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)