From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   St. John the Baptist was born sinless   
      
      Although he was conceived in sin--original sin--like other men, St.   
   John the Baptist was born sinless because he was sanctified in his   
   mother's womb by the presence of Jesus Christ (then in Mary's womb)   
   and of the Blessed Virgin. On receiving this grace of God St. John   
   rejoices by leaping with joy in his mother's womb--thereby fulfilling   
   the archangel's prophecy (cf. Luke 1:15).   
      St. John Chrysostom comments on this scene of the Gospel: "See how   
   new and how wonderful this mystery is. He has not yet left the womb   
   but he speaks by leaping; he is not yet allowed to cry out but he   
   makes himself heard by his actions [...]; he has not yet seen the   
   light but he points out the Sun; he has not yet been born and he is   
   keen to act as Precursor. The Lord is present, so he cannot contain   
   himself or wait for nature to run its course: he wants to break out of   
   the prison of his mother's womb and he makes sure he witnesses to the   
   fact that the Savior is about to come"   
   --St. John Chrysostom("Sermo Apud Metaphr., Mense Julio").   
      
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   February 10th – Bl. Clare of Agolanti, Widow (AC)   
   (Also known as Clare of Rimini)   
      
   Born in Rimini, Italy, 1282; died 1346; cultus approved 1784. Clare,   
   though born and brought up in circumstances of great wealth and   
   comfort, learned early the meaning of misfortune. She lost her husband   
   while still young, was herself exiled during a time of civil war, and   
   saw her father and a brother die on the scaffold.   
      
   It was after her second marriage that, with the approval of her   
   husband, she turned to a life of self-discipline. Laying aside her   
   jewels, she wore in their stead rings of iron on her wrists, fingers,   
   and neck. She slept always on a hard bed and imposed upon herself long   
   periods of fasting and prayer. Some of her physical austerities were   
   so extravagant that they were questioned by even her contemporaries.   
      
   But she is chiefly remembered as the saint of the watch-tower on the   
   town walls. This watch-tower was an old and disused lookout to which   
   she retired during Lent and where, exposed to the wind and rain, she   
   prayed for herself and her fellow citizens. But she did more than   
   pray. She lived a life of perfect charity with all men. As a result of   
   her close communion with God and of her constant watching over the   
   city, her heart overflowed with love and goodwill, which showed itself   
   in many practical ways, and from her watchtower she came down and ran   
   to where the need for help was greatest.   
      
   At the call of an exiled brother who had fallen ill she flew at once   
   to his bedside, nursed him with devoted care, and brought him home. On   
   another occasion, learning that the sisters of a convent were without   
   fuel, she went into the country, gathered wood, and carried it through   
   the streets to their door. On the way she met a relative, a noble of   
   the city, who, horrified to see her thus demean herself, sent a   
   servant to carry the wood, but she refused to give up her burden,   
   saying that just as our Lord was not ashamed to carry His Cross   
   through the streets, so she was proud to carry firewood for the needs   
   of His people.   
      
   At another time, hearing that a poor man was sentenced to pay a heavy   
   fine or have his hand cut off, she sold herself as a slave to pay his   
   fine; when the magistrates heard the story they were so touched with   
   pity that they refused the money and pardoned the man. Once when she   
   gave way to angry speech she punished herself by nipping her tongue   
   with a pair of pincers.   
      
   In addition to these and many other acts of charity and discipline,   
   she built a convent near the old sentry-box on the city walls, but she   
   never joined the convent herself. For ever after, those who followed   
   her kept alive her spirit and, like her, watched over the city.   
   Towards the end of her life, she went blind. Those eyes that had   
   looked out so kindly upon her brothers and which had shone with the   
   love of Christ could no longer see. But she was still the saint of the   
   watchtower of Rimini, and when she died she was buried in her own   
   chapel under the city walls (Attwater2, Benedictines, Gill).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Exercise pleasantness toward all, taking great care what you have   
   commanded may never be done by reason of force. For God has given free   
   will to everyone, and therefore never forces anyone—but only   
   indicates, call and persuades.   
   --St. Angela Merici   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the   
   proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  Be subject therefore to God,   
   but resist the devil, and he will fly from you. Draw nigh to God, and   
   he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: and purify   
   your hearts, ye double minded.  (James 4:6-8)   
      
      
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   May God's Holy Will Be Done   
      
       O Lord, do to me whatever shall seem good in Thy sight. If Thou   
   willest that I should be in darkness, blessed be Thou! If Thou willest   
   that I should be in light, still blessed be Thou! If Thou deignest to   
   comfort me, blessed be Thou!   
       And if Thou willest that I should be afflicted, equally blessed be   
   Thou forever! I will willingly suffer for Thee, O Lord, whatever Thou   
   willest should come upon  me. I am ready to receive alike from Thy   
   hand good and evil, sweet and bitter, joy and sadness, and to give   
   thanks for everything that befalls me. Keep me only from all sin and I   
   will fear neither death nor Hell. Cast me not off forever, nor blot me   
   out of the Book of Life, and whatsoever tribulation befalleth me shall   
   not hurt me.   
   --Imitation of Christ, Bk. III, Ch. 17   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)