From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   March 25th - St. Lucy Filippini   
      
   Born in Corneto or Tarquinia, Tuscany, Italy, January 13, 1672; died at   
   Montefiascone, Italy, on March 25, 1732; canonized in 1930.   
      
   Marc'Antonio Cardinal Barbarigo discovered the pedagogical genius of Lucia   
   Filippini, who had been orphaned while still quite young. In her native town   
   of   
   Corneto, he saw young and old gathered about a little girl in the market   
   place,   
   listening to the child as she explained the catechism. He took the little   
   girl   
   with him on the very same day to the episcopal city of Montefiascone, and   
   had   
   her instructed by the Poor Clares.   
      
   She joined Blessed Rosa Venerini in training school mistresses at   
   Montefiascone.   
   Although Rose began the work, she died before it matured into the   
   flourishing   
   Italian institute of the Maestre Pie, or Filippine, of which Saint Lucy is   
   venerated as the co-foundress. Lucy devoted the rest of her life to   
   improving   
   the status of women, and founding schools and educational centers for girls   
   and   
   women throughout Italy. In 1707, she was called to Rome by Pope Clement XI   
   to   
   establish the first school of the institute there. Lucy endeared herself to   
   the   
   people of Rome during her tenure.   
      
   In a parchment laid in her grave at the Cathedral of Montefiascone, the   
   saint is   
   lovingly described: "After she had lost both her parents, Cardinal   
   Marc'Antonio   
   Barbarigo of blessed memory took her into his care. He later availed himself   
   of   
   her services in the founding of schools of Christian doctrine for young   
   girls.   
   Active with the greatest ardor for this foundation and its propagation, she   
   fully realized the importance of this work for the glory of God, the saving   
   of   
   souls, and the Christian education of women.   
      
   "Her ability and experience made her work flourish and spread to our diocese   
   and   
   to many others. Her endeavors earned her the name of una donna forte-a   
   strong   
   woman. Though she lived wholly for her foundation, she never ceased praying   
   at   
   the feet of the Lord, thus uniting, in admirable fashion, the virtues of   
   Martha   
   and Mary.   
      
   "To set her up also as a model of invincible patience, God put her to the   
   severest tests. She died on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1732,   
   at   
   the age of 60, of cancer, in terrible pain, which she endured with supreme   
   patience."   
      
   A portrait reveals that she was a very pretty woman (Attwater2,   
   Benedictines,   
   Delaney, Encyclopedia, Schamoni).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Gaze upon the Lord,   
   Gaze upon his face;   
   Gaze upon the One who holds you in his embrace.   
   Gaze upon his life;   
   Gaze upon his love;   
   Gaze upon his coming poor from heaven above.   
   --Saint Clare of Assisi   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Today is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is   
   the   
   great festival of the Incarnation, commemorating the announcement by the   
   Archangel Gabriel to Our Lady that the Divine Son of God, the Word, would   
   take   
   human nature upon Him in her virginal womb.  Its date is determined by that   
   of   
   Christmas Day, and as the day which marked the beginning of Christian   
   dispensation it was for many centuries regarded as the first day of the   
   civil   
   year.   
      
   On this day the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, uniting forevermore   
   our   
   human nature to the Divine nature.  The Mystery of the Incarnation brings   
   vividly before us the boundless condescension and humility of God the Son in   
   stooping to our condition in order to be our Saviour.  Equally it proclaims   
   the   
   glory and greatness of Mary, who was chosen to give to the Divine Word human   
   flesh and human birth, and so to co-operate with God in the restoration of   
   mankind.  Hence her most glorious title of "Mother of God," which explains   
   all   
   her glories, her sanctity and her honor.   
      
   (Taken from the New Marian Missal)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The second glorious mystery prayer of the Eucharistic   
   Rosary, to be offered before the Blessed Sacrament:   
      
   The Ascension of Our Lord, offered for confidence in God   
   and desire of heaven.   
      
   O divine Saviour!  Thy triumph in this mystery has reached   
   its perfection! By raising Thyself up to heaven through Thy   
   own power, Thou hast taken possession of Thy Kingdom, and   
   Thou art seated at the right hand of Thy Father to be forever   
   the joy of the angels and saints.  Every day also without   
   quitting Thy throne Thou comest upon our altars, under the   
   form of bread, to bring us a foretaste of the heavenly   
   beatitude.   
      
   O Thou, the delight of pure souls, we adore Thee and we beg   
   of Thee, through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, an   
   ardent desire of possessing Thee here below under the   
   Eucharistic veils, and to possess Thee in heaven in the   
   splendor of Thy glory.   
      
   Imprimatur:  + John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York,   
   Sept 19, 1908.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)