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