From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On Personal Humility [l]   
      
   Everyone naturally desires knowledge, (Aristotle, Metaphysics I,1.)   
   but of what use is knowledge itself without the fear of God? A humble   
   countryman who serves God is more pleasing to Him than a conceited   
   intellectual who knows the course of the stars, but neglects his own   
   soul (Ecclus.19:22). A man who truly knows himself realizes his own   
   worthlessness, and takes no pleasure in the praises of men. Did I   
   possess all knowledge in the world, but had no love, how would this   
   help me before God, who will judge me by my deeds?   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Chapter 2   
      
   ============   
   March 22nd - Saint Lea of Rome   
      
   (died 384)   
   Saint Lea of Rome was a Roman noblewoman who upon the death of her   
   husband, entered the convent of Saint Marcella. Saint Lea lived her   
   life in service to the sisters of the convent, eventually becoming the   
   superior of the group. While little is known about the life of Saint   
   Lea, she is remembered for her austerity, obedient lifestyle, and   
   strict penances.   
      
   A dear friend to Saint Marcella, much of what we know of the life of   
   Saint Lea comes from a series of letters that Saint Jerome, Church   
   Father, wrote to Saint Marcella following her death. Even in the 4th   
   century, shortly following her death, Saint Jerome refers to Lea as   
   “blessed,” indicating the respect and veneration offered to her at   
   that time. Since the 4th century, Lea has been venerated as a saint.   
      
   The news of Saint Lea’s death first reached Saint Marcella while she   
   was engaged in prayer and study of the 73rd Psalm with Saint Jerome.   
   Later in the day, he wrote a letter to Marcella, offering her   
   encouragement and extolling the Christian virtues of Saint Lea.   
      
   From the 23rd epistle of Saint Jerome, to Marcella:   
      
   "Who will praise the blessed Lea as she deserves? She renounced   
   painting her face and adorning her head with shining pearls. She   
   exchanged her rich attire for sackcloth, and ceased to command others   
   in order to obey all. She dwelt in a corner with a few bits of   
   furniture; she spent her nights in prayer, and instructed her   
   companions through her example rather than through protests and   
   speeches. And she looked forward to her arrival in heaven in order to   
   receive her recompense for the virtues which she practiced on earth.   
      
   So it is that thence forth she enjoyed perfect happiness. From   
   Abraham's bosom, where she resides with Lazarus, she sees our consul   
   who was once decked out in purple, now vested in a shameful robe,   
   vainly begging for a drop of water to quench his thirst. Although he   
   went up to the capital to the plaudits of the people, and his death   
   occasioned widespread grief, it is futile for the wife to assert that   
   he has gone to heaven and possesses a great mansion there. The fact is   
   that he is plunged into the darkness outside, whereas Lea who was   
   willing to be considered a fool on earth, has been received into the   
   house of the Father, at the wedding feast of the Lamb.   
      
   Hence, I tearfully beg you to refrain from seeking the favors of the   
   world and to renounce all that is carnal. It is impossible to follow   
   both the world and Jesus. Let us live a life of renunciation, for our   
   bodies will soon be dust and nothing else will last any longer."   
      
   The life of Saint Lea was one of unexpected change and service.   
   Following the death of her husband, she gave up her wealth and   
   privilege, living “like a fool on earth,” in the words of Saint   
   Jerome. Saint Lea received her reward in heaven for her obedience and   
   austerity on earth. During this Lenten season, we might look to her   
   example, exchanging our earthly vanity and pride for true service,   
   true faith, and true obedience to the call of the Lord.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   We should speak to God as a friend speaks to his friend, or a servant   
   to his master, sometimes asking a favor, sometimes accusing ourselves   
   of our faults, sometimes laying before Him all that concerns us, our   
   thoughts, our doubts, our projects, and our dispositions, and asking   
   counsel from Him in all these things   
   .--St. Ignatius   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all   
   kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad,   
   for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets   
   who were before you (Mt. 5:11-12).   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer for Humility   
      
   O GOD, Who resistest the proud and givest Thy grace   
   to the humble, grant us the grace of true humility,   
   of which Thine Only begotten Son showed forth in   
   Himself an example to the faithful, that we may never,   
   puffed up by pride, incur Thine anger, but that,    
   submissive to Thy will, we may receive the gifts of Thy grace.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)