From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On Gratitude for God's Grace (V)   
      
   Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive   
   greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest and simple   
   graces as especial favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver,   
   no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is   
   given by the most high God. Even if He awards punishment and pain,   
   accept them gladly, for whatever He allows to befall us is always for   
   our salvation. Let whoever desires to retain the grace of God be   
   thankful for the grace given him, and be patient when it is withdrawn.   
   Let him pray for its return, and let him be prudent and humble lest he   
   lose it once more.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 10   
      
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   January 4th – St. Gregory, Bishop of Langres   
      
   THIS saint is well known to us from the writings of St Gregory of   
   Tours, who was his great-grandson. Of very distinguished birth, he for   
   forty years governed the district of Autun as count (comes),   
   administering justice equitably but sternly. It was only late in life,   
   after the death of his wife Armentaria that he turned from the world   
   and gave himself unreservedly to God.   
      
   The clergy and people then elected him bishop of Langres, and for the   
   rest of his days he showed an admirable example of devotion to his   
   pastoral duties.   
      
      His abstemiousness in food and drink, which he was ingenious in   
   concealing from the knowledge of others, was remarkable, and he often   
   gave the hours of the night to prayer, frequenting especially the   
   baptistery of Dijon, in which town he commonly lived. There the saints   
   came to visit him and join him in chanting the praises of God in   
   particular St Benignus, the apostle of Burgundy, whose cultus he had   
   at first neglected, after some words of fatherly rebuke directed him   
   to restore his dilapidated shrine, which has ever since been so famous   
   in Dijon. It was here that Gregory himself, who died at Langres in   
   539, was brought to be buried in accordance with his own desire. His   
   epitaph, composed by Venantius Fortunatus, suggests that any severity   
   he had displayed as a secular ruler was expiated by the tender charity   
   he showed to all in his last years. Even in the miracles recorded   
   after death he seemed to give the preference to captives who had been   
   arrested by the officers of human justice.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "What are all the gains, all the fortunes, all the offices and   
   careers, even all the kingdoms of the world, compared to an offence   
   against God, to a sin which is the greatest evil in the world? There   
   is no work greater or more noble either in heaven or on earth than   
   this: to prevent offences [sins] against God."   
   --St. Joseph Cafasso (Confessor, 1811-1860) - "The Priest The Man Of   
   God. His Dignity and Duties   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   "I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one   
   sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not   
   penance"  (Luke 15:7)   
      
   "My brethren, if any of you err from the truth, and one convert him:   
   He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the   
   error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a   
   multitude of sins"  (James 5:19-20)   
      
      
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   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
      
   Twelfth Day   
      
   GRAND DISPLAY IS OF NO VALUE TO THE HOLY SOULS   
      
        In regard to pompous displays for the departed, St. Augustine   
   says: "Costly funerals and expensive displays. may afford the living   
   some consolation, but are of no benefit to the departed." He adds,   
   however, "Let care be bestowed upon funerals and the erection of   
   monuments; for Holy Writ reckons these among good works. Let all   
   perform these last services for their departed, and thereby relieve   
   their own sorrow; but let them show greater zeal, care, and generosity   
   in succoring the souls of the departed by Masses, prayers, and alms,   
   and thus give evidence not only of a temporal, but also a spiritual   
   love for those who are departed in body only, but not in spirit.   
   According to a rule of the Church, flowers should be used at funerals   
   of children only; circumstances may at times justify a deviation from   
   this rule, but, at all events, it is unpardonable if the expense   
   connected with this display deprives the soul departed of any   
   spiritual assistance.   
      
   Prayer: We beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thy infinite mercy, do not despise   
   our prayers in behalf of the souls in Purgatory, but grant them the   
   peace and consolation we desire for them. Through Christ, our Lord.   
   Amen.   
      
   Special Intercession: Pray for the souls of those who were remembered   
   by a pompous funeral only, and have no relief in their pain.   
      
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine   
   upon them; may they rest in peace. Amen.  (Three times)   
      
   Practice: Accompany the funeral of a poor person, at. the first opportunity.   
      
   Invocation:       My Jesus, mercy!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)