From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   June 15th - St. Germaine of Pibrac.   
      
   The Roman Martyrology takes us to 16th century France, to the little village   
   of   
   Pibrac near Toulouse. In 1579 Germaine was born to Laurent Cousin, a farm   
   worker   
   and his wife Marie Laroche. The child suffered from a deformed and useless   
   hand   
   and also contracted scrofula, a tuberculous condition.   
      
   It is believed that her mother died when she was quite young. Her father   
   didn't   
   seem to care about her and her new stepmother strongly disliked her. When   
   her   
   stepmother's own children were born she segregated Germaine from the family,   
   by   
   making her sleep in the stable, and feeding her leftover scraps from the   
   family   
   table.   
      
   Although she had little to eat Germaine shared what she had with the beggars   
   nearby. When she was of age, she was sent to care for the sheep. At first   
   she   
   was the object of ridicule and much unkindness. But, she was a gentle,   
   kindly   
   and patient young girl. Alone in the fields, and very aware of the beauty of   
   nature, she developed a very intense relationship with God.   
      
   She never had any kind of schooling, but she had a deep knowledge and   
   overwhelming love for God. The story is told that wherever she was when the   
   bells rang for Mass, she would just plant her staff in the ground and ask   
   her   
   guardian angel to watch over the sheep while she attended Mass. When she   
   returned, the sheep would all be there serenely munching the vegetation,   
   despite   
   the presence of a large population of wolves in the area.   
      
   She had no friends or social life among her neighbors, but she would often   
   gather the younger children to teach them about God. Gradually the people   
   began   
   to realize the immensity of her goodness and began to treat her more kindly,   
   even her stepmother began to soften toward her. She continued living in the   
   stable and died there on June 1, 1601. She was only 22.   
      
   When her grave was reopened in 1644 for another burial, her body was found   
   to be   
   incorrupt, and many wonders, attributed to her intercession had occurred.   
   She   
   was canonized in 1857.   
      
   From her biography, you can see why she is honored as a saint. She was very   
   poor, rejected by her family, ridiculed by her neighbors and suffered   
   debilitating illness. One could say that she had reason for anger,   
   resentment,   
   self pity and revenge. Instead, she chose patience, gentleness, humility,   
   charity and love. She fully loved God with all her mind, all her heart and   
   all   
   her strength. And she loved her neighbor as herself for the Love of God.   
   Isn't   
   that what sanctity is all about?   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Every time we come into the presence of the Eucharist we may say: This   
   precious   
   Testament cost Jesus Christ His life. For the Eucharist is a testament, a   
   legacy   
   which becomes valid only at the death of the testator. Our Lord thereby   
   shows us   
   His boundless love, for He Himself said there is no greater proof of love   
   than   
   to lay down one's life for one's friends.   
   --Saint Peter Julian Eymard   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will not   
   enter   
   into it. (Mark 10:15)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer:   
      
   Saint Germaine, watch over those children who suffer   
   abuse as you did. Help us to give them the love and   
   protection you only got from God. Give us the courage to   
   speak out against abuse when we know of it. Help us to   
   forgive those who abuse the way you did, without sacrificing   
   the lives of the children who need help.   
   Amen   
      
   <><><><>   
   O Omnium Domine (O Lord of All), a prayer of St. Gregory   
   Nazianzen; (329-389), Bishop and Doctor of the Church:   
      
   O Lord and Creator of all, and especially of this Thy   
   creature! O God and Father and Ruler of Thy people! O   
   Arbiter of life and death! O Guardian and Benefactor of our   
   souls!   
      
   O Thou who makest all, and in due season transformest all   
   by the power of Thy Word according to Thy wisdom and   
   deep designs, receive now, I beg Thee, those who have gone   
   before us.   
      
   Receive us too at the opportune time, until Thou hast   
   restrained us in our fleshly life for as long as it will have   
   been to our advantage. Indeed receive us prepared by fear of   
   Thee and not troubled, nor turning back on that day of   
   death, nor unwilling like those who are accustomed to the   
   world and addicted to the flesh. Instead, may we set out   
   eagerly for that everlasting and blessed life which is in   
   Christ Jesus our Lord. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)