From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On Humble Attention to God's Word  (I)   
      
   CHRIST. My son, hear My words. They are of surpassing sweetness, and   
   excel all the learning of the philosophers and wise men of this world.   
   My words are spirit and life,(John 6:63) not to be weighed by man's   
   understanding. They are not to be quoted for vain pleasure, but are to   
   be heard in silence, (Eccles. 9:17) and received with all humility and   
   love.   
      
   THE DISCIPLE. Blessed is the man whom you instruct, O Lord, and teach   
   him out of Your Law. You refresh him in evil days,(Ps. 44:13) and he   
   will not be desolate on the earth.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 3   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   July 13th - St. Henry, Emperor   
      
   IT is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for   
   a rich man to enter the kingdom of God . . . . (but) all things are   
   possible with God" (Mark 10:25-28). Henry the Good, emperor of the   
   Holy Roman Empire, became a saint. His sanctification is a living   
   proof that God's grace extends to both the mighty and the lowly.   
      
   Henry was the son of Duke Henry of Bavaria and Princess Gisela of   
   Burgundy. It is believed that he was born May 6, 973 in Hildesheim. He   
   was well educated at the Cathedral School in Hildesheim and by St.   
   Wolfgang, Bishop of Ratisbon.   
      
   Some believe that he was originally intended to enter the clerical   
   state. However about the year 998 he married Kunigunde of the   
   Luxembourg family. They had no children and it is thought that they   
   had agreed to live a celibate life.   
      
   When Emperor Otto III died unexpectedly in 1002, Henry, being the last   
   surviving male of the imperial house of Saxony, inherited the crown.   
   Because of his education and spiritual awareness, Henry recognized the   
   obligation and dignity this position placed upon him. His aim was to   
   bring peace and happiness to his people.   
      
   However, Henry was not above the politics of his reign. His first   
   major action was war. Arduin of Ivrea tried to usurp Henry's position   
   by having himself crowned king at Milan. Henry crossed the Alps with   
   his troops and drove him out. There were several other battles to   
   defend and consolidate his empire. Finally in 1014 he was crowned   
   emperor by Pope Benedict VIII.   
      
   Henry was a just and benevolent ruler. He repaired and expanded the   
   dioceses of Hildesheim, Magdeburg, Strasburg and Meersburg and was a   
   great supporter of St. Stephen, King of Hungary. He founded several   
   establishments for the worship of God and the alleviation of the   
   sufferings of the poor. It was always his intent that the poor be   
   provided for until the end of time.   
      
   While Henry was an astute statesman and gave his all for the well   
   being of his people, he also recognized the need to be attentive to   
   the well being of his own soul. There is one tradition that tells of   
   Henry wanting to be a monk and that he put himself under obedience to   
   the abbot of Saint-Verdun. The abbot subsequently commanded him, under   
   obedience, to continue to administer his empire. It is doubtful   
   whether this has any factual basis.   
      
   Henry was one of the great rulers of what is known as the Holy Roman   
   Empire. He was a great Christian statesman as well as a great soldier.   
   It is highly unlikely that he attempted to live a monastic style of   
   life, however he strongly believed in the monastic virtues. He used   
   the gifts and powers God gave him to bring peace to his people, to   
   uphold the Church's authority, and to encourage the reforms needed   
   both ecclesiastically and secularly in his era. He gave all his energy   
   to being a just, compassionate and faithful ruler.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Everything passes here on earth. What are we? Nothing but dust,   
   nothingness, and God is so great, so beautiful, so lovable and He is   
   not loved.   
   --Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into   
   your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.   
   Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir   
   also through God. (Galatians 4:6-7)   
      
   <><><><>   
   Come Lord Jesus   
      
   Come Lord Jesus, take away scandals from Your kingdom which is my soul,   
   and reign there. You alone have the right. For greediness comes to claim a   
   throne within me; haughtiness and self-assertion would rule over me; pride   
   would be my king; luxury says, "I will reign"; ambition, detraction, envy   
   and anger struggle within me for the mastery. I resist as far as I am able;   
   I struggle according as help is given me. I call on my Lord Jesus. For his   
   sake I defend myself, since I acknowledge myself as wholly his possession.   
   He is my God, Him I proclaim my Lord. I have no other king than my Lord,   
   Jesus Christ. Come, then, O Lord, and disperse these enemies by your power,   
   and you shall reign in me, for you are my King and my God. - Amen.   
   --Saint Bernard of Clairvaux   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)