From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   February 24th - St. Prix of Rouen, Bishop, Martyr   
   (Also known as Praetextatus)   
      
   Died February 25, 586. Saint Prix was chosen archbishop of Rouen in 549, and   
   in   
   557 he assisted at the third council of Paris, which was held to abolish   
   incestuous marriages and remove other abuses. He also attended the second   
   council of Tours in 566. King Clotaire I, divided his kingdom among his four   
   sons- Chilperic's share was that of Soissons, France. He married Galsvinda,   
   but   
   after her death married his mistress, Fredegonda, who was strongly suspected   
   of   
   poisoning her predecessor. (If you like soap operas, be sure to read a   
   complete   
   history of Clotaire's little family-intrigue, murder, incest-any vice you   
   can   
   think of was fair game.) Fredegonda then arranged the assassination of   
   Chilperic's brother King Sigebert in 575. Saint Prix incurred the wrath of   
   Fredegonda by zealously reproving her injustices and cruelties.   
      
   Chilperic threw Brunhilda (Brunehault), sister of his poisoned wife and wife   
   of   
   Sigebert, into prison at Rouen. She appealed for help to Meroveus,   
   Chilperic's   
   son by his first wife. Meroveus dreaded the wrath of Fredegonda and was   
   unwilling to plead her cause with his father. But he fell in love with his   
   aunt   
   and wanted to marry her.   
      
   In the events that followed, Saint Prix was induced to witness the marriage   
   of   
   Brunhilda and her blood nephew (and Saint Prix' godson) to prevent further   
   scandal, and was accused of high treason by Chilperic for doing this and for   
   supposedly fomenting a rebellion by giving aid to the prince. His actions   
   were   
   strongly defended by Saint Gregory of Tours before a council of bishops at   
   Paris   
   in 577. Nevertheless Prix was condemned by the council and banished to a   
   small   
   island near Coutances.   
      
   His sufferings there further sanctified his soul by penance and the exercise   
   of   
   all heroic Christian virtues. Slander by his enemies cost him many friends,   
   but   
   Saint Gregory remained a staunch ally.   
      
   Fredegonda arranged the assassination of her stepsons Meroveus and Clovis,   
   and   
   was suspected of contriving her husband's death also to clear the way to the   
   throne for her own son, Clotaire II. After a six-year exile, Prix was   
   restored   
   to his see by King Gontran of Orléans after the death of Chilperic.   
      
   In 585, Saint Prix participated in the framing of canons at the council of   
   Mâcon. He continued his pastoral labors and, in vain, often endeavored to   
   bring   
   Queen Fredegonda, who resided in Rouen, to repentance. Fredegonda grew   
   increasingly more wicked. In 586, she said to him, "The time is coming when   
   you   
   shall revisit the place of your exile." Saint Prix responded, "I was bishop   
   always, whether in exile or out of exile, and a bishop I shall remain; but   
   you   
   will not always enjoy your crown."   
      
   By her order, Saint Prix was assassinated (stabbed under his armpit) while   
   praying Matins in his church in the midst of his clergy on Sunday, February   
   25,   
   or according to other sources on Easter Sunday (April 14). Saint Prix is   
   honored   
   in the Roman and Gallician Martyrologies (Benedictines, Husenbeth, Walsh).   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Whoever humbleth himself shall be exalted. -Lk. 14:11   
      
   "To bear abasement and reproach is the touchstone of humility, and, at the   
   same   
   time, of true virtue. For in this, one becomes conformed to Jesus Christ,   
   who is   
   the true model of all solid virtues"   
   --St. Francis de Sales   
      
         The blessed Seraphino, a Capuchin lay-brother, being gate keeper, was   
   accustomed to pass much time in prayer in a little chapel in the garden,   
   opposite to the gate. One day the Father Guardian, passing that way with a   
   visiting Father, said to his companion, "Would you like to see a saint?"   
   Then   
   approaching the chapel, he reproved Seraphino severely, saying: "What are   
   you   
   doing here, hypocrite? The Lord teaches us to pray in a room with closed   
   doors,   
   and do you pray in public to be seen? Get up, rascal, and be ashamed of   
   deceiving poor strangers in such away!" Delighted with these reproofs,   
   Brother   
   Seraphino kissed the ground, and then went away with a countenance as full   
   of   
   satisfaction as if he had just heard some news which was much to his   
   pleasure or   
   advantage. Another day, he was asked by a companion for a needle and a   
   little   
   thread. He replied that he had a needle but no thread; when the other said   
   angrily: "It is plain that you are a fool, and were never good for anything!   
   What can the Order do with such an incapable man as you are? Go away, for I   
   cannot bear to look at you!" Then, without any anger or discomposure, he   
   turned   
   away from the monk who had reproached him, and after a little while came   
   back   
   with his usual serenity of countenance, to the great edification of his   
   fellow   
   religious.   
      
   (Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)   
      
   Bible Quote   
   1. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of   
   charity,   
   if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration: 2. Fulfil ye   
   my   
   joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one   
   accord,   
   agreeing in sentiment. 3. Let nothing be done through contention, neither by   
   vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:   
   4.   
   Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are   
   other   
   men's. 5. For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:   
   (Philippians 2:1-5)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A prayer to the Triune God:   
      
   Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our   
   first beginning and our last end, since Thou hast made us after Thine own   
   image and likeness, grant that all the thoughts of our minds, all the words   
   of our tongues, all the affections of our hearts and all our actions may be   
   always conformed to Thy most holy will, to the end that after having seen   
   Thee here below in appearances and in a dark manner by the means of faith,   
   we may come at last to contemplate Thee face-to-face in the perfect   
   possession of Thee for ever in paradise. Amen.   
      
   Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbp of New York, May 31, 1950.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)