On the Few Lovers of the Cross of Jesus: [I]

[Weedy]

On the Few Lovers of the Cross of Jesus: [I]

Jesus has many who love His Kingdom in Heaven, but few who bear His
Cross (Luke 14:27). He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire
suffering. He finds many to share His feast, but few His fasting. All
desire to rejoice with Him, but few are willing to suffer for His
sake. Many follow Jesus to the Breaking of Bread, but few to the
drinking of the Cup of His Passion. Many admire His miracles, but few
follow Him in the humiliation of His Cross. Many love Jesus as long as
no hardship touches them. Many praise and bless Him, as long as they
are receiving any comfort from Him. But if Jesus withdraw Himself,
they fall to complaining and utter dejection.
--Thomas à Kempis--Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 11

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• November 21st - St Albert of Louvain, Bishop of Liege, Martyr
d.1192

DURING the 12th century there was strong competition between the noble
houses of Brabant and Hainault for possession of the extensive and
powerful see of Liege, whose occupant was necessarily of great weight
in the politics of the time, and it was this improper--but in those
days very common--use of a bishopric as a political “strong-point”
which led to the violent death of Albert of Louvain.

He was born about the year 1166, son of Godfrey III, Duke of Brabant,
and his wife Margaret of Limburg, and was brought up in his father's
castle on that hill of Louvain which is now called Mont-César and
whereon is now a well-known Benedictine abbey. Albert was early
destined for the clerical state and while still a school-boy of 12 was
made a canon of Liege, but when he was 21 he renounced his benefice
and asked Baldwin V, Count of Hainault (his own bitter enemy), to
receive him as a knight. Baldwin agreed, and attached him to his own
entourage. In view of what happened afterwards it seems a reasonable
speculation that Albert wished to go crusading. For when a few months
later the papal legate, Cardinal Henry of Albano, preached the crusade
in Liege (and incidentally received the resignation of 70 simoniacal
prelates), among those who “took the cross” was Albert--but he at the
same time rejoined the ranks of the clergy and received back his
canonry. The inner history of this curious episode is not known, but
certainly Albert never went to the East, either as soldier or
churchman, and in the following year he was archdeacon of Brabant.
Other dignities followed, but, though he was archdeacon and provost by
office, Albert was still only subdeacon by orders.

In 1191 the bishop of Liege died and two candidates were put forward
to fill the vacancy: both were named Albert, both were archdeacons,
and neither of them was a priest. Albert of Rethel was a deacon,
cousin of Baldwin of Hainault, and uncle of the Empress Constance,
wife of Henry VI. A contemporary chronicler says that at the election
Liege was full of dukes, counts and men-at-arms. But there was no
doubt that Albert of Louvain was the more suitable candidate and the
chapter appointed him by an overwhelming majority.

Thereupon Albert of Rethel appealed to his relative the emperor, who
was an enemy of Albert of Louvain's brother, Henry of Brabant, and the
cause was appointed to be heard at Worms. St. Albert was supported by
practically all the clergy of Liege, Albert of Rethel by his minority
of canons, but the emperor would pronounce in favour of neither of
them. He announced that he had disposed of the see of Liege to
Lothaire, provost of Bonn, whom he had just made imperial chancellor
in return for 3000 marks. St. Albert quietly told Henry that his own
election was canonically valid, rebuked the interference with the
Church's liberties, and gave notice of his appeal to the Holy See. He
set out for Rome in person and, as the emperor was trying to intercept
him, travelled by a devious route and disguised as a servant. He
groomed his own horse at night, helped in the kitchen, and was once
told to dry and clean an inn-keeper's shoes for him. Pope Celestine
III after due deliberation pronounced the election of St. Albert to be
valid and confirmed.

On his return, however, Albert was unable to take possession of his
see, held by the intruded Lothaire, and Archbishop Bruno of Cologne
would not ordain and consecrate him for fear of the emperor (he was,
moreover, old and ill). Pope Celestine had foreseen this and had
authorized Archbishop William of Rheims to carry out these duties and
St. Albert was made priest and bishop at Rheims. At the same time news
was brought that the Emperor Henry was in Liege, vowing to exterminate
Albert and his followers.

Albert's uncle would have set off at once with a following of nobles
to assert his nephew's rights, but St. Albert had a better idea of the
duties of a Christian and preferred to remain in exile rather than to
precipitate war. The emperor meanwhile took strong measures with the
faithful clergy of Liege, forced the submission of Albert's supporters,
and left the city for Maestricht, where a further plot was hatched.
On November 24, 1192, when St. Albert had been nearly ten
weeks at Rheims, he went on a visit to the abbey of Saint-Remi,
outside the walls. In a narrow part of the way German knights set
upon and murdered him. The whole city was horrified, and St. Albert
was buried with honour in the cathedral. The Emperor Henry had to do
penance, and his creature, Lothaire, excommunicated, took refuge in
flight....

A reliable life by a contemporary has been printed by Heller in MGH.,
Scriptores, vol. xxv, pp. 137-168. For an account of the
identification of the true relics at Rheims, see the Analecta
Bollandiana, vol. xl (1922), pp. 155-170; and cf: L. Demaison, Reims
al fin du xiie siècle (1925). Consult further David, Histoire de St.
Albert de Louvain (1848); B. del Marmol, St. Albert de Louvain (1922)
in the series “Les Saints”; and E. de Moreau, St. Albert de Louvain
(1946).


Saint Quote:
The Devil's snare doesn't catch you unless you are already nibbling on
the Devil's bait.
--St. Ambrose

Bible Quote:
"For Yahweh, the God of Israel, said this to me, 'Take this cup of the
wine of wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it;
they will drink and reel and lose their wits, because of the sword I
am sending among them.'" [Jeremiah 25:14-16]


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"Hail, holy throne of God, divine sanctuary, house of glory, jewel
most fair, chosen treasure house, and mercy seat for the whole world,
heaven showing forth the glory of God. Purest Virgin, worthy of all
praise, sanctuary dedicated to God and raised above all human
condition, virgin soil, unplowed field, flourishing vine, fountain
pouring out waters, virgin bearing a child, mother without knowing
man, hidden treasure of innocence, ornament of sanctity, by your most
acceptable prayers, strong with the authority of motherhood, to our
Lord and God, Creator of all, your Son who was born of you without a
father, steer the ship of the Church and bring it to a quiet harbor"
-- (adapted from a homily by St. Germanus on the Presentation of the
Mother of God).