Unbridled Affections

[Rich]

Unbridled Affections

WHEN a man desires a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at
ease. A proud and avaricious man never rests, whereas he who is poor
and humble of heart lives in a world of peace. An unmortified man is
quickly tempted and overcome in small, trifling evils; his spirit is
weak, in a measure carnal and inclined to sensual things; he can
hardly abstain from earthly desires. Hence it makes him sad to forego
them; he is quick to anger if reproved.
Yet if he satisfies his desires, remorse of conscience overwhelms
him because he followed his passions and they did not lead to the
peace he sought.
True peace of heart, then, is found in resisting passions, not in
satisfying them. There is no peace in the carnal man, in the man given
to vain attractions, but there is peace in the fervent and spiritual
man.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 6

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October 20th – St. Acca, Bishop and Benedictine scholar

Our holy Father Acca as a young man joined the household of Bosa,
bishop of York, and later became a disciple of the great St. Wilfrid,
bishop of York and later of Hexham. For 13 years he accompanied his
teacher on his journeys through England and on the continent, and was
a witness at his holy repose. And when Wilfrid died, in 709, he became
his successor as abbot and bishop of Hexham in Northumbria.

The Venerable Bede called Acca "the dearest and best loved of all
bishops on this earth." Bede also praised his theological library and
dedicated several of his works to him. On becoming bishop of Hexham
Acca completed three of Wilfrid's smaller churches and splendidly
adorned his cathedral at Hexham, providing it with ornaments of gold,
silver and precious stones, and decorating the altars with purple and
silk. Moreover, he invited an excellent singer called Maban who had
been taught church harmony at Canterbury to teach himself and the
people. He himself was a chanter of great skill.

In 732 Acca either retired or was expelled from his see, and later
became bishop of Whithorn in Southern Scotland. He died on October 20,
740, and was buried near the east wall of his cathedral in Hexham.
Parts of two stone crosses which were placed at his tomb still
survive.

In about 1030, Alfred Westow, a Hexham priest and a sacrist at Durham,
translated the relics of St. Acca, following a Divine revelation, to a
place of more fitting honor in the church. At that time the saint's
vestments were found in all their pristine freshness and strength, and
were displayed by the brethren of the church for the veneration of the
faithful. Above his chest was found a portable altar with the
inscription Almae Trinitati, agiae Sophiae, sanctae Mariae. This also
was the object of great veneration. Many miracles were wrought through
this saint. Those attempting to infringe the sanctuary of his church
were driven off in a wondrous and terrible manner, and those who tried
to steal relics were prevented from doing so.

A brother of the church by the name of Aldred related the following
story. When he was an adolescent and was living in the house of his
brother, a priest, he was once asked by his brother to keep an eye on
some relics of St. Acca which he had wrapped in a cloth and laid on
the altar of St. Michael in the southern porch of the church. Then it
came into the mind of Aldred that a certain church (we may guess that
it was Durham) would be greatly enriched by the bones of St. Acca. So,
after prostrating himself on the ground and praying the seven
penitential psalms, he entered the porch with the intention of taking
them away. Suddenly he felt heat as of fire which thrust him back in
great trepidation. Thinking that he had approached with insufficient
reverence and preparation, he again prostrated himself and poured
forth still more ardent prayers to the Lord. But on approaching a
second time he felt a still fiercer heat opposing him. Realizing that
his intention was not in accordance with the will of God, he withdrew.


Saint Quote:
Consider then...the magnitude of these sufferings which the souls in
Purgatory endure; and the means which we have of mitigating them: our
prayers, our good works, and, above all, the holy sacrifice of the
Mass.
--Saint John Vianney

Bible Verse
For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world,
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made;
his eternal power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.
[Romans 1:20] DRV


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Consecration
Most holy and Immaculate
Virgin, help of Christians
Mother of the Church,
we place ourselves under your
motherly protection.
We promise to be faithful to our
Christian vocation and to work
for the greater glory of God
and the salvation of our soul
and of those entrusted to us.
With faith in your intercession
we pray for the Church,
for our family and friends,
for youth, especially those most
in need, and for all your children.
Amen.

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All of this abortion carnage brings to mind a poem by Alexander Pope
on the Human response to evil.

Evil is a monster of such hideous mien
That to be hated needs but to be seen
But seen too often
Familiar with her face
First we pity
Then endure
And finally embrace.