• May 4th - Bl. Catherine of Parc-aux-Dames, Virgin

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Mon May 3 10:23:17 2021
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    May 4th - Bl. Catherine of Parc-aux-Dames, Virgin
    (13th v. became famous for her visions and miracles)

    BL. CATHERINE of Parc-aux-Dames was the daughter of Jewish parents,
    resident in the city of Louvain. Amongst the constant visitors to
    their house was the duke of Brabant's chaplain, Master Rayner, with
    whom his host used to have long discussions on religious subjects.
    From the time she was five years old, little Rachel--as she was then called--was an attentive listener to these talks and one day the
    priest, noticing her eager expression, said to her, =E2=80=9CRachel, would = you
    like to become a Christian?=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CYes--if you would tell me how= !=E2=80=9D was the
    prompt reply.

    From that time Master Rayner began to give her instruction in the
    faith as occasion offered. Rachel's parents, however, became uneasy=
    at
    the change which was taking place in their child, and when she was in
    her seventh year decided to send her away beyond the Rhine, to remove
    her from Christian influences. Rachel was greatly distressed at the
    prospect, but one night she had a vision of our Lady, who gave her a
    staff and bade her escape. The girl arose at once, slipped out of the
    house and made her way to the priest, by whom she was taken to the
    Cistercian nuns in the abbey of Parc-aux-Dames, a mile and a half from
    Louvain. There she was baptized and clothed with the habit of the
    order, assuming the name of Catherine. Her parents appealed to the
    bishop of Louvain, to the duke of Brabant and even to Pope Honorius,
    that their daughter might be restored to them--at any rate till she
    was 12 years old. The bishop and the duke favoured the claim, but it
    was successfully opposed by Engelbert, archbishop of Cologne, and
    William, abbot of Clairvaux. Catherine accordingly remained at
    Parc-aux-Dames until her death, and became famous for her visions and
    miracles.

    See the account in the Acta Sanctorum, May, vol. i, which is mainly
    compiled from such Cistercian sources as Caesarius of Heisterbach and Henriquez. But the Dominican Thomas de Cantimprd also vouches for the
    truth of the story, from his personal knowledge of Catherine.


    Saint Quote:
    Learn from Saint Th=C3=A9r=C3=A8se to depend on God alone and serve Him wit=
    h a
    wholly pure and detached heart. Then, like her, you will be able to
    say =E2=80=98I do not regret that I have given myself up to Love'.
    -- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

    Bible Quote
    So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your
    heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.=C2 =C2 (=
    John
    16:22)


    <><><><>
    HAPPINESS IS JESUS THE LORD

    I wake up in the morning to face another day,
    A day filled first with gladness,
    For I have learned to pray.
    I lift my eyes to Heaven, and ask what I can do to
    Face another working day
    Along the path to You?
    Temptations are beside me, for me to cast aside;
    For there has been a promise
    To be Your loving bride.
    I open wide the door, steadfastly on my way,
    To give and take the worst and best
    With every passing day.
    My mission fills my heart,
    There is no room for fear,
    I'll always tell the story
    Of when you came so near.
    They'll never quite believe me,
    Though what I say is true
    That all these visions that I saw,
    Were gifts that came from You!
    --St. Teresa

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)