From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

21 January =E2=80=93 Blessed Josefa Mar=C3=ADa In=C3=A9s de Benig=C3=A1nim = OAD

Born as Josefa Mar=C3=ADa Albi=C3=B1ana Gomar on 9 February 1625 at Benig= =C3=A1nim,
Valencia, Spain and died on 21 January 1696 at Benig=C3=A1nim, Valencia,
Spain of natural causes. She was a Spanish Roman Catholic professed
religious of the Discalced Augustinian Nuns with the religious name of =E2=80=9CJosefa Mar=C3=ADa of Saint Agnes,=E2=80=9D Virgin, Mystic, gifted = with the charism
of prophecy and counsel. She became known for her profound spiritual
and theological insight as well as for her severe austerities she
practised during her life. Her body is incorrupt.

Josefa Mar=C3=ADa was born to the poor Llu=C3=ADs Albi=C3=B1ana and Vicenta=
Gomar in
Spain in 1625. Her father died during her childhood.=C2 The town mayor = =E2=80=93
her uncle Bartomeu Tudela =E2=80=93 aided the family following the death of
her father; she also suffered from epilepsy during her childhood. She
received her Confirmation at the age of eight.

At the age of 13-14, she went out to the river to wash clothes and had
a vision of Jesus Christ who called her to embrace Him and seek the
religious life. She refused a marriage offer to do this =E2=80=93 though th=
e
enraged suitor killed himself.

She entered the Discalced Augustinian convent in her hometown on 25
October 1643 and assumed her religious name =E2=80=93 that of =E2=80=9CJose=
fa Mar=C3=ADa of
Saint Agnes=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 upon the profession of her vows and vesting =
in the
habit on 26 June 1644; she made her solemn profession on 27 August
1645. Blessed Josefa began to practice severe austerities that
characterised her life and her time amongst her fellow religious.

She became known for prophetic gifts, which prompted people to consult
her for her spiritual insights. Though her formal education was
minimal, her gifts of counsel and theological understanding were very
evident, to the extent that she was admitted among the choir sisters
in 1663 and was consulted for spiritual guidance and clarification on theological issues.

All of Josefa's religious life was marked by the workings of grace.
While her demeanour was simple and humble and her efforts dedicated to
the service of the community, she possessed a remarkable spirit of contemplation.

Blessed Josefa died in 1696 =E2=80=93 on the feast of Saint Agnes =E2=80=93=
after
having received the sacraments for the last time. Her remains are
incorrupt and in the Spanish Civil War her tomb was desecrated though
later restored.

After the investigations and approval of two miracles, Blessed Josefa
was Beatified on 26 February 1888, at Saint Peter's Basilica by Pop=
e
Leo XIII.

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Saint Quote:
The saints understood how great an outrage sin is against God. Some of
them passed their lives in weeping for their sins. St. Peter wept all
his life; he was still weeping at his death. St. Bernard used to say,
"Lord! Lord! it is I who fastened You to the Cross!"
--St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Bible Quote:
And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not
failing. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men,
but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.=C2 (Gal.
6:9) DRB


<><><><>
Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971) Humility

=E2=80=9CHumility is the most difficult of all the virtues, because it
requires us to deny ourselves.
Jesus warns us, that anyone who wishes to follow Him, must deny
himself. =E2=80=9CIf anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself= =E2=80=9D (Mt
16:24).
Humility is necessary if we wish to go straight to Jesus, Who was the
first to humble Himself by becoming obedient unto death, even to the
death of the Cross (Phil 2:8).
The Imitation of Christ contains some profound remarks upon this
subject. =E2=80=9CSeldom do we find anyone so spiritual as to be stripped o=
f
all things=E2=80=A6 If a man gives his whole substance, still it is nothing=
..
And if he do great penance, it is but little. And if he attain to all knowledge, he is far off still. And if he have great virtue and very
fervent devotions, there is still much wanting to him, namely, the one
thing which is supremely necessary for him. What is that? That having
left all things else, he leave also himself and wholly go out of
himself and retain nothing of self-love.=E2=80=9D (Bk II, c.2:4).
When he has done all this, remember, he has only given God all that he
received from Him.
He has given nothing which was really his.
He has only fulfilled an obligation of restitution.
When he has arrived at this stage of humility, therefore, he should
repeat the words of Jesus. =E2=80=9CWhen you have done everything that was commanded you, say, =E2=80=98We are unprofitable servants, we have done wha=
t
it was our duty to do'=E2=80=9D (Lk 17:10).
This is genuine humility, as preached in the Gospel.=E2=80=9D
--Antonio Cardinal Bacci


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