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. Ann Line, Martyr   
      
   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 aginst the existing regime or   
   ruler, in other cases, they are massacred simply because they are Christians.    
      
   From 1570 to 1791 all Roman Catholic 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 dependant 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 Parliment. 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 andwere    
   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)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   CATENA LEGIONIS   
      
   Antiphon. -- Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the   
   moon, bright as the Sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?   
      
   My soul + doth magnify the Lord,   
   And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.   
   Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from   
   henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.   
   For He that is mighty hath done great things for me, and holy is His name.   
   And His mercy is from generation from generations to them that fear Him.   
   He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of   
   their heart.   
   He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble.   
   He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He hath sent empty   
   away.   
   He hath received Israel His servant: being mindful of His mercy.   
   As He spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed forever.   
   Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.   
   As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.   
      
   Antiphon. -- Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the   
   moon, bright as the Sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?   
      
   V. O Mary conceived without sin.   
   R. Pray for us who have recourse to thee.   
      
   Let us pray.   
   O Lord Jesus Christ our Mediator with the Father, Who hast been pleased to   
   appoint the Most Blessed Virgin, Thy Mother, to be our Mother also, and our   
   Mediatrix with Thee, mercifully grant that whosoever comes to Thee seeking Thy   
   favors may rejoice to    
   receive all of them through her. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)