view but be ready to consider the views of others. If your
opinion is sound, and you forego it for the love of God and follow
that of another, you will win great merit. I have often heard that is
safer to accept advice than to give it. It may even come about that
each of two opinions is good; but to refuse to come to an agreement
with others when reason or occasion demand it is a sign of pride and
obstinacy.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 9
<<>><<>><<>>
July 12th - St. John Gualbert, Abbot
Born in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, c. 993; died at Passignano (near Florence) in 1073; canonized in 1193. Because of his birth into the noble Visdomini family, John Gualbert had no more thought of following a life of austerity and humility than did his noble Florentine friends and companions. Bred to be a soldier, he spent his time in worldly amusements. Indeed, so far from intending to follow the precepts of Our Lord, his one over-riding ambition was to avenge the murder of his elder brother, Hugh. To him this was a matter of justice and, more importantly, a matter of honor. It happened that one Good Friday as he was riding through a narrow pass on his way to Florence, Gualbert came face to face with the man he had been seeking. The man was alone and there was no means of escape. Gualbert drew his sword and moved forward, but at his approach the murderer, in a gesture not so much of supplication as of despair, fell to his knees, threw out his arms and commended his soul to God.
Gualbert hesitated, and as he looked down on his victim he was suddenly reminded of the image of Christ suffering on the Cross and of the forgiveness which Our Lord had asked for those who murdered him. Sheathing his sword, he embraced and forgave the man. Having pardoned his brother's murderer, he saw the image of the crucifix miraculously bow its head in acknowledgment of Gualbert's good action and they separated in peace.
Continuing his journey, Gualbert went to the monastery of San Miniato del Monte in Florence where, as he prayed before the crucifix, he was filled with divine grace. He asked the abbot for permission to be admitted. But the abbot delayed, fearing the anger and resentment of Gualbert's parents. To demonstrate the seriousness of his call, Gualbert shaved his head himself and put on a habit that he had borrowed.
For the next few years he remained at San Miniato, leading the life of a penitent and hoping to end his days there; but when the abbot died and the new one bribed his way to office, he left in disgust. (Other sources say that he left with a companion to find solitude when it looked likely that he would be appointed abbot.) He wanted to find a life untouched by the current abuses in the Church: clerical concubinage, nepotism, and simony. For a while he stayed with the Camaldolesi at Saint Romuald's abbey, but then decided to make an entirely new foundation.
The abbess of Sant'Ellero gave him some land in the Vallis Umbrosa (Vallombrosa), about 20 miles east of Florence near Fiesole; and there, with the help of a few companions, he built a small and unpretentious monastery of timber. The monks followed the austere rule of Saint Benedict to the letter, except for a special provision admitting conversi, or lay- brothers who could take on the manual labor and free the choir monks for contemplation and more prayer.
He was dedicated to poverty and humility. He never became a priest, in fact, he declined even to receive minor orders. Vallombrosa inspired other communities with its hospices for the poor and sick. These became part of his new order under John's rule, in spite of rival claims to jurisdiction. In this and other ways John became involved in the reform movement in the Church, for which he was commended by popes.
Other monasteries were established, but in all cases Gualbert insisted that the buildings should be constructed as modestly and cheaply as possible and that the money saved should be given to the poor. Indeed, his zeal for charity was such that he often gave away all the monastery's supplies to the poor who came to its gates. The area in which the first monastery was located was wild and barren, but the monks planted fir and pine trees and transformed it into a parkland.
Gualbert was known for his wisdom, miracles, and prophecies. Pope Saint Leo IX, traveled specially to Passignano to speak with him, as did Stephen X. Pope Alexander II attributed the eradication of simony in his country to him. Though respected and visited by popes, Gualbert retained his humility. He died aged about 80. The congregation of Vallombrosan Benedictines that he founded spread chiefly throughout Tuscany and Lombardy, but it still exists today and includes more than six monasteries (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, White).
John Gualbert is the patron on foresters and park keepers (White).
Saint Quote:
By interior recollection we retire into God, or draw God within ourselves. But when and where can we have recourse to it? At all times, and in all places. Neither repast, nor company, nor change, nor occupation can hinder it, as neither does it hinder or interfere with any action. On the contrary, it is a salt which seasons every kind of meat, or a sugar which spoils no sauce. It consists only in interior looks between the soul and God.
-- St. Francis of Sales
Bible Quote:
But we all, beholding the glory of the Lord with open face,
are transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
as by the Spirit of the Lord. [2 Corinthians 3:18] D.V.
<><><><>
But, lest we forget and grieve Our Blessed Lord, by trying to bypass His Most Holy Mother:
21 St. Bernard (Doctor, 1090-1153) - "The Glories of Mary" (St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Tan, 1977, p.144)
"He [God] has decreed that He will grant no graces otherwise than by the hands of Mary. ... Whoever asks and expects to obtain graces without the intercession of Mary, endeavours to fly without wings."
Therefore we gladly cry:
"There is no need, Mary,
nor ever has been,
which thou canst not succour,
Immaculate Queen. Ave...
"In grief and temptation,
in joy or in pain,
we'll ask thee, our Mother,
nor seek thee in vain. Ave...
"O bless us, dear Lady,
With blessings from heaven.
And to our petitions
Let answer be given. Ave...
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