From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The cross of Christ as victory [1]   
      
      "It is not difficult, therefore, to see how the devil was conquered   
   when he, who was slain by him, rose again. But there is something   
   greater and more profound of comprehension: to see how the devil was   
   conquered precisely when he was thought to be conquering, namely, when   
   Christ was crucified. For at that moment the blood of him who had no   
   sin at all, was shed for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28, 1   
   John 3:5). The devil deservedly held those whom he had bound by sin to   
   the condition of death. So it happened that One who was guilty of no   
   sin freed them justly from this condemnation (Hebrews 2:14). The   
   strong man was conquered by this paradoxical justice and bound by this   
   chain, that his vessels [booty] might be taken away. Those vessels   
   which had been vessels of wrath were turned into vessels of mercy   
   (Romans 9:22-23)."   
   --St. Augustine--(excerpt ON THE TRINITY 13.15.19)   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the   
   word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.  Jas   
   1:21   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   March 16th - Blessed Torello of Poppi   
   d. 1282   
      
   The town of Poppi in the Casentino was the birth place of Bl. Torello,   
   who under parental care passed an almost blameless youth. After his   
   father’s death, however, he was led away into evil courses, until one   
   day, when he was playing at bowls with some of his dissolute   
   companions, a cock flew out from a hen-roost and, perching upon his   
   arm, crowed three times--as though to wake him from the sleep of sin.   
   Torello stood stock-still in amazement, convinced that this was a   
   divine warning. Thereupon he sought out the abbot of San Fedele, at   
   whose feet he poured forth his confession and from whom he received   
   absolution and good advice.   
      
   Torello then left Poppi, and striking out into the woods wandered   
   about for eight days. At length he reached a great rock, under the   
   shelter of which he remained for another eight days, subsisting on   
   herbs and three little loaves which he had taken with him. Upon that   
   rock he resolved to build himself a hermitage in which to serve God   
   for the rest of his life, and he therefore returned to Poppi to   
   distribute to the poor all his property except the little he required   
   to carry out his plan. He bought a small parcel of land about the rock   
   for a garden and had a hut built just large enough to contain him, and   
   there he lived a most penitential life. He wore next his skin a   
   half-shaven pigskin garment with bristles so prickly that they cut   
   into his flesh. He allowed himself barely three hours for sleep, and   
   often he would go for two days without food, whilst his ordinary fare   
   consisted of four ounces of bread and a little water. His manner of   
   life was hidden from all but one chosen friend. Against temptations he   
   would lacerate his body until the blood flowed and stand in cold water   
   till he trembled with shivering fits.   
      
    Increasing age and illness compelled him to eat more and to mix a   
   little wine with the water he drank. Death overtook him at the age of   
   80 as he knelt in prayer.; he had spent over 50 years in his   
   hermitage. Many miracles were attributed to Torello--notably the   
   rescue of a boy from a wolf and the taming of the wolf, who used   
   afterwards to sleep at the entrance of the hermitage. Bl. Torello is   
   sometimes claimed as a Vallombrosan and sometimes as a Franciscan, but   
   though he took the habit of a penitent from the abbot of Poppi he   
   belonged to no order. His cultus was approved by Pope Benedict XIV.   
      
   The text of a short Latin Life of Torello is printed in the Acta   
   Sanctorum, March, vol. ii.  Also, in the 18th century, when his cultus   
   was confirmed, several biographical sketches were published in Italian   
   or Latin by Maccioni, Soldani, Cirnatti, Bellogrado and others.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Taste the hidden sweetness that lies within your heart which God has   
   kept for those whose lives are tender within. Place your mind in the   
   softness of life's eternal flow. Place your soul in the brilliance of   
   heaven's endless glow; and love him totally who gave himself for your   
   love, and you will hold him who holds all things in truth.   
   --Saint Clare of Assisi   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders   
   and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and   
   worshipped God, Saying, Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and   
   thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for   
   ever and ever. Amen  (Revelation 7:11,12 )   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   NOVENA TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   TO BE SAID FOR NINE CONSECUTIVE DAYS   
      
   O HOLY ANGEL, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender   
   regard for my welfare, has charged with the care of my conduct, and   
   who assists me in all my wants and comforts me in all my afflictions,   
   who supports me when I am discouraged and continually obtains for me   
   new favors, I return thee profound thanks, and I earnestly beseech   
   thee, O most amiable protector, to continue thy charitable care and   
   defense of me against the malignant attacks of all my enemies. Keep me   
   away from all occasions of sin. Obtain for me the grace of listening   
   attentively to thy holy inspirations and of faithfully putting them   
   into practice, In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me the   
   relief and deliverance of all the Souls in Purgatory, the ones who   
   prayed for the Souls themselves while still on earth; the forgotten   
   and abandoned Souls; the souls of my relatives and friends; the souls   
   of priests and religious; the souls of all those to whom I am   
   obligated by charity to pray for and may have neglected by laxity in   
   memory; and most especially for the Soul I here name in this novena.   
      
   [Mention the person or think of him.]   
      
   Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life. but most   
   especially at the hour of my death, and do not leave me until thou   
   hast conducted me into the presence of my creator in the mansions of   
   everlasting happiness. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)