From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
    -- Luke 12:15 --   
      
      Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all   
   kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his   
   possessions."   
   =================================   
      Jesus says living the good life has nothing to do with being   
   wealthy, so be on guard against greed (desire for what we don't have).   
   This is the exact opposite of what society usually says. Advertisers   
   spend millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more   
   and more of their products, we will be happier, more fulfilled, more   
   comfortable. How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy? Learn   
   to tune out expensive enticements and concentrate instead on the truly   
   good life -- living in a relationship with God and being holy in who   
   you are and what you do.   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   Apr 29 – St Robert of Molesme, abbot   
      
   Summary: Saint Robert of Molesme (c. 1028 – 1111) was a Christian   
   saint and abbot, one of the founders of the Cistercian Order in   
   France.   
      
   Patrick Duffy reviews his life.   
      
   Early life as a monk   
    Robert was a member of the nobility in Champagne, a younger son, who   
   entered the abbey of Montier-la-Celle, near Troyes, at the age of   
   fifteen and later became prior.The image (left)<<< shows Robert of   
   Molesme, Alberic and Stephen Harding venerating an image of Mary.   
   He was made the abbot of Saint Michel-de-Tonnerre soon after the year   
   1060, but he was unable to reform the abbey, which had become known   
   for its laxity, and so he returned to Montier-la-Celle.   
      
   Founding of Molesme   
   Some hermits living in the forest of Colan sought Robert out there and   
   asked to be put together under his direction in a new monastery. He   
   got the permission of Pope Gregory VII to found a monastery at Molesme   
   in Burgundy in 1075. At first, they had only huts made of branches   
   surrounding a chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity in the forest.   
   Molesme Abbey quickly became known for its piety and sanctity, and   
   Robert’s reputation as a saintly man grew. But when the house grew   
   wealthy, new, unsuitable monks came to the area and divided the   
   brothers, challenging Robert’s severity. Robert twice tried to leave   
   Molesme and was ordered back by the Pope.   
      
   Founding of Citeaux   
   However, in 1098 Robert and several of his monks left Molesme with the   
   intention of never returning. Renaud, the viscount of Beaune, owned a   
   desolate valley in a deep forest, which he gave to Robert and his   
   companions, and thus they founded the Cistercians. Cistercium is the   
   Latin name for the village of Cîteaux, near Dijon in eastern France,   
   where they made their foundation. Stephen Harding and Saint Alberic,   
   two of Robert’s monks from Molesme, were pivotal in founding the new   
   house, as Robert ended up staying for only a year.   
      
   Return to Molesme   
   In 1100, the monks of Molesme asked Robert to return and they agreed   
   to submit entirely to his interpretation of the Rule of St. Benedict.   
   He did return and ran the monastery according to his own   
   interpretation and example. Molesme became a major center for the   
   Benedictines under his leadership.   
      
   Citeaux continues   
   Meanwhile, the monastery at Cîteaux, under the direction of Alberic,   
   and especially Stephen Harding, became the cornerstone for the new   
   Cistercian Order, which grew to greater fame in the 12th century when   
   Bernard of Clairvaux arrived with thirty-five of his relatives and   
   friends to join the monastery.   
      
   Death and canonisation   
   Robert continued at Molesme until he died in 1111. Pope Honorius III   
   canonised him in 1220.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   A tree cannot grow without roots; a building cannot be raised without   
   a foundation; every river must flow from a source. So the Christian   
   life and virtues can neither exist nor flourish, nor become a source   
   of life, unless they proceed from Faith.   
   --St. Augustine   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man   
   love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.  (1 John   
   2:15) DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   I Will Love and Follow You   
   By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)   
      
   Oh my Lord,   
   Let my heart expand in Your love.   
   Let me learn to know   
   how sweet it is, to serve You,   
   how joyful it is, to praise You   
   and to be absorbed in Your love.   
   Oh, I am possessed by love   
   and rise above myself   
   because of the great fervour I feel,   
   through Your infinite goodness.   
   I will sing the canticle of love to You   
   and I will follow You, my Beloved,   
   wherever You go   
   and may my soul never weary of praising you,   
   rejoicing in Your love.   
   I will love You more than myself   
   and myself, only for Your sake.   
   I will love all others in You   
   and for you,   
   as Your law of love commands.   
   Amen   
   (Book 3 Ch 5:6)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)