From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On Control of the Heart  (II)   
      
   CHRIST:   
   .Take care, therefore, not to rely overmuch on any preconceived desire   
   without asking My counsel, lest you regret or become displeased at   
   what first pleased you, and for which you were eager. For not every   
   feeling that seems good is at once to be acted upon, nor is every   
   feeling that runs contrary to your inclinations to be immediately   
   rejected. It is sometimes necessary to restrain even your good   
   intentions and endeavors, lest by over-eagerness your mind becomes   
   distracted; lest by lack of discipline you cause offence to others; or   
   lest you suddenly become confused and upset by the opposition of   
   others.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ, Bk 3, Ch 11   
      
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   May 22nd - Saint Julia of Carthage   
    (also known as Saint Julia of Corsica or Saint Julia of Nonza)   
    died 620   
      
   Saint Julia of Carthage was a virgin and martyr of the Church. The   
   life of Saint Julia was recorded in the early 7th century, although   
   the facts are somewhat unclear. Saint Julia may have lived as early as   
   the fourth century, although some historians place her martyrdom in   
   the 7th. Regardless of when she lived, her faith and confidence in the   
   Lord, despite torture and martyrdom, remain inspirational today.   
      
   Julia was born of noble aristocratic parents in Carthage (South   
   Africa). This ancient city, founded by the Phoenicians, competed with   
   Rome for domination in the western part of the Mediterranean. Given   
   the high-profile nature of the city, it was also subject to numerous   
   barbarian attacks, and the city’s defenses had crumbled. During one   
   attack by the Vandals, Julia was taken from her family, and sold into   
   slavery. Despite her dire circumstances, she did not complain or feel   
   sorry for herself. Rather, Julia accepted everything as a gift of the   
   Lord, and performed the most humble tasks with wonderful cheerfulness.   
   In her spare time, she read holy books and prayed fervently, so ardent   
   was her love of God.   
      
   Having grown into a beautiful and pure young woman, she was quickly   
   purchased by a pagan merchant named Eusebius, and taken with him to   
   his home in Syria. Given her loveliness, he desired to make her into   
   his mistress, but she declined, withstanding compliments, bribes, and   
   eventually threats.   
      
   Rather than anger Eusebius, Julia’s resistance, strength of character,   
   and intelligence earned her master’s respect. She accompanied him on   
   business trips, where he took advantage of her skills. During one   
   trip, the two were shipwrecked, but managed to survive and swim to   
   Corsica.   
      
   Upon arrival in Corsica, the local governor suggested the pair attend   
   a pagan festival, during which they would sacrifice to the gods for   
   their salvation. However, Julia, given her love of the Lord, refused   
   to attend the festival. Eusebius respected her decision, but the local   
   governor, Felix, demanded she participate in the ceremony. "Who is   
   that woman who dares to insult our gods?" he cried. Eusebius explained   
   that she was a Christian. He further added that although he had not   
   been able to make her give up her religion, still was such a good,   
   faithful servant that he would not know what to do without her.   
      
   "I will give you four of my best women slaves for her," offered the   
   governor, but Eusebius refused.   
      
   "No," he said, "All you own will not buy her. I would willingly lose   
   the most valuable thing in the world rather than lose her."   
      
   So, Felix prepared a banquet, and waited until good Eusebius became   
   intoxicated and fell asleep. Finding Julia alone and undefended, he   
   governor tried to make Julia sacrifice to the gods. He promised to   
   have her set free if she would comply, but she refused.   
      
   Julia stated:   
      
   Libertas mea Christi servitium est, cui ego quotidie pura mente   
   deservio. Ceterum istum vestrum errorem non solum non veneror, verum   
   etiam detestor.   
      
   "My liberty is the service of Christ, whom I serve every day with a   
   pure mind. As for that error of yours, I not only do not venerate it,   
   I detest it."   
      
   Felix was enraged. He had her struck on the face and all her hair was   
   torn from her head. When she failed to renounce Christ, she was nailed   
   to a cross and thrown into the sea to drown. The cross with her body   
   drifted to the island of Gorgona where a Benedictine abbey was   
   located. The monks rescued her relics, and adoration began.   
   Accompanying the cross, as holy legend tells us, was a note (written   
   in angelic hand) which carried her name and story. The monks   
   transported her relics to a sepulcher, which was eventually translated   
   to the Benedictine abbey at Brescia. From there, her cultus spread   
   over the northwestern part of the Italian Peninsula.   
      
   The life of Saint Julia is remarkable in two ways. First, she   
   cheerfully bore all that life gave her, looking to the Lord as her   
   strength and the source of her blessings. Forced to give up an   
   aristocratic and privileged life, she happily embraced slavery and   
   cheerfully performed all tasks demanded of her. Second, when   
   confronted with her own torture and death, she remained firmly rooted   
   in her faith and love of the Lord. Despite the difficult life she   
   endured, she was willing to give up all that she had to testify to her   
   faith. We are inspired on both counts. When our lives are difficult,   
   and there are seemingly unmanageable obstacles encountered, how   
   frequently are we able to turn to God and say ‘thank you?’ Might we   
   find a way to offer our difficulties to the Lord, and see the struggle   
   as a testament to our faith?   
      
   Thy lamb, Julia, O Jesus, doth cry unto thee with a loud voice,   
   saying, My Bridegroom, I long for thee and in struggles seek thee. I   
   am crucified and buried with thee in my Baptism, and for thee I do   
   suffer until I reign with thee. I die for thee that I may live in   
   thee. Then as a sacrifice without blemish receive her who for thy sake   
   was slain. Through her intercessions, therefore, since thou art   
   merciful, save our souls.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   We live poverty by filling the hours of the day usefully, doing   
   everything as well as we can, and living little details of order,   
   punctuality and good humor.   
   --St. Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer   
      
   Bible Quote   
   And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth   
   in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.  (Romans 5:5)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Jesus, owing to Your death on the cross   
   and Your resurrection,   
   the faithful have a hop for eternal life   
   that lets them boldly counter life hardships.   
   Let the example of St. Julia be a motivation for us   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)