From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

February 28th =E2=80=93 Bl. Villana of Florence

Blessed Villana was the daughter of Andrew de'Botti, a Florentine
merchant, and was born in 1332. When she was 13 she ran away from home
to enter a convent but her attempts were unsuccessful and she was
forced to return. To prevent any repetition of her flight, her father
shortly afterwards gave her in marriage to Rosso di Piero. After her
marriage she appeared completely changed; she gave herself up to
pleasure and dissipation and lived a wholly idle and worldly life. One
day, as she was about to start for an entertainment clad in a gorgeous
dress adorned with pearls and precious stones, she looked at herself
in a mirror. To her dismay, the reflection that met her eyes was that
of a hideous demon. A second and a third mirror showed the same ugly
form. Thoroughly alarmed and recognizing in the reflection the image
of herself sin-stained soul, she tore off her fine attire and, clad in
the simplest clothes she could find, she betook herself weeping to the Dominican Fathers at Santa Maria Novella to make a full confession and
to ask absolution and help. This proved the turning point of her life,
and she never again fell away.

Before long Villana was admitted to the Third Order of St. Dominic,
and after this she advanced rapidly in the spiritual life. Fulfilling
all her duties as a married woman, she spent all her available time in
prayer and reading. She particularly loved to read St. Paul's Epistles
and the lives of the saints. At one time, in a self-abasement and in
her love for the poor, she would have gone begging for them from door
to door had not her husband and parents interposed. So completely did
she give herself up to God that she was often rapt in ecstasy,
particularly during Mass or at spiritual conferences; but she had to
pass through a period of persecution when she was cruelly calumniated
and her honor was assailed.

Her soul was also purified by strong pains and by great bodily
weakness. However, she passed unscathed through all these trials and
was rewarded by wonderful visions and soliloquies with our Lady and
other saints. Occasionally the room in which she dwelt was filled with supernatural light, and she was also endowed with the gift of
prophecy. As she lay on her deathbed, she asked that the Passion
should be read to her, and at the words "He bowed His head and gave up
the ghost", she crossed her hands on her breast and passed away.

Her body was taken to Santa Maria Novella, where it became such an
object of veneration that for over a month it was impossible to
proceed with the funeral. People struggled to obtain shreds of her
clothing, and she was honored as a saint from the day of her death.
Her bereaved husband use to say that, when he felt discouraged and
depressed, he found strength by visiting the room in which his beloved
wife had died. Blessed Villana's cultus was confirmed in 1824.

See the Acta Sanctorum for August 26 (Aug. vol. v); Procter, Lives of
Dominican Saints, pp. 50-52 ; M. C. Ganay, Les Bienheureuses
Dominicaines, pp. 153-175.


Saint Quote:
'Let us make the Sign of the Cross boldly and courageously. When the
demons see it they are reminded of the Crucified; they take to flight;
they hide themselves and leave us'
--St Cyril of Jerusalem

Bible Quote:
The men of Ninive shall rise in judgment with this generation, and
shall condemn it: because they did penance at the preaching of Jonas.
And behold a greater than Jonas here.=C2 =C2 (Matthew 12:41)


<><><><>
Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward You.
Let me burn with zeal for Your honour,
so that I may resent terribly, all the outrages
committed against You, especially those
of which I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may adore and acknowledge You humbly,
as my Creator and that, penetrated with gratitude
for all Your benefits,
I may never cease to render You thanks.
Grant that I may bless You in all things,
praise and glorify You
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and that, obeying You with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Your table
together with Your Holy Angels and Apostles
to enjoy ineffable delights.
Amen

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