From: trudie.Miller@cox.net   
      
   September 2nd  - St. Brocard   
      
   This 12th century saint was of French ancestry and a hermit monk at Mount   
   Carmel, near the Fountain of Elias, in Palestine. The superior of this   
   community, St. Berthold, died about the year 1195 and Brocard or Burchard as he   
   is sometimes known, was elected superior.   
      
   At this time in its history, the Carmelite hermit community had no common rule   
   of life. Brocard approached St. Albert, the papal legate and Latin Patriarch of   
   Palestine for assistance. St. Albert was a canon regular and at some time   
   between 1205 and 1210 he composed a brief, 16 chapter rule, which Brocard   
   imposed on the community. The rule obliged the hermits to live alone in their   
   cell, to come together daily for Mass, to recite the Divine Office, to support   
   themselves with the work of their hands and to follow the observance of   
   poverty,   
   perpetual abstinence and silence. They were to be obedient to Brocard as their   
   prior during his lifetime and to his successors.   
      
   In the early part of the 13th century, the 4th Lateran Council had passed a   
   resolution that no new orders could be founded. The community at Mount Carmel   
   was flourishing and spreading throughout Palestine. Attempts were made to   
   suppress it on the grounds that it had not received papal approval, but only   
   the   
   approval of the legate of Palestine. Tradition tells us that originally Pope   
   Honorius III had intended to suppress the order, but in a dream or vision was   
   asked by the Blessed Mother to approve their rule instead, which he did about   
   the year 1226.   
      
   During this time of struggle, Brocard was a true example of prudence and   
   virtuous living. He took seriously the example of monasticism as lived by Elias   
   and other Old Testament Prophets. Tradition tells us that he was well-versed in   
   Scripture and that St. Albert planned to take him to the next Lateran Council,   
   but Albert was murdered before the Council took place. Brocard died about the   
   year 1231. He was revered for his holy life and is credited with the healing   
   and   
   conversion of a very prominent Moslem Emir, as well as with the stabilization   
   of   
   the new Carmelite community during its founding and subsequent expansion   
   throughout Palestine and beyond.   
      
      
      
   Quote:   
   All perfection is founded upon only two principles, by means of which, with due   
   attention to the daily actions suited to our state, we shall certainly arrive   
   at   
   the summit and fullness of it.  The first principle is a very low esteem for   
   all   
   created things, but, above all, for ourselves.  This low esteem should show   
   itself, in practice, by renouncing ourselves and all creatures; in our hearts,   
   by a firm resolution; and in our lives, in such ways as may be suitable,   
   especially by manifesting contentment and cheerfulness when the Lord takes from   
   us any good.  The second principle is a very high esteem of God, which may be   
   easily acquired by the light of faith, as He is Omnipotent, the Supreme Good   
   and   
   our End; as also because He has loved us so much, and is ever present with us,   
   and guides us in all things, both as to nature and grace, and, in particular,   
   has called us and leads us by a special vocation to a lofty perfection.   
   -Fr. Achille Gagliardi   
      
   Bible Quote   
   Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among nations: That we may give   
   thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise.  (Psalms 105:47)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   During this month of September which gives us the exaltation   
   of the Holy Cross on the fourteenth, it traditionally is a month   
   devoted to that sacred tree.  The following are three prayers in   
   honor of the Cross of Christ:   
      
   The Cross is my sure salvation. The Cross it is that I worship   
   evermore. The Cross of our Lord is with me. The Cross is my   
   refuge.   
   -St. Thomas Aquinas   
      
      
   Assist us, O Lord our God; and defend us evermore by the   
   might of Thy holy Cross, in whose honor Thou makest us to   
   rejoice.  Through Christ our Lord. Amen.   
   - from the Roman Missal   
      
   O God, Who didst will to hallow the standard of the life-giving   
   Cross by the Precious Blood of Thine only-begotten Son; grant,   
   we beseech Thee, that they who rejoice in honoring the same   
   holy Cross, may rejoice also in Thine ever-present protection.   
   Through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen.   
   -Also from the Roman Missal   
      
   Imprimatur: + Francis Spellman, Archbp. of New York, May 30, 1951.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)