From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Those who spout vain words   
      
       "Those who spout vain words and are true Philistines do not form   
   part of the family of Christ. "Who can equal me? Who dares attack me?"   
   Is not this the language of those who pride themselves on their own   
   resources? The just will bring low all that pride.   
       This is what martyrs did. They vanquished the wicked at the very   
   moment when the latter appeared to be victorious."   
   --St. Augustine--Sermon 32, 4   
      
   Prayer: Lord, you are delightful food for the pure of heart.   
   --St. Augustine--Confessions 13, 21   
      
      
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   February 12: Saint Julian the Hospitaller   
    (also known as Saint Julian the Poor)   
      
    Little is known about his life, and in fact, it is likely that his   
   story may only be the substance of pious legend. He has inspired   
   countless books, poems, paintings, frescos, stained glass windows, and   
   songs, especially during the Middle Ages. Despite the lack of   
   historical facts, the holy (legendary) events of his life may be   
   looked to as inspiration, influencing our choices and actions even   
   today, and calling us to service.   
      
   Legend suggests that Saint Julian was born into a noble family and   
   raised in Italy, France, or Belgium near the beginning of the first   
   century. He grew up privileged, a counselor and friend to kings. He   
   was an avid hunter, and during one such outing, encountered a talking   
   stag. The stag, having been pursued by Julian, turned, and predicted   
   that Julian would be responsible for the death of his own parents.   
   Julian was so bothered by the prediction that he left his homeland   
   without warning, traveling far from his parents..   
      
   He married a wealthy widow and together then built a noble home.   
   During one trip from his home, Julian’s parents (who had been   
   searching for him) visited without notice. His wife, out of respect,   
   offered the master bedroom to the visitors, and when Julian returned   
   home to find an unknown couple in his bed, legends indicate he slew   
   them (pictured below, left). Overcome with fear and repentance, the   
   couple left their home, traveling to Rome for absolution.   
      
   On their way, Julian and his wife came to a large river, where many   
   were unable to cross. He spent hours rowing the sick, elderly and   
   infirm across the river, eventually building a one thousand bed   
   hospital by the banks of the river. He and his wife spent the   
   remaining portion of their lives caring for the sick and the poor.   
      
   As pious legend recounts, one afternoon a man afflicted with leprosy   
   came to the hospital, but all the beds were full. In penance and   
   service, Julian gave the man his own bed, planning to sleep on the   
   floor. The leper revealed himself to be an angel of the Lord,   
   declaring that Jesus had accepted his penance, and promptly   
   disappeared.   
      
   Today, Saint Julian is considered the patron saint of hospitality,   
   hotel workers, ferrymen, travelers, circus performers, hunters, and   
   murderers. His life story, while considered legend, is important for   
   its focus on his faith in the Lord, as well as his dedication to   
   charity. Through his service, he brought the poor, the sick, and the   
   marginalized to God, through the mirroring of Christ’s love on earth.   
   The legend provides further hope to sinners, like ourselves—if the   
   Lord can forgive a murderer, He surely can forgive us our sins.   
      
   The lives of the saints should inspire us. How have we sought to   
   repent for our wrongdoings? How might we turn our sin into service?   
   Our Lady of Lourdes implores us to pray for sinners—penance, penance,   
   penance! Our Lord, through the holy words of His Son, directs us to   
   love and serve others. Where in our lives could we be more hospitable?   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Three things upset the balance of the body's temperament: lack of   
   restraint in our diet, a change in the weather, and the touch of the   
   demonic powers.   
   --St. Thalassios the Libyan   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   13 I saw in the night visions,   
   and behold, with the clouds of heaven   
       there came one like a son of man,[b]   
   and he came to the Ancient of Days   
       and was presented before him.   
   14 And to him was given dominion   
       and glory and kingdom,   
   that all peoples, nations, and languages   
       should serve him;   
   his dominion is an everlasting dominion,   
       which shall not pass away,   
   and his kingdom one   
       that shall not be destroyed.   Daniel 7:13-14     RSVCE   
      
      
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   PRAYER   
    O Jesus, Thou true physician of our souls! Thou who dost wound us and   
   heal us, yea, even permittest us often to grow sick in body, that our   
   souls may get well; grant, that I may employ every bodily pain,   
   according to Thy merciful purposes, to the furtherance of my   
   salvation.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)