From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Appreciating God’s Grace (2)   
      
      Now, since the moment of temptation is always nigh, since false   
   freedom of mind and overconfidence in self are serious obstacles to   
   these visitations from heaven, a man can never enjoy them just as he   
   wishes.   
       God does well in giving the grace of consolation, but man does   
   evil in not returning everything gratefully to God. Thus, the gifts of   
   grace cannot flow in us when we are ungrateful to the Giver, when we   
   do not return them to the Fountainhead. Grace is always given to him   
   who is duly grateful, and what is wont to be given the humble will be   
   taken away from the proud.   
      
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 10   
      
      
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   April 6: Saint Crescentia Hoess   
   (1682-1744)   
      
   April 6 marks the feast day of Saint Crescentia Hoess , a woman of   
   deep piety and humility, who despite persecution at the hands of her   
   Franciscan sisters, remained cheerful and warm.   
      
   Born in a small town near Augsburg, Bavaria, Crescentia survived a   
   poor childhood with grace and joy. Her father, a weaver, had little   
   money to support the family, and yet Crescentia was renowned in the   
   area for her cheerful disposition, and her willingness to give the   
   little she had to those who needed it more. She spent her days at the   
   local church praying, and received her first Holy Eucharist at the   
   unusually young age of seven due to her knowledge of the catechism and   
   her demonstrated love for the Lord. Residents of the town, Catholic   
   and non-Catholic alike, referred to her as “the little angel.” At this   
   time, around age seven, while praying in the chapel of the Franciscan   
   convent, she heard a voice which said, “this shall be your dwelling   
   place.”   
      
   When Crescentia reached 18, she professed her desire to join the Third   
   Order of Saint Francis, which her father approved of. He approached   
   the convent, but her admission was refused as she didn’t have a   
   sufficient dowry to accompany her. Crescentia bore this rejection with   
   grace and humility, as she bore all other difficulties. It wasn’t   
   until the Protestant mayor of the town, who shared the same affection   
   for Crescentia as all the town’s residents, intervened that she was   
   accepted into the Order.   
      
   However, life was not easy for Crescentia once she took the veil.   
   Rather, her sisters, under the direction of the Superior, treated her   
   poorly, referring to her as “beggar,” and expecting her to perform the   
   most menial tasks. She was not provided with her own cell, forced to   
   beg her sisters to sleep in a corner each night. All of these things,   
   as prior to her monastic life, she suffered with piety and grace--so   
   much so, that her sisters would accuse her of hypocrisy. But   
   Crescentia’s faith would not be dampened, nor would her sprits. She   
   performed the menial tasks given to her better than anyone else could   
   have, praying constantly while she did, and thanking the Lord for the   
   opportunity. Following reception of the Holy Eucharist, she began   
   experiencing visions of the Lord, which at first concerned her, and   
   later brought her comfort.   
      
   After some years, a new Superior was appointed to direct the convent,   
   and with her, change came upon the place. The new Superior recognized   
   the piety and obedience of Sister Crescentia, and through her   
   leadership, so did the community. She was appointed Mistress of   
   Novices, and then years later, Superior of the convent. Both positions   
   she reluctantly accepted with humility and grace. Under her direction,   
   the rules were strictly enforced, but with compassion and joy. Warmth   
   and humor guided her daily interactions with her sisters.   
      
   Word of Crescentia’s piety and grace spread, as did her humility.   
   Local nobles, heads of state, and learned scholars consulted with   
   Crescentia for spiritual direction. She became known for practical   
   solutions to problems and a common-sense approach. Her advice to her   
   visitors always stressed the need for prayer but also encouraged the   
   petitioner to do everything possible to resolve the issue.   
      
   Crescentia and her community demonstrated great kindness to the poor   
   and those in need. She welcomed all as brothers and sisters of Christ,   
   and treated them with respect, dignity, and charity. To her sisters   
   she recommended observing silence, recollection, and spiritual   
   reading, especially the Gospels. The teacher of their religious life   
   had to be Jesus on the Cross.   
      
   In her years as superior of the community, the convent underwent a   
   renewal. No one with a heart for the Lord was turned away, regardless   
   of the size of their dowry. Crescentia justified her selectivity   
   regarding vocations saying, "God wants the convent rich in virtue, not   
   in temporal goods.” She emphasized to her sisters unlimited trust in   
   divine providence, readiness in the acts of the common life, love of   
   silence, devotion to Jesus crucified, and devotion to the Eucharist   
   and the Blessed Mother.   
      
   As she aged, Crescentia was beset with many physical ailments, which   
   she endured with patient and joyful suffering. Eventually, her hands   
   and feet became so crippled, she was unable to straighten her body and   
   was confined to her bed, in the fetal position. Like Saint Francis,   
   she cried out to the Lord, grateful for the gift of her limbs so that   
   she might suffer. She died at peace on Easter Sunday, surrounded by   
   her sisters.   
      
   Saint Crescentia had many reasons and opportunities to turn from the   
   Lord, based upon the way others treated her. And yet, throughout her   
   trials, humiliation, and suffering, her faith in God only deepened and   
   grew. It was this faith that led her to transform her community,   
   re-centering her sisters in the love of Christ, and the acceptance of   
   all. She taught her charges, and in doing so teaches us, to never   
   criticize others unkindly. Moreover, through her life, she reminds us   
   that God is pleased by our gracious suffering, enduring all with   
   patience and hope.   
   -- by Jacob   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "Do not imagine that I am going to accuse you before the Father: you   
   have placed your hopes on Moses, and Moses will be the one who accuses   
   you.  If you really believed him you would believe me too, since it   
   was about me that he was writing.."  Jesus addressing the Jews of   
   Jerusalem in  John 5:45-46   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   To think ourselves imperfect, and others perfect--that is happiness.   
   That creatures recognize we are without virtue takes nothing from us,   
   makes us no poorer; it is they who by this lose interior joy; for   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)