Do not exalt thyself

[Weedy]

Do not exalt thyself

Do not exalt thyself on account of the gifts of God, which are often a
help to thy weakness, always the effect of His bounty, and ordinarily
above thy deserts. When, in the act of offending Him, thou perceivest
thy heart touched at the sight of thine ingratitude and infidelity,
thou oughtest to humble thyself and be confounded before Him at seeing
Him so full of goodness and thyself so replete with wickedness.
Penetrated with a lively sorrow for having offended God, who seeks
thee even when thou art fleeing away from Him, and loads thee with His
graces, even when thou provest thyself unworthy of them, return to Him
by true repentance; ask pardon for thy fault, and think only of
avenging Him by punishing thyself.
--Thomas à Kempis, From the Imitation of Christ

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OCT 11 – BL JAMES OF ULM (JACOB GRISSINGER/ GRIESINGER), OP

(1407-1491)

THE ART OF OBEDIENCE

“I will honor those who honor Me.” – 1 Samuel 2:30

“What would you do? You’ve been working on a project for hours. The
end is in sight, and you’ve done well. This might be some of your best
work. All that’s left to do is to watch carefully over the final
process--a slight error in timing might ruin everything. Suddenly,
someone enters the room and tells you that you’re needed elsewhere
immediately.

A thousand protests come to mind. Does it have to be right now? Is it
really so urgent? Couldn’t it wait for just an hour? Am I the only one
who could do this? Who is it that needs me?

It was in a situation just like this that Blessed James of Ulm found
himself one day. But he didn’t make any of those protests. The order
had come from his superior, and somehow James knew there was nothing
to be done but to obey. He immediately left his stained glass
window--a labor of love that he had spent days preparing--in the
furnace to be ruined. And he went out to beg for his community, as his
superior had ordered.

Someone once said that you can know the depth of a man’s love by how
much he is willing to suffer for the beloved. Blessed James’ act of
obedience wasn’t a bitter and constrained act, but we can imagine how
painful it was for him. This gives us some insight into the depth of
his love for his brothers and for God. Today, people have mostly
forgotten the windows which James made over 500 years ago, but they
remember this story of his love and obedience.

James was used to following orders. He had served for years as a
soldier, first under King Alfonso V of Aragon and later under one
Captain Tartari. One day, when the army was stationed in Bologna,
James, who had always been devout, decided to make a visit to one of
the local churches – the one that happened to have the relics of St.
Dominic. While praying before those relics, he was suddenly inspired
to give up military life and consecrate himself to God as a cooperator
brother in St. Dominic’s Order.

Throughout history, Dominican cooperator brothers have been assigned a
variety of offices: doorkeeper, housekeeper, infirmarian, cook, to
name a few. In his youth, Blessed James’ father had trained him in the
craft of making stained glass windows, and to this craft James
returned as a religious brother. He had been working at it for a
number of years when the event described above took place.

There is actually more to that story. When James returned from his
begging trip, he found to his astonishment that the window was intact
and the colors were set perfectly--an impossible thing, as he knew
from long experience. Sometimes God rewards obedience in remarkable
ways even in this life.

James spent 50 years in religious life, beautifying various churches
in Italy. After his death in 1491, so many attested to his sanctity
and to miracles obtained through his intercession that he was
eventually beatified and himself entombed in the church of San
Domenico, where he had received the call of God. Blessed James had
sought to honor God by religious art and religious life; now, in San
Domenico, God has honored him.”

https://soul-candy.info/category/october/page/2/
-by Br James Wallace, OP


Saint Quote:
In all He did from the Incarnation to the Cross, the end Jesus Christ
had in mind was the gift of the Eucharist, His personal and corporal
union with each Christian through Communion. He saw in it the means
of communicating to us all the treasures of His Passion, all the
virtues of His Sacred humanity, and all the merits of His Life.
--Bl. Peter Julian Eymard

Bible Quote:
God loves a cheerful giver. (II Cor. 9:7)

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Lauds:
Ant. Well done, good and faithful servant, because Thou hast been faithful in a few things, I will set thee over many, sayeth the Lord.
V. The just man shall blossom like the lily.
R. And shall flourish forever before the Lord.


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Memorare to Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph

Remember, O Merciful Jesus, Immaculate Mary and glorious St. Joseph
that no one has ever had recourse to Your Protection, or implore Your
assistance without obtaining relief. Animated with a like confidence,
but weighted down by my sins, I prostrate myself before You. O! Reject
not my petitions, but graciously hear and grant them. Amen.