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Eternal Joys
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Rich
Oct 5, 2023, 6:00:52 AM10/5/23
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Eternal Joys
"All the good deeds of our present life, however many they may
appear to be, are few in comparison with our eternal recompense. The
faithful servant is put in charge of many things after overcoming all
the troubles brought him by perishable things. He glories in the
eternal joys of his heavenly dwelling. He is brought completely into
the joy of his master when he is taken into his eternal home and
joined to the company of angels. His inner joy at his gift is such
that there is no longer any external perishable thing that can cause
him sorrow."
by Gregory the Great (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 9.2)
<<>><<>><<>>
5 October – Blessed Matthew Carreri OP
Also known as
Matthew of Mantua
Matteo Carreri
Memorial
5 October
7 October on some calendars
(c 1420-1470)
Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Stigmatic, Mystic,
Reformer, renowned Preacher. Born Giovanni Francesco Carrieri in the
City of Mantua, Italy some time around 1420 and died on 5 October 1470
at Vigevano, Province of Pavia, Italy of natural causes. Patronage –
Vigevano, Italy.
Giovanni Francesco grew up a silent and prayerful child, a good
student and a great reader. These qualities seemed to recommend him to
the Preaching Friars and at an early age, he presented himself at the
Convent in his home City and received the Habit. He took the name
Matthew when he entered the Dominican Order. His later success as a
preacher was inarguably, attributable, to the significant time he
spent in spiritual exercises and meditation.
Matthews’s career as a preacher began soon after his Ordination, when
he was sent to Lombardy to preach against the heretics. He succeeded
admirably in his preaching and converted many to a spiritual way of
life. Travelling from Convent to Convent, he preached a revival of
fervour and a deeper understanding of the spirit of St Dominic, and
many of the religious of Lombardy-both Dominicans and members of other
Orders, were led by him to renew their devotion and fervour..
At on time, when he was preaching in Vigevano, a troupe of jugglers
came into Town and set up their act. They were a particularly
scandalous set of people, poking ridicule at the religious and the
pope. Matthew sent them word to move on, which they ignored. So he
went after them with his walking-stick and this proved more effective.
They scattered and ran but soon came back, fortified with the presence
of the Duke of Milan, who scolded Matthew for being so narrow-minded
and humourless. Matthew patiently pointed out to him, the unhealthy
and evil areas in their humour and, in spite of the Duke’s natural
aversion to Friars, convinced him that he should keep the jugglers out
of Town.
At Lucina, there was a lady of noble birth and great talents, who was
wasting her time in frivolities. Never one to avoid an issue, Matthew
aimed a powerful sermon in her direction and she came to him
afterwards, in a torrent of tears and begged him to help her. He gave
her the Habit of the Third Order and outlined a stiff rule of life,
which she afterwards faithfully followed. He also met and directed
Blessed Stephanie Quinzan who proved to be an apt pupil.
Matthew was given the task of reforming the Convents of the Dominican
Friars in Soncino and in nearby Towns and he worked for many years in
Milan. Going up and down the Peninsula, he varied his approach but
never his message – penance and love of God. So many were the
conversions effected that a whole group of additional Preachers had to
be appointed, to continue to carry on Matthew’s powerful methods and
message, as he moved rapidly from place to place. Preaching his way,
he went through Tuscany, and took ship at Genoa.
The ship was soon captured by a Turkish corsair. The Mohammed Captain
called on the three Dominicans for an explanation of why they were
there. Matthew spoke up so fearlessly and eloquently that the Captain
released all three of them. Just as they were being hustled off to a
rescue boat, the wail of one of the woman passengers stopped them. The
lady and her young daughter were resisting the journey and were afraid
to be taken to Algiers, and Matthew began pleading for them. The
Captain told him he had better let the affair alone and be satisfied
that he had saved his own skin. Matthew thereupon, volunteered to go
to Algiers, in chains, if the Captain would release the two women.
Amazed at his courage, as well as at his defence of those in danger,
the Captain released all of them and told them to get off of his ship
quickly, before he changed his mind.
Many miracles are credited to Matthew Carreri. One day, a young father
who came to hear Matthew preach, had left his little son at home with
the nurse. The baby fell into the fire and was badly burned. The
distraught father brought the little one to Matthew, who cured him.
The baby was well in a few days and grew up to be a Franciscan Friar.
Matthew cured another man of hemorrhage and worked many cures on the
sick and possessed.
One day, while meditating on the Passion, Matthew asked our Lord to
allow him to partake of His sufferings. He received the stigmata, in
the form of an arrow which pierced his heart. For the remainder of his
life, he suffered great pain from his wound.
Matthew Carreri died, in 1470, in a house composed entirely of
religious whom he had rescued from a life a laxity. His cult was
confirmed twelve years after his death, testifying to the great
reputation for sanctity he enjoyed among the people of northern Italy.
Pope Sixtus VI confirmed his cultus in 1483 and he was formally
Beatified by Pope Urban VIII on 2 December 1625.
https://anastpaul.com/2022/10/05/
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have
nothing more that they can do. … be afraid of him who, after he has
killed, has power to cast into hell. ” – Luke 12:4-5
REFLECTION
How does the body die? By the departure of the soul. I say, by the
departure of the soul, the body dies and it lies there as a mere
carcass, what was a little before, a lively, not a contemptible
object. There are in it still, its several members, the eyes and ears.
But these are merely the windows of the house – its inhabitant is
gone. Those who bewail the dead, cry in vain at the windows of the
house. There is no-one there within it to hear. Why is the body dead?
Because the soul, its life, is gone. But at what point is the soul
itself dead? When God, its life, has forsaken it. This then we can
know and hold for certain – the body is dead without the soul and the
soul is dead without God. Everyone without God has a dead soul. You
who bewail the dead rather, should bewail sin! Bewail ungodliness!
Bewail disbelief.!
– St Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the
Church (Sermon 65).
Bible Quote:
"Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the
Lord hath looked upon the earth" (Psalm 101:20)
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants,
that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both
of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary,
always a Virgin, maybe delivered from present sadness and enter into
the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our
Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
"All the good deeds of our present life, however many they may
appear to be, are few in comparison with our eternal recompense. The
faithful servant is put in charge of many things after overcoming all
the troubles brought him by perishable things. He glories in the
eternal joys of his heavenly dwelling. He is brought completely into
the joy of his master when he is taken into his eternal home and
joined to the company of angels. His inner joy at his gift is such
that there is no longer any external perishable thing that can cause
him sorrow."
by Gregory the Great (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 9.2)
<<>><<>><<>>
5 October – Blessed Matthew Carreri OP
Also known as
Matthew of Mantua
Matteo Carreri
Memorial
5 October
7 October on some calendars
(c 1420-1470)
Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Stigmatic, Mystic,
Reformer, renowned Preacher. Born Giovanni Francesco Carrieri in the
City of Mantua, Italy some time around 1420 and died on 5 October 1470
at Vigevano, Province of Pavia, Italy of natural causes. Patronage –
Vigevano, Italy.
Giovanni Francesco grew up a silent and prayerful child, a good
student and a great reader. These qualities seemed to recommend him to
the Preaching Friars and at an early age, he presented himself at the
Convent in his home City and received the Habit. He took the name
Matthew when he entered the Dominican Order. His later success as a
preacher was inarguably, attributable, to the significant time he
spent in spiritual exercises and meditation.
Matthews’s career as a preacher began soon after his Ordination, when
he was sent to Lombardy to preach against the heretics. He succeeded
admirably in his preaching and converted many to a spiritual way of
life. Travelling from Convent to Convent, he preached a revival of
fervour and a deeper understanding of the spirit of St Dominic, and
many of the religious of Lombardy-both Dominicans and members of other
Orders, were led by him to renew their devotion and fervour..
At on time, when he was preaching in Vigevano, a troupe of jugglers
came into Town and set up their act. They were a particularly
scandalous set of people, poking ridicule at the religious and the
pope. Matthew sent them word to move on, which they ignored. So he
went after them with his walking-stick and this proved more effective.
They scattered and ran but soon came back, fortified with the presence
of the Duke of Milan, who scolded Matthew for being so narrow-minded
and humourless. Matthew patiently pointed out to him, the unhealthy
and evil areas in their humour and, in spite of the Duke’s natural
aversion to Friars, convinced him that he should keep the jugglers out
of Town.
At Lucina, there was a lady of noble birth and great talents, who was
wasting her time in frivolities. Never one to avoid an issue, Matthew
aimed a powerful sermon in her direction and she came to him
afterwards, in a torrent of tears and begged him to help her. He gave
her the Habit of the Third Order and outlined a stiff rule of life,
which she afterwards faithfully followed. He also met and directed
Blessed Stephanie Quinzan who proved to be an apt pupil.
Matthew was given the task of reforming the Convents of the Dominican
Friars in Soncino and in nearby Towns and he worked for many years in
Milan. Going up and down the Peninsula, he varied his approach but
never his message – penance and love of God. So many were the
conversions effected that a whole group of additional Preachers had to
be appointed, to continue to carry on Matthew’s powerful methods and
message, as he moved rapidly from place to place. Preaching his way,
he went through Tuscany, and took ship at Genoa.
The ship was soon captured by a Turkish corsair. The Mohammed Captain
called on the three Dominicans for an explanation of why they were
there. Matthew spoke up so fearlessly and eloquently that the Captain
released all three of them. Just as they were being hustled off to a
rescue boat, the wail of one of the woman passengers stopped them. The
lady and her young daughter were resisting the journey and were afraid
to be taken to Algiers, and Matthew began pleading for them. The
Captain told him he had better let the affair alone and be satisfied
that he had saved his own skin. Matthew thereupon, volunteered to go
to Algiers, in chains, if the Captain would release the two women.
Amazed at his courage, as well as at his defence of those in danger,
the Captain released all of them and told them to get off of his ship
quickly, before he changed his mind.
Many miracles are credited to Matthew Carreri. One day, a young father
who came to hear Matthew preach, had left his little son at home with
the nurse. The baby fell into the fire and was badly burned. The
distraught father brought the little one to Matthew, who cured him.
The baby was well in a few days and grew up to be a Franciscan Friar.
Matthew cured another man of hemorrhage and worked many cures on the
sick and possessed.
One day, while meditating on the Passion, Matthew asked our Lord to
allow him to partake of His sufferings. He received the stigmata, in
the form of an arrow which pierced his heart. For the remainder of his
life, he suffered great pain from his wound.
Matthew Carreri died, in 1470, in a house composed entirely of
religious whom he had rescued from a life a laxity. His cult was
confirmed twelve years after his death, testifying to the great
reputation for sanctity he enjoyed among the people of northern Italy.
Pope Sixtus VI confirmed his cultus in 1483 and he was formally
Beatified by Pope Urban VIII on 2 December 1625.
https://anastpaul.com/2022/10/05/
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have
nothing more that they can do. … be afraid of him who, after he has
killed, has power to cast into hell. ” – Luke 12:4-5
REFLECTION
How does the body die? By the departure of the soul. I say, by the
departure of the soul, the body dies and it lies there as a mere
carcass, what was a little before, a lively, not a contemptible
object. There are in it still, its several members, the eyes and ears.
But these are merely the windows of the house – its inhabitant is
gone. Those who bewail the dead, cry in vain at the windows of the
house. There is no-one there within it to hear. Why is the body dead?
Because the soul, its life, is gone. But at what point is the soul
itself dead? When God, its life, has forsaken it. This then we can
know and hold for certain – the body is dead without the soul and the
soul is dead without God. Everyone without God has a dead soul. You
who bewail the dead rather, should bewail sin! Bewail ungodliness!
Bewail disbelief.!
– St Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the
Church (Sermon 65).
Bible Quote:
"Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the
Lord hath looked upon the earth" (Psalm 101:20)
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants,
that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both
of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary,
always a Virgin, maybe delivered from present sadness and enter into
the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our
Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
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