From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   - Matthew 7:1-5 -   
   "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge   
   others,   
   you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to   
   you.   
   "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no   
   attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother,   
   'Let me   
   take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your   
   own   
   eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you   
   will   
   see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.   
      
   __________________________   
      
   Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging   
   others.   
   The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in   
   ourselves. Our untamed bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones   
   that   
   we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to magnify others'   
   faults   
   while excusing your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see   
   if   
   you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly   
   forgive   
   and help your neighbor.   
      
      
   <><><><><>   
   September 25th - St. Albert of Jerusalem   
      
   Albert was born at Parma, Italy about the year 1149. Little is known of his   
   early life but he came from a distinguished family and was well educated. He   
   received degrees in theology, as well as civil and canon law. He became a   
   Canon Regular at the Abbey of the Holy Cross in Mortara, Lombardy. In 1184,   
   at the age of thirty-five, he was consecrated bishop of Bobbio and soon   
   afterward was transferred to Vercelli in the Lombardy region.   
      
   Albert proved to be a wise and prudent leader as well as a skillful diplomat   
   and peacemaker. He was chosen mediator between Pope Clement III and   
   Frederick Barbarossa, and in 1199, under Pope Innocent III, Albert was able   
   to bring about peace between Parma and Piacenza.   
      
   In 1203 when the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michael, died the Canons Regular   
   petitioned Pope Innocent III to send Albert, a man whose wisdom and holiness   
   were known even to the people of Jerusalem. At that point in history the   
   crusaders under Godfrey de Boullion had set up a Latin kingdom of Jerusalem.   
   Many of the prelates appointed were of questionable character and the Church   
   suffered greatly. Pope Innocent reluctantly appointed Albert to the post of   
   Patriarch of Jerusalem and in 1205 he set out for the Holy Land.   
      
   Because of the Moslem occupation of Jerusalem from 1187, Albert located his   
   residence at St. Jean d'Acre. His first order of business was to establish a   
   relationship of trust and respect with both the Christian and Moslem   
   communities. This had been a major negligence among his predecessors. Albert   
   worked hard to keep peace between all the factions of his patriarchate.   
      
   Perhaps what Albert is best known for is the Carmelite Rule which he   
   compiled at the request of St. Brocard. In 16 short definitive chapters   
   Albert set down a rule which was confirmed by Pope Honorius III in 1226.   
   This was later modified by Pope Innocent IV in 1246. While the actual   
   founder of the Carmelites is unknown, Albert of Jerusalem was definitely its   
   first legislator.   
      
   Albert was summoned to attend the Lateran council by Pope Innocent III, but   
   circumstance prevented it. Albert had had to depose the master of the   
   Hospital of the Holy Spirit at Acre from his office and the disgruntled man   
   took his revenge on September 14, 1214, the feast of the Exaltation of the   
   Cross. While Albert was officiating at a procession in the Church of the   
   Holy Cross at Acre, the man attacked and killed him. Albert's feast has been   
   celebrated by the Carmelites since 1411, but it wasn't until 1666 that it   
   was formally approved.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Excerpts from the rule delivered to the Brothers of Mount Carmel by Saint   
   Albert of Jerusalem.   
      
   Since man's life on earth is a time of trial, and all who would live   
   devotedly in Christ must undergo persecution and the devil, your foe, is on   
   the prowl like a roaring lion looking for prey to devour, you must use very   
   care to clothe yourselves in God's armor so that you may be ready to   
   withstand the enemy's ambush.   
      
   There can be no pleasing God without faith. On your head set the helmet of   
   salvation and so be sure of deliverance by our only Savior who sets his own   
   free from their sins. The sword of the spirit, the word of God, must abound   
   in your mouths and hearts. Let all you do have the Lord's word for   
   accompaniment.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Let nothing be innovated beyond what is traditional.   
   -Pope St. Stephen (253-257),   
      
   Bible Quote   
   29 I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you,   
   not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men speaking   
   perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch,   
   keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish   
   every one of you night and day. 32 And now I commend you to God, and to the   
   word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among   
   all the sanctified.  (Acts 20:29-32)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer   
      
   Lord God,   
   through St. Albert of Jerusalem   
   you have given us a Rule of life   
   according to your Gospel   
   to help us attain perfect love.   
   Through his prayers   
   may we always live in allegiance to Jesus Christ   
   and serve faithfully until death   
   him who lives and reigns   
   with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,   
   One God, for ever and ever.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer Against Covetousness   
      
   O Lord Jesus Christ, who though Thou wast rich yet for our sakes didst   
   become poor, grant that all over-eagerness and covetousness of earthly goods   
   may die in us, and the desire of heavenly things may live and grow in us;   
   keep us from all idle and vain expenditures, that we may always have to give   
   to him that needeth, and that giving not grudgingly nor of necessity, but   
   cheerfully, we may be loved of Thee, and be made through Thy merits   
   partakers of the riches of Thy heavenly treasure. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)