• November 27th - St. Maximus of Riez

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Mon Nov 26 07:50:14 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    November 27th - St. Maximus of Riez

    Born at Decomer (Ch=C3=A2teauredon near Digne), Provence, France; died 460. Saint Maximus was baptized in infancy and raised in a Christian home,
    where he lived a reclusive life at home in order to mortify his senses
    and train his will. Finally he decided to enter religious life in the
    community of L=C3=A9rins, which was then under the direction of its
    founder, Saint Honoratus.=C2 When Honoratus was consecrated archbishop
    of Arles in 426, Maximus was chosen to be the second abbot of L=C3=A9rins
    to succeed its founder. Saint Sidonius records that the monastery
    acquired a new luster because the prudent conduct and bright example
    of Saint Maximus were such that the monks did not mind the severities
    of the rule; they obeyed him cheerfully and quickly.

    Maximus was also favored with the gift of working miracles which
    supplemented his reputation for great sanctity. So many came to
    consult him that he eventually had to hide in a forest to escape those
    seeking to make him bishop of Fr=C3=A9jus. Later he was promoted to the see
    of Riez in Provence and much against his will, in 434, received the
    episcopal consecration from Saint Hilary. (He had fled to the coast of
    Italy in an attempt to shun the dignity.) He was one of the most
    prominent prelates of the church of Gaul in his time. Throughout his episcopacy, he continued to wear his hair shirt and habit, and observe
    the monastic rule as far as it was compatible with his episcopal
    functions.

    Among the sermons wrongly attributed to Eusebius Emisenus are several
    now ascribed to Saint Maximus. He attended the councils of Riez in
    439, Orange I in 441, and Arles in 454. His body now rests in the
    cathedral of Riez, which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and Saint
    Maximus (Attwater 2, Benedictines, Coulson, Husenbeth).


    Saint Quote:
    "It is fitting for the ministers [priests and bishops] of sacraments
    to be righteous [absolutely free of mortal sin]; because ministers
    should be like unto their Lord. ... Consequently, there can be no
    doubt that the wicked [priests/bishops in mortal sin] sin by
    exercising the ministry of God and the Church, by conferring the
    sacraments.
    "And since this sin pertains to irreverence towards God and the
    contamination of holy things, as far as the man who sins is concerned,
    although holy things in themselves cannot be contaminated; it follows
    that such a sin is mortal [deserving of damnation]."
    --St. Thomas Aquinas (Doctor, 1225-74) - "Summa Theologica"

    Bible Quote:
    "As the judge of the people is Himself, so also are His ministers ...
    Be ye holy, because I am holy"=C2 (Ecclesiasticus 10:2; Leviticus 19:2)


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    Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

    [26]The Retributions of Purgatory

    God's way is to punish in kind. This law holds in Purgatory as in most
    other penalties that God inflicts. Those who have pampered their
    bodies will suffer an exceeding great physical torment. Each sinful
    indulgence of the body will add to the fierceness of the scorching
    flames. The intemperate and glutton will suffer a parching thirst and
    gnawing hunger; the luxurious will be plunged into a cauldron, as it
    were, of boiling metal, and endure an agony, one moment of which will
    more than out-balance all the delights of earth. Have I reason to fear
    in this respect?

    Those who have chosen to follow their own will instead of the will of
    God, who have been proud and ambitious, and rebellious against God,
    will have far worse things to suffer. The God whom they have forgotten
    will in His turn forget them; and in the agony of their remorse, they
    will lament the folly and the sin that has left them in the blackness
    of darkness. If without self-will there be no Hell, it is also true
    that without self-will there would be no Purgatory.

    Those who have neglected to help the Holy Souls during life will be
    neglected in their turn. Somehow, others will forget to pray for them,
    or if Masses and prayers are offered for them, God will transfer the
    main benefit of these to others. Every one who goes to Purgatory will
    lament his want of generosity to others while he had a chance of
    helping them. Slow, indeed, will be the release of those who did
    little or nothing for the release of others. Try to anticipate the
    punishments in kind by 1. Mortification; 2. Submission; 3. Charity to
    others.

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)