From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Of the knowledge of truth [4]   
      
   4. All perfection hath some imperfection joined to it in this life,   
   and all our power of sight is not without some darkness.  A lowly   
   knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of   
   man's learning.  Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking   
   account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy   
   life is better than all.  And because many seek knowledge rather than   
   good living, therefore they go astray, and bear little or no fruit.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 3   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   23 December – Blessed Nicolás Factor-Estaña OFM   
      
   Commonly known as Nicolas Factor – Franciscan Priest, Painter,   
   Preacher, Ascestic, Spiritual Director – born in 1520 in Valencia,   
   Spain and died in 1583 of natural causes.   
      
   Nicolás Factor was born in Valencia in Spain on 29 June 1520 as one of   
   five children to a poor tailor.   
      
   In his childhood he fasted three times a week and donated all of his   
   untouched food to the poor and also tended to the ill, including   
   lepers. His Moorish maid was so affected by this love that she learnt   
   about the faith and converted to Roman Catholicism.   
      
   His father wanted him to follow his career as a tailor but Nicolas   
   wanted to become a priest and a religious. He entered the Order of   
   Friars Minor on 30 November 1537 and was sometime later ordained as a   
   priest, where he developed his talents as a painter via a range of   
   devotional images.   
      
   Although Nicolas wanted to be sent to missionary lands, he was instead   
   sent to preach across his own region and became much sought-after, his   
   homilies teaching and converting many. He was known for undergoing   
   rather severe self-mortifications before he gave each sermon.   
      
   He also served as the spiritual director of the Santa Clara convent in   
   Madrid at the request of the Princess of Portugal, Joan of Habsburg.   
   In April 1582 he relocated to the Santa Caterina convent in Onda and   
   that November moved to another convent in Barcelona.   
      
   Blessed Nicolas died after a period of illness on 23 December 1583   
   after having just returned to Valencia. In 1586 his remains were   
   exhumed for King Philip II – who wished to view them and his body was   
   found to be incorrupt.   
      
   Pope Pius VI Beatified Blessed Nicolas on 27 August 1786. The   
   Beatification process saw three friends of Blessed Nicolas summoned to   
   provide witness testimonies and the tribunal called upon Saint Pascal   
   Baylon OFM, Saint Louis Betrand OP and Saint Juan de Ribera (whom   
   Factor served as his Archbishop).   
      
   See   
   https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/23/   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "When you think of going to mass on working days, it is an impulse of   
   the grace that God willed to grant you. FOLLOW IT." He did not say   
   ignore it! He also said: "A saint has told us that one day at Mass he   
   saw Jesus Christ with His hands full of gifts, looking for souls to   
   whom He might give them." But no one was there.   
   --St. John Vianney   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   For My people have committed two evils. They have forsaken Me, the   
   fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns--broken   
   cisterns that can hold no water.  [Jeremiah 2:13]   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament   
      
   Blessed be God.   
   Blessed be His Holy Name.   
   Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.   
   Blessed be the Name of Jesus.   
   Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.   
   Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.   
   Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.   
   Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.   
   Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.   
   Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.   
   Blessed be her glorious Assumption.   
   Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.   
   Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.   
   Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)