Of the knowledge of truth [4]

[Weedy]

Of the knowledge of truth [4]

4. All perfection hath some imperfection joined to it in this life,
and all our power of sight is not without some darkness. A lowly
knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of
man's learning. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking
account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy
life is better than all. And because many seek knowledge rather than
good living, therefore they go astray, and bear little or no fruit.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 3

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23 December – Blessed Nicolás Factor-Estaña OFM

Commonly known as Nicolas Factor – Franciscan Priest, Painter,
Preacher, Ascestic, Spiritual Director – born in 1520 in Valencia,
Spain and died in 1583 of natural causes.

Nicolás Factor was born in Valencia in Spain on 29 June 1520 as one of
five children to a poor tailor.

In his childhood he fasted three times a week and donated all of his
untouched food to the poor and also tended to the ill, including
lepers. His Moorish maid was so affected by this love that she learnt
about the faith and converted to Roman Catholicism.

His father wanted him to follow his career as a tailor but Nicolas
wanted to become a priest and a religious. He entered the Order of
Friars Minor on 30 November 1537 and was sometime later ordained as a
priest, where he developed his talents as a painter via a range of
devotional images.

Although Nicolas wanted to be sent to missionary lands, he was instead
sent to preach across his own region and became much sought-after, his
homilies teaching and converting many. He was known for undergoing
rather severe self-mortifications before he gave each sermon.

He also served as the spiritual director of the Santa Clara convent in
Madrid at the request of the Princess of Portugal, Joan of Habsburg.
In April 1582 he relocated to the Santa Caterina convent in Onda and
that November moved to another convent in Barcelona.

Blessed Nicolas died after a period of illness on 23 December 1583
after having just returned to Valencia. In 1586 his remains were
exhumed for King Philip II – who wished to view them and his body was
found to be incorrupt.

Pope Pius VI Beatified Blessed Nicolas on 27 August 1786. The
Beatification process saw three friends of Blessed Nicolas summoned to
provide witness testimonies and the tribunal called upon Saint Pascal
Baylon OFM, Saint Louis Betrand OP and Saint Juan de Ribera (whom
Factor served as his Archbishop).

See
https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/23/


Saint Quote:
"When you think of going to mass on working days, it is an impulse of
the grace that God willed to grant you. FOLLOW IT." He did not say
ignore it! He also said: "A saint has told us that one day at Mass he
saw Jesus Christ with His hands full of gifts, looking for souls to
whom He might give them." But no one was there.
--St. John Vianney

Bible Quote:
For My people have committed two evils. They have forsaken Me, the
fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns--broken
cisterns that can hold no water. [Jeremiah 2:13]


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Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.