From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   August 5th - St. Nonna of Nazianzen, Matron (RM)   
      
   Died 374. A Christian, Saint Nonna married Gregory, a magistrate of   
   Nazianzus,   
   Cappadocia, who was a member of the Hypsistarians, a Jewish-pagan group, and   
   converted him to Christianity. He became a priest and then bishop and is   
   Saint   
   Gregory Nazianzen the Elder. Their three children all became saints: Saint   
   Gregory Nazianzen, Caesarius of Nazianzen, and Gorgonia. But each followed a   
   different path to sanctity because she was a good mother who realized that   
   God's   
   plan was different for each of them and encouraged them to follow His   
   calling.   
   Caesarius was a court physician, Gregory a monk and bishop, and Gorgonia a   
   wife   
   and mother.   
      
   Nonna is the model of a perfect Christian mother who is dissatisfied with   
   simply   
   bringing her children into the world and preparing them to live in it. She   
   desired that they all be brought to heaven. Her son Gregory wrote: "My   
   father   
   was in truth a second Abraham and was a man of the highest virtue. . . . My   
   mother was a worthy companion for such a man and her qualities were as great   
   as   
   his. She came from a pious family, but was even more pious than they.   
   Through in   
   her body she was but a woman, in her spirit she was above all men. . . . Her   
   mouth knew nothing but the truth, but in her modesty she was silent about   
   those   
   deeds which brought her glory. She was guided by the fear of God. . . ."   
   (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia).   
      
   PRAYER: Inspire all mothers, Saint Nonna, to raise their children to be   
   saints,   
   as you did.  Amen.   
      
      
   Nonna (1), mother of Gregory Nazianzen ; a lady of good birth, the child of   
   Christian parents, Philtatius and Gorgonia, brought up in the practice of   
   the   
   Christian virtues, of which she was so admirable an example. Her son   
   describes   
   in glowing terms the holiness of her life and the beautiful conformity of   
   all   
   her actions to the highest standards of Christian excellence. To her   
   example,   
   aided by her prayers, he ascribes the conversion of his father from the   
   strange   
   medley of paganism and Christianity which formed the tenets of the   
   Hypsistarian   
   sect, to which by birth he belonged (Greg. Naz. Or. ii, 19; Carm. 1, 2). We   
   know   
   of two other children of the marriage, a sister named Gorgonia, probably   
   older   
   than Gregory, and a brother named Caesarius. Nonna's death probably occurred   
   on   
   Aug. 5 (on which day she is commemorated both by the Greek and Latin   
   churches)   
   in 374 (Orat. 19, p. 315; Carm. 1, p. 9). Tillem. Mém. eccl. t. ix. pp.   
   309-311,   
   317, 318, 322, 385, 397.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Humility is necessary not only for the acquisition of virtues, but even for   
   salvation.  For the gate of Heaven, as Christ Himself testifies, is so   
   narrow   
   that it admits only little ones.   
   --St. Bernard   
      
   Bible Quote   
   He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us according   
   to   
   our iniquities.  For according to the height of the heaven above the earth:   
   he   
   hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.  (Psalms 102:10-11)   
      
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Oblatio Sui (Prayer of Self-Dedication to Jesus Christ),   
   of Saint Ignatius of Loyola:   
      
   Lord Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my memory, my   
   understanding, and my will. All that I have and cherish   
   Thou hast given me. I surrender it all to be guided by Thy   
   will. Thy grace and Thy love are wealth enough for me.   
   Give me these Lord Jesus and I ask for nothing more.   
   Amen.   
      
      
   <><><><><>   
   NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST   
      
   FOR FRIDAY AFTER ASCENSION Thursday -- Saturday, the Vigil of Pentecost; but   
   I   
   find this novena to be most efficacious year round.   
      
   This is the prototype of all novenas. It commemorates the nine days between   
   the   
   Ascension of Our Lord and the descent of the Holy Ghost on the first   
   Pentecost   
   Sunday. During this time Our Lady and the twelve Apostles prayed in the   
   Cenacle   
   for the coming of the Paraclete. Our Lord Himself instituted this novena,   
   and it   
   is celebrated every year by the whole Church.   
      
      
   Primary Intention: Like the Apostles, we pray that the Holy Ghost will come   
   into   
   our lives and set the Church and faithful on fire with true Apostolic zeal.   
      
   Secondary Intention: On Pentecost Sunday every year, we renew our   
   consecration   
   to Jesus through Mary as prescribed by Saint Louis Marie de Montfort. On   
   this   
   solemn occasion, we pray that we may be true to our consecration and live it   
   ever more faithfully during the year to come. Every member of the Crusade   
   should   
   feel that he or she has a special obligation to make this novena.   
      
   Form for the novena: State the intentions given above, and then open your   
   heart   
   to God the Holy Ghost in this prayer:   
      
   O Holy Ghost, O my God, I adore Thee, and acknowledge, here in Thy divine   
   presence, that I am nothing and can do nothing without Thee. Come, great   
   Paraclete, Thou father of the poor, Thou comforter the best, fulfill the   
   promise   
   of our blessed Savior, Who would not leave us orphans, and come into the   
   mind   
   and the heart of Thy poor, unworthy creature, as Thou didst descend on the   
   sacred day of Pentecost on the holy Mother of Jesus and on His first   
   disciples.   
   Grant that I may participate in those gifts which Thou didst communicate to   
   them   
   so wonderfully, and with so much mercy and generosity. Take from my heart   
   whatever is not pleasing to Thee, and make of it a worthy dwelling-place for   
   Thyself. Illumine my mind, that I may see and understand the things that are   
   for   
   my eternal good.  Inflame my heart with pure love of Thee, that I may be   
   cleansed from the dross of all inordinate attachments, and that my whole   
   life   
   may be hidden with Jesus in God.  Strengthen my will, that I may be made   
   comfortable to Thy divine will, and be guided by Thy holy inspirations. Aid   
   me   
   by Thy grace to practice the divine lessons of humility, poverty, obedience,   
   and   
   contempt of the world, which Jesus taught us in His mortal life.   
      
   Oh, rend the heavens, and come down, consoling Spirit!  That inspired and   
   encouraged by Thee, I may faithfully comply with the duties of my state,   
   carry   
   my daily cross most patiently, and endeavor to accomplish the divine will   
   with   
   the utmost perfection. Spirit of love! Spirit of purity! Spirit of peace!   
   Sanctify my soul more and more, and give me that heavenly peace which the   
   world   
   cannot give. Bless our Holy Father the Pope, bless the Church, bless our   
   bishops, our priests, all Religious Orders, and all the faithful, that they   
   may   
   be filled with the spirit of Christ and labor earnestly for the spread of   
   His   
   kingdom.   
      
   O Holy Ghost, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant me, I beseech   
   Thee, the intentions of this novena.  May Thy will be done in me and through   
   me.   
   Mayest Thou be praised and glorified forevermore! Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)