From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Of the zealous amendment of our whole life   
      
   1. Be thou watchful and diligent in God’s service, and bethink thee   
   often why thou hast renounced the world.  Was it not that thou   
   mightest live to God and become a spiritual man?  Be zealous,   
   therefore, for thy spiritual profit, for thou shalt receive   
   shortly the reward of thy labours, and neither fear nor sorrow   
   shall come any more into thy borders.  Now shalt thou labour a   
   little, and thou shalt find great rest, yea everlasting joy.  If   
   thou shalt remain faithful and zealous in labour, doubt not that   
   God shall be faithful and bountiful in rewarding thee.  It is thy   
   duty to have a good hope that thou wilt attain the victory, but   
   thou must not fall into security lest thou become slothful or   
   lifted up.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ  Bk 1, Ch 25   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   December 22nd – Blessed Jacopone da Todi   
   (1230-1306)   
      
   Blessed Jacopone da Todi was a Franciscan friar, poet and dramatist,   
   and author of the Stabat Mater. Blessed Jacopone arrived at his   
   spirituality later in life, reminding us that the Lord has a plan for   
   each of us, and that it is never too late to repent and truly convert.   
   Today’s holy man’s focus on love as that which underscores our every   
   action--our every breath--even our every suffering--calls us to a   
   quiet and contemplative place as we await our greatest joy, our   
   greatest love--the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior.   
      
   Jacomo, or James, was born into a noble Italian family in the city of   
   Todi. Possessing a keen mind, he studied law in Bologna, became a   
   successful lawyer, and married a pious and generous woman. Unknown to   
   Jacomo, his young wife took it upon herself to enact harsh penances   
   for his sins, excesses, and worldly manner of living. She wore a rough   
   girdle of coarse hair beneath her clothing to mortify her flesh, in   
   atonement for his sins. It was not until her premature death, caused   
   by an accident, that Jacomo realized the errors of his ways. He was 40   
   years old, and undertook to radically convert his life.   
      
   Without hesitation, Jacomo liquidated his worldly possessions,   
   dividing them amongst the poor. He entered the Third Order of the   
   Franciscans, a secular order, and sought to live a life worthy of the   
   Lord. His acquaintances, however, were none too kind to him. As he had   
   given away his wealth, Jacomo dressed in penitential rags, and was   
   mercilessly mocked by those he had considered friends. They called him   
   “Jacopone,” which literally translated means, “Crazy Jim.” Over time,   
   throughout ten years of humiliation, Jacopone maintained his   
   penitential practices. He eventually grew to love the nickname, as a   
   reminder of his former life, and his newfound humility.   
      
   After ten years, he petitioned to become a member of the Franciscan   
   Order of Friars Minor (the First Order). He was, however, denied due   
   to his reputation. Rather than give up, Jacopone composed the first of   
   many beautiful poems, this one focusing on the vanities of the world.   
   Following their reading of his work, the hearts of the Order were   
   changed, and he was admitted at the age of 48. Not considering himself   
   worthy of the priesthood, Jacopone declined ordination, instead living   
   as a brother. He continued to embrace strict penances, and spent his   
   days writing poems, lauds, and hymns of praise to the Lord. Jacopone   
   was also one of the first to dramatize Biblical stories for   
   performance.   
      
   At that time, division had grown within the Franciscan community, with   
   two factions at opposition to each other. The first, which Jacopone   
   joined, sought to renew the strict poverty and mysticism of Saint   
   Francis. Opposed by Pope Boniface VIII, Jacopone was excommunicated   
   and imprisoned following signing a covenant to have the pope deposed.   
   Although he promptly acknowledged his error in judgment, Jacopone   
   spent five years in prison, until released and absolved by Pope   
   Benedict XI.   
      
   Never one to complain, Jacopone had accepted his imprisonment as a   
   penance for his wrongdoing. He embraced Franciscan spiritual   
   mysticism, writing poetry and praying all day, every day. More often   
   than not he could be found weeping due to the lack of regard for the   
   Love of the Lord in the world. During his imprisonment, he also wrote   
   the Latin hymn, Stabat Mater, joining the love and suffering of Our   
   Blessed Mother beneath the Cross.   
      
   His years in prison had taken their toll, and Blessed Jacopone died   
   only three years following his release. His body is buried in the   
   crypt of Saint Fortunate Church in Todi, Italy. Upon his tomb, it is   
   written: “Here lie the bones of Blessed Jacopone dei Benedetti da   
   Todi, Friar Minor, who, having gone mad with love of Christ, by a new   
   artifice deceived the world and took Heaven by violence.”   
   When we think of saints and blessed, we don’t necessarily think of   
   someone like Blessed Jacopone… but maybe we should. He did not live a   
   blameless life. In fact, the first 40 years of his life were filled   
   with transgressions and worldly passions--like most of our own lives.   
   Even following his commitment to the Lord, Jacopone still found   
   himself caught up in scandal and landed in prison. Throughout this   
   ordeal, he turned to God, deepening his faith, finding love in   
   suffering, and leaving a poetic legacy to inspire countless faithful.   
   We are reminded that the Lord does not expect us to be perfect, nor   
   does He expect us to never make mistakes. It is what we do after our   
   mistakes--in penance and repentance--in love--that matters. I weep   
   because Love is not loved!"   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   The Lord chiefly desires of us that we should be completely perfect,   
   that we may be wholly one with Him. Let us aim, therefore, at whatever   
   we need to reach this.   
   --St. Teresa   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised   
   from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes   
   for us?[a] Romans 8:34  RSVCE   
      
   Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   We beseech You, O Lord,   
   visit this home,   
   and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy;   
   let Your holy angels dwell therein   
   so as to preserve us in peace;   
   and let Your blessing be always upon us.   
   Through Christ our Lord.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)