From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Trust and yield to God's grace   
      
   God gives us grace and he expects us to respond with the same   
   willingness, obedience, and heartfelt trust as Mary did. When God   
   commands he also gives the help, strength, and means to respond. We   
   can either yield to his grace or resist and go our own way. Do you   
   believe in God's promises and do you yield to his grace?   
      
   "Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness   
   through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a   
   grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by   
   giving you my unqualified 'yes' to your will and plan for my life."   
      
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   April 10th - Saint Michael de Sanctis   
   (1591-1625)   
      
    Saint Michael, born and raised in Catalonia, Spain, is a saint who   
   knew what he was called to do from an early age. Unlike many saints we   
   read about, who struggle throughout their youth and only realize their   
   holy call later in life, Michael felt drawn to the holy life even as a   
   child. He announced to his parents at age six his intention to become   
   a monk, and even at that young age modeled his life after Saint   
   Francis of Assisi. Sometimes Michael imposed such austerities upon   
   himself and engaged in such extreme mortification that his parents   
   were forced to restrain him!   
      
   Saint Michael’s parents died when he was approximately ten years old,   
   and he subsequently lived and apprenticed with a local merchant.   
   During this apprenticeship, he continued his fervent devotion to the   
   Lord, specifically to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and at age 12, was   
   granted acceptance into the Order of the Trinitarian Friars at   
   Barcelona. Michael took his vows at 16, embracing the religious life,   
   but after meeting a member of the reformed (discalced) Trinitarian   
   Order, he asked permission to join this reformed and more austere   
   Order. His request was granted, and Michael went on to be ordained a   
   priest, serving as the Superior of the house. While Superior, Michael   
   set a high standard of holiness for the Order, stressing austerity and   
   self-sacrifice, as well as devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.   
      
   While he was alive, his brothers viewed him as a saint, given his holy   
   ways, leadership, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and the frequent   
   ecstasies he experienced during the Consecration. He is noted in the   
   Roman Martyrology as "remarkable for innocence of life, wonderful   
   penitence, and love for God." Outside of the monastery, his preaching   
   was recognized for its holiness, and the nearby royal court called   
   upon him for spiritual and pastoral counseling.   
      
   Saint Michael de Sanctis died at the young age of 35, and multiple   
   miracles were attributed to him at his tomb following his death. He is   
   remembered for his mysticism, and practical and intimate love for the   
   Lord. Saint Michael demonstrated from a young age a love and yearning   
   for God that was not to be swayed. His devotion to the Lord led him to   
   commit his life in service and austerity, and he was rewarded with   
   ecstatic experiences of our God during the Consecration in Mass. He   
   never lost his direction, even in a world full of distractions and   
   temptations. For those of us struggling to find our way in a difficult   
   world, Saint Michael de Sanctis is worthy of our aspirations, and we   
   pray that he may advocate for us in heaven with our Lord!   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When I am in Heaven, where everything is possible, I will cling to the   
   mantle of the Mother of God and I will not turn my eyes from you. But   
   do not forget what this poor old man has said to you.   
   -- Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo from his deathbed   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in   
   heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the   
   remembrance of His holy name.  (Psalms 97:11-12)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A Prayer Of Confidence In God   
      
   Jesus of the loving Heart, I believe that thou doth care for me more   
   than Thou careth for the birds of the air or the lilies of the field.   
      
   I believe that Thou doth care for me more than a mother careth for the   
   child in her arms.   
   I believe that even though a mother may forget the child of her womb,   
   yet wilt Thou not forget me.   
      
   And, therefore, I trust in Thee in all and through all and in spite of   
   all. Amen.   
      
   Strong Heart of Jesus,   
   my God and my Friend,   
   In life and in death,   
   on Thee I depend.   
   [Rev. James O'Brien, S. J.]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)