From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Scriptures Are Singing of Christ   
      
   “You recall that one and the same Word of God extends throughout   
   Scripture, that it is one and the same Utterance that resounds in the   
   mouths of all the sacred writers, since he who was in the beginning   
   with God has no need of separate syllables; for he is not subject to   
   time… In any passage you care to choose, the Scriptures are singing of   
   Christ, provided we have ears that can pick out the tune. The Lord   
   opened the minds of the Apostles so that they understood the   
   Scriptures. That he will open our minds too is our prayer.”   
   --St. Augustine--   
      
      
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   March 11th - Saint Áurea of San Millán   
   (Also known as Oria)   
      
   1042-1069   
      
    Saint Aurea, a virgin of the Church, demonstrated great love for the   
   Lord, enclosing herself as an anchoress, working miracles, and   
   receiving holy visions. Much of what we know about her life was   
   recorded by Gonzalo de Berceo in his epic poem, Vida de Santa Oria.   
      
   Aurea was born of “ good and religious parents,” Garçía and Amunna, in   
   the village of Villeveyayo, Spain. The region of Aurea’s birth had   
   earlier been invaded by the Moors, and she was raised under Moorish   
   control. Despite this, she felt drawn to the Scriptures, meditating on   
   and studying them from an early age. Aurea also had an unquenchable   
   love for the saints, reading and studying the lives of the early   
   martyrs of the Church. She was particularly fond of Saints Agatha,   
   Eulalia of Merida, and Cecilia, whose lives she attempted to emulate   
   with her own.   
      
   Aurea felt drawn to the religious life, and chose to become an   
   anchoress attached to the cathedral at San Millan de la Cogolla. There   
   she is said to have lived an austere monastic life, and was graced by   
   three visions of her favorite saints, encouraging her to live her   
   faith more devoutly.   
      
   In the first vision, which occurs on the feast of Saint Eugenia,   
   virgin martyr of the Church, Saints Eulalia, Agatha, and Cecilia   
   descend to Aurea’s cell, taking her to the glory of heaven with them.   
   While she at first refuses to ascend to heaven, she eventually   
   consents, moving with the Saints upward along a grand column, and   
   coming to rest in the branches of a stately tree. The saints are   
   assisted to heaven by angels, whereas Aurea is lifted by a dove. Upon   
   arrival in heaven, Aurea witnesses processions of the faithful,   
   including some she knows. She is further informed by the virgin   
   martyrs that a place has been reserved for her in heaven. An empty   
   chair and palace are shown to her, her places of rest for eternity.   
   But the voice of Christ informs her that it is not yet her time, and   
   that she must return to her body for some time.   
      
   Aurea was heartbroken at having to leave heaven, begging Christ to   
   allow her to stay, but is obedient, and returns to her cell upon His   
   direction. She deepened her faith and recommitted herself to her   
   ascetic life, discussing the visions with her spiritual director, but   
   praying to not fall victim to pride in their occurrence. Despite her   
   humility, word of her visions spread, and she became sought out for   
   advice and prayer. Through her intercession, many miracles were   
   claimed.   
      
   Almost one year later, towards the beginning of November, Aurea is   
   graced with a second vision, during which the three Saintly virgin   
   martyrs return to Aurea’s cell, this time bringing a large and   
   luxurious bed with them. Aurea refuses to join them on the bed, at   
   which time they bodily throw her onto it. Her cell, previously bare,   
   is suddenly filled with virgins, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Holy   
   Mother, appears, conversing with Aurea. When Aurea asks for a sign   
   from the Blessed Mother that the visions are true, she is told that   
   she will soon become ill and die. Aurea is shown a glimpse of her   
   future bodily suffering as a promise of her imminent journey to   
   heaven.   
      
   True to the message of the Blessed Virgin, Aurea was stricken with a   
   painful disease, one which she suffered with little complaint and   
   great courage. Nearing the end of her strength, Aurea drifted in and   
   out of consciousness, during which she experienced her final vision.   
   During this third vision, Aurea is transported to the Mount of Olives,   
   where she is surrounded by men dressed in white. She was awakened   
   prematurely from her vision by her mother, and following a brief   
   conversation, during which she refused to speak any more of her   
   visions, Aurea died at the young age of 27. The monks and religious of   
   the community kept vigil over her body until her burial. Numerous   
   miracles have been reported at her grave.   
      
   At a young age, Saint Aurea devoted herself to the Lord, sealing   
   herself into a tiny barren cell, and giving up all worldly pleasures.   
   She prayed tirelessly and demonstrated great devotion to God, the   
   communion of Saints, and the Blessed Mother. As a reward, she was   
   offered a promise of heaven to encourage her in her vocation. Through   
   her intercession, many were healed and miracles were wrought. In our   
   daily lives, we don’t generally receive visionary promises of heaven   
   like Saint Aurea did. But we are certainly graced by glimpses of   
   heaven, and experiences of God in those we encounter. We only need   
   look for them. The life and visions of Saint Aurea encourage us to   
   remain focused on the Lord in our daily lives, finding glimpses of   
   heaven in the love and kindness of those we interact with, and being   
   mirrors of His great love to all we meet.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   You do wrong to complain of your crosses and sufferings. Believe me,   
   you know not what it is to suffer. God preserve you from suffering   
   even one day what has been endured by a certain soul, whose name I   
   must not disclose!   
   --St. Paul of the Cross   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth   
   me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love   
   him, and will manifest myself unto him. [John 14:21] DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   To Christ in His Passion   
      
   Let us all with one voice cry, Lord, have mercy.   
   Thou who wert led as a sheep to be crucified, Lord, have mercy.   
   Thou who from the Cross didst look down upon Thy Mother and Thy disciple,   
   look with pity from heaven upon us, Lord, have mercy.   
   Thou who by shedding Thy blood hast redeemed the world, Lord, have mercy.   
   Thou who didst commend Thy spirit to the Father, Lord, have mercy.   
   Make us by Thy Cross to obtain forgiveness, Lord, have mercy.   
      
   Christ, the only-begotten Son of the unbegotten Father, who this day west   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)