From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Think Lowly   
      
      "Do you wish to be great? Then begin from what is slightest. Do you   
   plan to construct a high and mighty building? Then think first about   
   the foundation of humility.   
      When people plan to erect a lofty and large building, they make the   
   foundations all the deeper. But those who lay the foundation are   
   forced to descend into the depths."   
   --St. Augustine--Sermon 69, 2   
      
      Prayer: Lord, my God, how great you are, and yet you make your home   
   in the humble of heart! It is you who lift up the downtrodden, and you   
   who are their grandeur.   
   --St. Augustine--Confessions 11, 31   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   July 24th – Bl. Louise of Savoy   
      
   On the feast of the Holy Innocents in the year 1461, a daughter was   
   born to Blessed Amadeus, duke of Savoy. She was to become more   
   distinguished in the world for her innocence and sanctity than for the   
   nobility of her birth. This daughter was Blessed Louise.   
      
   From childhood she showed a marked love for prayer and retirement. On   
   the vigils of the feasts of our Lady she fasted on bread and water. In   
   compliance with the wish of her mother, a sister of King Louis IX of   
   France, Louise wore costly garments and jewelry as was becoming her   
   princely rank; but underneath them she wore a garment of haircloth,   
   and she always looked upon her external finery as a reminder to adorn   
   her soul with virtues.   
      
   Louise possessed such innocent simplicity that pride and vanity were   
   wholly foreign to her. Still with the simplicity of a dove she also   
   combined great prudence in evading the dangers of a life at court, to   
   which she was exposed.   
      
   She had already decided to consecrate herself to God in the state of   
   virginity, when her uncle and guardian, the king of France, desired   
   her to marry the prince of Chalon. Louise believed that God was thus   
   manifesting His will in her regard; and so she gave her hand to the   
   virtuous young prince.   
      
   He was pleased to note how her example and authority checked the   
   excessive luxury and the frivolous customs prevailing at court. Not   
   only did she reform the habits of the ladies of the court, but even   
   the men were won over to a Christian life. If anyone of them was   
   caught cursing or using unbecoming language, she required him to do   
   penance by giving alms for the poor. She and her husband attended the   
   dances and plays that were given, but never took part in them   
   themselves. They went there only to prevent anything disorderly. She   
   is reported to have said what St. Frances de Sales said at a later   
   date: "Dances and plays are like mushrooms, of which the best are not   
   worth much."   
      
   When she was but 27 years old, Louise lost her devoted husband. She   
   declined all offers of a second marriage, even those coming from the   
   most honorable suitors. She wished now to live in retirement and very   
   simply, and to devote herself to works of penance, piety, and   
   Christian charity. She used her great wealth in carrying out an   
   extensive program of charity.   
      
   There were no children to claim her maternal care; and since she   
   desired to live in close union with God, she entered the convent of   
   the Poor Clares at Orbe after overcoming great obstacles. Here the   
   princess was a model to all in humility, poverty, and self-abnegation.   
   She observed all the precepts of the rule and of obedience most   
   conscientiously, and was always very grateful for any reprimands she   
   received. She fostered a tender devotion to the sufferings of Christ   
   and to our Blessed Lady, from whom she sometimes received special   
   favors.   
      
   A serious illness seized Louise when she was 42 years old. After she   
   had received the last sacraments with great devotion, her death agony   
   began, but she was still able to pronounce the words from the Office   
   of Our Lady:   
      
   O Fount of Mercy, Mother mine,   
   Through whom God sends us grace divine,   
   Free me from sin, and lend thy aid   
   When death's dark hour makes me afraid.   
      
   Then she surrendered her pure soul into the hands of her Creator on   
   July 24, 1503. God glorified her by many miracles, and so Pope Gregory   
   XVI confirmed her veneration in 1839.   
      
   http://www.franciscan-sfo.org/sts/S0723cune.htm   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When nothing diverts my thoughts from God, my heart swims in an excess   
   of over- flowing joy, in so much that I often forget my food and all   
   earthly things; but it is an affliction to live amid the distraction   
   of worldly conversation.   
   -- St. Paul, Hermit   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I   
   give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither   
   shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:27)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   ON FAITHFUL FULFILLMENT OF THE DUTIES OF OUR STATE   
   1. In every station in life, as daughter, wife, widow, and religious,   
   Blessed Louise distinguished herself as a model of virtue. That is why   
   she merits such great praise. In the sight of God the true worth of a   
   man depends on the fidelity he manifests in fulfilling the duties of   
   his state of life, and God's judgement will also be in accordance with   
   that standard. It is related of a confessor of Emperor Charles V that,   
   after the latter had confessed his personal sins, the confessor said   
   to him: "That was the confession of Charles; now let the emperor   
   confess."The Eternal Judge will surely require an accounting of you   
   also in accordance with your vocation; and when He says, "Give an   
   account of your stewardship" (Luke 16:3), it will, without doubt, mean   
   an account of your vocation, your work, the office you held while here   
   on earth. May you then stand the test as Blessed Louise did.--Examine   
   yourself now in these matters.   
      
   2. Consider that each station in life has its peculiar dangers, and   
   that many a vocation involves greater hardships than the one you have   
   embraced. Innocence and simplicity alone are not always sufficient,   
   but we must add to these virtues prudence, foresight, and constancy.   
   But no matter how great the hardships, a Christian may never despair.   
   Where human strength seems insufficient, God will come to the   
   assistance of him who does what he is able to do. "He is faithful who   
   has called you, who also will do it" (1 Thes 5:24). In His wisdom God   
   lets storms come upon us in order to test our fidelity, but He never   
   tries us beyond measure. He "will not suffer you to be tempted above   
   that which you are able, but will make also with temptation issue,   
   that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor 10:13).--Was perhaps lack of   
   trust in God the reason why you have become weak and unfaithful in the   
   past?   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)