• April 27th - Blessed Peter Armengol

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Thu Apr 26 10:07:59 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    April 27th - Blessed Peter Armengol
    (1238-1304)

    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. 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


    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
    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. [Ephesians 4:29] 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
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)
  • From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sun Apr 26 09:56:37 2020
    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
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)