From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   God first loved us   
      
   "Fulfill the commandments out of love. Could anyone refuse to love our   
   God, so abounding in mercy, so just in all His ways? Could anyone deny   
   love to Him Who first loved us despite all our injustice and all our   
   pride? Could anyone refuse to love God Who so loved us as to send His   
   only Son not only to live among human beings but also to be put to   
   death for their sake and at their own hands?."   
   --St. Augustine--(excerpt from Catechetical Instructions 39)   
      
      
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   March 26th - Saint Braulio   
   (also known as Saint Braulius)   
      
   590-651   
      
    Saint Braulio was friend and disciple to Saint Isidore of Seville   
   (feast celebrated April 4), and a prolific writer of letters, hymns,   
   martyrology, hagiographies, and history. He fought against heresy and   
   provided both strength and encouragement in the faith to his   
   congregation, eventually appointed bishop.   
      
   Braulio was born into a noble family in Osma, and little is known of   
   his early life. We know that he excelled at his studies, and was so   
   eminent a scholar that he was sent to the college in Seville, founded   
   by Saint Isidore. There, he became so valued by the saint that he was   
   considered friend and disciple, rather than pupil. As history records,   
   Saint Isidore sent Saint Braulio his own writings to review and   
   correct prior to publication or dissemination.   
      
   Saint Braulio prepared for the priesthood at Saint Engratia's   
   monastery, and was ordained in Saragossa. Upon the death of his   
   brother, John, Bishop of Saragossa, Braulio was appointed to succeed   
   him by the neighboring bishops of the region. As pastor of the region,   
   Braulio worked tirelessly and zealously to teach and encourage his   
   peoples, fighting vigorously against the Arian heresy which was   
   growing throughout the region. He further assisted Saint Isidore in   
   Church reform and the restoration of disciple within the Spanish   
   clergy.   
      
   Saint Braulio attended the fourth, fifth, and sixth Councils of   
   Toledo, in the last of which he was selected to write a letter to Pope   
   Honorius I, defending the dignity and works of the Spanish clergy. His   
   letter was both respectful and convincing. The influence of Saint   
   Braulio extended beyond the Church, with his letters reaching royalty,   
   including the king of Spain, and accomplishing much good for the   
   peoples.   
      
   Saint Braulio, despite his writing, reformation, and fights against   
   heresy, spent his days in the cathedral praying, before the alter of   
   the Lord, and before Our Lady of Pilar. He embraced an austere life,   
   wearing only the roughest and plainest of garments, and eating only   
   simple foods. He abhorred the luxuries generally permissible to a   
   bishop, and instead sought to live as his congregation, so that he   
   might better preach. His preaching was well-known, both conversational   
   and instructional, convincing all who listened of the truth of his   
   argument. He demonstrated great love for his people, especially the   
   poor and sick, whom he took special care of personally.   
      
   Near the end of his life, Saint Braulio lost his eyesight, which was   
   especially troubling to him as a scholar. He spent his days reciting   
   the Psalms from memory, and died peacefully in Saragossa. He was   
   buried in the church of Nuestra Senora Merced del Pilar (Our Lady of   
   Pilar).   
      
   The life of Saint Braulio is one of industry and use of talent. The   
   Lord blessed this humble man with great intellect and scholarly   
   aptitude, which he harnessed to assist Saint Isidore in his great   
   writings. Saint Braulio also turned his attention to those around him,   
   not content to live his life in scholarly pursuits, demonstrating   
   great attention to his people, compassion, ministry, and love. He was   
   never idle, spending his days in service, prayer, and contemplation,   
   and never complained of the difficulties he experienced (with the   
   exception of the loss of his eyesight!). Saint Braulio’s approach to   
   life reminds us that we spend considerable time in idle pursuits, time   
   which could be directed toward those around us, ministry, or prayer.   
   During this season of Lent, what could we be doing to better use the   
   talents the Lord has given us, to the benefit of those in our   
   communities?   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Repentance is the returning from the unnatural to the natural state,   
   from the Devil to God, through discipline and effort.   
   --St. John of Damascus   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "You must obey all the commandments I give you today. If you do, you   
   will not only live, you will multiply and go in and take over the land   
   promised to your fathers by the Lord.... Obey the laws of your God.   
   Walk in his ways and fear him."  (Deuteronomy 8:1, 6)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Father of Mercy,   
      
   forgive my failings,   
   keep me in Your Grace,   
   and lead me in the way of salvation.   
   Give me strength in serving You   
   as a follower of Christ.   
   May the Eucharist bring me Your Forgiveness   
   and give me freedom to serve You all my life.   
   May it help me to remain faithful   
   and give me the grace I need in Your service.   
   May it teach me the way to eternal life.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)