From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   That Our Peace cannot Depend on Man  [II]:   
      
       He who attributes any goodness to himself, obstructs the coming of   
   God's grace, for the grace of the Holy Spirit always seeks a humble   
   heart. If you would perfectly overcome self and set yourself free from   
   love of creatures, I would come to you with all My grace.(1 Pet.5:5)   
   But while your interest is in creatures, the vision of the Creator is   
   hidden from you. Learn, then for love of the Creator to overcome self   
   in everything and you shall come to the knowledge of God. But so long   
   as anything, however small, occupies too much of your love and regard,   
   it injures the soul and hold you back from attaining the highest Good.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 42   
      
   =============   
   August 18th - St. Florus & Laurus   
      
   The Martyrs Florus and Laurus were brothers by birth not only in flesh   
   but in spirit. They lived in the second century at Byzantium, and   
   afterwards they settled in Illyria [now Yugoslavia]. By occupation   
   they were stone-masons (their teachers in this craft were the   
   Christians Proclus and Maximus, from whom also the brothers learned   
   about life pleasing to God).   
      
   The prefect of Illyria, Likaion, sent the brothers to a nearby   
   district for work on the construction of a pagan temple. The saints   
   toiled at the structure, distributing to the poor the money they   
   earned, while they kept strict fast and prayed without ceasing. Once,   
   the son of the local pagan-priest Mamertin carelessly approached the   
   structure, and a chip of stone hit him in the eye, severely injuring   
   him. Sts Florus and Laurus assured the upset father, that his son   
   would be healed.  They brought the youth to consciousness and told him   
   to have faith in Christ. After this, as the youth confessed Jesus   
   Christ as the true God, the brothers prayed for him, and the eye was   
   healed. In view of such a miracle, even the father of the youth   
   believed in Christ.   
      
   When the construction of the temple was completed, the brothers   
   gathered the Christians together, and going through the temple, they   
   smashed the idols. In the eastern part of the temple they set up the   
   holy Cross. They spent all night in prayer, illumined with heavenly   
   light. Having learned of this, the head of the district condemned to   
   burning the former pagan priest Mamertin and his son and 300   
   Christians.   
      
   The martyrs Florus and Laurus, having been sent back to the prefect   
   Likaion, were thrown down an empty well and covered over with earth.   
   After many years, the relics of the holy martyrs were uncovered   
   incorrupt, and transferred to Constantinople. In the year 1200 the   
   Novgorod pilgrim Anthony saw them.   
      
   Stephen of Novgorod saw the heads of the martyrs in the Pantokrator   
   monastery around the year 1350.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "Just as the sun shines simultaneously on the tall cedars and on each   
   little flower as though it were alone on the earth, so Our Lord is   
   occupied particularly with each soul as though there were no others   
   like it."   
   --St. Therese of the Child Jesus  "Story of a Soul" (p. 14)   
      
   Bible Quote   
   4 he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no   
   more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more,   
   for the former things have passed away.”   RSVCE   
      
   <><><><>   
   A Prayer in Time of Sickness or Trials   
      
       O good Jesus,   
       I accept willingly this sickness [or trial]   
       which it has pleased You to lay upon me.   
       I confide all my pains to your Sacred Heart,   
       and beg You to unite them with Your bitter sufferings,   
       and thus perfect them by making them Your own.   
      
       Since I cannot render You the praise due to You   
       because of the multitude of my sorrows and afflictions,   
       I ask You to praise God the Father for all I suffer,   
       with the same tribute of praise You offered Him   
       when Your agony on the Cross was at its height.   
      
       As You thanked Him with all the powers of Your soul   
       for all the sufferings and injustice   
       which He willed You should endure,   
       so, I pray You,   
       give Him thanks for my trials also.   
       Offer my sufferings,   
       physical and spiritual,   
       to Him together with Your most holy pains   
       to His eternal honour and glory.   
      
       Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)