From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

March 30th - St. Peter Regaldo
(1390-1456)

=C2 Peter lived at a very busy time. The Great Western Schism (1378-1417)
was settled at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). France and
England were fighting the Hundred Years' War, and in 1453 the
Byzantine Empire was completely wiped out by the loss of
Constantinople to the Turks. At Peter's death the age of printing h=
ad
just begun in Germany, and Columbus's arrival in the New World was
less than 40 years away.

Peter came from a wealthy and pious family in Vallodolid, Spain. At
the age of 13, he was allowed to enter the Conventual Franciscans.
Shortly after his ordination, he was made superior of the friary in
Aguilar. He became part of a group of friars who wanted to lead a life
of greater poverty and penance. In 1442 he was appointed head of all
the Spanish Franciscans in his reform group.

Peter led the friars by his example. A special love of the poor and
the sick characterized Peter. Miraculous stories are told about his
charity to the poor. For example, the bread never seemed to run out as
long as Peter had hungry people to feed. Throughout most of his life,
Peter went hungry; he lived only on bread and water.

Immediately after his death on March 31, 1456, his grave became a
place of pilgrimage. Peter was canonized in 1746.

Comment:

Peter was an effective leader of the friars because he did not become
ensnared in anger over the sins of others. Peter helped sinning friars rearrange the priorities in their lives and dedicate themselves to
living the gospel of Jesus Christ as they had vowed. This patient
correction is an act of charity available to all Franciscans, not just
to superiors.


Saint Quote:
"The principal thing upon which we have to turn our attention, that we
may mortify it and eradicate it from our hearts, is the predominant passion--that is, the affection, inclination, vice, habit, which
reigns most in us, which makes us its captive, which brings us into
greatest danger, and most frequently causes us to fall into grave transgressions. When the king is taken, the battle is won. And until
we do this, we shall make no great advance in perfection"
--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

Bible Quote:
"And let all the brothers, both the ministers and servants as well as
the others, take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the
evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many through the
fault of one; but they should spiritually help [the brother] who has
sinned as best they can, because it is not the healthy who are in need
of the physician, but whose who are sick (cf. Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17)" (Rule
of 1221, Chapter 5).


<><><><>
An offering to the Holy Ghost:

On my knees, before the multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself,
soul and body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God!=C2 I adore Thee, great Go=
d, and
acknowledge Thy dominion over me.

Thou art the light and the strength of my soul.=C2 In Thee I live and mo=
ve and
have my being.=C2 I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to gra=
ce,
and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Make me faithful in every thought, and grant that I may always listen to Th=
y
voice, watch for Thy light, and follow Thy gracious inspirations.=C2 I c=
ling
to Thee, and give myself to Thee, and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me in my weakness.=C2 Holding the pierced feet of Jesus, and lookin=
g at
His five wounds, trusting in His precious Blood, and adoring His Sacred
Heart, lacerated for love of me, I implore Thee, Holy Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so as to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee
with the sin which Thou canst not forgive.=C2 Give me grace, O Holy Ghos=
t,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee, always and everywhere, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth."

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