• November 13th - St. Homobonus

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Tue Nov 12 09:06:33 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    November 13th - St. Homobonus
    (d. 1197)

    Some of the Latin baptismal names that ancient Christian parents
    bestowed on their children were quaint but devout: like =E2=80=9CQuodvultdeus,=E2=80=9D which means =E2=80=9Cwhatever God wants=E2= =80=9D; or =E2=80=9CDeusdedit,=E2=80=9D
    =E2=80=9CGod's gift=E2=80=9D; or =E2=80=9CDesideratus,=E2=80=9D =E2= =80=9Cwanted=E2=80=9D.

    In the 12th century, there lived in Cremona, Italy, a prosperous
    merchant who took his newborn son to church and announced to the
    priest that he wanted him baptized =E2=80=9CHomobonus=E2=80=9D. The word me= ans =E2=80=9Cgood
    man=E2=80=9D. The parent had chosen the child's baptismal name with=
    care, and
    he was determined to teach his son how to live up to its implications.

    He fulfilled his plan well. Homobonus grew up well-instructed in the
    skills of merchandising, but at the same time a lover of honesty,
    virtue and self-respect. He came to appreciate that his calling as a businessman was a divine calling. God wanted him to be just where He
    had put him; it was in the marketplace that he would work out his
    salvation.

    Providentially, Homobonus of Cremona found a wife who possessed the
    same convictions. Others of their mercantile class might trip over the occupational hazards of ambition, dissipation and vain display, but
    not Mr. and Mrs. H. Their simple life style gave them all the more
    means and incentive to reach out to the less fortunate. God
    appreciated this saintly couple's works of mercy, and even set His
    stamp of approval on them by working miracles in favor of those whom
    they assisted; so the author of St. Homobonus's biography assured u=
    s.

    Among the worthy merchant's devotional habits was to go daily to th=
    e
    church of St. Giles to =E2=80=9Creport=E2=80=9D to God on his activities. I=
    t was
    during one of these visits that he came to the end of his life. On
    November 13,1197, he was attending Mass. At the Gloria he stretched
    out his arms in the shape of a cross and fell forward into a
    prostration. Those beside him thought this was just an act of personal
    penance. But when he failed to stand for the Gospel, they went over to
    him and found that he had died.

    Pope Innocent III canonized this holy Cremonian only two years after
    his death. No reason to wait longer. Homobonus had obviously lived up
    to his name. Like Charlie Brown (if we may make such a comparison), he
    was a GOOD MAN.

    Wouldn't it be wonderful if those who survive us could say of us in
    all sincerity, =E2=80=9CHe was a good man,=E2=80=9D or =E2=80=9CShe was a g= ood woman.=E2=80=9D There
    could be no higher human praise. It would mean that we had, as St.
    Paul says, shown ourselves =E2=80=9Cchildren of God beyond reproach=E2=80=
    =A6 like the
    stars in the sky.=E2=80=9D It would mean that we had conscientiously lived =
    up
    to the particular task God assigned to us and not wasted his graces.
    This would mean that we had fully understood why we were created: to
    know God and love Him and serve Him in this world so as to be happy
    with Him forever in heaven.
    =E2=80=93Father Robert


    Saint Quote:
    I thank thee, O Lord, that Thou hast vouchsafed to honor me with a
    perfect love towards Thee, and hast made me to be bound with iron
    chains, like Thy Apostle Paul.
    -- Saint Ignatius of Antioch

    Bible Quote:
    How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!
    (Psalm 47:2)


    <><><><>
    THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS
    FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL =C2 (Imprimatur 1946)

    Third Day

    DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY

    =C2 =C2 =C2 The destiny awaiting us at death is not the same for al=
    l men: "He
    will render to every man according to his works." (Matt. xvi. 27.)
    Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory are the three places into which the souls
    of the departed are received. Heaven is the happy destination of
    perfectly pure and holy souls only; Hell the final doom of the
    reprobate; Purgatory, temporarily for the just, who are not as yet
    entirely purified. There God completes the punishment due to their
    faults, which were not sufficiently atoned for on earth; there He
    submits these holy souls to the last purgation, to cleanse them from
    the least stain, and, by fire, to bring them to that degree of
    perfected purity, which is necessary for them before being admitted to
    eternal bliss.

    Hence there are two classes of souls in Purgatory:

    =C2 1. Those who depart this life, stained by venial sins and imperfecti=
    ons.

    =C2 2. Those who have repented sincerely 'of their mortal sins and
    confessed them, if possible, without having done sufficient penance
    for them. Judging from our lives, experience teaches us that most men
    deserve Purgatory for both causes.

    Prayer: Graciously hear, O God, the fervent prayers we offer Thee for
    the suffering souls in Purgatory, who, not having satisfied Thy divine
    justice, confide in Thine infinite mercy and our intercessions. Extend
    unto them Thy consolations, and redeem them, through Christ, our Lord.
    Amen.

    Special Intercession: Pray for the souls of those who suffer in
    Purgatory for little faults.

    Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine
    upon them; may they rest in peace. Amen. (Three times)

    Practice: Be conscientious and faithful in the performance of little
    duties, and offer the inconvenience for the suffering souls.

    Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!



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