From: hildegard8@excite.com   
      
   November 27th - St. Francis Anthony Fasini   
      
   Born in 1681 at Lucera, southeastern Italy, Francis Anthony was the son of   
   very   
   poor peasants; but he was a bright lad, and received a good education from   
   the   
   Conventual Franciscans in his native town. When he was 14 he received the   
   habit   
   of St. Francis among the Conventuals, and in 1705 he was ordained to the   
   priesthood. He was then sent to the Sagro Convento, adjoining the basilica   
   in   
   Assisi where St. Francis is buried, for the purpose of continuing his   
   studies.   
   Two years later he received the doctorate in theology, and he was then   
   appointed   
   lector of philosophy in the college conducted by the Conventuals in his home   
   town. He was promoted successively to regent of studies, guardian, and   
   provincial, which latter office he held from 1721 to 1723. After that he   
   served   
   as master of novices, and then as pastor of the church of St. Francis in   
   Lucera.   
   A bishopric was offered to him, but he declined it.   
      
   From the process of beatification we learn that Francis Anthony was diligent   
   in   
   study, fervent in piety, prompt in his obedience to his superiors, devout in   
   meditation, and most exact in the fulfillment of all his duties. He was also   
   mortified and given to the exercises of penance even to bloodshed. From his   
   youth he was an "angel in the flesh, more an angel than a man."   
      
   Among the devotions that he cherished there were especially a tender love   
   for   
   the Immaculate Mother of God, a childlike affection for the Infant Jesus,   
   and   
   fervent devotion, also night adoration, of the Holy Eucharist. Once, while   
   he   
   was absorbed in prayer, someone who happened to be in the church heard a   
   voice   
   saying: "This priest prays much for his people."   
      
   As a priest, he also became an eloquent preacher, a lover of the poor, a   
   friend   
   of the unfortunate. He was a missionary, a retreat-master, and a Lenten   
   preacher. For hours he would sit in the confessional, hearing and absolving   
   the   
   sins of his penitents, consoling the afflicted, warning the hardened of   
   heart.   
   He spent much time in visiting the sick, the orphans, and the imprisoned. As   
   a   
   pastor he was a real father to his people.   
      
   After 35 years in the priesthood and a life of penance, union with God, and   
   intense labor the salvation of souls, God called Father Francis Anthony to   
   Himself on November 29, 1742. On that day the people of Lucera came hurrying   
   to   
   the church of St. Francis, exclaiming as did the children at the death of   
   St.   
   Anthony of Padua, "The saint is dead! The saint is dead!" And for 200 years   
   since then, they have continues to kneel and pray at his tomb. The cause of   
   his   
   beatification was introduced in Rome in 1832; and in 1951 Pope Pius XII   
   solemnly   
   enrolled him among the blessed.   
      
   A new miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Francis Anthony was   
   approved with the decree of March 21, 1985, by the Holy Father, John Paul II   
   and   
   canonized on April 13, 1986.   
      
      
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   PRAYER OF THE CHURCH   
   Grant, we pray, O Lord, that Thy faithful people may ever rejoice in   
   venerating   
   Thy blessed servant Francis Anthony and all Thy saints and may be aided by   
   their   
   unceasing prayers. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "Observe ... in the Scriptures, the unfortunate rich man in Hell. ... This   
   man   
   had committed none of those great crimes which human justice punishes; he   
   had   
   simply enjoyed the good things of the world too much. He is condemned [by   
   God]   
   without hope, without consolation, for ever and ever!"   
   -St. Peter Eymard (Founder, 1811-68) - "The Eucharist and Christian   
   Perfection "   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   "There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and   
   feasted sumptuously every day. ... And it came to pass that the beggar died,   
   and   
   was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died:   
   and   
   he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he   
   saw   
   Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom:"  (Luke 16: 19, 22-23)   
      
   "I [Jesus Christ, God Almighty] say to you: but except you do penance, you   
   shall   
   all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)   
      
      
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   Daily Thoughts and Prayers for Our Beloved Dead   
      
   "Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand   
   of   
   the Lord hath touched me" Job. 19-21.   
      
   SIXTH DAY   
      
   The Souls in Purgatory are powerless to help themselves. They cannot do   
   penance,   
   nor offer satisfaction, nor gain indulgences, nor receive the Sacraments.   
   They   
   cannot pray for themselves. We, who are still on earth, can share with them   
   the   
   Graces which God so generously and abundantly gives us.   
      
   Prayer:  Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.   
      
   De Profundis   
      
      Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee,   
   O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.   
      Let Thine ears be attentive to the   
   voice of my supplication.   
      If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark my iniquities,   
   O Lord, who shall stand it?   
      For with Thee there is merciful   
   forgiveness: and by reason of Thy   
   law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.   
   My soul hath relied on His word; my soul   
   hath hoped in the Lord.   
      From the morning watch even until   
   night; let Israel hope in the Lord.   
   Because with the Lord there is mercy;   
   And with Him plenteous redemption.   
      And He shall redeem Israel from   
   all its iniquities.   
      Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,   
   And let perpetual light shine upon them:   
      May they rest in peace. Amen.   
      
   Most beloved Jesus, by the merits of Thy five wounds, hear the pleas and   
   release   
   from the torments of Purgatory the faithful soul that did the most good on   
   earth. Place it today at Thy heavenly throne that it may join in honoring   
   Thee   
   and in guiding me to live according to its dictates.   
      
   Also See:   
   http://www.dailycatholic.org/deprofun.htm   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)