From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   June 7th - Saint Claude, Archbishop   
      
   (607-699)   
      
   The province of Eastern Burgundy has received great luster from this   
   glorious Saint. He was born at Salins in the early seventh century, and was   
   recognized from his youth as having a lively mind, a solid judgment and   
   great docility. He read with devotion the sacred books, the lives of the   
   Martyrs and holy Confessors, and the sermons of the Doctors of the Church,   
   all of which were then far more frequently found in the hands of the   
   faithful. He spent many hours praying in the church and attended Mass daily;   
   he was careful to avoid any places which could be a danger for his faith,   
   and took pleasure in frequenting pious persons who could give solid   
   nourishment to his soul.   
      
   At the age of 20 he became a member of the cathedral chapter of Besançon,   
   where he remained for twelve years, following the examples of the   
   archbishop, Saint Donatian. Afterwards he retired to the monastery of Condat   
   or Saint Oyend, where he became Abbot at the age of 37, in 644; and under   
   his government many Saints were formed.   
      
   He had become both the model and the oracle of the clergy of Besançon when,   
   upon the death of Archbishop Gervase in the year 685, he was named as his   
   successor. Fearing the obligations of that charge, he fled to a retreat, but   
   was discovered and compelled to accept the burden. During seven years he   
   acquitted himself of the pastoral functions with the zeal and vigilance of   
   an apostle. It was said that his sermons had so great a force that they tore   
   vice out of the hearts of the most hardened.   
      
   When he was eighty-six years of age, he retired once more to the monastery   
   of Saint Oyend, of which he had always retained the title of Abbot, and   
   where he then remained in authority as its head for several more years. Such   
   was the sanctity of his life and his zeal in conducting his monks in the   
   paths of evangelical perfection, that he was compared to the great abbots of   
   Egypt, Saint Anthony and Saint Pachomius, and his monastery, to those of   
   ancient Egypt. Manual labor, silence, prayer, reading of pious books,   
   especially the Holy Bible; fasting, watching, humility, obedience, poverty,   
   mortification, and the close union of their hearts with God made up the   
   whole occupation of these fervent servants of God. These virtues were the   
   rich patrimony which Saint Claude left to his disciples.   
      
   Saint Claude died in 699 at the age of ninety-two, and his body was found   
   intact in the 12th century. Since then pilgrimages and miracles have   
   abounded at his tomb, placed in the monastery where he died, which   
   afterwards bore his name. His feast has been celebrated since the end of the   
   15th century.   
      
   Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin   
   (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 6.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   It behooves us unanimously and inviolably to observe the ecclesiastical   
   traditions, whether codified or simply retained by the customary practice of   
   the Church.   
   -St. Peter Canisius   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   5 And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in   
   our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us. (Romans 5:5)   
      
   8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; thy   
   greatness all the day long.  (Psalms 70:8)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Veni, Creator Spiritus   
      
   One of the most widely used hymns in the Church, Veni, Creator Spiritus, is   
   attributed to Rabanus Maurus; (776-856). It is used at Vespers, Pentecost,   
   Dedication of a Church, Confirmation, and Holy Orders and whenever the Holy   
   Spirit is solemnly invoked. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful   
   who recite it. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is recited on January   
   1st or on the feast of Pentecost.   
      
   Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,   
   and in our souls take up Thy rest;   
   come with Thy grace and heavenly aid   
   to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.   
      
   O comforter, to Thee we cry,   
   O heavenly gift of God Most High,   
   O fount of life and fire of love,   
   and sweet anointing from above.   
      
   Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;   
   Thou, finger of God's hand we own;   
   Thou, promise of the Father, Thou   
   Who dost the tongue with power imbue.   
      
   Kindle our sense from above,   
   and make our hearts o'erflow with love;   
   with patience firm and virtue high   
   the weakness of our flesh supply.   
      
   Far from us drive the foe we dread,   
   and grant us Thy peace instead;   
   so shall we not, with Thee for guide,   
   turn from the path of life aside.   
      
   Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow   
   the Father and the Son to know;   
   and Thee, through endless times confessed,   
   of both the eternal Spirit blest.   
      
   Now to the Father and the Son,   
   Who rose from death, be glory given,   
   with Thou, O Holy Comforter,   
   henceforth by all in earth and heaven. - Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)