From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility (3)   
      
   The Voice of Christ:   
    Some careless persons, misusing the grace of devotion, have destroyed   
   themselves because they wished to do more than they were able. They   
   failed to take account of their own weakness, and followed the desire   
   of their heart rather than the judgment of their reason. Then, because   
   they presumed to greater things than pleased God they quickly lost His   
   grace. They who had built their homes in heaven became helpless, vile   
   outcasts, humbled and impoverished, that they might learn not to fly   
   with their own wings but to trust in Mine.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 3, Chapter 7   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   February 27th - St. Anne Line, Martyr   
   Also known as   
   Anne Higham   
   Anne Lyne   
      
   Memorial   
   27 February   
   25 October as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales   
      
   Persecution of Christians and Catholics is not confined in history to   
   the Roman period. There have been persecutions and discriminations all   
   throughout history. In many parts of the world today, Christians and   
   Catholics are being murdered for their faith. In some instances, it is   
   because they speak out against the existing regime or ruler, in other   
   cases, they are massacred simply because they are Christians.   
      
   From 1570 to 1791 all Roman Catholics were compelled by the   
   state/crown of England to attend the protestant services of the Church   
   of England. If they did not they were charged with 'recusancy' which   
   usually led to imprisonment, exile or death -the word comes from an   
   act of disobeying the lawful/state authority   
      
   Saint Anne was the daughter of a very strongly protestant Essex man   
   named William Heigham. He disowned his son and daughter when they   
   joined the Catholic Church. At age nineteen she married another   
   convert, named Roger Line.   
      
   The young couple was soon separated when Roger was arrested for   
   recusancy. Roger chose exile and travelled abroad to Flanders. Anne   
   remained in England. Roger died soon after, in 1594.   
      
   With her husband's death, Anne had no-one left dependent upon her, and   
   could follow God's calling. Though ill herself, she began to care for   
   her fellow Catholics being abused by the Anglican Church and   
   Parliament. She went first to the city of Braddox to the house of a   
   Mrs. Wiseman, but Mrs. Wiseman was captured and put to death for   
   aiding priests. Saint Anne then travelled to London. There she managed   
   a house as a haven and safe house for priests. The founder of the   
   house, a Fr. Gerard was imprisoned in the Tower of London. When he   
   escaped and returned to his house, he cast suspicion upon Saint Anne.   
      
   She was forced to flee and hide. When she founded a new house it was   
   discovered as well. A third house was established to shelter priests   
   and other Catholics. A large number of Catholics assembled on   
   Candlemas Day (Feb 2nd) for Mass. The gathering was noticed by the   
   neighbours, who notified the authorities about the house.   
      
   A priest, a Fr Francis Page SJ, had just vested for Mass when the   
   soldiers attempted to break in. He hid as they broke through the   
   doors. Though he escaped, the vessels and arrangements for Mass were   
   found. Those remaining were obviously guilty and were arrested, Saint   
   Anne among them.   
      
   She was brought before the lord chief justice at Old Bailey to be   
   tried. When asked what her plea would be, she retorted, "My lords,   
   nothing grieves me more but that I could not receive a thousand more   
   (priests)..." Saint Anne Line was eventually convicted of recusancy.   
   The sole evidence was having an altar in the house. Shewas imprisoned   
   in Newgate prison but remained unmoved and unbroken by her   
   imprisonment, Even when brought to the gallows she knelt in prayer.   
      
   With Saint Anne Line that day were Father Roger Filcock SJ, her   
   confessor, and Bl. Father Mark Barkworth. Saint Anne Line is one of   
   the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, crowned in glory by suffering   
   and dying for Christ and His Faith.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Him we adore who hung upon the cross. Him we confess to be God, and   
   the Son of God begotten, not made, co-essential with the Father, by   
   whose deity we believe this whole world is created, preserved, and   
   governed.   
   -- Saint Hipparchus of Samosata   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body   
   and in your spirit, which are God's."  (1 Corinthians 6:20)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The Grace of Thy Love   
   By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)   
      
   O My God,   
   strengthen me with Thy strength,   
   console me with Thy everlasting peace,   
   soothe me with the beauty of Thy countenance,   
   enlighten me with Thy uncreated holiness.   
   Bathe me in Thyself   
   and give me to drink,   
   as far as mortal man may ask,   
   of the rivers of grace   
   which flow from the Father and the Son,   
   the grace of Thy consubstantial,   
   co-eternal Love.   
   Amen   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)