From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   January 21st - St. Epiphanius, Bishop Of Pavia   
      
   The reputation of Epiphanius for holiness and miracles gave him the highest   
   credit with the weak Roman emperors of his time, and with the Kings Odoacer   
   and Theodoric, though all of opposite interests. By his eloquence and   
   charity he tamed savage barbarians, won life and liberty for whole armies of   
   captives, and secured the abolition of many oppressive laws, with the   
   mitigation of heavy public imposts and taxes. By his profuse charities he   
   preserved many of the famine-stricken from perishing, and by his zeal he   
   stemmed the torrent of iniquity in times of universal disorder. Epiphanius   
   undertook an embassy to the Emperor Anthemius, and another to King Euric at   
   Toulouse: both in the hope of averting war. He rebuilt Pavia, which had been   
   destroyed by Odoacer, and mitigated the fury of Theodoric in the heat of his   
   victories. He set out on a journey into Burgundy to redeem the captives   
   detained by Gondebald and Godegisilus, but on his return died of cold and   
   fever at Pavia, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. His death was really   
   that of a martyr of charity, and during his lifetime he seems to have been   
   honoured by his flock with profusion of endearing and complimentary names.   
   They called him the "peacemaker", the "glory of Italy", the "light of   
   bishops", and also Papa -i.e. the Father. His body was translated to   
   Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, in 963; Brower thinks it lies in a silver coffin   
   near the high altar.   
      
   See his panegyric in verse by Ennodius, his successor, reputed to be the   
   masterpiece of that author, edited in the Acta Sanctorum, as also in MGH.,   
   Auctores antiquissimi, vol. vii, pp. 84-110. Cf. Analecta Bollandiana, vol.   
   xvii (1898), pp. 124-127.   
      
   Born in Pavia, Italy, 439; died in Burgundy, France, in 497. Saint   
   Epiphanius, popularly called the "glory of Italy" and "light of bishops,"   
   was elected bishop of Pavia in 467. He had a reputation for sanctity,   
   charity to the poor, and working miracles, which put him in good standing   
   with the Roman emperors as well as Kings Odoacer and Theodoric. His   
   eloquence sometimes moved seemingly immovable forces to act justly.   
      
      
   Epiphanius served as ambassador to Emperor Anthemius and King Euric at   
   Toulouse. During his episcopate, Odoacer destroyed Pavia and the bishop   
   rebuilt it. In order to ransom some of his flock who were held captive by   
   Kings Gondebald and Godegisile, he travelled to Burgundy and there   
   contracted a fever that caused is death at age 58. His relics were   
   translated to Hildesheim in Lower Saxony in 963, where they may lie in a   
   silver coffin near the high altar. His successor at Pavia, Saint Ennodius,   
   wrote a panegyric about Epiphanius in verse (Attwater2, Benedictines,   
   Coulson, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).   
      
   Although the image does not seem to match the story, in art, Epiphanius is   
   supposed to be portrayed as a bishop going to his martyrdom with three   
   maidens: Luminosa, Speciosa, and Liberata (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost   
   imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. He does all   
   things in His time.   
   --St. Vincent de Paul   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    I sought the LORD, and he heard me,   
   and delivered me from all my fears.   
      
   They looked unto him, and were lightened:   
   and their faces were not ashamed.   
      
   This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him,   
   and saved him out of all his troubles.   
      
   The angel of the LORD encampeth round   
   about them that fear him, and delivereth them.   
   (Psalm 34:4-7)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL   
    (Imprimatur 1946)   
      
   Fifteenth Day   
      
   WE SHOULD BE IN THE STATE OF GRACE WHEN GAINING INDULGENCES FOR THE POOR   
   SOULS   
      
        Holy Church teaches us that the state of grace is necessary to perform   
   works that are merit-bearing for ourselves, and many Saints and holy   
   teachers of the science of God apply this same teaching to works and prayers   
   which have indulgences attached to them and are to be applied to the Poor   
   Souls. It is certain that if confession and Holy Communion are demanded for   
   gaining the particular indulgence, the indulgence is not gained unless the   
   person who performs these works is in God's favor at the time. A person who   
   may be, unfortunately, in the state of mortal sin, can have Masses said for   
   the faithful departed. He himself will acquire no merit thereby, but the   
   suffering souls will derive the full benefit of the Holy Sacrifice. As we   
   should always strive to be in the friendship and grace of God, if we have   
   any doubt about our condition or are certain that we have lost God's favor   
   then before trying to gain an Indulgence let us confess our sins or at least   
   strive to make an act of perfect contrition.   
      
        "He that abideth in Me," says Christ, and I in him, the same beareth   
   much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing."  (John xv, 5 )  If, then, we   
   are incapable of gaining merit for ourselves, how can we expect to benefit   
   others? St. Francis Xavier says: "Before being intent upon delivering souls   
   from Purgatory, take heed to redeem your own souls from hell," and here we   
   may add the word of the Lord spoken by His prophet: "Wash yourselves, clean,   
   take away the evil of your devices from my eyes: cease to do perversely."   
   (Isaias I. 16.)   
      
   Prayer: Grant us the grace, O lord ! to avoid sin at all times, and confirm   
   us in Thy charity, that, by Thy bounty, our supplications for the suffering   
   souls may be acceptable to Thee, and beneficial to them. Through Christ, our   
   Lord: Amen.   
      
   Special Intercession: Pray for the souls of those who were careful never to   
   lose the grace of God.   
      
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon   
   them; may they rest in peace. Amen.   (Three times)   
      
   Practice: Make an act of perfect contrition.   
      
   Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!   
      
      
   See entire prayer at:   
   http://www.faithfuldeparted.net/prayers.html   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)