From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   December 23rd - St.  John of Kanty   
      
   St. John Kanty receives his name from his birthplace, Kant, near Oswiecim in   
   Poland. His parents were country folk of respectable position and, seeing   
   that their son was as quick and intelligent as he was good, they sent him in   
   due course to the University of Cracow.   
      
   After his ordination, John was appointed to a Iectureship or chair at the   
   University. He was known to lead a very strict life, and when he was warned   
   to look after his health he replied by pointing out that the fathers of the   
   desert were notably long-lived.   
      
   There is a story told that once when he was dining, a famished looking   
   beggar passed the door. John jumped up and carried out all his food to the   
   man; when he returned to his seat he found his plate again full -   
   miraculously. This, it is said, was long commemorated in the university by   
   setting aside a special meal for a poor man every day; when dinner was ready   
   the vice-president would cry out in Latin, "A poor man is coming, to which   
   the president replied "Jesus Christ is corning," and the man was then   
   served. But while he was yet alive John's success as a preacher and teacher   
   raised up envy against him, and his rivals managed to get him removed and   
   sent as a parish priest to Olkusz. John turned to his new work with single   
   hearted energy, but his parishioners did not like him and he himself was   
   afraid of the responsibilities of the position. Nevertheless he persevered   
   for some years, and by the time h'e was recalled to Cracow had so far won   
   his people's hearts that they accompanied him on part of the road with such   
   grief that he said to them: "This sadness does not please God. If I have   
   done any good for you in all these years, sing a song of joy."   
      
   St. John's second appointment at the University was as professor of Sacred   
   Scripture, and he held it to the end of his life. He left such a reputation   
   that his doctoral gown was for long used to invest each candidate at the   
   conferring of degrees, but his fame was not all confined to academic   
   circles. He was a welcome guest at the table of the nobility (once his   
   shabby cassock caused the servants to refuse him admission, so he went away   
   and changed it. During the meal a dish was upset over the new one. "No   
   matter," be said, "my clothes deserve some dinner because to them I owe the   
   pleasure of being here at all."), and he was known to all the poor in   
   Cracow. His goods and money were always at their disposal, and time and   
   again they literally "cleared him out." But his own needs were few; he slept   
   on the floor, never ate meat, and when he went to Rome he walked all the way   
   and carried his luggage on his back. He was never weary of telling his   
   pupils to "fight all false opinions, but let your weapons be patience,   
   sweetness and love. Roughness is bad for your own soul and spoils the best   
   cause." Several miracles were reported of St. John, and when news got round   
   the city that he was dying there was an outburst of sorrow. "Never mind   
   about this prison which is decaying" he said to those who were looking after   
   him, "but think of the soul that is going to leave it." He died on Christmas   
   Eve 1473, at the age of eighty three. St. John Kanty was canonized in 1767.   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   I have not done any mighty or heroic deeds. I am just an ordinary   
   person like those at Ephesus whom Paul greets "to the saints who are   
   faithful." that's what Jesus said, "only believe" "have faith" be   
   faithful.   
   -St William of Winchester.   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his   
   correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son   
   in whom he delighteth.  (Proverbs 3:11-12)   
      
      
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   We thank you, O Master, lover of mankind, King of the ages and giver of   
   all good things, for destroying the dividing wall of enmity and granting   
   peace to those who seek your mercy. We appeal to you to awaken the longing   
   for a peaceful life in all those who are filled with hatred for their   
   neighbors, thinking especially of those at war or preparing for war. Grant   
   peace to your servants. Implant in them the fear of you and confirm in them   
   love one for another. Extinguish every dispute and banish all temptations to   
   disagreement. For you are our peace and to you we ascribe glory: to the   
   Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto ages   
   of ages. Amen.   
      
       Three-fold Litany:   
     We pray, O Lord our God, for all those who suffer from acts of war,   
   especially for the victims and all those in the struggle in [.............].   
   We pray for your peace and your mercy in the midst of the great suffering   
   that people are now inflicting on each other. Accept the prayers of your   
   Church, so that by your goodness peace may return to all peoples. Hear us   
   and have mercy on us.   
       Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.   
      
     O Lord our God, remember and have mercy on our brothers and sisters who   
   are involved in civil conflict. Remove from their midst all hostility,   
   confusion and hatred. Lead everyone along the path of reconciliation and   
   peace, we pray you, hear us and have mercy on us.   
     Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.   
      
     Let all believers turn aside from violence and do what makes for peace. By   
   the strength of your mighty arm save your people and your Holy Church from   
   all evil oppression; hear the supplications of all who call to you in sorrow   
   and affliction, day and night. O merciful God, let their lives not be lost,   
   we pray you, hear us and have mercy.   
       Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.   
      
     But grant, O Lord, peace, love and speedy reconciliation to your people   
   whom you have redeemed with you precious blood. Make your presence known to   
   those who have turned away from you and do not seek you, so that none of   
   them may be lost, but all may be saved and come to the knowledge of the   
   truth, so that everyone, in true love and harmony, O long-suffering Lord,   
   may praise your all holy Name. Amen.   
      
      
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   Divine precepts we must live by:   
      
   The Eleven Moral Virtues   
   Prudence - Justice - Fortitude - Temperance - Filial Piety -Obedience -   
   Veracity - Liberality - Patience - Humility - Chastity or Purity   
      
   The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy   
   Admonish the sinner - Instruct the ignorant - Counsel the doubtful -   
   Comfort the sorrowful - Bear wrongs patiently - Forgive all injuries  -   
   Pray for the living and the dead   
      
   The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy   
   Feed the hungry - Give drink to the thirsty - Clothe the naked  -   
   Visit the imprisoned - Shelter the homeless -   
   Visit the sick - Bury the dead   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)