From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   May 31st - Blessed James Salomone   
   Also known as Father of the Poor, James Salomonelli, James Salomonio,   
   James the Venetian   
      
   Born in Venice, Italy, 1231; died 1314; beatified in 1526. In a little   
   chapel in Forli, built as a tomb for honored dead, there are three   
   Dominicans laid in close proximity. One side is occupied by Blessed   
   Marcolino of Forli. The center position is held by Carino of Balsamo,   
   the assassin of Saint Peter Martyr, whose long penance and popular   
   holiness are now under consideration for his possible beatification;   
   the third place is that of Blessed James of Salomonio, who was the   
   spiritual director of Carino.   
      
   James was the only child of noble parents. His father died when he was   
   very small, and his mother became a Cistercian nun, leaving him to the   
   care of his grandmother. She did well by her orphaned grandson, and   
   James became a good and studious boy who responded eagerly to any   
   spiritual suggestions. Under the direction of a Cistercian monk, he   
   learned to meditate, and on the monk's counsel, James became a   
   Dominican at the convent of SS John and Paul (or Santa Maria Celeste)   
   in Venice as soon as he was old enough. He gave most of his money to   
   the poor, and arrived at the convent with just enough left to buy a   
   few books. Seeing that one of the lay brothers there was in need of   
   clothing, he gave his small sum to the lay brother and entered   
   empty-handed.   
      
   James wore the Dominican habit with dignity and piety, if not with any   
   worldly distinction, for 66 years. He was humble and good and   
   obedient, and there was nothing spectacular about his spirituality. He   
   was well-known for his direction of souls, but he fled even from the   
   distinction this work brought him.   
      
   Even his retiring habits did not protect him, for the people of Venice   
   beat a path to his door. In self-defense, he transferred to another   
   house, that of Forli. This was a house of strict observance and very   
   poor. Nothing could suit him better. For the remainder of his life he   
   worked and prayed in Forli, going out to visit the sick in the   
   hospitals and spending long hours in the confessional. His charity to   
   the poor and the sick gave him the name "Father of the Poor"   
   (Benedictines, Dorcy).   
      
   James is represented in art as surrounded by a horde of petitioners   
   (Dorcy) or as a Dominican with a staff and book, the Christ-child is   
   over his heart or he holds a heart with "IHS" (Roeder). He is   
   especially invoked against cancer of which he died (Dorcy) and honored   
   as the protector of Forli, Italy (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its   
   Creator: it binds God with man and man with God.   
   -- Saint Catherine of Siena   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man   
   love the world,  the charity of the Father is not in him.  (1John   
   2:15)  DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A MOTHER'S PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL OF   
   HER CHILDREN   
      
   I humbly salute you, O you faithful, heavenly Friends of   
   my children! I give you heartfelt thanks for all the love and   
   goodness you show them. At some future day I shall, with   
   thanks more worthy than I can now give, repay your care   
   for them, and before the whole heavenly court   
   acknowledge their indebtedness to your guidance and   
   protection. Continue to watch over them. Provide for all   
   their needs of body and soul. Pray, likewise, for me, for my   
   husband, and my whole family, that we may all one day   
   rejoice in your blessed company. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)