• March 1st - Bl. Roger LeFort

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Wed Feb 28 09:10:14 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    March 1st - Bl. Roger LeFort
    (d. 1367)

    Roger LeFort is a minor figure in the sense that little is known about
    him in detail. He was prominent enough to be elected bishop of Orleans
    France; to be promoted to bishop of Limoges; and finally to be
    advanced to archbishop of Bourges. He died with a reputation for
    sanctity, although he has earned the title =E2=80=9CBlessed=E2=80=9D rather=
    from local
    acclaim than from papal beatification.

    There is, however, an interesting and amusingly human story about how
    this prominent priest of the diocese of Orleans chanced to be chosen a
    bishop at all. In medieval times it was customary for a diocesan
    bishop to be elected by the canons of the diocesan cathedral. The
    canons were a group of leading diocesan priests roughly comparable to
    the =E2=80=9Cconsultors=E2=80=9D of our American dioceses.

    When the see of Orleans fell vacant around the middle of the 14th
    century, some of the canons of Orleans began to speak publicly about
    their own aspirations to the post of bishop. Roger, a well-known
    churchman of the diocese, was upset by what he considered a display of
    selfish ambition. Speaking to one of the more unassuming canons, he
    said, =E2=80=9CThese men don't seem to realize what a heavy respons=
    ibility a
    bishop has to bear, and how many difficulties he faces.=E2=80=9D Then he ad= ded
    with an ironic sense of humor, =E2=80=9CI hope the electors will think of m=
    e
    on the present occasion. I, too, should like to be a bishop!=E2=80=9D

    The canon to whom he spoke may or may not have seen the twinkle in the
    eye of LeFort. Anyhow, when the body of canons gathered to vote on an
    episcopal candidate, this canon strongly recommended Roger himself for
    the job. Surprisingly, the rest of the electors agreed with the
    proposal. So the chairman rose and proclaimed that LeFort had been
    unanimously elected. =E2=80=9CHe is a man of eminent sanctity and wisdom=E2= =80=9D the
    chairman concluded. =E2=80=9CAssuredly this is the decision of the Holy
    Spirit, whom we can- not resist without guilt.=E2=80=9D

    Roger was nonplussed when told the news. He had only been kidding, he
    said, when he spoke of wanting to be a bishop. Heaven knew he had
    neither the desire nor the talent for the job! However, the people of
    Orleans gave the bishop-elect a big hand. They said the canons could
    not have picked a better man. They knew he was modest and unselfish.
    So poor LeFort was the victim of his own wry humor.

    The electors' choice proved to have been indeed inspired. With the =
    aid
    of the Holy Spirit, Bishop Roger, more able than he himself realized,
    became an effective churchman, highly respected for his talent and
    goodness. As archbishop of Bourges he did much to promote devotion to
    the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. This doctrine was being
    gradually clarified in the 14th century, although it was to be defined
    as a dogma of faith only in 1854.

    Archbishop LeFort's reputation for holiness increased as he grew
    older. When he died at the age of 90, he left all his personal estate
    for the education of poor boys. His tomb became a center of
    pilgrimage, and miracles were reported through his intercession.

    It is the way of the Holy Spirit to work quietly without our realizing
    He is around. But sometimes if we pause and listen, on the occurrence
    of some happy event, we can hear the parting flutter of His wings.

    Saint Quote:
    He sent the man to the pool called the pool of Siloam, to be cleansed
    and to be enlightened, that is, to be baptized and receive in baptism
    full enlightenment.
    --St. Tomas Aquinas, Commentary on St. John

    Bible Quote:
    Then starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he
    explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were
    about himself [Luke 24:27]
    Then he told them, 'This is what I meant when I said, while I was
    still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses,
    in the Prophets and in the Psalms, was destined to be fulfilled.' He
    then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to
    them, 'So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third
    day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the
    forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from
    Jerusalem' [Luke 24:44-47].


    <><><><>
    A PRAYER FOR JUSTICE

    Father, you have given all peoples one common origin.
    It is your will that they be gathered together
    as one family in yourself.
    Fill the hearts of mankind with the fire of your love
    and with the desire to ensure justice for all.
    By sharing the good things you give us,
    may we secure an equality for all
    our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
    May there be an end to division, strife and war.
    May there be a dawning of a truly human society
    built on love and peace.
    We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord.

    Amen.
    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)
  • From rich@1:396/4 to All on Wed Feb 28 09:10:14 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    March 1st - Bl. Roger LeFort
    (d. 1367)

    Roger LeFort is a minor figure in the sense that little is known about
    him in detail. He was prominent enough to be elected bishop of Orleans
    France; to be promoted to bishop of Limoges; and finally to be
    advanced to archbishop of Bourges. He died with a reputation for
    sanctity, although he has earned the title =E2=80=9CBlessed=E2=80=9D rather=
    from local
    acclaim than from papal beatification.

    There is, however, an interesting and amusingly human story about how
    this prominent priest of the diocese of Orleans chanced to be chosen a
    bishop at all. In medieval times it was customary for a diocesan
    bishop to be elected by the canons of the diocesan cathedral. The
    canons were a group of leading diocesan priests roughly comparable to
    the =E2=80=9Cconsultors=E2=80=9D of our American dioceses.

    When the see of Orleans fell vacant around the middle of the 14th
    century, some of the canons of Orleans began to speak publicly about
    their own aspirations to the post of bishop. Roger, a well-known
    churchman of the diocese, was upset by what he considered a display of
    selfish ambition. Speaking to one of the more unassuming canons, he
    said, =E2=80=9CThese men don't seem to realize what a heavy respons=
    ibility a
    bishop has to bear, and how many difficulties he faces.=E2=80=9D Then he ad= ded
    with an ironic sense of humor, =E2=80=9CI hope the electors will think of m=
    e
    on the present occasion. I, too, should like to be a bishop!=E2=80=9D

    The canon to whom he spoke may or may not have seen the twinkle in the
    eye of LeFort. Anyhow, when the body of canons gathered to vote on an
    episcopal candidate, this canon strongly recommended Roger himself for
    the job. Surprisingly, the rest of the electors agreed with the
    proposal. So the chairman rose and proclaimed that LeFort had been
    unanimously elected. =E2=80=9CHe is a man of eminent sanctity and wisdom=E2= =80=9D the
    chairman concluded. =E2=80=9CAssuredly this is the decision of the Holy
    Spirit, whom we can- not resist without guilt.=E2=80=9D

    Roger was nonplussed when told the news. He had only been kidding, he
    said, when he spoke of wanting to be a bishop. Heaven knew he had
    neither the desire nor the talent for the job! However, the people of
    Orleans gave the bishop-elect a big hand. They said the canons could
    not have picked a better man. They knew he was modest and unselfish.
    So poor LeFort was the victim of his own wry humor.

    The electors' choice proved to have been indeed inspired. With the =
    aid
    of the Holy Spirit, Bishop Roger, more able than he himself realized,
    became an effective churchman, highly respected for his talent and
    goodness. As archbishop of Bourges he did much to promote devotion to
    the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. This doctrine was being
    gradually clarified in the 14th century, although it was to be defined
    as a dogma of faith only in 1854.

    Archbishop LeFort's reputation for holiness increased as he grew
    older. When he died at the age of 90, he left all his personal estate
    for the education of poor boys. His tomb became a center of
    pilgrimage, and miracles were reported through his intercession.

    It is the way of the Holy Spirit to work quietly without our realizing
    He is around. But sometimes if we pause and listen, on the occurrence
    of some happy event, we can hear the parting flutter of His wings.

    Saint Quote:
    He sent the man to the pool called the pool of Siloam, to be cleansed
    and to be enlightened, that is, to be baptized and receive in baptism
    full enlightenment.
    --St. Tomas Aquinas, Commentary on St. John

    Bible Quote:
    Then starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he
    explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were
    about himself [Luke 24:27]
    Then he told them, 'This is what I meant when I said, while I was
    still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses,
    in the Prophets and in the Psalms, was destined to be fulfilled.' He
    then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to
    them, 'So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third
    day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the
    forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from
    Jerusalem' [Luke 24:44-47].


    <><><><>
    A PRAYER FOR JUSTICE

    Father, you have given all peoples one common origin.
    It is your will that they be gathered together
    as one family in yourself.
    Fill the hearts of mankind with the fire of your love
    and with the desire to ensure justice for all.
    By sharing the good things you give us,
    may we secure an equality for all
    our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
    May there be an end to division, strife and war.
    May there be a dawning of a truly human society
    built on love and peace.
    We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord.

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