• October 20th - Blessed Contardo Ferrini

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sat Oct 19 08:52:08 2019
    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.

    <><><><>
    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/
    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
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