Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Keep going forward:
0 views
Skip to first unread message
Rich
Oct 30, 2022, 3:56:55 AM10/30/22
to
Keep going forward:
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for
they shall be filled." Only in the fullness of faith can the heartsick
and faint and weary be satisfied, healed, and rested. Think of the
wonderful spiritual revelations still to be found by those who are
trying to live the spiritual life. Much of life is spiritually
unexplored country. Only to the consecrated and loving people who walk
with God in spirit can these great spiritual discoveries be revealed.
Keep going forward and keep growing in righteousness. I pray that the
material things of the world may not hold me back. I pray that I may
let God lead me forward.
--From Twenty-Four Hours a Day
===============
• October 30th - St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
(1532-1617)
Alphonsus Rodriguez was one of the many children of Diego Rodriguez, a
prosperous wool merchant of Segovia, Spain. Around 1542, Diego, who
was devout and hospitable, asked a traveling Jesuit missionary to stop
off at his home a few days. The missionary was Blessed Peter Favre,
one of the pioneer members of the Society of Jesus. During this visit
Blessed Peter prepared Alphonsus and his older brother to study at the
Jesuit school in Alcala. But a full year had not passed before Diego
died. The widow Rodriguez decided to carry on the family business, so
Alphonsus was called home to help her. When he was 23, his mother
retired, leaving him in charge of the family trade. That seemed to
spell the end of his connection with the Jesuits. At 26 he married a
young woman named Maria Suarez.
Alphonsus proved to be a good enough businessman, but an economic
depression soon set in and he had increasing difficulty in balancing
his accounts. Other misfortunes befell him around the same time. His
daughter died, so did his wife after a long illness. Three years later
his mother passed away. Thus, the cloth merchant of Segovia was left
with only one son. These various losses made him ponder more than ever
the meaning of life and the commercial direction his own life had thus
far been taking. He decided at length to sell his business and move
with his son into the home of his two unmarried sisters. These pious
sisters taught Alphonsus the basics of mental prayer, and he soon
began to lead a life of meditation and self-denial, with weekly
confession and communion. When his son died some years later,
Alphonsus wondered if God was calling him to the religious life. He
applied, rather naturally, to the Jesuits, whom he knew best. They
said they couldn’t take him. He was too old (close to forty), was not
well, and had not sufficient educational background to qualify for
priestly studies.
On the advice of a Jesuit friend, however, he did not give up. He
started to study Latin in a class with little boys. Meanwhile, he had
to support himself by menial work and begging. Finally, in 1571, the
Jesuit superior relented and said that he would receive Alphonsus, but
as a lay brother rather than as a candidate for the priesthood. That
was all right with the widower. He had already resolved, “I will never
again follow my own will for the rest of my life.”
They assigned the new middle-aged brother to the Jesuit College of
Montesione on the Spanish island of Majorca. Here, as “hallporter” he
spent the last 46 years of his life. He made his final vows there in
1585 at the age of 54.
How did this porter turn saint? Obviously, a man of conscientious
duty, he also became a man of deep mystical prayer. Now, his daily
occupations were humble enough, but they brought him into contact with
many people--students, clergy, nobles, professional men, merchants and
tradesmen. All these came to know him, to be pleased with his
competence and even more with his helpfulness and holiness. “That
brother is not a man,” exclaimed Father Michael Julian, “he is an
angel.”
The most important of his “clients” was St. Peter Claver for whom he
was spiritual director for three years. It was Brother Alphonsus’
spiritual counsel that decided Claver to go to South America and
become the apostle of the black slaves. Alphonsus also did much to
popularize devotion to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.
Most outstanding of all was his obedience. When he was over seventy
and failing, his rector, to test him, ordered him to go to the West
Indies. At once Alphonsus set out to find a ship, but he was stopped
at the College gate and sent back to the rector, who explained to him
the reason of his command: to see what his reaction would be.
Alphonsus the widower died at the age of 86. He had been the right man
in the right place. In death as well as in life he was the agent of
miracles. He and his pupil, St. Peter Claver, were canonized at the
same ceremony in 1888. Who says that becoming a widower is the end of
a husband’s life?
–Father Robert
Saint Quote:
Remember that Jesus Christ, referring to the humility of the publican,
said that his prayer was heard. If this was said of a man whose life
was evil, what may we not hope for if we are really humble?
--St. Vincent de Paul
Bible Quote:
I have suffered the loss of all things, and I count them as dung, that
I may gain Christ. (Phil. 3:8)
<><><><>
From The Friends Of the Cross,
by Saint Louis de Montfort
Therefore, if anyone wants to come after Me, annihilated and
crucified, he must glory as I did only in the poverty, humiliation and
suffering of My Cross: "let him deny himself" (Matt. 16, 24).
Far be from the Company of the Friends of the Cross those who pride
themselves in suffering, the worldly-wise, elated geniuses and
self-conceited individuals who are stubborn and puffed-up with their
lights and talents. Far be they from us, those endless talkers who
make plenty of noise but bring forth no other fruit than vainglory.
Far from us those high-browed devotees everywhere displaying the
self-sufficient pride of Lucifer: "I am not like the rest!" (Luke 18,
11). Far be from us those who must always justify themselves when
blamed resist when attacked and exalt themselves when humbled.
Be careful not to admit into your fellowship those frail, sensitive
persons who are afraid of the slightest pin-prick, who sob and sigh
when faced with the lightest suffering, who have never experienced a
hair-shirt, a discipline or any other penitential instrument, and who
with their fashionable devotions, mingle the most artful delicacy and
the most refined lack of mortification.
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for
they shall be filled." Only in the fullness of faith can the heartsick
and faint and weary be satisfied, healed, and rested. Think of the
wonderful spiritual revelations still to be found by those who are
trying to live the spiritual life. Much of life is spiritually
unexplored country. Only to the consecrated and loving people who walk
with God in spirit can these great spiritual discoveries be revealed.
Keep going forward and keep growing in righteousness. I pray that the
material things of the world may not hold me back. I pray that I may
let God lead me forward.
--From Twenty-Four Hours a Day
===============
• October 30th - St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
(1532-1617)
Alphonsus Rodriguez was one of the many children of Diego Rodriguez, a
prosperous wool merchant of Segovia, Spain. Around 1542, Diego, who
was devout and hospitable, asked a traveling Jesuit missionary to stop
off at his home a few days. The missionary was Blessed Peter Favre,
one of the pioneer members of the Society of Jesus. During this visit
Blessed Peter prepared Alphonsus and his older brother to study at the
Jesuit school in Alcala. But a full year had not passed before Diego
died. The widow Rodriguez decided to carry on the family business, so
Alphonsus was called home to help her. When he was 23, his mother
retired, leaving him in charge of the family trade. That seemed to
spell the end of his connection with the Jesuits. At 26 he married a
young woman named Maria Suarez.
Alphonsus proved to be a good enough businessman, but an economic
depression soon set in and he had increasing difficulty in balancing
his accounts. Other misfortunes befell him around the same time. His
daughter died, so did his wife after a long illness. Three years later
his mother passed away. Thus, the cloth merchant of Segovia was left
with only one son. These various losses made him ponder more than ever
the meaning of life and the commercial direction his own life had thus
far been taking. He decided at length to sell his business and move
with his son into the home of his two unmarried sisters. These pious
sisters taught Alphonsus the basics of mental prayer, and he soon
began to lead a life of meditation and self-denial, with weekly
confession and communion. When his son died some years later,
Alphonsus wondered if God was calling him to the religious life. He
applied, rather naturally, to the Jesuits, whom he knew best. They
said they couldn’t take him. He was too old (close to forty), was not
well, and had not sufficient educational background to qualify for
priestly studies.
On the advice of a Jesuit friend, however, he did not give up. He
started to study Latin in a class with little boys. Meanwhile, he had
to support himself by menial work and begging. Finally, in 1571, the
Jesuit superior relented and said that he would receive Alphonsus, but
as a lay brother rather than as a candidate for the priesthood. That
was all right with the widower. He had already resolved, “I will never
again follow my own will for the rest of my life.”
They assigned the new middle-aged brother to the Jesuit College of
Montesione on the Spanish island of Majorca. Here, as “hallporter” he
spent the last 46 years of his life. He made his final vows there in
1585 at the age of 54.
How did this porter turn saint? Obviously, a man of conscientious
duty, he also became a man of deep mystical prayer. Now, his daily
occupations were humble enough, but they brought him into contact with
many people--students, clergy, nobles, professional men, merchants and
tradesmen. All these came to know him, to be pleased with his
competence and even more with his helpfulness and holiness. “That
brother is not a man,” exclaimed Father Michael Julian, “he is an
angel.”
The most important of his “clients” was St. Peter Claver for whom he
was spiritual director for three years. It was Brother Alphonsus’
spiritual counsel that decided Claver to go to South America and
become the apostle of the black slaves. Alphonsus also did much to
popularize devotion to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.
Most outstanding of all was his obedience. When he was over seventy
and failing, his rector, to test him, ordered him to go to the West
Indies. At once Alphonsus set out to find a ship, but he was stopped
at the College gate and sent back to the rector, who explained to him
the reason of his command: to see what his reaction would be.
Alphonsus the widower died at the age of 86. He had been the right man
in the right place. In death as well as in life he was the agent of
miracles. He and his pupil, St. Peter Claver, were canonized at the
same ceremony in 1888. Who says that becoming a widower is the end of
a husband’s life?
–Father Robert
Saint Quote:
Remember that Jesus Christ, referring to the humility of the publican,
said that his prayer was heard. If this was said of a man whose life
was evil, what may we not hope for if we are really humble?
--St. Vincent de Paul
Bible Quote:
I have suffered the loss of all things, and I count them as dung, that
I may gain Christ. (Phil. 3:8)
<><><><>
From The Friends Of the Cross,
by Saint Louis de Montfort
Therefore, if anyone wants to come after Me, annihilated and
crucified, he must glory as I did only in the poverty, humiliation and
suffering of My Cross: "let him deny himself" (Matt. 16, 24).
Far be from the Company of the Friends of the Cross those who pride
themselves in suffering, the worldly-wise, elated geniuses and
self-conceited individuals who are stubborn and puffed-up with their
lights and talents. Far be they from us, those endless talkers who
make plenty of noise but bring forth no other fruit than vainglory.
Far from us those high-browed devotees everywhere displaying the
self-sufficient pride of Lucifer: "I am not like the rest!" (Luke 18,
11). Far be from us those who must always justify themselves when
blamed resist when attacked and exalt themselves when humbled.
Be careful not to admit into your fellowship those frail, sensitive
persons who are afraid of the slightest pin-prick, who sob and sigh
when faced with the lightest suffering, who have never experienced a
hair-shirt, a discipline or any other penitential instrument, and who
with their fashionable devotions, mingle the most artful delicacy and
the most refined lack of mortification.
0 new messages