From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Intimate Friendship of Jesus (2)   
      
      WHEN Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When   
   He is absent, all is hard. When Jesus does not speak within, all other   
   comfort is empty, but if He says only a word, it brings great   
   consolation.    Did not Mary Magdalen rise at once from her weeping   
   when Martha said to her: "The Master is come, and calleth for thee"?   
   John 11:28.  Happy is the hour when Jesus calls   
   one from tears to joy of spirit.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 8   
      
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   9 October – Saint Donnino of Città di Castello   
      
   (Died 610)   
    Lay Hermit Also known as – Donino. Patronages – of Città di Castello   
   together with Saint Flordio and Saint Amanzio, against arthritis,   
   epilepsy, against rabid dog attacks   
   The Roman Martyrology states: “In Città di Castello in Umbria, St.   
   Donnino, a hermit.”   
      
   Donnino collaborated with the Bishop Florido and the Priest Amanzio in   
   the reconstruction of Città di Castello (then Castrum Felicitatis)   
   after the destruction suffered during the Greek-Gothic war.   
      
   Hagiographies written of him in the 17th and 18th centuries recall his   
   devotion and zeal. On the death of Bishop Florido (599 or 600) and of   
   St Amanzio, shortly after, Donnino abandoned public life to retire to   
   live in the hermitic solitude at the Rubbiano locality. He then moved   
   to a second hermitage, closer to Città di Castello, today called Villa   
   San Donino. Here he lived on wild herbs and spent his time in prayer   
   and in the company of a dog. The saintly hermit died on 9 October 610.   
      
   During the years of the Donnino’s life the news of his presence, his   
   holiness and spiritual gifts spread rapidly and large crowds began to   
   visit him. Donino became their spiritual guide and an intercessor with   
   God.   
      
   His body is now preserved inside an urn placed in the Church of Saint   
   Donnino. Another place linked to the memory of this Saint is near   
   Rubbiano, where there are some boulders and a miraculous spring where   
   pilgrims pray for cures especially from arthritis and epilepsy.   
      
   Although a layman, Donino was in the past depicted with priestly   
   vestments and the chalice and next to a small dog. The oldest   
   representation is contained in the embossed and chiselled silver   
   frontal donated by Pope Celestine II to the Cathedral of Città di   
   Castello in 1144, where Donino is depicted together with the Saints   
   Florido and Amanzio. His relics were subjected to canonical   
   recognition in the years 1543, 1791 and 1869.   
      
   https://anastpaul.com/2021/10/09/   
      
      
   “He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and   
   observe it.” – Luke 11:28   
      
   REFLECTION – “Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ   
   than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. To someone who said, “Blessed   
   is the womb that bore you,” He replied, “Rather, blessed are they who   
   hear the word of God and keep it.” Finally, for His brothers, His   
   relatives according to the flesh, who did not believe in Him, of what   
   advantage was that relationship? Even her maternal relationship would   
   have done Mary no good unless she had borne Christ, more happily in   
   her heart, than in her flesh.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father &   
   Doctor of Grace (Holy Virginity, 3).   
      
      
   PRAYER   
   “O my God, whatever is nearer to me than You, things of this earth and   
   things more naturally pleasing to me, will be sure to interrupt the   
   sight of You, unless Your grace interfere. Keep You my eyes, my ears,   
   my heart, from any such miserable tyranny. Keep my whole being fixed   
   on You. Let me never lose sight of You and while I gaze on You, let my   
   love of You grow more and more every day.” … St John Henry Newman   
   (1801-1890) May we run the race in obedience and love of the Will of   
   our God, always seeking Your Face in those who are the least. Through   
   Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   The crosses with which our path through life is strewn associate us   
   with Jesus in the mystery of His crucifixion.   
   --St. John Eudes   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a   
   kingdom.  Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags   
   which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no   
   thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.  (Luke 12:32-33) DRB   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)