From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On Self-Denial, and Renunciation of all Cupidity [II]   
      
   THE DISCIPLE. Lord, this is not the work of a single day, and no easy   
   matter. These few words contain the whole way of spiritual perfection.   
      
   CHRIST.   
   My son, do not be discouraged or diverted from your purpose at hearing   
   of this way of perfection. Rather let it spur you to higher things and   
   at least, to set your heart on them. If only you would do this, and   
   attain that state where you cease to be a lover of self and stand   
   ready to do My will and His whom I have appointed as your Father, you   
   would greatly please Me and your whole life would be filled with joy   
   and peace. You have still many things to renounce, and unless you   
   surrender them to Me without reserve, you cannot obtain what you ask   
   of Me. I counsel you to buy from Me gold, refined in the fire, that   
   you may be rich (Rev.3:18) in that heavenly wisdom that rejects all   
   worthless things. Despise the wisdom of the world and every temptation   
   to please others or yourself.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 32   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   October 13th – St. Coloman of Stockerau (of Melk), Martyr   
   (also known as Colman, Colomannus)   
      
   Died in Stockerau, Austria, on October 18, 1012. Saint Coloman, an   
   Irish or Scottish monk of royal lineage who began a penitential   
   pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was stopped at Stockerau, about six miles   
   from Vienna. At that time there were continual skirmishes between   
   Austria, Moravia, and Bohemia. So the stranger, who spoke no German,   
   was accused of being a spy and, after various tortures, hanged to   
   death with several robbers.   
      
   For 18 months Coloman's body remained on the gibbet, uncorrupted and   
   unmolested by the birds and beasts—a miracle. The scaffolding itself   
   was said to have taken root and sent forth green branches, one of   
   which is preserved under the high altar of the Franciscan church at   
   Stockerau. Many miracles were wrought by his incorrupt body.   
      
   Three years after Coloman's death, Bishop Megingard translated his   
   relics to Melk (then called Mark, the capital of the ancient Marcomans   
   near Moravia), at the request of Marquis Saint Henry of Austria, who   
   built a tomb for him in the imposing abbey on the Danube River in   
   western Austria. Four popes have granted indulgences to those who pray   
   at the shrine of Saint Coloman (or Colman?) at Melk (Paschal II,   
   Clement VI, Innocent VI, and Leo X). Melk burned a 70-pound wax candle   
   in 1713 in petition for the saint's prayers against the plague that   
   was devastating the land.   
      
   Many churches and chapels in Austria, Swabia, the Palatinate, Hungary,   
   and Bavaria bear his name. On his feast day in Melk, hundreds of   
   horses and cattle are brought to the abbey for Coloman's blessing.   
   Dozens of neighboring parishes made a pilgrimage to his chapel near   
   Würtemberg on Whitsunday until the 18th century (Benedictines, D'Arcy,   
   Encyclopedia, Fitzpatrick, Gougaud, Husenbeth, Kenney, Tommasini).   
      
      
   The Colomansfest in Schwangau. Every year, the village   
   celebrates St. Coloman, the patron saint of the pilgrimage church.   
   Just as it has been for centuries, this religious feast is celebrated   
   on the Sunday closest to October 13th, the name-day of the Irish   
   saint. This feast also involves entertainment and is a most happy   
   occasion. The famous church has been the destination of great   
   pilgrimages since the 15th century. See:   
      
   The famous baroque church standing in a field in front of the village   
   has been the destination of great pilgrimages since the 15th century.   
   According to the legend, Coloman would have been resting, preaching   
   and even pasturing cattle in Schwanengau during a pilgrimage trip he   
   made from Ireland, his country, to Jerusalem. Up to present days he   
   has always been invoked by catholic believers when someone gets ill   
   among people or animals as well, or in case of overflowings and   
   storms.   
      
   The first chapel was probably built between 1350 and 1400. An   
   altar consecration is documented on August 8th, 1495 but it’s not   
   clear whether the chapel was rebuilt or just enlarged on that   
   occasion. A civil document demonstrates the increasing importance of   
   pilgrimages to the Coloman church: 1552 the Emperor Karl V officially   
   granted to the Colomansfest in Schwangau the right to be a market day.   
   So pilgrims had the possibility to combine their pilgrimage with   
   further important events.   
      
   Markets were not only a pleasant break in the hard and monotonous work   
   life, but they also offered a rare occasion to buy wares. Local   
   handicraftsmen planned an enlargement implemented by the plasterer   
   Johann Schmutzer. The consequent Coloman church, consecrated in 1685,   
   was the first great work of this builder and artist, who was going to   
   win his fame above all as builder of the Wessobrunn cloister.   
      
   His work together with St. Coloman will be focused on Sunday, October   
   12th, when more than 200 riders on their gorgeously harnessed horses   
   will attract thousands of inhabitants and guests of Schwangau to   
   celebrate there Mass at 10 am. According to the ancient custom, at the   
   end of the celebration the riders will ride three times round the   
   Church and will be blessed. Then, like in ancient times, the feast   
   will be happily resounding all around the church.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
    A servant of the Lord stands bodily before men, but mentally he is   
   knocking at the gates of heaven with prayer.   
   -- Saint John Climacus   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ,   
   that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as   
   he hath done, whether it be good or evil.   (2 Cor. 5:10) DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   What Can I Say, Merciful Lady?   
   St Anselm (1033-1109)   
   Marian Doctor / Magnificent Doctor   
      
   My most merciful Lady,   
   what can I say about the fountains   
   that flowed from your most pure eyes   
   when you saw your only Son before you,   
   bound, beaten and hurt?   
   What do I know of the flood   
   that drenched your matchless face,   
   when you beheld your Son, your Lord   
   and your God,   
   stretched on the cross without guilt,   
   when the flesh of your flesh   
   was cruelly butchered by wicked me?   
   How can I judge what sobs   
   troubled your most pure breast   
   when you heard,   
   “Woman, behold your son,”   
   and the disciple,   
   “Behold, your Mother,”   
   when you received as a son   
   the disciple in place of the Master,   
   the servant for the Lord? Amen   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)