From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
15 April =E2=80=93 Bl Cesar de Bus
=C2 (1544-1607)
Priest, teacher, Founder of two religious congregations: the Secular
Priests of the Christian Doctrine and the Daughters of the Christian
Doctrine =E2=80=93 Patron of Catechists.
Cesar was born at Cavaillon, France and little is known about his
early life, with the exception that he was middle child =E2=80=93 the seven=
th
of 13 children and raised as a pious child. lived both piously and
virtuously. At 18 years old, he joined the French army,and took part
in the king's war against the Huguenots. Back in his home town of
Cavaillon, he took over the position of his late brother as canon of
Salon, a position he wanted for its income and connections instead of
its spiritual significance. One night while on his way to a masked
ball, he passed a shrine where a small light was burning before an
image of the Virgin Mary. He was suddenly overwhelmed by the memory
that a friend, Antoinette Reveillade, had prayed fervently for his
salvation. He realised that there was no way he could live a life
offending God and then expect to be accepted in the end.=C2 There, on
the road, he had a complete conversion.=C2 He returned to his studies,
resumed his pious lifestyle and was soon ordained to the priesthood at
the age of 38.
Upon ordination, Cesar immediately distinguished himself by his works
of charity, serving all in need. He was profoundly affected reading a
biography of Saint Charles Borromeo and tried to take him as a model
in all things, especially his devotion to catechesis. He worked as a
catechist in Aix-in-Provence, France, an area in turmoil following the Religious Wars. Saint Francis de Sales called him =E2=80=9Ca star of the fi= rst
magnitude in the firmament of Catechesis.=E2=80=9D=C2 He founded the Urs= ulines
of Province and the Fathers of Christian Doctrine (Doctrinarians). The
Fathers were destroyed during the French Revolution but an Italian
branch, the Doctrinarian Fathers continues today with houses in Italy,
France and Brazil. He further demonstrated great effectiveness and
zeal in preaching. He focused primarily on those who would receive the
Word of God from no one else=E2=80=94those living in horrible conditions, living out of city in the countryside and those marginalised by
society. He further focused on catechesis of the family, instructing
the parents alongside the children, something which had previously not
been done. The congregation was approved by Pope Clement VIII. A few
years later, Cesar founded a companion congregation, the Daughters of
the Christian Doctrine.
Blessed Cesar wrote five volumes on the Catechism, portions of which
continue in use today. His Instructions for the Family on the Four
Parts of the Roman Catechism, was published 60 years after his death.
He died on Easter Sunday, 15 April 1607 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France
of natural causes and his remains are interred in the church of Saint
Mary in Monticelli in Rome, Italy.
Blessed Pope Paul VI at his Beatification:=C2 =E2=80=9CHe learns in this=
way to
seek and love sacrifice, for sacrifice configures one with Christ
Suffering and Victorious. To offer himself as a libation, to leave
everything in God's hand at the cost of the greatest renunciations,
this seems to have been the leitmotif, the perpetual aim of his
efforts. And when, at the end of his life, suffering and afflicted
with blindness for 14 years, he is at last able to prepare for the
supreme gift, he will realize how useful asceticism has been to master
the old Adam. He will be ready to meet the Lord. His joy will be perfect.=E2=80=9D
He was beatified on 27 April 1975 by Blessed Pope Paul VI who said at
the ceremony:
=E2=80=9CThe work of Cesar de Bus continues to generate, after three
centuries, our admiration. Here's someone who got it right. He
recognised the needs of his time and he responded with equal
generosity and efficiency. Attracted by his vision and influence,
other enthusiastic men were gradually gathered around him, learning
how to approach the catechism and taking a lead from him. Quickly they
formed a religious family who, despite the vicissitudes of history,
still flourishes today in various countries. Now located in Cavaillon,
France, the Fathers of Christian Doctrine know this day our special
concern for them, our esteem, and they receive our wishes and
encouragement! We are pleased to honour them now in the person of
their founder.
And we wish the pastors and those responsible for catechetical use,
who have followed Blessed Cesar's example and writings, guiding the=
ir
thinking and their work. Blessed Caesar de Bus, you who left us the
admirable example of a life given to God, who burned with a desire to communicate God's life with your brothers, now intercedes for us wi=
th
the Lord, for the same Fire consumes us and the same charity urges us.
And you, dear brothers and sons, we entrust you to him and we bless
you from my heart.=E2=80=9D
Anastpaul April 2017
Thought for the Day =E2=80=93 15 April
The life of Blessed Cesar de Bus is one of initial indecision, aimless
pursuit of worldly pleasure and return to the grace of the Lord.
Cesar's life reminds us that we are all called at different times i=
n
our lives to serve=E2=80=94even if we feel unworthy or unable, the Lord see=
s
within us the spark of faith and hope and we are called to nurture
that spark into a flame of Love =E2=80=93 just be awake and aware, do not resist the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! As we look toward Christ=E2=80=
=99s
Easter triumph over death, we turn inside ourselves, finding our own
call to serve others in love.
Blessed Cesar de Bus pray for us!
<><><><>
O God of Truth and Love
A Prayer of Penitence
By St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church
O omnipotent Father,
God of truth,
God of love
permit me to enter into
the cell of self-knowledge.
I admit, that of myself,
I am nothing
but that all being
and goodness in me
comes solely from You.
Show me my faults,
that I may detest them,
and thus I shall flee from self-love
and find myself clothed again
in the nuptial robe of divine charity,
which I must have,
in order to be admitted
to the nuptials of life eternal.
Amen
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)