From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
April 27th - Blessed Peter Armengol
(1238-1304)
=C2 Peter was a Merdedarian friar who came to serve the Lord later in
life, following a misspent and dissolute youth. Having given up the
world, he worked tirelessly for the ransom of captives, all the while
atoning for his own sins. Blessed Peter Armengol is a model of
confidence. His life inspires everyone who, amid the crisis of the
modern world, needs special graces from Our Lady to remain completely
faithful.
Peter was born in Guadria dels Prats, Tarragona, Spain. Of noble
birth, he was related to the Counts of Urgel, and raised in the luxury
and lifestyle of nobility. Despite his parents best attempts to raise
and educate him piously, Peter was drawn into bad company as a young
man, and entered into the life of a bandit. He joined a gang of
criminals who, pursued by the authorities, lived in the mountains,
preying on the unsuspecting travelers of the region. Soon, Peter
became the leader of the gang.
On account of his Peter's bad behavior, his father, Arnold Armengol=
de
Moncada, moved to the kingdom of Valencia. There, he was employed by
King Jaime, and served as an advance ambassador when the monarch
traveled. In 1258, the monarch's travels took him through the regio=
n
controlled by Peter's band of ruffians, and father and son found
themselves face-to-face, locked in hand-to-hand combat. When Peter
realized who he was attempting to rob, he was overcome by grief, and
fell at his father's feet, begging for forgiveness and mercy. The L=
ord
changed his heart that day, and Peter resolved to change his life.
Desiring nothing more than to atone for his sins, and repair his
relationship with the Lord, Peter petitioned the Mercedarian Order at
Barcelona to allow him entrance. There, he became a monk in the order
founded by Saint Peter Nolasco, and worked tirelessly to ransom
Catholics captured by the Mohammedans. Bl. Peter worked throughout
Spain, converting many and freeing those enslaved. Throughout his
mission work, he lived a life of humility, complete obedience to the
Lord, penance, mortification, and continual prayer.
Wishing nothing more than to journey to Africa and be imprisoned so
that others might go free, Peter was eventually sent to that
continent. On his first visit, he successfully ransomed 119 captives
without any incident. However, before departing, Friar Peter learned
of a prison with 18 children who, impelled by the threats of
punishments of the barbarous Mohammedans, remained in danger of
denying the Faith. The religious happily offered himself as hostage
for the ransom of the innocent captives. His release was promised in
exchange for a stipulated sum. But, if the payment did not arrive
within the set time, he would suffer harsh punishments. Peter,
especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin, maintained complete
confidence that he would be provided for. The children were freed, and
he took their place in prison.
While imprisoned, Bl. Peter converted many of his captors through both
his preaching and his ministry of charity. Throughout all, he prayed
to the Blessed Virgin, Our Mother, and maintained his confidence in
the Divine Grace of the Lord. Over time, the required money was not
paid, and his captors grew tired of his cheerful attitude. They moved
Peter to a less comfortable prison, denied him of food, and tortured
him mercilessly. As he was unable to be broken in spirit, they
condemned him to death by hanging. Even then, when everything seemed
lost, Blessed Peter prayed to Our Lady and confided in her.
The execution was carried out and Peter's body was left hanging fro=
m
the gallows, as the custom was for birds of prey to feed on the
corpses of those who were killed. Six days had elapsed when the
Mercedarian emissary arrived with the required ransom money. Learning
that he was too late, the emissary went with great sorrow, in the
company of some captives, to see the lamentable sight. Reaching the
site of the execution, he noticed that the body did not emit a bad
odor, but rather exhaled a heavenly fragrance. To their astonishment,
Friar Armengol spoke, telling them that the Blessed Mother saved his
life.
Bl. Peter returned to Barcelona, where he was questioned about his
miraculous survival. Only when ordered by his superior to reveal what
happened, did Peter recount: =E2=80=9CThe Virgin Mary, Mother of God and ou=
r
own mother, asked her Most Holy Son to conserve my life; having
obtained this favor, this same sovereign Queen sustained me with her
most holy hands, so that the weight of my body would not hang upon the
rope by which I was suspended.=E2=80=9D
Blessed Peter suffered a twisted neck and pale complexion from his
hanging, for the remainder of his life. While these afflictions caused
him pain and suffering, he nonetheless retained his cheerful, humble,
and charitable disposition. He retired to the monastery of Our Lady de
los Prados, where he lived for his remaining 40 years, in constant
communion with Our Blessed Mother and the Lord. There he was buried,
and his relics are venerated still today. =C2 He is considered a martyr
by the Church, given his profound willingness to suffer and die for
his faith.
Recalling the miracle of his hanging, he frequently told the religious
of the monastery of this marvel: =E2=80=9CBelieve me, my dear brothers, tha=
t I
do not believe myself to have lived except for those few but most
happy days when, hanging from the gallows, I was held to be dead.=E2=80=9D
by Jacob
Saint Quote:
Do not be dismayed by toil or suffering, nor by the meager fruit of
your labours. Remember that God rewards not according to results, but
effort.
--Blessed Zefirino Agostini
Bible Quote
=C2 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good
for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those
who hear. =C2 [Ephesians 4:29] =C2 RSVCE
<><><><>
O Lord, Enkindle Our Lamps
O Lord,
grant us that love
which can never die,
which will enkindle our lamps
but not extinguish them,
so that they may shine in us
and bring light to others.
Most dear Saviour,
enkindle our lamps
that they may shine
forever in Your temple.
May we receive
unquenchable light
from You,
so that our darkness
will be illuminated
and the darkness of the world
will be made less.
Amen
--St Columba of Ireland (521-597)
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
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