From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

15 August =E2=80=93 St Simplician of Milan
Also known as Simpliciano

Memorial
15 August
14 August (archdiocese of Milan, Italy)
16 August on some calendars

=E2=80=93 Archbishop of Milan, Teacher, Catechist, Writer, Mystic success=
or
to St Ambrose =E2=80=93 (c 320 in Rome, Italy =E2=80=93 c 401 in Milan, Lig= uria,
Italy).

St Simplician was born about 320 probably in Rome, was raised in a
Christian family and still young he became a Priest. He became expert
in the Holy Scripture and very educated. In about 355 he took an
active part in the conversion to Christianity of the philosopher
Marius Victorinus. When in 374 Ambrose was elected bishop of Milan and baptised, Simplician became his teacher of doctrine. Ambrose used to
call Simplician father, as a sign of spiritual relationship but they
were also great friends. St Simplician remained an advisor to and
correspondent with Saint Ambrose. Probably in this period Simplician
moved to Milan where he remained.

Simplician took also an active part in the conversions of both Alypius
of Thagaste and Augustine of Hippo. The meeting between Augustine and
Simplican occurred in Milan in 386 and it is recorded in Augustine'=
s
Confessions. After his conversion, Augustine also called Simplician
father and in 397 he dedicated to Simplician two books on the issue of predestination, known as De Diversis Quaestionibus ad Simplicianum. St Augustine, remembered and referred to him with deep gratitude, calling
him the =E2=80=9Cspiritual father of my soul=E2=80=9D and would submit his = own
writings to him to review and comment.

He also corresponded extensively with Pope Anastasius I and bishops in
Africa and Gaul but none of the writings have survived. St Simplician
always wore a black leather belt; following a vision of the Blessed
Virgin Mary by Saint Monica, the belt became part of the habit of the Augustinians.

On his deathbed, St Ambrose supported Simplician as his own successor,
stating that Simplician was =E2=80=9Cold but good=E2=80=9D. Thus in April 3= 97, the
aged Simplician was elected bishop of Milan, at that time capital of
the Western Roman Empire. A very important act of his episcopate was
the receipt in Milan of the relics of the three martyrs Sisinnius,
Martyrius and Alexander, sent from Trento by the bishop Vigilius.

St Simplician was asked to judge some doctrinal statements by the
Council of Carthage (397) and by the First Council of Toledo. He also consecrated Gaudentius of Novara a bishop and according to the
13th-century writer Goffredo of Bussero, he organised the texts of the Ambrosian liturgy.

His feast day was anciently set on 15 August, together with the feast
of the translation to Milan of the relics of Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander; so his death was deemed to have been on 15 August 400.

St Simplician was initially buried in the church of Saint Nabor and
Felix in Milan and later translated, perhaps on 15 August, to the
Basilica Virginum (=E2=80=9CBasilica of the Virgins=E2=80=9D) which was ren= amed in his
honour; now it is known as Basilica of St Simplician. The images below
are the Basilica, with the Main Altar, Stained Glass windows and the
Chapel of the Martyrs of Anaunia, in the Crypt of the Basilica.

St Ambrose began the construction of the Basilica Virginum (=E2=80=9CBasili=
ca
of the Virgins=E2=80=9D), which was finished by his successor Simplician, w=
ho
is buried there. A brick with the mark of the Lombard King Agilulf
shows that repairs were made between 590 and 615 AD.

In the ninth century the Cluniac Benedictines took possession of the
church. In 1176 the church became famous when, according to the
legend, the bodies of the martyrs housed here flew as doves to the
field of Legnano, landing on the City's Carroccio, (a ceremonial wa=
r
waggon) as a sign of the imminent victory against Frederick
Barbarossa's army.

When the building was modified between the 12th and the 13th
centuries, giving it the present Romanesque appearance, the original
walls were preserved to a height of 22 meters. On the night of 6=E2=80=937 April 1252 the body of Peter of Verona (later St. Peter Martyr) lay in
state after his assassination. A great multitude came to watch vigil,
and the origins of Peter's cult began, as people started to report
miraculous occurrences.


Saint Quote:
=E2=80=9CHeretics are to be converted by an example of humility
and other virtues far more readily than by any external
display or verbal battles. So let us arm ourselves with
devout prayers and set off showing signs of genuine humility
and go barefooted to combat Goliath.=E2=80=9D
--St Dominic

Bible Quote:
What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one
of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after
that which was lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it,
lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing: (Luke 15:4-5) DRB

<><><><>
Prayer For Strength

Lord Jesus Christ,
King of kings,
You have power over life and death.
You know even things that are uncertain and obscure,
and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from You.
Cleanse me from my secret faults,
for I have done wrong and You saw it.
You know how weak I am,
both in soul and in body.
Give me strength, O Lord,
in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings.
Grant me a prudent judgment, dear Lord,
and let me always be mindful of Your blessings.
Let me retain until the end, Your grace
that has protected me till now.
Amen
By St EPHREM of Syria (306-373) Doctor of the Church
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)