From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   March 30th - St. Zosimus of Syracuse, Bishop   
   (also known as Zozimus)   
      
   Died c. 660. At the tender age of seven, Saint Zosimus was offered to the   
   monastery of Santa Lucia, near Syracuse, Sicily, by his wealthy parents. As   
   a   
   child, he was deputed to watch over the relics of the virgin martyr-anathema   
   to   
   a boisterous country boy. He ran away from the monastery, back to his home.   
   In   
   disgrace, he was returned to Santa Lucia's, where he experienced a vision of   
   the   
   saint who seemed angry with him. She was appeased by Our Lady and accepted   
   the   
   boy's promise to diligently undertake his responsibility.   
      
   After that, he settled down and was a good and simple monk for thirty years,   
   then quickly succeeded to the positions of abbot and bishop of Syracuse. The   
   scene of his selection of abbot is reminiscent of the selection of the Old   
   Testament King David: The uncertain monks sought the help of their bishop.   
   After   
   scrutinizing all the monks gathered, he asked if there was no other monk   
   belonging to their number. Then they remembered Zosimus, whom they had left   
   to   
   guard the shrine and answer the door. The bishop sent for the missing monk.   
   Immediately upon seeing him the bishop exclaimed: "Behold him whom the Lord   
   has   
   chosen." He appointed him abbot and ordained him priest.   
      
   His reputation as a wise and charitable abbot led him to be elected bishop   
   by   
   the people at the death of Peter in 649. He did not want the position and   
   the   
   clergy had elected another, Vanerius, a vain and ambitious man. Pope   
   Theodore   
   settled the question by appointing and consecrating Zosimus. He faithfully   
   discharged all the duties of a worthy pastor and showed great liberality to   
   the   
   poor until his death at the age of 90. These details are drawn from a   
   reputedly   
   contemporary vita (Attwater2, Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth, Walsh).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When Scripture says, 'He will reward every man according to his works'   
   (Matthew   
   16:27), do not imagine that works in themselves merit either hell or the   
   Kingdom. On the contrary, Christ rewards each man according to whether his   
   works   
   are done with faith or without faith in Himself; and He is not a dealer   
   bound by   
   contract, but God our Creator and Redeemer.   
   --Saint Mark the Ascetic   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The Litany of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, composed by Pope Pius VII:   
      
   Lord, have mercy on us.   
   Christ, have mercy on us.   
   Lord, have mercy on us.   
   Christ, hear us.                                        Christ, graciously   
   hear   
   us.   
   God, the Father of heaven,                      Have mercy on us.   
   God the Son, Redeemer of the world,      Have mercy on us.   
   God the Holy Ghost,                          Have mercy on us.   
   Holy Mary, Mother of God,                 pray for us.   
   Holy Virgin of virgins,                         pray for us.   
   Mother of the Crucified,                      pray for us.   
   Sorrowful Mother,                               pray for us.   
   Mournful Mother,                                pray for us.   
   Sighing Mother,                                  pray for us.   
   Afflicted Mother,                                 pray for us.   
   Forsaken Mother,                               pray for us.   
   Desolate Mother,                                pray for us.   
   Mother most sad,                                pray for us.   
   Mother set around with anguish,         pray for us.   
   Mother overwhelmed by grief,             pray for us.   
   Mother transfixed by a sword,             pray for us.   
   Mother crucified in thy heart,               pray for us.   
   Mother bereaved of thy Son,               pray for us.   
   Sighing Dove,                                      pray for us.   
   Mother of Dolors,                                 pray for us.   
   Fount of tears,                                   pray for us.   
   Sea of bitterness,                              pray for us.   
   Field of tribulation,                             pray for us.   
   Mass of suffering,                              pray for us.   
   Mirror of patience,                             pray for us.   
   Rock of constancy,                            pray for us.   
   Remedy in perplexity,                       pray for us.   
   Joy of the afflicted,                            pray for us.   
   Ark of the desolate,                           pray for us.   
   Refuge of the abandoned,                pray for us.   
   Shield of the oppressed,                   pray for us.   
   Conqueror of the incredulous,           pray for us.   
   Solace of the wretched,                     pray for us.   
   Medicine of the sick,                          pray for us.   
   Help of the faint,                                pray for us.   
   Strength of the weak,                         pray for us.   
   Protectress of those who fight,           pray for us.   
   Haven of the shipwrecked,                 pray for us.   
   Calmer of tempests,                           pray for us.   
   Companion of the sorrowful,              pray for us.   
   Retreat of those who groan,               pray for us.   
   Terror of the treacherous,                   pray for us.   
   Standard-bearer of the Martyrs,          pray for us.   
   Treasure of the Faithful,                      pray for us.   
   Light of Confessors,                            pray for us.   
   Pearl of Virgins,                                   pray for us.   
   Comfort of Widows,                             pray for us.   
   Joy of all Saints,                                  pray for us.   
   Queen of thy Servants,                        pray for us.   
   Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled,       pray for us.   
      
   V. Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,   
   R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.   
      
   Let us pray, O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon,   
   a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious   
   Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her   
   Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and   
   reigns world without end,  AMEN.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)