From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
August 22nd - Blessed Bernard Perani
(Also known as Bl. Bernard d'Offide Bernard Offida, Bernard Offidsk=
i)
Blessed Bernard of Offida was the son of simple peasant folk. The
family lived in the neighborhood of the little Italian town of Offida
and were highly esteemed for their honesty and piety.
There were seven children in the family, but Bernard proved to be a
special joy to his mother, who often held him up as a model to the
other children. The little lad, however, so loved his brothers and
sisters that, if anyone of them had committed a fault, he would go and
ask forgiveness for him and offer to take the punishment.
As he advanced in age his vocation to a higher life manifested itself
quite distinctly. Everything attracted him to God. When he tended the
cattle, he often took out a holy picture, which he constantly carried
with him, posted it in some quiet spot, and then knelt down to pray
before it. He would then command his flock not to stray from the
pasture, and they obeyed his command.
On Sundays Bernard would sometimes remain in church until evening
without any food whatsoever. Although he was very useful to his
father, still, the latter perceived that he was not destined for the
world. He therefore suggested to his son to make choice of a convent
that he would like to enter.
Saint Quote:
=E2=80=9CGod could have given us the Redeemer of the human race, and the Founder of the Faiths in another way than through the Virgin, but
since Divine Providence has been pleased that we should have the
Man-God through Mary, who conceived Him by the Holy Spirit and bore
Him in her womb, it only remains for us to receive Christ from the
hands of Mary.=E2=80=9D
--Pope Saint Pius X
Bible Quote:
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver. [Prv 8:19] RSVCE
REFLECTION
=E2=80=9CMary is the stem of the beautiful flower on which the Holy Spirit rests with the fullness of His gifts. Hence, those who want to obtain
the seven gifts of the Spirit must seek the flower of the Holy Spirit
on the stem (Mary).
We go to Jesus through Mary and through Jesus we find the grace of the
Holy Spirit.=E2=80=9D=E2=80=A6St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor
<><><><>
The Queenship of Mary
=E2=80=9CShe has surpassed the riches of the virgins,
the confessors, the martyrs, the apostles,
the prophets, the patriarchs and the angels,
for she herself is the first-fruit of the virgins,
the mirror of confessors, the rose of martyrs,
the ruler of apostles, the oracle of prophets,
the daughter of patriarchs, the queen of angels.=E2=80=9D
--St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)