From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
October 20th - Blessed Contardo Ferrini
1859-1902
The city of Milan was abounded in men of learning and virtue. Our
present age has revealed a new star there, which is destined to show
an amazed modern generation that profound learning and humble faith
can well go hand in hand.
Contardo Ferrini was born of a distinguished family on April 4, 1859.
When he was still a student in high school and college he encouraged
his companions to lead good lives and exercised a kind of lay
apostolate among them. After winning his doctorate in law, he obtained
a government scholarship to study abroad. He went to Berlin, where he
studied Roman-Byzantine law, a field in which he achieved
international fame. In the capital of the German empire prejudices
against Catholics did not keep Professor Ferrini from publicly
professing his faith. On returning to Italy, he taught in various
higher institutions of learning and eventually at the University of
Paris.
It must be stressed here that Ferrini's life was practically an
unbroken elevation of his soul to God. His keen intellectual ways
penetrated to the Last Principle of all things. "Our life," he said,
"must reach out towards the Infinite, and from that source we must
draw whatever we can expect of merit and dignity."
Every day he approached the Holy Table. He made a short meditation
daily, and also read from Thomas a Kempis. His favorite books were
those of the Bible. The better to savor the spirit of their contents,
he read them in the original languages, of which he had a perfect
command. Like another Joseph of Egypt, he preserved his purity
unsullied amid the dangers of big city life. He practiced many and
varied mortifications to arm himself against harm.
In 1886 he joined the Third Order of St. Francis, and for the rest of
his life he faithfully observed its rule. He also enrolled himself in
the St, Vincent de Paul Society. In his speeches and writings as well
as in his conduct, he made it a point to show that faith and science
are not only opposed to each other, but that faith is rather a shield
to protect us from error and guide us to true heights.
In 1900 Contardo Ferrini was afflicted with a heart lesion in
consequence of excessive labor. In the autumn of 1902, feeling the
need of rest, he repaired to his country house at Suna. There,
however, he was stricken with typhus. Due to his weakened condition,
he was unable to resist the malignant fever, and died on October 17,
1902, at the age of 43.
The high esteem in which the deceased was held, now became evident.
Letters of condolence from the professors of the university praised
him as a saint. The people of Suna promptly expressed a desire to see
him numbered among the saints. The demand for his beatification grew
more insistent with time, and there was universal rejoicing when in
1909 Pope St. Pius X appointed Cardinal Ferrari to begin the process.
Pope Pius XI conferred on him the title Venerable in 1931; and Pope
Pius XII beatified him in 1947.
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ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
=C2 1. Holy Writ is not the only source of faith. It is incomplete for
one thing, for St. John says: "There are also many other things which
Jesus did" (John 21:25). Then, too, the prophecies about the kingdom
of heaven which Christ gave His apostles before His ascension, are not recorded. And from the Epistles of St. Paul (1 Cor 5:9 & Col 4:16) we
learn that part of the Scriptures have even been lost. Although Bl.
Contardo Ferrini entertained great love for the Scriptures, he did not
regard them as the only authority in matters of faith, but paid equal
respect to the teachings of Holy Church.--cripture and the appointment
to teach go hand in hand.
2. Holy Writ most not be our only source of faith. Christ did not say, "Distribute Bibles!" But He did say, "Teach all nations!" (Matt
28:19). Holy Writ itself ought to assure us that it is the only source
of our faith if that were the case; but nowhere can we find a
statement to that effect. Neither is the meaning of Holy Writ plain to
all who read it. Nowhere do we find it stated just what belongs to
holy Writ; our separated brethren have learned that from the teachers
of the Catholic Church.--Let nothing and nobody keep you from heeding
the teachings of the Catholic Church.
3. At no time was Holy Scripture used as the only source of faith.
Certainly not in the beginning of Christianity; for then the Gospels
and Epistles had not yet been written and distributed. Nor at any
later time; for even Protestantism has not held the Bible to be the
only rule, since the observance of Sunday, the baptism of infants, and
many other practices are not mentioned in the Bible. Should
non-Catholics reproach you for neglecting the Bible, let your answer
be: Holy Scriptures tells us nowhere that we should read the word of
God, but it does tell us to hear the word of God. From Sunday to
Sunday, the Catholic Church gives us the explanation of the
Scriptures. Intelligent and leading Protestants themselves complain of
the mischief done by the so-called free interpretation of the Bible.
As far as reading the Bible is concerned, good Catholic read and pray
it often in the prayers of the liturgy, especially the missal and the
divine office. And the Church has granted an indulgence to the
faithful who spend at least a quarter of an hour in reading Holy
Scripture with the great reverence due to the word of God and after
the manner of spiritual reading.
http://www.paxetbonum.net/saints/
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