From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   May 18th - Saint Felix of Cantalice, Confessor   
   (1513-1587)   
      
   It was in a small village at the foot of Mount Appenine named Cantalice,   
   that   
   Saint Felix was born in 1513 of pious but poor parents, whose names were   
   Saint   
   and Sainte. It was not long before the little boy, when he approached the   
   other   
   children, was hailed by them: "Here comes Felix, the Saint!" He showed a   
   predilection for solitary prayer from his earliest youth, and as a little   
   shepherd used to retire to a quiet place to kneel there and meditate on the   
   Passion of Jesus.   
      
   When he was a little older, he resolved to take the habit of the Capuchin   
   Friars. The rigor of their rule could not deter him, but his obligations   
   could;   
   he was employed as a laborer. When his life was spared in an accident,   
   during   
   which two runaway bulls and a trailing plow should have killed him, the man   
   for   
   whom he was working saw the hand of God in his preservation and permitted   
   him to   
   leave, to enter religion. He was at that time nearly thirty years old, but   
   the   
   Superiors, observing his fervor, placed no obstacles.   
      
   In 1545 he pronounced his vows and was sent to Rome, where for forty years   
   he   
   begged for the community. His characteristic words to his companion were:   
   "Let   
   us go, my Brother, with rosary in hand, our eyes to the ground and our   
   spirit in   
   heaven." He was of an exquisite politeness, extreme gentleness and great   
   simplicity. The sick persons he visited at night became attached to him, and   
   for   
   his part, he sought them out everywhere in Rome, insofar as obedience   
   permitted.   
      
   One day on the street he met two duelists with sword in hand. He begged them   
   to   
   repeat after him, "Deo gratias!" which finally they did, and after taking   
   him as   
   arbiter of their quarrel, they separated as good friends. Saint Felix met   
   Saint   
   Philip Neri in Rome, and they became friends who wished one another all   
   possible   
   torments for the love of Jesus Christ. They sometimes remained together   
   without   
   speaking for considerable periods, seemingly transported with joy.   
      
   Saint Felix had a great devotion to the most Blessed Virgin, reciting Her   
   rosary   
   with such tenderness that he could not continue at times. He loved the Holy   
   Name   
   of Jesus, and invited the children he would meet to say it with him. He   
   slept   
   only for about two hours, going afterwards to the church and remaining there   
   in   
   prayer until the office of Prime; then he would serve the first Mass and   
   receive   
   Communion every day.   
      
   When he was sick and was given the last Sacraments, he saw the Blessed   
   Virgin   
   and a beautiful troop of Angels coming to fortify him in this last journey.   
   He   
   cried out in joy, and gave up his soul peacefully to his Creator in 1587. He   
   was   
   canonized by Pope Clement XI in 1712. His body is in the Capuchin Church of   
   Rome; a plenary indulgence is granted to those who, fulfilling the ordinary   
   conditions, visit a church of his Order on his feast day.   
      
   Reflection. Saint Felix did not have what the world esteems; his education   
   was   
   not brilliant. But he knew five red letters - the wounds of the divine   
   crucified   
   One, and one white one - the Virgin Mary, from whom he one day miraculously   
   received the divine Child in his arms.   
      
   Sources: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin   
   (Bloud   
   et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 5; Méditations séraphiques, IIe série: Saint   
   François et les Saints de l'Ordre Séraphique, by Rev. Jean de Ste-Eulalie,   
   O.F.M. (Imprimerie Franciscaine Missionnaire: Quebec City, 1919).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   If before us were laid together all the pains in Hell... and in Earth-death   
   and   
   the rest-and by itself, sin, we would rather choose all that pain than sin.   
   For   
   sin is so vile and so greatly to be hated that it may be likened to no pain   
   that   
   is not sin. To me was shown no harder hell than sin.   
   -Juliana of Norwich   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   I praise Thee, Father... that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and   
   prudent, and didst reveal them to little ones. St. Matthew 11:25   
      
   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL   
      
   (Imprimatur 1946)   
      
      
   First Day   
      
   PRAYERS FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
      
        One of the most consoling doctrines of the Catholic Church is that of   
   the   
   Communion of Saints. All men-the saints in Heaven, we upon earth, the souls   
   in   
   Purgatory - are members of one great family. By this "bond of perfection"   
   which   
   unites the Suffering and Triumphant Church with the Militant Church upon   
   earth,   
   incorporating them into one body, mutual charity becomes an obligation. This   
   reciprocal love, being the duty of all men, renders it imperative that all   
   should pray for one another, for in this general prayer, offered mutually,   
   Christian charity is most beautifully and eloquently expressed.   
        From this general obligation we derive the special duty to pray for the   
   suffering souls in Purgatory, who are unable in their extreme distress to do   
   aught for their own relief. It has always been the belief of holy Church,   
   that   
   the faithful, united in the Communion of Saints, can mutually assist each   
   other.   
   As the saints in Heaven pray for us, so must we also offer our petitions for   
   the   
   suffering souls in Purgatory, that God in His goodness and mercy, may   
   mitigate   
   and shorten their punishment, and hasten their entrance into Heaven. It is   
   the   
   doctrine of the Church that the faithful upon earth are really able to   
   relieve   
   the temporal punishment of the holy souls in Purgatory. "In this," says the   
   Roman Catechism, "the supreme mercy and goodness of God deserve our grateful   
   acknowledgment and praise, that He has granted to our frailty the privilege   
   that   
   one may satisfy for another."   
      
   Prayer: O Lord, Jesus Christ, Thou Who hast said, "Where there are two or   
   three   
   gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them," (Matt.   
   xviii.   
   20) look mercifully upon Thy holy Church, who implores "Thy clemency in   
   behalf   
   of her suffering members. End their intense pain, and open unto them the   
   portals   
   of the heavenly Jerusalem, that they may praise and bless Thee forever and   
   ever.   
   Amen.   
      
   Special Intercession: Pray for those who, during the course of their earthly   
   lives, did most to relieve the souls in Purgatory.   
      
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon   
   them;   
   may they rest in peace. Amen. (3 times)   
      
   Practice: Attend the public devotion for the suffering souls.   
      
   Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!   
      
   See entire 31day prayer at:   
   http://www.faithfuldeparted.net/prayers.html   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)