From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   October 26th - Bl. Bonaventure of Potenza   
   d. 1711   
      
   Bonaventure was born of poor but virtuous parents in Potenza in the kingdom   
   of   
   Naples. A pious priest gave the boy instructions in Latin. At the age of 15,   
   Bonaventure received the Franciscan habit among the Conventuals. After his   
   profession, he resumed his studies with great ardor, but his zeal for   
   perfection   
   was less ardent.   
      
   His superiors sent him to Amalfi, where he lived eight years under the   
   guidance   
   of an eminent director of souls. This spiritual director trained his pupil   
   above   
   all in humility, self abnegation, and obedience, and Bonaventure achieved a   
   high   
   degree of perfection in these virtues.   
      
   One day Bonaventure told his master that the key to the sacristy was lost.   
   "Well," said his master with a smile, "then you will have to look for it in   
   the   
   well; get a rod and fish it out." Promptly Bonaventure went to the well and   
   with   
   rod and line fished for the key. It was not long before he actually drew it   
   out.   
   God rewarded him in a miraculous manner for his blind obedience.   
      
   As a priest he labored with remarkable success. His words, conduct, prayer,   
   and   
   mortification combined to produce blessed results. His simple sermons made a   
   deep impression on all hearts. At times a single word of his was enough to   
   move   
   the most hardened sinner to contrition.   
      
   At various times he was appointed guardian of a convent, but his humble   
   pleas   
   were always successful in changing the mind of his superiors. Obedience at   
   length compelled him to accept the position of novice master. In this office   
   he   
   sought to inculcate in his pupils above all the practice of humility and   
   obedience.   
      
   An epidemic broke out among the townsfolk, and Bonaventure at once   
   sacrificed   
   himself. Fearless of contracting the disease, he hastened from end to end of   
   the   
   town, rendering every possible service to the stricken, even the lowliest,   
   and   
   administering the sacraments to them. He cured many miraculously; he   
   multiplied   
   their insufficient provisions by his blessing, and he foretold future   
   events.   
      
   After Bonaventure had been a shining model of virtue among his brethren for   
   45   
   years, he felt that his last hour was at hand. While the community gathered   
   about his bed during the administration of the last sacraments, the dying   
   man in   
   touching words begged pardon of his superior and the community for his many   
   faults and infractions of the rule, as he called them.   
      
   Deeply moved, the superior handed him the crucifix, and amid abundant tears   
   the   
   servant of God kissed the feet of the Savior, and then died peacefully on   
   October 26, 1711. Pope Pius VI beatified him in 1775.   
      
   ON SPIRITUAL PRIDE   
   1. Consider in Blessed Bonaventure the example of a saint who began with   
   humility, advanced by humility, and reached the pinnacle of sanctity by   
   humility. So much is sanctity bound up with humility. It rests on humility   
   as   
   its foundation, only by means of this virtue can it increase, and humility   
   alone   
   makes it possible to persevere in sanctity unto a blessed end. Learn from   
   this   
   how destructive spiritual pride must be. Anybody who is leading a religious   
   life   
   or striving after Christian perfection and proudly considers himself better   
   than   
   others or presumes to think he amounts to anything in the sight of God, has   
   a   
   worm gnawing interiorly at all the good and pious practices he performs. He   
   actually amounts to nothing before God, and if he persists in being proud he   
   will eventually be lost. When spiritual pride had laid hold of the angels,   
   they   
   were cast into hell and became devils. Then the devil seduced our first   
   parents   
   by making them believe they would be like God. -- Does he perhaps use the   
   same   
   ruse to tempt you?   
   2. Consider how pride, like a smooth serpent, creeps in unobserved. It is   
   part   
   of our fallen nature. "Nature," says Thomas a Kempis (3:54), "labors for its   
   own   
   interests; it willingly receives honor and respect, but is afraid of shame   
   and   
   contempt." Hence it happens that we take pleasure in thinking of our good   
   works   
   and advantages, always speaking about ourselves, and in setting ourselves up   
   as   
   models for others. "Not he who commends himself, is approved, but he whom   
   God   
   commends" (2 Cor 10:18). Recall the parable of the proud Pharisee and the   
   humble   
   publican, which our Lord addressed to those who trusted in their justice   
   while   
   they despised the rest of men. "This man went down into his house justified,   
   rather than the other" (Luke 18:14). -- Which of the two do you resemble?   
   3. Consider how we should struggle against pride and self-sufficiency. We   
   must   
   often plead with God as did the Wise Man: "O Lord, Father and God of my   
   life,   
   leave me not to their devices. Give me not haughtiness of my eyes, and turn   
   away   
   from me all coveting" (Eccli 23:4-5). Then, too, for our humiliation, we   
   should   
   reflect on our faults and our sins. Just as the proud peacock, on spreading   
   its   
   brilliant feathers, immediately drops his wings when he sees his ugly feet,   
   so   
   will a look at our failures soon chase away pride. Finally, imitate Blessed   
   Bonaventure by exercising yourself in acts of obedience and humility. Think   
   of   
   Mary, who called herself a handmaid of the Lord at a time when an angel   
   announced God's greatest prerogatives of grace to her. Say to God: "O Lord I   
   am   
   Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaid" (Ps 115:7).   
      
   PRAYER OF THE CHURCH   
   O God, who didst propose Blessed Bonaventure, Thy confessor, to us as an   
   admirable example of obedience, grant, we beseech Thee, that like him we may   
   deny our will and adhere to Thy commandments. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   The measure of charity may be taken from the want of desires.  As desires   
   diminish in a soul, charity increases in it; and when it no longer feels any   
   desire, then it possesses perfect charity.   
   -St. Augustine   
      
   Bible Quote   
   13 I had many things to write unto thee: but I would not by ink and pen   
   write to   
   thee. 14 But I hope speedily to see thee, and we will speak mouth to mouth.   
   Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.  (3   
   John   
   1:13-14)   
      
      
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   Indulgenced Prayers   
      
   O blessed Trinity, one God, in Thee I believe, in Thee I hope,   
   Thee I love, Thee I adore, have mercy on me now and at the   
   hour of my death, and save me.   
      
   Almighty, everlasting God, grant us an increase of faith, hope,   
   and charity; and that we may merit to attain what Thou dost   
   promise, grant us to love what Thou dost ordain. Through   
   Christ Our Lord. Amen.   
      
   Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory,   
   my understanding, and all my will, whatsoever I have and possess.   
   Thou hast given all these things to me;   
   to Thee, O Lord, I restore them; all are Thine,   
   dispose of them all according to Thy Will.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)