From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Of a Pure Mind and Simple Intention (1)   
      
   MAN is raised up from the earth by two wings-simplicity and purity.   
   There must be simplicity in his intention and purity in his desires.   
   Simplicity leads to God, purity embraces and enjoys Him. If your heart   
   is free from ill-ordered affection, no good deed will be difficult for   
   you. If you aim at and seek after nothing but the pleasure of God and   
   the welfare of your neighbor, you will enjoy freedom within.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 4   
      
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   August 16: - Saint Roch   
    (also known as Saint Rocco and Saint Roque)   
      
   1295-1327   
   Saint Roch was the patron saint of dogs and surgeons, and against   
   plagues and epidemics. Saint Roch left a privileged life to work   
   amongst those infected with the black plague, and in doing so,   
   contracted the illness himself. His selfless service, and miracles of   
   healing, earned him the mantle of sainthood.   
      
   Born to a rich government family in Montpellier, France, Roch’s mother   
   immediately recognized the great piety and religious potential in her   
   son--due to the fact that he was born with a red birthmark in the   
   shape of the cross on his chest. His childhood was spent in education   
   and the pursuits of the wealthy, but he was also drawn to the   
   religious life. As early as age five he engaged in various bodily   
   mortifications, and against the wishes of his parents, frequently   
   invited the poor and ill into the home to provide them food and   
   shelter. After his father died when he was 12, and his mother when he   
   was 20, Roch distributed his wealth to the poor, handed over the   
   reigns of the governorship to his uncle, and joined the Franciscan   
   Order.   
      
   Once a Franciscan tertiary, Roch journeyed to Italy, dressed as a   
   mendicant pilgrim, stopping along the way to care for the victims of   
   the Bubonic plague he encountered. He stopped at Aquapendente, which   
   was stricken by the plague, and devoted himself to the plague victims,   
   curing them with prayer and the sign of the cross. He next visited   
   Cesena and other neighboring cities, and then finally Rome. Legend has   
   it that everywhere he visited, the terrible scourge disappeared before   
   his miraculous power. He visited Mantua, Modena, Parma, and other   
   cities, all with the same results. In the city of Piacenza--greatly   
   devastated by black death--Saint Roch, himself, contracted the plague.   
      
      
   From the Golden Legend:   
     “And from thence went to Piacenza, for he understood that there was   
   great pestilence. Rocke was ever of great study how he might, in the   
   name of Jesu and of his passion, deliver mortal men from the hurt of   
   pestilence. And so an whole year he visited the houses of poor men,   
   and they that had most need, to them he did most help, and was always   
   in the hospital. And when he had been long in the hospital of   
   Piacenza, and had helped almost all the sick men therein, about   
   midnight he heard in his sleep an angel thus saying:   
      
     O Rocke, most devout to Christ, awake and know that thou art smitten   
   with the pestilence, study now how thou mayst be cured. And anon he   
   felt him sore taken with the pestilence under his both arms, and he   
   thereof gave than kings to our Lord. And he was so sore vexed with the   
   pain, that they that were in the hospital were deprived of their sleep   
   and rest of the night, wherefore S. Rocke arose from his bed and went   
   to the uttermost place of the hospital, and lay down there abiding the   
   light of the day.”   
      
   Despite his failing health, he continued working throughout the city,   
   miraculously curing many simply by his touch and making the sign of   
   the cross over the heads of the ill.   
      
   Saint Roch wandered into the forest to die, but was befriended by a   
   loyal dog. The dog fed him with food taken from his master’s table   
   each day, and Saint Roch eventually recovered. He spent the next five   
   years in the forest, living as a hermit, praying to the Lord. After a   
   time, he returned to Montpellier, but this uncle did not recognize him   
   as his illness, years of service, and hermitude had taken their toll.   
   Thought to be a spy (as France was in the midst of a civil war), he   
   was arrested and thrown into prison for five years, which Saint Roch   
   endured without complaint in service to the Lord. It is said that   
   during that time he was cared for by an angel. Only upon his death was   
   the birthmark on his chest discovered, and the governor grievously   
   saddened by the loss.   
    by Jacob   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
      Jesus is working on the ups and downs of human existence: preparing   
   his three leaders for the trials of the Passion by giving them   
   something to remember, a moment of glory. Peter wants it to go on for   
   ever, to settle down there where it felt so good. Instead Jesus brings   
   them down the mountain, bracing them for the bad times ahead.   
      We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not   
   depend on material success, but on Jesus alone.   
   --St. Frances Xavier Cabrini   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Fulfil ye my joy, that you be of one mind, having the same charity,   
   being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment. Let nothing be done   
   through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each   
   esteem others better than themselves: Each one not considering the   
   things that are his own, but those that are other men's.  [Philippians   
   2:2-4] DRB   
      
      
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   Our Lord, King of all!   
      
   We pray to You, O Lord,   
   who are the supreme Truth,   
   and all truth is from You.   
   We beseech You, O Lord,   
   who are the highest Wisdom,   
   and all the wise depend on You   
   for their wisdom.   
   You are the supreme Joy,   
   and all who are happy   
   owe it to You.   
   You are the Light of minds   
   and all receive   
   their understanding from You.   
   We love, we love You above all.   
   We seek You, we follow You,   
   and we are ready to serve You.   
   We desire to dwell under Your power   
   for You are the King of all.   
   Amen   
   By St Albert the Great O.P. (1200-1280)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)