• May 1st - Saint Theodard of Narbonne

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Thu Apr 30 09:54:23 2020
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    May 1st - Saint Theodard of Narbonne
    Also known as Audard, Teodardo

    d. 893
    The birthplace of St Theodard (=E2=80=9CAudard=E2=80=9D) was Montauriol, a = little town which formerly occupied a site covered by the present city of M= ontauban. He appears to have studied law at Toulouse, for we first hear of = him as the advocate retained by the cathedral authorities in a curious suit=
    brought against them by the Jews of Toulouse, who, not unnaturally, object=
    ed to a sort of religious pageant in the course of which a Jew was publicly=
    struck on the face before the cathedral doors. This ceremony took place th= ree times a year--at Christmas, on Good Friday, and on the feast of the Ass= umption. Archbishop Sigebold, who came to Toulouse for the hearing of the c= ase, was so greatly taken with the young lawyer that he took him back with = him to Narbonne. Soon afterwards Theodard received holy orders and became S= igebold's archdeacon. The Montauban breviary describes him as =E2=
    =80=9Can eye to the blind, feet to the lame, a father of the poor, and the = consoler of the afflicted=E2=80=9D. Greatly beloved by all, he was unanimou= sly chosen archbishop of Narbonne at the death of Sigebold, who had nominat=
    ed him as his successor. The perils which then beset travellers did not det=
    er the newly-elected prelate from undertaking a visit to Rome, where he rec= eived the pallium.

    As an archbishop he worked unremittingly to repair the ravages wrought by t=
    he Saracens and to revive the drooping faith of the people. He practically = rebuilt his cathedral, and in 886 restored the bishopric of Ausona (now Vic=
    h) which had long fallen into abeyance. To buy back those who were taken ca= ptive by the Saracens in their raids, and to feed the hungry during a three=
    years' famine, he not only spent his whole income, but also sold s=
    ome of the vessels and other treasures of his church. The strenuous life he=
    led and his anxieties for his flock seriously impaired his health; he coul=
    d not sleep and suffered from continual fever. It was thought that he might=
    recover in his native air, and he accordingly returned to Montauriol. The = monks of St Martin received him joyfully, but they soon realized that he ha=
    d only come back to die. After making a general confession in the presence =
    of all the brethren St Theodard passed peacefully away as if in sleep. Afte= rwards the abbey was renamed St Audard in his honour.

    The life of St Theodard printed in the Acta Sanctorum, May, vol. i, dates o= nly from the close of the 11th century. See also Gallia Christiana, vol. vi=
    , pp. 19-22, and Duchesne, Fastes =C3=89piscopaux, vol. i, p. 306. A popula=
    r account of the saint has been written in French by J. A. Guyard (1887).

    Saint Quote:
    It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to
    man, and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell.
    If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for "God is Charity" (1
    Jn 4:8)
    --Saint Albert the Great

    Bible Quote
    "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which
    endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto
    you: for him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27)


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    Prayer to Mary, Mother of Divine Providence

    Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of Divine Providence,
    protect our life and sanctify us with the gift of grace.
    Obtain for us from the Father of mercy
    and the God of consolation, pardon for our sins,
    reconciliation with our brothers and sisters
    and comfort in the midst of afflictions.
    Renew our hearts,
    that they may be come worthy dwelling places
    of your Divine Son, Jesus.
    Help us in our struggles against mediocrity,
    self-seeking and pride,
    so we can generously serve our neighbour.
    We entrust ourselves to you, o Mary,
    in our pilgrimage in this world.
    We invoke you as our guide
    and our defence against dangers.
    In the present tribulations, give us secure refuge.
    O sweet Mother of Divine Providence,
    turn your eyes toward us,
    you who are our hope on earth.
    Grant that we may have you as our Mother
    in the glory of heaven.
    Amen
    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)