From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Great might of Christ's hand   
      
   "The faithful also have the help of Christ, and the devil is not able   
   to snatch them. Those who have an endless enjoyment of good things   
   remain in Christ's hand, no one thereafter snatching them away from   
   the bliss that is given to them. [No one can throw them] into   
   punishment or torments. For it is not possible that those who are in   
   Christ's hand should be snatched away to be punished because of the   
   great might Christ has. For 'the hand' in the divine Scripture   
   signifies 'the power'” It cannot be doubted therefore that the hand of   
   Christ is unconquerable and mighty to all things."   
    by Clement of Alexandria.(excerpt from the COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL   
   OF JOHN 7.1)   
      
      
   ===========   
   May 29th – Martyrs of Toulouse    
   (died 1242)   
      
   Saint William Arnaud  and 11 companions dies in Avignonet, France, and   
   are known as the “Martyrs of Toulouse.” William, a Dominican friar,   
   was sent with his companions by Pope Gregory IX, appointed   
   inquisitors, to the regions of France to combat heresy which was   
   spreading under the guise of Albigensianism (a theory of dualism which   
   considered the body evil, thereby preventing resurrection. Christ was   
   thought to have not been man, given that he would have succumbed to   
   evil, had he been. This theory removed the Sacraments of the Church,   
   replacing them with pagan rituals for purification).   
      
   Along with William, were Bernard of Roquefort and Garcia d’Aure of   
   Comminges, both Dominicans. Two Franciscan friars accompanied them,   
   Stephen Saint-Thibery and Raymond Cortisan. A Benedictine friar,   
   Raymond Cortison, referred to as “the Writer” originally from   
   Toulouse, joined them, as did Bernard from the cathedral of Toulouse.   
   Pietro d’Arnaud, notary of the Inquisitors, and Fortanerio and   
   Adhemar, clerics of the Inquisitors, completed the group of martyrs.   
      
   This group of brave men found most every door to them closed in   
   Toulouse, under penalty of punishment from the ruling count at the   
   time. They set up a small farmhouse outside the city gates, preaching   
   throughout the countryside with great success. Many were converted,   
   and many miracles of healing were performed. Eventually, their   
   presence became threatening to the local government, who lured the   
   holy men to an ambush by spreading word that the ruling Count--an   
   acquaintance of Saint William--was ready to reject his heretical   
   beliefs and return to the Church.   
      
   On the eve of the Ascension of Our Lord, the martyrs, having received   
   a heavenly vision of their imminent martyrdom, traveled as a group to   
   the castle of Count Raymond III of Toulouse, where his soldiers fell   
   upon them in the great hall, slaughtering 7 of the 11. The remaining   
   four--including William--escaped to a local Church, where they were   
   found by the soldiers singing the Te Deum. It was here, in the church,   
   that they were murdered--an act unforgivable in Medieval times due to   
   the principle of sanctuary. Particularly angered by the singing, the   
   soldiers first cut out Saint William’s tongue, prior to killing him.   
   The bodies of the martyrs were thrown down a ravine and large boulders   
   were rolled on top of them. As evening fell, however, bright, heavenly   
   lights streamed from their bodies, leading the faithful to them to   
   collect their relics. They were interred in the Church of San Romano   
   at the monastery in Toulouse.   
      
   The church of Avignonet where they were murdered was placed under   
   interdict, the doors closed and locked, because of the sacrilege, and   
   for 40 years no Mass was celebrated there. When the interdict was   
   lifted, the bells rang of themselves, according to legend, to let   
   people know that Avignonet was once more a member of the living   
   Church.   
      
      
   Saint Quote   
   We therefore grossly deceive ourselves in not allotting more time to   
   the study of divine truths. It is not enough barely to believe them,   
   and let our thoughts now and then glance upon them: that knowledge   
   which shows us heaven, will not bring us to the possession of it, and   
   will deserve punishments, not rewards, if it remain slight, weak, and   
   superficial. By serious and frequent meditation it must be concocted,   
   digested, and turned into the nourishment of our affections, before it   
   can be powerful and operative enough to change them, and produce the   
   necessary fruit in our lives. For this all the saints affected   
   solitude and retreats from the noise and hurry of the world, as much   
   as their circumstances allowed them.   
   --St. Apollinaris   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   4 Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s   
   sight chosen and precious; 5 and like living stones be yourselves   
   built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer   
   spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  [1 Peter   
   2:4-5] RSVCE   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   EJACULATIONS TO THE   
   MOST HOLY SACRAMENT   
      
       I adore Thee at all moments,   
       O living Bread,   
       come down from heaven,   
       most august Sacrament.   
      
       O Jesus,   
       beloved Son of the Virgin Mary,   
       I pray Thee to bless my soul.   
      
       To Thee I consecrate my heart,   
       O most blessed Jesus,   
       my dear Saviour.   
      
       Mayest Thou be known,   
       adored, and loved by all,   
       and may thanks be continually given to Thee   
       in the Most Holy and most august Sacrament.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)