From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   June 18th - Blessed Osanna of Mantua, Nun, Visionary   
      
   Born in Mantua, Lombardy, Italy, 1449; died 1505; cultus confirmed by Popes   
   Leo   
   X and Innocent XII; beatified in 1694. Osanna Andreassi was the daughter of   
   the   
   wealthy patrician Andreasio. She experienced visions from her early   
   childhood,   
   but kept the experiences to herself. At the age of six, she saw the Child   
   Jesus   
   carrying a cross and wearing a crown of thorns. He told her that He has a   
   special love of children and purity. She was so impressed, as we all would   
   be,   
   that she immediately consecrated her entire life to God.   
      
   Osanna begged her father to allow her to learn to read so that she might be   
   able   
   to pray the Divine Office. He refused her request because it was a waste for   
   a   
   woman who was expected simply to raise a family. Osanna couldn't explain why   
   she   
   wanted to learn; she couldn't reveal her plans to him. When she was 14 and   
   knew   
   that he was arranging a marriage for her, she furtively went to the   
   Dominican   
   church and received the habit of its tertiaries. When she appeared at home   
   in   
   her religious garb, she explained that she had made a vow and must wear it   
   until   
   she had fulfilled her promise.   
      
   Now, this should not be understood as condoning deceit, but it served God's   
   purpose. Her pious father accepted her explanation for a time. As the months   
   passed he began to suspect what had happened. He had already refused to give   
   her   
   permission to enter the convent, and he was displeased that she should try   
   to   
   live as a tertiary in his own home. Eventually, his father's heart melted   
   and he   
   allowed Osanna to continue her routine of prayer, penance, and charity for   
   the   
   rest of her life. She was not professed until a few months before her death   
   forty-two years later.   
      
   After the early death of both her parents, Osanna spent her fortune in the   
   service of the poor. Her house became a center for people to discuss   
   spiritual   
   matters, for the needy and the sick, for the wealthy and the noble.   
      
   It is said that like Saint Catherine, she miraculously learned to read. One   
   day   
   she saw a piece of paper with two words and said, "Those words are 'Jesus'   
   and   
   'Mary.'" From that time she could read anything pertaining to spiritual   
   matters.   
   By the same sort of favor, she also learned to write.   
      
   At age 28 (1477), Osanna received the mark of the wound in Jesus' side,   
   caused   
   by a long nail. For the next year various of the sacred wounds would appear,   
   including the crown of thorns. Others saw them only on Wednesdays, Fridays,   
   and   
   during Holy Week, but it appears that they were visible to her and caused   
   both   
   pain and joy.   
      
   At this time Osanna felt the need for a spiritual director and prayed for   
   one   
   with wisdom, patience, and understanding. She found him during Mass when an   
   interior voice said to her, "That's the one you need, the one who is saying   
   Mass." Osanna thought he was too young, but, upon meeting him in the   
   confessional a few days later, all doubts were erased.   
      
   Before her death, the soul of Blessed Columba of Rieti, another Dominican   
   tertiary, appeared to her and told Osanna to prepare for death   
   (Benedictines,   
   Dorcy).   
      
   In art, Osanna is a Dominican tertiary wearing a crown of thorns, surrounded   
   by   
   rays of light (not the halo of a saint), a lily, a broken heart with a   
   crucifix   
   springing from it, the devil under her feet, two angels (one with a lily,   
   one   
   with a cross). This is similar to the image of Saint Catherine of Siena, who   
   has   
   a halo. Osanna is the patroness of school girls (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "Lack of esteem and love for Mary is an infallible sign of reprobation   
   [judgment   
   at death to Hell] whilst to be truly and completely devoted to her is an   
   infallible sign of predestination [judgment at death to Heaven]."   
   -St. Louis Marie de Montfort - "Treatise On The True Devotion To The Blessed   
   Virgin   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   "For she is an infinite treasure to men which they that use, become the   
   friends   
   of God" - Wisdom 7:14   
      
   "But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished" - Wisdom   
   10:3   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Before you say an unkind word   
   Think of someone who can't speak.   
   ***************   
   Before you complain about the taste of your food Think of someone who   
   has nothing to eat.   
   ***************   
   Before you complain about your husband or wife Think of someone who's   
   crying out to GOD for a companion.   
   ***************   
   Today before you complain about life   
   Think of someone who died too soon.   
   ***************   
   Before you complain about your children   
   Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.   
   ***************   
   Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep -   
   Think of the people who are living in the streets.   
   ***************   
   Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks   
   the same distance with their feet.   
   ***************   
   And when you are tired and complain about your job Think of the   
   unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.   
   ***************   
   Before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember   
   that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.   
   ***************   
   And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down Put a smile on your   
   face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.   
   ***************   
   The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They   
   just make the best of everything they have!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)