From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   March 16th - St. Heribert of Cologne   
      
   Heribert was born about the year 970. He was the son of Count Hugo of Worms.   
   His primary education was at the cathedral school in Worms, Germany. Later   
   he did further studies at the Benedictine Monastery at Gorze. He wanted to   
   enter the monastery at Gorze, but his father refused his consent. In   
   obedience to his father's wishes, Heribert returned to the family home in   
   Worms and was ordained to the priesthood.   
      
   While still a young priest Heribert was made chancellor by Emperor Otto III   
   in 994. In 998 Heribert was consecrated archbishop of Cologne. He had always   
   been uncomfortable with all the pomp of his office and tradition tells us   
   that he wore a hair shirt under his gold embroidered vestments. This enabled   
   him to always keep before his eyes the One God he was meant to serve.   
      
   Heribert took his responsibilities very seriously and spent many hours   
   preaching, helping the sick and needy and being a peacemaker throughout his   
   diocese. He made it a practice that his own income be divided between the   
   churches needs and the poor. He kept for himself only what was absolutely   
   necessary. He also sent money to trusted priests in other towns to help the   
   poor.   
      
   His bishopric was marred by the death of his friend, Emperor Otto III, and   
   by the mistrust and strained relationship with Otto's son, Duke Henry of   
   Bavaria, which would not be resolved until just before Heribert's death.   
      
   Archbishop Heribert was known for slipping away from his cathedral to seek   
   out the poor and sick. He would personally bathe them and care for their   
   needs.   
      
   Heribert was strong in maintaining the discipline of his clergy. His was an   
   era of great abuse in ecclesiastical as well as secular circles. He was   
   assiduous in his visitations to all the parishes in his diocese and it was   
   on such a visit that he contracted a fever. Realizing the imminence of his   
   death, he returned to Cologne and died on March 16, 1021.   
      
   Once again we meet an individual who had wealth, power and prestige, which   
   he could have used for himself. Instead, Heribert chose to serve God. As   
   best he could he lived a life of simplicity among opulence, giving all he   
   had to the poor and following in the footsteps of Jesus, which is why we   
   honor him today.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Taste the hidden sweetness that lies within your heart which God has kept   
   for those whose lives are tender within. Place your mind in the softness of   
   life's eternal flow. Place your soul in the brilliance of heaven's endless   
   glow; and love him totally who gave himself for your love, and you will hold   
   him who holds all things in truth.   
   --Saint Clare of Assisi   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see.  And ask for the old   
   paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it, and you shall find   
   refreshment for your souls.  (Jeremias 6:16)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   To Obtain Holy Perseverance.   
      
   O Queen of Heavens, I, who was once a miserable slave of Lucifer,   
   now dedicate myself to thee, to be thy servant forever;   
   I offer myself to thee, to be thy servant forever;   
   I offer myself to honor thee, and serve thee during my whole life;   
   do thou accept me, and refuse me not, as I should deserve.   
   O my Mother, in thee have I placed all my hopes,   
   from thee do I expect every grace. I bless and thank God,   
   who in his mercy has given me this confidence in thee,   
   which I consider a pledge of my salvation. Alas, miserable   
   wretch that I am, I have hitherto fallen, because I have not   
   had recourse to thee. I now hope that, through the merits   
   of Jesus Christ and thy prayers, I have obtained pardon.   
   But I may again lose divine grace; the danger is not past.   
   My enemies do not sleep. How many temptations have I still   
   to conquer! Ah, my most sweet Lady, protect me, and permit   
   me not again to become their slave; help me at all times.   
   I know thou wilt help me, and that with thy help I shall conquer,   
   if I recommend myself to thee; but this what I fear--I fear   
   that in time of danger I may neglect to call upon thee,   
   and thus be lost. I ask thee, then, for this grace; obtain that,   
   in the assaults of hell, I may always have recourse to thee,   
   saying, Mary help me. My Mother, permit me not to lose my God.   
   -Amen   
      
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The third joyful mystery prayer of the Eucharistic Rosary, to be offered   
   before the Blessed Sacrament:   
      
   The Nativity of our Lord, offered for the spirit of poverty, and detachment   
   from worldly goods:   
      
   O King of kings! poor indeed, yet most lovely in the crib of Bethlehem,   
   Thou callest the simple and the poor to be Thy first adorers: poorer and   
   no less amiable to the eyes of faith in the Sacrament of Thy love, Thou art   
   still delighted to see around Thy person the humble and the little.   
      
   O Jesus, in Thy destitution we adore Thee, to Whom belong all the treasures   
   of the Godhead, and we beg of Thee, through the intercession of Thy holy   
   Mother, detachment from the goods of this world.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)