From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   May 21st - St. Serapion the Sindonite (AC)   
      
   Born in Egypt; died c. 356. Serapion's moniker, the Sindonite, comes from   
   garment of coarse linen which he always wore. Like other desert monks, he led a   
   life of extreme austerity. Though he traveled into several countries, he always   
   lived in the same poverty, mortification, and recollection.   
   In one town, recognizing the spiritual blindness of comedian, he sold himself   
   to   
   the idolater for a small sum. His only sustenance in this servitude was bread   
   and water. He accomplished every duty belonging to his servitude with the   
   utmost   
   diligence and fidelity, joining with his labor prayer. Having converted his   
   master and the whole family to the faith, and induced him to quit the stage,   
   Serapion was freed. His former master tried to return the sum he had paid, but   
   Serapion refused it, even to distribute to the poor.   
      
   Soon after this Serapion sold himself a second time, to relieve a distressed   
   widow. Having spent some time with his new master, in recompense of signal   
   spiritual services, he was given his liberty, a cloak, a tunic, and a book of   
   the Gospels.   
      
   He was scarcely out the door when he met a poor man to whom he gave his cloak.   
   Shortly thereafter he gave his tunic to a man shivering in the cold. Thus he   
   was   
   again reduced to his single linen garment. A stranger asked who had stripped   
   him   
   and left him naked. Showing the man his book of the Gospels, he said: "This it   
   is that hath stripped me." Not long after, he sold the book itself to relieve   
   someone in extreme distress.   
      
   When an old acquaintance asked what had happened to the book, Serapion replied:   
   "Could you believe it? This gospel seemed continually to cry to me: 'Go, sell   
   all thou hast, and give it to the poor.' Wherefore I have also sold it and   
   given   
   the price to the indigent members of Christ." Having nothing left but his own   
   person, he sold himself again on several other occasions, when the corporal or   
   spiritual necessities of his neighbor called for relief. Once he became slave   
   to   
   a certain Manichee at Lacedaemon whom he served for two years. Again he brought   
   the man and his whole family over to the true faith.   
      
   Saint Serapion went from Lacedaemon to Rome to study the most perfect models of   
   virtue, but returned to Egypt where he died before Palladius visited in 388.   
   Upon reading the story of Serapion, Saint John the Almsgiver called for his   
   steward, and, weeping, said: "Can we flatter ourselves that we do anything   
   great   
   because we give our estates to the poor? Here is a man who could find means to   
   give himself to them, and so many times over" (Benedictines, Husenbeth   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Complain as little as possible of your wrongs, for, as a general rule, you may   
   be sure that complaining is sin: ... because self-love always magnifies our   
   injuries.   
   -François de Sales   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me that I am meek and humble of heart;   
   and   
   you will find rest for your souls. St. Matthew 11:29   
      
      
      
   <><><><><>   
   PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS   
      
   God of great mercy, Who deigned to send us Your only-begotten   
   Son as the greatest proof of Your fathomless love and mercy,   
   You do not reject sinners; but in Your boundless mercy You   
   have opened for them also Your treasures, treasures, from   
   which they draw abundantly, not only justification, but also   
   all the sanctity that a soul can attain. Father of great mercy,   
   I desire that hearts turn with confidence to Your infinite mercy.   
   No one will be justified before You is he is not accompanied by   
   Your unfathomable mercy. When You reveal the mystery of   
   Your mercy to us, there will not be enough of Eternity to   
   render You thanksgiving.   
      
   O Jesus, how sorry I am for poor sinners. Jesus, grant them   
   contrition and repentance. Remember Your Sorrowful Passion.   
   Jesus, give me the souls of sinners; let Your mercy rest on them.   
   Take everything away from me, but give me souls.   
   Let the shell of my body conceal my offering, for Your   
   Most Sacred Heart is hidden in a Host, a living sacrifice.   
   Transform me into a sacrifice for sinners, pleasing to You.   
    I desire to atone each moment for poor sinners.   
   O my Creator and Father of great mercy, I trust in You,   
   for You are Goodness Itself.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   GRACES   
      
   All around are fruits of glory,   
   Sweet and ripened on the vine;   
   Pluck these seeds of untold story,   
   Eat of fruits that are divine!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)