From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Except a man be born anew   
      
   "...since man is of twofold nature, soul and body, the purification   
   [of baptism] also is two-fold, the one incorporeal for the incorporeal   
   part, and the other bodily for the body: the water cleanses the body,   
   and the Spirit seals the soul; that we may draw near unto God, 'having   
   our heart sprinkled' by the Spirit, 'and our body washed with pure   
   water' (Heb. 10:22). When going down, therefore, into the water, think   
   not of the bare element, but look for salvation by the power of the   
   Holy Spirit: for without both you cannot possibly be made perfect. It   
   is not I that say this, but the Lord Jesus Christ, who has the power   
   in this matter: for He says, 'Except a man be born anew', and He adds   
   these words, 'of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the   
   kingdom of God'."   
   Excerpt from sermon of St. Cyril   
      
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   December 9th - St. Gorgonia of Nazianzen   
      
   Died c.375 of natural causes   
      
   Patronage   
   against bodily ills   
   against illness   
   against sickness   
   sick people   
      
   Gorgonia was the only daughter of St. Gregory the Elder of Nazianzen   
   and his wife St. Nonna. She had two brothers, St. Caesarius and St.   
   Gregory. As you can see this was a very devout 4th century family.   
   Gorgonia was probably born in the earlier part of the 4th century. We   
   know very little details about her life and what we do know comes from   
   her funeral oration given by her brother Gregory.   
      
   Gorgonia married and had three children. She endeavored to raise them   
   as devoutly as she and her brothers had been raised. Gregory tells us   
   of her great love for God and her tremendous faith in His love and   
   care for her.   
      
   Gorgonia was known for her gentle disposition and her great love for   
   the poor whom she always took care of when she was able. She spent as   
   much time as she could attending the services of the church and she   
   often took care of its building and material needs. As was often the   
   custom in her time, she didn't receive baptism until the later part of   
   her life. She died about the year 375.   
      
   While we don't know many details about the life of St. Gorgonia what   
   does become very apparent is that holiness in ourselves gives birth to   
   holiness in others. Her life is an encouragement to all parents to   
   live a life of goodness so as to encourage the growth of goodness in   
   their families.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   As the Lord knows for what we all are adapted, He gives to all their   
   positions as He sees to be most for His glory, for their salvation,   
   and the good of their neighbors.  Our mistake, then, is in not   
   submitting ourselves totally to whatever He wishes to do with us.   
   --St. Teresa   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one   
   of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after   
   that which was lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it,   
   lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing: (Luke 15:4-5)   
      
      
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   Pious Invocations   
      
   Eternal rest give to them, O Lord;   
   R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.   
      
   My Jesus, mercy   
      
   My sweetest Jesus, be not my Judge, but my Saviour!   
      
   O Sweetest Heart of Jesus, I implore, that I may love Thee ever more and more!   
      
   Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation   
      
   O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.   
      
   Jesus! Mary! Joseph!   
      
   Divine Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, deliver the   
   holy souls from purgatory!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)