From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   February 4th - St. Joan of France (Valois)   
      
   Joan was born at Paris, France in the year 1464. She was the daughter of   
   King   
   Louis XI of France and his wife Charlotte of Savoy. She had a very small   
   build   
   and was deformed which greatly bothered her father. In order to get rid of   
   her,   
   he betrothed her to his cousin Louis, the Duke of Orleans, and at age five   
   she   
   was sent to the Duke's home to be trained in the proper etiquette for court   
   ladies. Joan had always been a very devout child and had a deep prayer life   
   for   
   one so young.   
      
   In 1476, at the age of twelve she was married to the Duke. She would   
   subsequently save his life by interceding for him with her brother Charles   
   VIII.   
   In spite of this the Duke treated her cruelly, but she was able to grow in   
   patience and holiness by prayer and charitable deeds. When her husband   
   ascended   
   to the throne he wanted to be rid of her so he could make a more   
   advantageous   
   marriage with Anne of Brittany, a widow.   
      
   Her husband was able to obtain an annulment on the grounds that King Louis   
   XI   
   had forced the marriage upon him. The marriage was annulled and because Joan   
   had   
   not opposed her husband's wishes she was given a good deal of property. This   
   enabled her to continue her care for the poor and needy. She was invited by   
   her   
   confessor to found a community of Poor Clares. Joan however wanted to found   
   a   
   community devoted to charitable endeavors and in 1501 the first rule of the   
   Annunciades was approved.   
      
   Joan later founded a second monastery at Bourges. The focus of the community   
   was   
   a deep life of prayer and care for the sick. Joan was professed as Sr.   
   Gabriella   
   Marie. She only lived about a year after profession and died at Bourges on   
   February 4, 1505. She was canonized in 1950. The community still exists   
   today   
   under the direction of the Friars Minor.   
      
   Today's saint is a model of patience and dedication to living the life of   
   Christ. She could have become embittered with God and with her family   
   because of   
   her deformity and the pain it would cause her through the years. Instead she   
   chose to accept her life and to give all she could of herself and her   
   possession, to alleviate the sufferings of others. Rather than oppose her   
   husband and the church, she accepted their decisions and used the life   
   remaining   
   to her to bring joy and healing to others.   
      
   Reflection. During the lifetime of Saint Jane, the Angelus was established   
   in   
   France. The sound of the Ave thrice each day gave her hope in her sorrow,   
   and   
   fostered in her the desire to honor, yet more, the Incarnation. How often   
   might   
   we derive grace from the same beautiful devotion, so enriched by the Church,   
   yet   
   neglected by so many Christians!   
      
      
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   Whoever humbleth himself shall be exalted. -Lk. 14:11   
      
   "Humility is the mother of many virtues. From it spring obedience, holy   
   fear,   
   reverence, patience, modesty, mildness, and peace; for, whoever is humble   
   easily   
   obeys all, fears to offend any, maintains peace with all, shows himself   
   affable   
   to all, is submissive to all, does not offend or displease any, and does not   
   feel the insults which may be inflicted upon him. He lives happy and   
   contented,   
   and in great peace"   
   -St. Thomas of Villanova   
      
       Here we see the reason why St. Francis, St. Dominic, St. Vincent de Paul   
   and   
   so many others became remarkable for all the virtues above mentioned. It is   
   because they were remarkable for humility.   
       St. Jane Frances de Chantal had conceived so much affection for this   
   virtue,   
   that she watched over herself with the greatest attention, in order that she   
   might not allow even the smallest occasion of practicing it to escape. And   
   she   
   once said to St. Francis de Sales, "My dearest Father, I beg you, for the   
   love   
   of God, help me to humble myself."   
      
   (Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)   
      
      
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   Daily Thoughts and Prayers for Our Beloved Dead   
      
       St. Ambrose tells us: "All that we give through charity to the Souls in   
   Purgatory is changed into grace for us, and after our death we will find the   
   merit of it increased a hundredfold."   
      
   Pray: One Our Father, Three Hail Mary's, one Gloria and De Profundis (Psalm   
   129)   
      
   THIRTEENTH DAY   
      
   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.   
      
   O Lord Jesus Christ, grant to the souls of the faithful departed, the full   
   remission of their sins. Be mindful, most merciful Savior, of that Soul in   
   Purgatory who was most devoted to Thee in the Holy Eucharist. Shorten the   
   moment   
   of his deliverance, that he may glorify Thee, and aid me in my journey   
   toward   
   Eternity.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)