From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
    -- 2 Peter 1:5-9 --   
      
   And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue: And in   
   virtue, knowledge: And in knowledge, abstinence: and in abstinence,   
   patience: and in patience, godliness: And in godliness, love of   
   brotherhood: and in love of brotherhood, charity. For if these things   
   be with you and abound, they will make you to be neither empty nor   
   unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that hath   
   not these things with him is blind and groping, having forgotten that   
   he was purged from his old sins.  DRB   
   =================================   
   Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in   
   action, growth in Christian character and the practice of moral   
   discipline, or it will die away. Peter lists several faith actions:   
   learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God's   
   will, loving others. These actions do not come automatically--they   
   require hard work. They are not optional; all of them must be a   
   continual part of the Christian life. We don't finish one and start on   
   the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables   
   us, but he also gives us the responsibility to learn and grow. We   
   should not be surprised at or resentful of the process.   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   October 13th – St. Gerald of Aurillac, Confessor   
      
   Born 855 at Saint-Cirgues; died 909. He was of noble birth and   
   suffered a lengthy illness in his youth. For this reason, he gave much   
   time to meditation, study, and prayer instead of the martial pursuits   
   that ordinarily would have been expected. When he succeeded his father   
   as count of Aurillac in Auvergne, and owner of considerable estates,   
   he continued his life of devotion and became noted for his piety and   
   generosity to the poor. He was distinguished for the justice and   
   efficiency with which he discharged the duties of a wealthy nobleman.   
      
   His personal life was no less virtuous, and markedly well-ordered and   
   religious. He dressed modestly, ate little, rose every morning at 2:00   
   even when traveling to say the first part of the Divine Office, and   
   then he assisted at Mass.   
      
   But it is possible that he would not have become well-known had he not   
   founded the monastery at Aurillac. After a pilgrimage to Rome, he   
   built a church under the invocation of Saint Peter, and, c. 890, a   
   Benedictine abbey at Aurillac, which was to become famous when it was   
   taken over by the Cluniac order.   
      
   He led a life of great goodness for someone of his rank during this   
   rather immoral period in history. He considered becoming a monk at his   
   monastery but was persuaded against it by Gausbert, the bishop of   
   Cahors, who counseled that he would be more useful acting as a layman   
   who devoted himself to his neighbors and dependents. He gave a great   
   part of his revenue to the poor and endowed the monastery generously.   
      
   He was blind for the last 7 years of his life. He died at Cezenac,   
   Quercy, and was buried at his abbey. He is the patron saint of Upper   
   Auvergne.   
      
   Saint Odo of Cluny wrote a Life of Saint Gerald that made him   
   celebrated in medieval France. A later member of Saint Gerald of   
   Aurillac's family was Saint Robert of Chaise-Dieu (d. 1087; canonized   
   c. 1095) who founded the great abbey of that name in Auvergne   
   (Attwater, Encyclopedia, Sitwell, White).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   He who does not acquire the love of God will scarcely persevere in the   
   grace of God, for it is very difficult to renounce sin merely through   
   fear of chastisement.   
   -- Saint Alphonsus Liguori   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   The heavens are telling the glory of God;   
       and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.   
   2 Day to day pours forth speech,   
       and night to night declares knowledge.   
   3 There is no speech, nor are there words;   
       their voice is not heard;   
   4 yet their voice[a] goes out through all the earth,   
       and their words to the end of the world.   
   In them he has set a tent for the sun, [Psalm 19:1-4]   RSVCE   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Ask Our LORD'S BLESSING   
      
   Taken from JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH NOVENA MANUAL:   
   by Father Stedman   
      
   Before leaving the Blessed Sacrament.   
      
   BLESS ME, O God of bounty! Bless me, Thou Who art holy and good! Bless   
   me as Thou didst bless the patriarchs and prophets; as Thou didst   
   bless Thy beloved Mother; as Thou didst bless Thy disciples before   
   ascending into Heaven.   
      
   BLESS MY EYES. Never permit them to behold vanity.   
      
   BLESS MY EARS. Set around them a hedge of thorns to guard them from   
   hearing unChristian words.   
      
   BLESS MY MOUTH. Surround it with a guard of truth and kindness.   
      
   BLESS MY BODY. Grant that chastity may clothe it as with a garment of glory.   
      
   BLESS MY MIND. Grant that my thoughts may be like Thine.   
      
   BLESS MY HEART. Kindle in it the fire of love which Thou didst bring   
   on earth. Make it the sanctuary of every virtue.    
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)