• January 19th - Blessed Andrew of Peschiera, OP

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Mon Jan 18 09:08:46 2021
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    January 19th - Blessed Andrew of Peschiera, OP
    (also known as Blessed Andrew Grego)

    Born at Peschiera, Italy; died in Valtellina District (near Swiss
    border), Italy, 1485; cultus confirmed 1820.
    As a child, Andrew Grego lived on the southern shore of Lake Garda, in
    northern Italy. His training for a life of heroic sanctity began
    early, with voluntary penances and unquestioning obedience to his
    father. Andrew's first desire was to be a hermit, an ambition that was
    met with ridicule from his brothers. Failing to realize this hope, he
    made for himself a severe schedule of prayer and penance, and, in his
    own house, lived the life of one wholly given to God.

    After the death of his father, it became increasingly difficult to
    carry out his plan, so he resolved to enter the cloister. Although his
    brothers had persecuted him without mercy, he knelt and humbly begged
    their prayers and forgiveness for having annoyed them. Then he gave
    them the only possession he had, a walking-stick. This stick, thrown
    carelessly in a corner by the brothers, was forgotten until, long
    afterwards, it bloomed like the legendary rod of Saint Joseph in token
    of Andrew's holiness.

    The 15-year old received the Dominican habit at Brescia and then was
    sent to San Marco in Florence. This convent was then at its peak of
    glory, stamped with the saintly personalities of Saint Antoninus and
    the Blesseds of Lawrence of Riprafratta, Constantius, and Antony della
    Chiesa. Andrew's soul caught the fire of their apostolic zeal, and set
    forth on his mission in the mountains of northern Italy.

    Heresy and poverty had combined to draw almost this entire region from
    the Church. It was a country of great physical difficulties, and, in
    his travels in the Alps, he risked death from snowstorms and
    avalanches as often as from the daggers of the heretics. Nevertheless,
    he travelled tirelessly, preaching, teaching, and building=E2=80=94for his entire lifetime (45 years).

    Churches, hospitals, schools, and orphanages were built under Andrew's direction. He would retire from time to time to these convents for
    periods of prayer and spiritual refreshment, so that he could return
    with renewed courage and zeal to the difficult apostolate. He was
    known as "the Apostle of the Valtelline," because of the district he evangelized.

    Blessed Andrew performed many miracles. Probably his greatest miracle
    was his preaching, which produced such fruits in the face of great
    obstacles. At one time, when he was preaching to the people, the
    heretics presented him with a book in which they had written down
    their beliefs. He told them to open the book and see for themselves
    what their teachings amounted to. They did so, and a large viper
    emerged from the book.

    Blessed Andrew closed a holy life by an equally holy death and was
    buried in Morbegno. He had labored so long among the poor and the
    neglected that his place in their hearts was secured. Because of the
    miracles worked at his tomb, and the persistent devotion of the
    people, his relics were twice transferred to more suitable tombs
    (Attwater2, Benedictines, Dorcy).


    Bible Quote:
    His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the
    sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him
    blessed.=C2 [Psalm 72:17

    Saint Quote:
    He who fails to reflect before acting, walks with his eyes shut and
    advances with danger. He also falls very often, because the eye of
    reflection does not enable him to see whither his footsteps lead.
    --St. Gregory the Great


    Meditation for troubled times:

    I will believe that fundamentally all is well.
    Good things will happen to me.
    I believe that God cares for me and will provide for me.
    I will not try to plan ahead.
    I know that the way will unfold, step by step.
    I will leave tomorrow's burden to God,
    because He is the great burden-bearer.
    He only expects me to carry my one-day's share.
    --From Twenty-Four Hours a Day


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    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)