From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   March 17th - Blessed Marcel Callo   
   1921-1945   
      
   Marcel Callo was born on December 6, 1921, in Rennes, France, being one of   
   nine   
   children. He was a happy child, who was known to be a leader and a   
   perfectionist. He helped with his household chores and he helped take care   
   of   
   his younger siblings. After completing his primary studies, he became an   
   apprentice to a printer around age 13. He did not like associating with   
   fellow   
   workers who swore and told many improper stories. He preferred accompanying   
   good   
   Catholic friends who belonged to the JOC, Jeunesse Ouvriere Chretienne   
   (Young   
   Christian Worker). He had a good sense of humor and would like to wrestle,   
   play   
   football, ping pong, cards and bridge.   
      
   When Marcel was 20 he fell in love with Marguerite Derniaux. He did not   
   degrade   
   women like his fellow worker but instead had deep respect for women. He   
   said, "I   
   am not one to amuse myself with the heart of a lady, since my love is pure   
   and   
   noble. If I have waited until 20 years old to go out with a young lady, it   
   is   
   because I knew that I wanted to find real love. One must master his heart   
   before   
   he can give it to the one that is chosen for him by Christ." It took him   
   about   
   one year to declare his love to Marguerite and an additional four months   
   before   
   they first kissed. After being engaged, they imposed a strict spiritual rule   
   of   
   life which included praying the same prayers and going to Mass and receiving   
   the   
   Eucharist as often as they could.   
      
   On March 8, 1943, the war (World War II) had gripped their city of Rennes.   
   That   
   day his sister, Madeleine was killed by one of the bombs that leveled her   
   building. When the Germans later occupied France, Marcel was ordered and   
   deported to Zella-Mehlis, Germany to the S.T.O.,Service du Travail   
   Obligatoire   
   (Service of Obligatory Work). If he did not comply, his family would be   
   arrested, so he went.   
      
   Once there, he worked in a factory that produced bombs that would be used   
   against his own countrymen. After three months or so of missing his family   
   and   
   missing Mass (there was no Catholic church in that town), Marcel became   
   seriously depressed. He later found a room where Mass was offered on Sunday.   
   This helped change his disposition. He reported that, "Finally Christ   
   reacted.   
   He made me to understand that the depression was not good. I had to keep   
   busy   
   with my friends and then joy and relief would come back to me."   
      
   With his morale and hope restored, he cared for his deported friends. He   
   organized a group of Christian workers who did activities together like play   
   sports or cards. He also organized a theatrical group. He galvanized his   
   friends   
   despite him suffering from painful boils, headaches and infected teeth. For   
   his   
   French friends, he arranged a Mass to be celebrated in their native tongue.   
   Eventually, his religious activities attracted unwanted attention from the   
   German officials. The Germans arrested Marcel on April 19, 1944 saying that,   
   "Monsieur is too much of a Catholic."   
      
   The Germans interrogated Marcel. He admitted his Catholic activities and was   
   imprisoned in Gotha. He secretly received the Eucharist while in prison and   
   continued to pray and help his companions. He was considered dangerous to   
   the   
   Germans and was moved to a different prison at Mathausen. He suffered from   
   various ailments such as bronchitis, malnutrition, dysentery, fever,   
   swelling,   
   and generalized weakness. He never complained. Despite his suffering, he   
   encouraged his companions by saying, "It is in prayer that we find our   
   strength." He died on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1945. The date was   
   exactly two years from the day he left home. Pope John Paul II beautified   
   Marcel   
   Callo on October 4, 1987 along with two Italian martyrs, Antonio Mesina and   
   Pierina Morosini.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   I ought to die of shame to think I have not already died of gratitude to my   
   good   
   God.   
   -- Saint Julie Billiart   
      
   Bible Quote   
   Jesus saith to them: Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which   
   the   
   builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? By the Lord   
   this   
   has been done; and it is wonderful in our eyes. Therefore I say to you, that   
   the   
   kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation   
   yielding   
   the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be broken:   
   but   
   on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder.  (Matthew   
   21:42-44)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer to St. Dymphna - Justice   
      
   Admirable St. Dymphna, how just you were to all whom you   
   encountered, and how careful you were to give every person   
   his due, and more than he might desire or expect. By your   
   power with God please come to assist us to be just to all we   
   meet, and even to be generous in giving everyone more than   
   strict justice requires. Amen.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer to St. Dymphna - Perseverance   
      
   Most faithful St. Dymphna, you remained true to your   
   baptismal promises to the very end. You are, therefore,   
   honored, known, and loved after 1,400 years by people you   
   have aided all over the world. We do not know how long or   
   short a time is left to us of this life here, but help us in any   
   case to be faithful to God to the end. Please gain for us the   
   grace to live one day at a time as if each were to be our last.   
   Amen.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The fourth joyful mystery prayer of the Eucharistic Rosary, to   
   be offered before the Blessed Sacrament:   
      
   The Presentation of Jesus, offered for the virtues of obedience   
   and purity:   
      
   Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Thou   
   offerest Thyself with perfect obedience and love to Thy   
   Father, through the hands of the high-priest, as the Victim that   
   is to be immolated on the cross; every day also Thou offerest   
   Thyself upon the altar by the hands of the priest, with the   
   same obedience and love as our Victim, always sacrificed and   
   always living.   
      
   O sweet Victim, we adore Thee and we beg of Thee, through the intercession   
   of   
   Thy holy Mother, the spirit of obedience and sacrifice.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)