From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
    The way to glory and honor   
      
   "Ponder how profound this is. They were conferring with him about   
   glory. He intended to precede loftiness with humility and, only   
   through humility, to ready the way for loftiness itself. For, of   
   course, even those disciples who wanted to sit, the one on his right,   
   the other on his left, were looking to glory (Mt. 20:20-23; Mark   
   10:35-40). They were on the lookout, but did not see by what way. In   
   order that they might come to their homeland in due order, the Lord   
   called them back to the narrow way. For the homeland is on high and   
   the way to it is lowly. The homeland is life in Christ; the way is   
   dying with Christ (Mt. 6:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17-33). The way is   
   suffering with Christ; the goal is abiding with him eternally. Why do   
   you seek the homeland if you are not seeking the way to it?"   
   --St. Augustine--(excerpt from TRACTATE ON JOHN 28.5.2.13)   
      
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   September 9th - St. Omer of Thérouanne, Bishop   
   (Also known as Audomarus)   
      
   Born in Coutances, France, c. 595; died September 9, c. 670. Saint   
   Omer was the only son of wealthy and noble parents, Friulph and   
   Domitilla, whose only thoughts were for the benefit of their son--both   
   secular and spiritual. Upon the death of Domitilla, Friulph sold his   
   estate, and distributed the entire proceeds among the poor.   
   Thereafter, Friulph and Omer were welcomed by Abbot Saint Eustasius to   
   Luxeuil monastery near Besançon, where they were both professed.   
      
   Omer was distinguished by his humility, obedience, and devotion.   
   Within a short time his reputation for sanctity became widely known.   
   After spending more than 20 years at Luxeuil, Saint Omer was nominated   
   by Bishop Saint Acharius of Noyon-Tournai and appointed by King   
   Dagobert to be bishop of Thérouanne, a diocese sadly in need of   
   evangelization that then encompassed the Pas-de-Calais and Flanders.   
   The choice was applauded by the king, bishops, and nobility, but not   
   by Saint Omer.   
      
   Upon receiving notification, he cried out: "How great is the   
   difference between the secure harbor in which I now enjoy a sweet   
   calm, and that tempestuous ocean into which I am pushed, against my   
   will, and destitute of experience!" Without listening to his humble   
   objections, the deputies presented him to the bishops, who consecrated   
   him at the end of 637.   
      
   Omer succeeded in making inroads with the Morini, where others before   
   him had failed or been stopped: Saints Fuscian, Victoricus, and   
   Gentian as well as Quintinus had brought the Gospel to them but were   
   martyred; Saint Victricius of Rouen had worked among them but lacked   
   enough pastors during the incursions of the barbarians to keep the   
   people from falling back into heathenism; and in the 6th century,   
   Saint Remigius sent Antimund and Adelbert to evangelize them. The work   
   of completing the conversion of the Morini was left to Saint Omer.   
      
   He began this task as always--with prayer--and completed it by   
   dedicating himself totally to the mission. He destroyed pagan idols   
   and temples and patiently instructed the people. His first priority   
   was to bolster the faith of the few Christians that he found. His own   
   zeal, piety, and good works drew others to the faith, as did his   
   eloquent preaching that emphasized disinterested service and   
   reconciliation. He also enlisted the service of other holy monks from   
   Luxeuil, including Saints Mommolinus, Bertrand, and Bertin. They   
   literally covered the district with abbeys that served as centers for   
   their missionary activities. Omer himself was the co-founder of Sithiu   
   (Sithin), around which grew the town now known as Saint-Omer.   
      
   The author of his life recounts many miracles performed by Omer. In   
   his old age he was blind (from at least 663), but that did not stop   
   him from tending to his flock. When Bishop Saint Aubert of   
   Arras-Cambrai translated the relics of Saint Redact in 667 from the   
   cathedral to the monastery which he had built in his honor, Saint Omer   
   assisted and recovered his sight for a short time on that occasion.   
   His body was buried by Saint Bertin at our Lady's church, which is now   
   the cathedral (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer, Husenbeth).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Prayer ought to be humble, fervent, resigned, persevering, and   
   accompanied with great reverence. One should consider that he stands   
   in the presence of a God, and speaks with a Lord before whom the   
   angels tremble from awe and fear.   
   --St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit. And there   
   are diversities of ministries. but the same Lord. And there are   
   diversities of operations, but the same God, who worketh all in all.   
   (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 )  DRB   
      
      
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   Daily Thought From The Following of Christ   
      
   He is truly great who hath great charity.   
   He is truly great who is little in his own eyes, and counteth for   
   nothing all the heights of honor. He is truly prudent who esteemeth   
   all earthly things as dung, that he may win Christ. And he is truly   
   most learned who doth the will of God and forsaketh his own will.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)