On Learning Patience [II]

[Weedy]

On Learning Patience [II]

If you say that you cannot endure much, how will you endure the fires
of Purgatory? Of two evils, always choose the lesser. Endeavor
patiently to endure for God's sake all the ills of this life, that you
may escape eternal punishment. Do you imagine that worldly men suffer
little or nothing? Ask the most wealthy, and you will not find it so.
But, you may say, they enjoy many pleasures, and follow their own
desires; in this way they make light of any troubles. Yet, even if
they enjoy whatever they desire, how long will this last?
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ, Bk 3, Ch 11

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April 7th - Blessed Ursuline of Parma, mystic
Also known as Orsolina, Ursulina, Venus

d. 1410
BL. Ursuline, VIRGIN enjoyed heavenly visions / mystical experiences,
at 15 a supernatural voice several times bade her to go to Avignon to urge
Clement VII’s renunciation of the papacy

OF the intrepid women who made noble efforts to end the scandals of
the “Babylonish Captivity” of Avignon and of the Great Schism which
ensued, not the least courageous, though certainly the youngest, was
Bl. Ursuline of Parma. From her tenth year she had enjoyed heavenly
visions and mystical experiences, and when she was fifteen a
supernatural voice several times bade her go to Avignon to urge upon
Clement VII the renunciation of his claim to the papacy. A vision
which was vouchsafed to her on Easter day decided her purpose. With
two companions, besides her mother who accompanied her on all her
subsequent travels, the girl made the toilsome journey over the Alps
and succeeded in obtaining an audience with Clement more than once.
Her efforts to persuade him proving fruitless, she went back to Parma,
but almost immediately proceeded to Rome where she delivered a similar
message to the true pope, Boniface IX. He received her graciously and
appears to have encouraged her to make another attempt to win over his
rival. Thereupon she undertook a second expedition to Avignon, with no
better success than before. Indeed this time she was separated from
her mother, was accused of sorcery, and narrowly escaped a trial.
Another journey to Rome was followed by a somewhat perilous pilgrimage
to the Holy Land. If she and her mother had hoped to settle down in
Parma on their return they were doomed to disappointment, for civil
war broke out in the city and they were expelled. They made their way
to Bologna and then to Verona, which Bl. Ursuline seems to have made
her home until her death at the age of 35.

Our information comes almost entirely from the Latin life by Simon
Zanachi, a Carthusian of Parma. It is printed in the Acta Sanctorum,
April, vol. i. A popular adaptation was published by H. M. Garofani in
1897, Vita e Viaggi della B. Orsolina di Parma.


Saint Quote:
Let us establish a permanent Spring season in our heart through ‘yes’
often repeated to all of God’s permissions and wills.
-- Saint Francisca Salesia

Bible Quote:
For this is thankworthy: if, for conscience towards God, a man endure
sorrows, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, committing
sin and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you
suffer patiently: this is thankworthy before God. [1 Pet. 2:19,20]
DRB.

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Reflection
'While Peter and John were both called as disciples of Jesus, each was
given a different task or function. When Peter questions John's role,
Jesus retorts: "What is that to you? Follow me!" Peter's given task
was to "shepherd the sheep of Christ", and in the end to die for
Christ. John's role was preeminently to witness to Christ and to give
his testimony to the gospel. John lived to long age and wrote the
gospel as his testimony to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. John ends his gospel with an astonishing remark: "Human books
cannot exhaust the person and work of Jesus Christ." His power is
inexhaustible, his grace is limitless, his wisdom unfathomable, his
triumphs are innumerable and his love is unquenchable. We can never
say enough of the power, majesty and glory which belongs to him alone.
Do you witness to others the joy of the gospel? (John 21:20-25)