From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Of fleeing from vain hope and pride [2]   
      
   2. Boast not thyself in thy riches if thou hast them, nor in thy   
   friends if they be powerful, but in God, who giveth all things, and in   
   addition to all things desireth to give even Himself.  Be not lifted   
   up because of thy strength or beauty of body, for with only a slight   
   sickness it will fail and wither away.  Be not vain of thy skilfulness   
   or ability, lest thou displease God, from whom cometh every good gift   
   which we have.   
   --Thomas à Kempis ---Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 7   
      
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   June 12: Saint Peter the Athonite   
   (also known as Saint Peter of Mount Athos)   
   9th century   
      
   Saint Peter the Athonite was the first ascetic of the holy mountain,   
   Mount Athos. Saint Peter established a long tradition of ascetic and   
   monastic practices on the holy mountain, which continue today.   
      
   Peter was born of noble Greek parents in Constantinople. As a young   
   man, he vowed to become a monk, filling called by the Lord to a life   
   of contemplation and prayer. However, he was made to serve in the   
   Roman army against the Saracens--an action that he was opposed to--and   
   during battle, was taken captive. Peter was imprisoned in Syria, in   
   the prison of Samara.   
      
   Peter remained in prison for a lengthy period of time, during which he   
   took inventory of his life, considering his sinfulness, and   
   contemplating his actions and the retribution of the Lord that had   
   occurred as a result. He instituted a strict fast and constant,   
   fervent prayer for forgiveness. Peter further turned to the saintly   
   men and women who had gone before him for intercession, lifting his   
   intentions to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, praying that he might   
   intercede for him with the Lord.   
      
   Saint Nicholas later appeared three times to Peter in dreams. First,   
   he instructed him to call upon Saint Simeon for intercession. 2nd, he   
   encouraged Peter in patience and hope. The third time, Saint Nicholas   
   appeared with Saint Simeon, who touched Peter’s chains with his staff,   
   causing them to melt away, and opened his cell door.   
      
   Free at last, Peter was assisted by Saint Nicholas across the borders   
   of the Greek territory. Peter re-committed himself to his vow,   
   traveling to Rome to embrace the life of a monk. But Saint Nicholas   
   was not done with Peter. Although he had disappeared, he remained   
   present, appearing to the Pope in a dream, and notifying him of the   
   circumstances of Peter’s liberation from prison.   
      
   On the following day, in the midst of a throng of the people who had   
   gathered for Mass, the Pope stood, pointed Peter out in the crowd, and   
   proclaimed: "Peter, you who are from the Greek lands, and whom Saint   
   Nicholas has freed from prison in Samara, come here to me." The Pope   
   gave Peter the tonsure of the monk, blessed him, and sent him on his   
   journey east.   
      
   Uncertain of where to settle, Peter boarded a ship and set off without   
   much direction. Our Blessed Mother appeared to him in a dream,   
   providing much-needed direction. He would live on Mount Athos until   
   the end of his days.  There, he dwelt in the desolate places of the   
   Holy Mountain, not seeing another person for fifty-three years. His   
   clothing become tattered, and his hair and beard grew and covered his   
   body in place of clothes.   
      
   Our Blessed Mother said of Mount Athos: "I have chosen this   
   mountain... and have received it from My Son and God as an   
   inheritance, for those who wish to forsake worldly cares and   
   strife.... Exceedingly do I love this place. I will aid those who come   
   to dwell here and who labor for God... and keep His commandments.... I   
   will lighten their afflictions and labors, and shall be an invincible   
   ally for the monks, invisibly guiding and guarding them...."   
      
   During his time on Mount Athos, Saint Peter was repeatedly assaulted   
   by demons who tried to trick him into leaving his holy cave. These   
   demons appeared in the guise of armed soldiers, beasts and vipers, and   
   even familiar figures from his childhood. Peter overcame each attack   
   through prayers to Our Lord and Our blessed Mother. He said "Here have   
   the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos led me. I will not leave here   
   without Her permission." Hearing the name of the Mother of God, the   
   demons vanished.   
      
   Saint Peter died, advanced in years. He was found by a passing hunter   
   and his brother, who received healing of demonic possession simply by   
   touching the holy man. His holy relics were venerated on Mount Athos   
   at the monastery of Saint Clement.   
    by Jacob   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   The birds are the saints, who fly to heaven on the wings of   
   contemplation, who are so removed from the world that they have no   
   business on earth. They do not labour, but by contemplation alone they   
   already live in heaven.   
   --St. Anthony of Padua   
      
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of   
   mercies and the God of all comfort: Who comforteth us in all our   
   tribulation, that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all   
   distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God. [2   
   Corinthians 1:3-4] DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   MARIAN PRAYERS OF SAINT BERNARD # 3    
      
   Run, hasten, O Lady,   
   and in your mercy help your sinful servant,   
   who calls upon you,   
   and deliver him from the hands of the enemy.   
   Who will not sigh to you?   
   We sigh with love and grief,   
   for we are oppressed on every side.   
   How can we do otherwise than sigh to you,   
   O solace of the miserable,   
   refuge of outcasts,   
   ransom of captives?   
   We are certain that when you see our miseries,   
   your compassion will hasten to relieve us.   
   O our sovereign Lady and our Advocate,   
   commend us to your Son.   
   Grant, O blessed one,   
   by the grace which you have merited,   
   that he who through you   
   was graciously pleased to become a partaker   
   of our infirmity and misery,   
   may also through your intercession,   
   make us partakers of his happiness and glory.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)