From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   July 18th - St. Pambo of the Nitrian Desert, Abbot   
      
   We continue our travels in the 4th century and go to Nitrea in the Egyptian   
   desert. As with so many of the saints of this time, we don't have exact   
   biographical data which tends to be so important to present day people. But,   
   we   
   have something so much greater. Stories of Pambo's words to those seeking   
   spiritual counsel.   
      
   We do know however, that as a young man Pambo learned from the Father of   
   Egyptian monasticism, St. Antony of the Desert, also known as Antony of   
   Egypt.   
   We also know that he lived a very strong ascetical life of long fasts,   
   diligent   
   manual labor and most of all prayer. He wore only the rags that others had   
   discarded, seeing as no one else would bother to pick them up. Present day   
   religious might see his asceticism as extreme and unhealthy, but this was   
   the   
   norm for his time and place.   
      
   When we look at Abba Pambo the man, we find that there is much that he can   
   teach   
   us. The first Scripture his teacher gave him was Psalm 38, "I said I will be   
   watchful of my ways for fear I should sin with my tongue." Abba Pambo   
   responded,   
   "that will do for today," and he went off to think about it. Six months   
   later he   
   returned ready to continue his lesson. Perhaps we too could spend time   
   meditating on this Psalm and benefit from its fruits.   
      
   The story is told that a Roman widow brought Pambo 300 pounds of silver as a   
   gift, he accepted it and said that it would be used to help the poor   
   monasteries, but he did not thank her. When she reminded him that it was   
   "300   
   pounds of silver," he responded, "He to whom you have offered this gift has   
   no   
   need for you to TELL Him it's value." Another time he was asked to "count"   
   the   
   money given to him to help those in need. He responded, "God does not ask   
   how   
   much but HOW."   
      
   St. Pambo is generally referred to as Abba Pambo, a common title for the   
   holy   
   men of the Desert Fathers time. He lived a very austere life and to some was   
   a   
   gruff and grumpy old man. But, when we listen to his words we hear the   
   wisdom of   
   God ringing through. It was said of him that he talked very little and it   
   was   
   perhaps the words he did say that influenced St. Benedict in his Rule, to   
   advise   
   the monks to restrain their speech because, "In a flood of words you will   
   not   
   avoid sin"(Proverbs 10:19). And Elsewhere, "The tongue holds the key to life   
   and   
   death"(Proverbs 18:21). Do our words bring life or are they a source of   
   pain,   
   violence or even death to those who hear them?   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   It is important that you choose your career with care, so that you may   
   really   
   follow the vocation that God has destined for you. No day should pass   
   without   
   some prayer to this end. Often repeat with St. Paul: "Lord, what will you   
   have   
   me do?   
   -St. John Bosco   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the   
   glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no injustice in him.   
   (John   
   7:18)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A Marian Prayer for recitation at a grotto or garden grown in honor of Mary:   
      
   Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost!   
      
   As our hearts are raised to Thee in love through the light, grace,   
   fragrance and growth of these pure, blessed, and transfigured flowers,   
   trees, shrubs and grasses of Our Lady, showing forth Thy goodness and   
   beauty, we pray that all souls upon this earth may be opened to the   
   fullness of the Divine love of God and act in charity for neighbor, through   
   which Thou doth wish to transform this fallen world into a peaceable   
   earthly Kingdom under Thy Reign, that all may be lifted up resplendent into   
   that coming Heavenly Jerusalem, where a new earth will emerge by the   
   sacrifice of our Crucified Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   
      
   Mindful of all who oppose Thee and the peace which only Thou doth give, we   
   pray for the conversion of all within and without Thy Church to Thy Holy   
   Faith; as do we also pray that adoration of Thine only-begotten Son,   
   Christ the King of heaven and earth, be spread to the four corners of the   
   earth by the intercession of the Mystical Rose,  Mary most holy.   
      
   We beseech this intention through the redemption and mercy of Thy Son: the   
   Heavenly, Eucharistic Lamb of God that was slain, and through the   
   intercession of St. Francis, apostle of the likeness of God in every   
   creature,   
   St. Paul, teacher of the place of all Creation in the Divine Plan of   
   Redemption,   
   St. Patrick, sanctifier of nature everywhere as wellspring of God's power,   
   St. Colomban, ever alert to find the grace of God in the woods and fields   
   of His creation,   
   St. Fiacre, reopener of the world to the outpouring of Divine Love through   
   gardens and gardening,   
   St. Rose of Lima, to whom the boy Jesus and his Mother were present in the   
   garden,   
   St. Isidore, assisted by Mary's angels in plowing the soil to feed those   
   that hunger,   
   St. Phocas, digger of earth in the hope of the Resurrection,   
   St. Dorothy, bestower on earth of Heavenly flowers and fruits,   
   St. Bernard, searcher of flowers for likenesses of Jesus and Mary,   
   St. Anselm, theologian of Our Lady's Queenship of redeemed nature,   
   St. Francis de Sales, quickener of spiritual life and growth through the   
   discernment of their mirroring in nature's unfolding,   
   St. John of the Cross, poet of the spiritual countryside of the soul's   
   mystical journey of love,   
   St. Louis de Montfort, nurtured in the spiritual paradise of Mary,   
   St. Theresa, showerer on earth of roses of heavenly love and grace,   
   St. Dominic, missionary of the power of the Rosary,   
   St. Bonaventure, proclaimer of the fullness of Mary's blessed and   
   Immaculate sharing and showing forth of the Divine goodness and saving   
   action.   
   St. Joseph, patron of all who labor for the building up of the Kingdom of   
   God,   
   and St. John, prophet of the descent of a new Heavenly Jerusalem.   
      
   We gather here in the stillness of this garden (grotto), composed of the   
   fruits of Thy creation and beauty, to ask most for the constant   
   intercession of our Mother:  the Blessed and Glorious Mary, Ever Virgin,   
   Mother of God, Mystical Rose, Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of all Graces, and   
   Queen of Heaven and Earth.  Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)