• June 19th - St. Romuald

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Tue Jun 18 08:52:01 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    June 19th - St. Romuald
    Founder of the Order of Camaldoll

    Ravenna, a well-known town in Italy, received, in the beginning of the
    10th century, from God, the grace to become the birthplace of St.
    Romuald. The first 20 years of his life he passed like a child of the
    world, who only seeks after pleasure. Dogs, horses, hunting, riding,
    play, and society, were the only things he enjoyed, and in which he
    occupied his time. Of praying, visiting the church, listening to the
    Word of God, reading holy books, or other Christian exercises, he
    cared to hear and know nothing....

    See more at. http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Romuald%20popup.html


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    Practical Considerations

    The virtuous life of St. Romuald offers to you many points for
    instruction and imitation. Some of these are:

    I. St. Romuald does penance during a 100 years for 20 years spent in
    youthful follies. When will you commence to do penance for time which
    you have not only passed in frivolities, but, perhaps, even in sin and
    crime? Begin today, for you do not know how much time will be left to
    you for its accomplishment.

    II. From the idly spent years of St. Romuald's life he gathered
    nothing but bitterness, while those he had dedicated to the service of
    God filled his soul with consolation and peace. You also will one day experience only fear and bitterness, if you continue to belong to
    those children of the world who live only to gratify their passions.
    If you, however, diligently serve the Lord your God and flee all
    sensual pleasures, the thought of your having done so will be an
    indescribable comfort to you when you lie upon your deathbed. With
    whom, then, will you side? With the frivolous children of the world
    and licentious Carnival fools, or with the servants of God?

    III. St. Romuald prepared himself for death during 20 years, and still
    feared! Why do you, then, live on from day to day without the smallest fear--you who, perhaps, up to the present time, have not in any way
    prepared yourself? Do you not know that a long eternity follows death,
    and that you will most certainly die miserably if you are not prepared
    for your last hour?

    IV. St. Romuald was ashamed when reading the Lives of the Saints: he
    reflected how little he had followed their example. Have you not much
    more reason to be ashamed? Rouse yourself to imitate the Saints in
    future more earnestly; otherwise you cannot expect to be classed among
    them in heaven.

    V. St. Romuald deprives himself of the food he most craves, and gives
    it to the poor. Can you not sometimes do the same ? And why do you
    not? Ah! believe me, such self-abnegation and mortification is much
    more acceptable to God, and much more salutary to your own soul, than
    you imagine. If you love God and value your salvation do not neglect
    it, especially if you cannot perform any greater works of penitence,
    as did St. Romuald.

    VI. St. Romuald believed it to be better to suffer when innocent than
    when guilty. You will have to think the same; for whoever suffers
    innocently, suffers, according to the words of Saint Peter, as a
    Christian after the example of Christ. Therefore, never say, "If I had
    done this or that, if I were guilty of the offence, if I had deserved
    it, I would suffer patiently." Not so. A Christian should not speak
    thus. Just because you have not deserved it, suffer patiently; for
    then you suffer after the example of Christ.

    Finally, reflect how strictly St. Romuald fasted, and how he kept not
    only one forty days' fast during the year, but two, without shortening
    his life by so doing. I do not ask of you a similar austerity; but the
    Lord your God asks--nay, He commands you to keep the forty days' fast, instituted by the Apostles as faithfully as in your power. It begins
    in this or the following month. Resolve today to fulfil, your duties.
    You have good reason not to hesitate, as God commands you through His
    Church. You are bound under pain of eternal damnation to obey the
    Church. You have sinned, perhaps, more than St. Romuald; therefore you
    must repent if you would not lose heaven. Of the penances ordained by
    God Himself, fasting is one of the most salutary; therefore use it to
    your own profit. Do not imagine, as I have already told you, that your
    health will suffer by it, or that your life will be shortened. St.
    Romuald enjoyed better health and lived longer than hundreds of others
    who seldom or never fasted. Was not his life prolonged for over a 100
    years? By the transgression of the fast, you commit sin and offend
    God: how, then, can you expect to strengthen your health by it or to
    prolong your life? "Not to fast in the forty days' fast is a sin,"
    writes St. Ambrose. "Whoever fasts not, during the forty days' fast,
    shall experience the punishment." And, again: "It is no trifling sin, brethren."


    Saint Quote:
    I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through
    the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of
    cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be
    ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his
    sake; but bear your share of the hardship for the gospel with the
    strength that comes from God.
    =E2=80=94Saint Paul in his second letter to Saint Timothy

    Bible Quote:
    Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for many, I tell you, will seek to
    enter and will not be able=C2 (Luke 13:24)


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    Oratio Sancti Caietani (Prayer of St. Cajetan); 1480-1547.

    Look down, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary, from Thy
    dwelling in heaven on high, and behold this sacred Victim
    which our great High Priest, Thy holy Son our Lord Jesus
    Christ, offers up to Thee for the sins of His brethren and
    be appeased despite the multitude of our transgressions.
    Behold, the voice of the Blood of Jesus, our Brother, cries
    to Thee from the cross. Give ear, O Lord. Be appeased, O
    Lord. Hearken and do not delay for Thine own sake, O my
    God; for Thy Name is invoked upon this city and upon
    Thy people and deal with us according to Thy mercy.
    Amen.

    That Thou wouldst defend, pacify, keep, preserve, and
    bless this city, we beseech Thee, hear us.


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