From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
March 2nd - Bl. Charles the Good
(Twelfth Century)
The head of a state, whether man or woman, has a heavy and thankless responsibility. Whether he is emperor, absolute monarch, dictator,
prime minister or president, he is bound in conscience to promote the
progress of his people, to protect them against external and internal subversion, and to aid them in times of disaster. Since =E2=80=9Cthe buck stops=E2=80=9D at rulers' desks, they can't avoid having en=
emies: =E2=80=9Cfriendly=E2=80=9D
enemies who by their fawning will praise the =E2=80=9Cboss=E2=80=9D as perf= ect (which
he never is); antagonistic enemies who will seek to entrap and even to
kill him.
Blessed Charles the Good, who died in 1127, exemplifies a ruler so conscientious that he suffered martyrdom. Charles was the son of St.
Canute, King of Denmark, and was Count of Flanders and Amiens, a dual principality that occupied the present Belgium and northwest France.
Falling heir to this princely crown almost by chance, Charles had to
deal for a while with several counter-claimants to his position. As
soon as things had settled down, however, he set about making his
lands a good and decent place to live. Blasphemy he abhorred; and in
his own castles he imposed forty days of bread and water on those who
abused God's name. The laws he enacted for his princedom were well
planned, and he enforced them strictly. But in the last analysis he
ruled more by good example than by power. He was especially attentive
to the poor. (When critics said he was overdoing charity, he replied, =E2=80=9CIt is because I know so well the needs of the poor and the pride o=
f
the rich.=E2=80=9D) For instance, he forbade taking away a child without th=
e
consent of its parents; and he severely punished any oppression of the
helpless poor.
The winter of 1124-1125 was brutal, and a frightful famine followed.
Charles set up feeding stations at each of his castles. At Bruges he
fed 100 daily; at Ypres he distributed 7800 loaves of bread in a
single day.
Now, whenever disaster befalls, there will always be parasites who try
to make money out of it. Two prominent people of Bruges, (one of them, unfortunately, a churchman), were caught red-handed at profiteering in
grain when Charles enacted a new law designed to prevent this sort of
scalping. The two profiteers, joined by a local magistrate whom
Charles had disciplined for his violence, determined to kill the
monarch who was interfering with their =E2=80=9Cbusiness.=E2=80=9D
Charles, a consistently devout man, used to go barefoot each morning
to pray at the church of St. Donatian in Bruges. One day a friend
warned him that there was a conspiracy afoot against him. =E2=80=9CWe are always in the midst of dangers,=E2=80=9D the Count replied, =E2=80=9Cbut we=
belong to
God. If it is His will, can we die in a better cause than for justice
and truth?=E2=80=9D So he went to church. Kneeling before the Lady Altar, h=
e
prayed the psalm of mercy, the Miserere. At this point the
conspirators surged in, swords in hand. One sliced off the arm of the
Count, the other sliced open his skull.
It took only a tiny minority of Charles's enemies to put an end to =
his
good rule. The majority of his people, appropriately calling him
Charles the Good, hailed him at once as a martyr to Christian duty.
Each year since then, the feast of his death has been solemnly
observed in the cathedral of Bruges where his relics are enshrined.
The life and death of Blessed Charles the Good is a reminder to heads
of state that they receive their authority from God and are answerable
for its discharge only to Him. It is also a reminder to us, whenever
we exercise any authority. We will always have enemies when we uphold
justice. That's the way it is.
Saint Quote:
It was revealed to St. Gertrude that those who submit and conform
themselves entirely to the Divine will, desiring above all things that
the adorable will of God may be most fully done in all that concerns
them whether in body or in soul, touch the Sacred Heart most sensibly.
Bible Quote:
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His
sheep. (John 10:11)
<><><><>
Prayer To Follow The Call Of Christ.
Lord, I thank you for the gifts you have given me,
especially for life, love, family and friends.
Help me to know myself better and to know my talents,
as I pray, study and decide on my life's work.
Help me to see and understand the path you open for me.
Help me choose a life's work
which will be in response to my potential
and your love for me.
If I am being invited to follow you as a priest,
brother, sister, give me a generous heart
to respond to your challenging call
and the strength to follow you wherever you lead me.
Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)