From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   May 21st - Saint Andrew Bobola, Jesuit, Martyr   
      
   (1592-1657)   
      
   Saint Andrew Bobola, born in Poland in 1592, was sent while still young to   
   the   
   Jesuit school at Sandomir; his family had always protected the Jesuits and   
   shown   
   itself very liberal towards them. God blessed both the family and the   
   Jesuits in   
   this future martyr, who would bring both of them great glory. He entered   
   that   
   Order in 1611.   
      
   As a student he showed great talent, and after studying philosophy for three   
   years taught it in their institutes. In 1622 he was ordained a priest. Three   
   years later he was employed in preaching at the church of Saint Casimir at   
   Wilna; in 1630 he became Superior of the residence of Bobruisk. During a   
   pestilence he spared himself no pains in caring for the sick, without   
   contracting the malady.   
      
   Saint Andrew in 1636 resigned his post as Superior to preach for twenty-one   
   years along all the roads of Lithuania, which he was evangelizing. Poland   
   and   
   Lithuania, its neighbor, were being ravaged in those days by the Cossacks,   
   Russians and Tartars, and the Jesuits suffered much from these invaders, who   
   did   
   not like them and their religion. The people were enduring great misery;   
   Father   
   Andrew sustained their courage and helped to combat the invading religious   
   errors.   
      
   At Pinsk the Jesuits were offered a refuge by a Catholic prince. When Saint   
   Andrew went there, he was already certain that he was going to martyrdom, as   
   this was a center for the enemies of the Latin Church. Everywhere he was   
   hooted   
   and harassed, and the organized bad treatment continued for several years.   
   Even   
   the children hounded him, instructed by their elders. The holy priest   
   considered   
   it a joy to resemble his Master, for is not that the happiness of every   
   disciple?   
      
   One day his enemies decided to put an end to him. They waited for him after   
   he   
   had said Mass, pursued him and attached him to a tree, where they beat him,   
   then   
   led him to their leader with a cord around his neck. The barbaric soldiers,   
   at   
   their chief's orders, tore out one of his eyes, nearly severed his hand with   
   a   
   blow from a saber, then burnt him with torches, telling him to renounce his   
   faith. He was then strangled and the skin of his head and back hacked off.   
   Like   
   the great Canadian martyr John de Brebeuf, his nose and lips were cut off,   
   and   
   he was thrown on a heap of rubble; but two hours later it was still   
   necessary to   
   end the life of the victim for Christ with a blow from a saber. He was   
   buried by   
   the Catholics at the Jesuit College at Pinsk.   
      
   Forty-five years later, by a miracle, God revealed the whereabouts of his   
   forgotten tomb to the Jesuit Fathers, who had seen the continuing evils of   
   war   
   ruin many of their works. His tombstone, then buried underground, was found   
   after the Saint appeared twice in vision to the Rector of the College,   
   saying he   
   wished to protect his brethren and the students, and indicating to him the   
   location of his grave. His mutilated body was incorrupt, and a fine   
   fragrance   
   came from the open tomb. Saint Andrew was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1853,   
   and   
   canonized in April of 1938 by Pope Pius XI.   
      
   Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin   
   (Bloud et   
   Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 5.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Complain as little as possible of your wrongs, for, as a general rule, you   
   may   
   be sure that complaining is sin: ... because self-love always magnifies our   
   injuries.   
   -François de Sales   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me that I am meek and humble of heart;   
   and   
   you will find rest for your souls. St. Matthew 11:29   
      
      
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   Daily Thoughts and Prayers for Our Beloved Dead   
      
   "Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand   
   of   
   the Lord hath touched me" Job. 19-21.   
      
      
   TWENTY-SIXTH DAY   
      
   It costs us very little to help the faithful departed. We are obliged to   
   pray-to   
   assist at Mass, to receive the Sacraments-to give alms, and to fast on the   
   days   
   appointed. If we are in the state of grace, and offer these works for the   
   Holy   
   Souls, they are acceptable to God and speed their relief.   
      
   Prayer:  Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.   
      
   De Profundis   
      
      Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee,   
   O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.   
      Let Thine ears be attentive to the   
   voice of my supplication.   
      If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark my iniquities,   
   O Lord, who shall stand it?   
      For with Thee there is merciful   
   forgiveness: and by reason of Thy   
   law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.   
   My soul hath relied on His word;   
   my soul hath hoped in the Lord.   
      From the morning watch even until   
   night; let Israel hope in the Lord.   
   Because with the Lord there is mercy;   
   And with Him plenteous redemption.   
      And He shall redeem Israel from   
   all its iniquities.   
      Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,   
   And let perpetual light shine upon them:   
      May they rest in peace. Amen.   
      
   Most merciful Jesus, release the Souls in Purgatory from the results of   
   their   
   imperfections, especially the soul suffering there through my bad example.   
   Take   
   him today to Thy Heavenly Throne, that he may join the Saints in praise of   
   Thee   
   and will intercede for me in my hour of need.   
      
   See entire prayer at:   
   http://halfthekingdom.com/daily%20thoughts%20and%20prayers.html   
      
      
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   GRACES   
      
   All around are fruits of glory,   
   Sweet and ripened on the vine;   
   Pluck these seeds of untold story,   
   Eat of fruits that are divine!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)