From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
31 December =E2=80=93 Blessed Alain de Solminihac OSA
Also known as
Alain de Solminihac
Alamus de Solminihac
Alan av Solminihac
Alan of Solminihac
Alanus av Solminihac
Memorial
31 December
3 January (Augustinians)
Bishop of Cahors from 1636 until his death, religious of the Order of
the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Chancelade in P=C3=A9rigueux (now
the Confederation of St Augustine).=C2=A0 Blessed Alain was Abbot,
Reformer, Marian devotee most especially to Our Lady of Rocamadour,
Apostle of the Holy Eucharist especially by his promotion of
Adoration, he was also a member of the Compagnie du Saint-Sacrement.
Born on 25 November 1593 in the family castle at Belet, Dordogne,
France and died on 31 December 1659, aged 66, at Mercues, Lot, France
of natural causes. Patronage =E2=80=93 the Diocese of Cahors.
Alain was born into an aristocratic family in castle Belet near
Perigueux in France.
He wanted to become a member of the Knights of Malta in order to serve
God but felt a strong call to the Priesthood and to the religious life
so joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Chancelade in 1613
as a postulant.=C2=A0 The completion of his theological studies soon saw
him Ordained to the Priesthood on 22 September 1618.=C2=A0 While still a
young man he became the Abbot of Chancelade, which had fallen into
disrepair as a result of the turmoil of the times. He strove with
great effort and effect to reform his brothers in the Congregation of
the Canons Regular of Chancelade.
In 1636 he became Bishop of Cahors. He was as a zealous shepherd of
the flock with which he was entrusted. As Bishop he visited each of
his 800 parishes at least nine times during the course of his
episcopate and he held an episcopal consecration on one occasion.
His great devotion to the Holy Eucharist prompted him to promote
Eucharistic Adoration as well as restoring many pastoral devotions
within his Diocese.
He attended the Council of Trent and followed the lead of Saint
Charles Borromeo in enforcing it=E2=80=99s decrees in his diocese. During t= his
time, he met Saint Francis de Sales during Lent in 1619 and the two
became friends and had many more meetings following this. Another
friendship was his close relationship with Saint Vincent de Paul.
His reform work not only blessed his Diocese but influenced other
parts of France.
Moreover, he remained always faithful to the Holy See. Misconceptions,
which surrounded him, were resolved in his favour. His convincing love
of neighbour made him a brilliant light of faith in 17th Century
France. After a long, zealous, faithful and strenuous life he died on
31 December 1659.
He was declared a Servant of God after Pope Pius VI opened his cause
for sainthood on 6 August 1783 and Pope Pius XI declared him to be
Venerable on 19 June 1927. St Pope John Paul II Beatified him on 4
October 1981. The miracle required for his Beatification involved the
cure of Marie Ledoux on 29 June 1661 in France.
Saint Quote:
=E2=80=9CYou must follow the good pleasure of God
as soon as you know it and accomplish it
by immediately turning your eyes to God,
remaining in a simple expectation,
to receive another sign or command,
without wasting time,
delight in the satisfaction of having accomplished
this adorable Will of God.=E2=80=9D
--Blessed Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659)
Bible Quote
His disciples say to him: Behold, now thou speakest plainly, and
speakest no proverb. 30 Now we know that thou knowest all things, and
thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that
thou camest forth from God. (John 16:29-30)
<><><><>
He came to his own home and his own people received him not. But to
all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to
become children of God=E2=80=A6. John 1:11-12
REFLECTION =E2=80=93 =E2=80=9CLord, we have heard Your works and we have be=
en
astounded. We have pondered Your marvels and we have fainted.
As Your Word descended, our heart has been melted and all our
innermost being, trembling, has been laid bare to Him. For while
silence, held all things and night, in her journey reached her
mid-course, Your Almighty Word came from its royal abode (cf. Wis
18:14-15). You poured out, O Father, the tenderness of Your love upon
us and You could no longer contain the multitude of Your mercies. You
shed light in the darkness, dew upon the dryness and in the bitter
frost, You kindled a raging fire. Your Son appeared to us as an
abundance of food when grievous famine threatened, as a spring of
living water, to a life in distress and fainting from thirst in the
heat. Or surely, just as there is wont to appear, a strong helper and
deliverer for men besieged, who are about to rush out into battle,
with death before their eyes and with the enemy=E2=80=99s threatening sword (=E2=80=A6): so He appeared for us and became our Salvation.
Yet it is an excellent and salutary thing to recount again the
beginning of our Salvation and to treat of His incarnation, to recall
whence He came and in what sort He descended.=E2=80=9D \
=E2=80=A6 St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) Cistercian Monk, Bishop =E2=80= =93 On the
praises of the Blessed Mary, homily III, SC 72.
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