From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On the Evils of Curiosity  [II]    
      
   Do not court the favour of powerful patrons, nor popular favour, not   
   even the particular affection of friends. All these things are   
   distractions, and fill the heart with uncertainty. If you will but   
   await My coming, and throw open the door of your heart, I Myself will   
   speak to you, and reveal to you My secrets. Be ready; watch and pray.   
   Above all, be humble.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 24   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   June 16th - Saint Benno of Meissen   
   (Also known as Benedict)   
   Memorial 16 June formerly 3 August   
   (1010-1106)   
      
    Saint Benno worked throughout his long life to reform the Church,   
   supported the legitimacy of the Pope at a time when the papacy was   
   being politically attacked, suffered persecution and exile, and worked   
   numerous miracles. Saint Benno remains one of the most venerated   
   saints throughout Germany.   
      
   Benno was born to a noble family in Saxony (modern day Germany), and   
   was educated from a young age by the monks of the abbey of Saint   
   Michael. He was ordained a priest, and eventually, at the age of 56   
   became Bishop of Meissen. Soon thereafter, he was appointed Canon to   
   the imperial chapel of Emperor Henry III, a pious ruler who looked to   
   the Church for guidance in political matters. Upon his death, Henry IV   
   ascended to the throne, at the young age of 16. Unlike his   
   predecessor, he sought to subjugate the Church to the state, and   
   restrict the legitimacy of the papacy throughout Germany.   
      
   However, at that time, one of the greatest of the Church’s popes, Pope   
   Gregory VII, sat on the Chair of Peter, and wished for nothing more   
   than to preserve the role of the Pope in investing bishops--that is,   
   providing bishops with the symbols of their holy office, signifying   
   their marriage to the Church. This “Investiture Contest” spread   
   throughout Europe, and many bishops sided with the political leaders   
   of their regions, rather than the Pope. However, Saint Benno stood   
   alongside Pope Gregory VII, against the Emperor, instituting the   
   reforms of the Church and maintaining the divine duties of the Pope.   
   For his trouble, he was imprisoned and exiled for many years.   
      
   One of the most famous legends told of Saint Benno involves his   
   barring the emperor from receiving the Holy Eucharist following his   
   excommunication (the Pope had excommunicated Henry IV, due to his   
   decisions to challenge the Church’s legitimate authority to invest   
   bishops). Henry, however, hoped that the German bishops would take no   
   notice of this `excommunication' and rode to Meissen--to the cathedral   
   served by Saint Benno--to receive the Eucharist. Saint Benno realized   
   that there was nothing he could do to keep the emperor out, save   
   barring the cathedral to everyone. So that is what he did. He locked   
   the cathedral doors, and threw the keys into the river Elbe. Henry   
   knew that if he attempted to break down the doors to the cathedral, he   
   would anger the crowds gathered, so simply rode away vowing vengeance   
   on the holy bishop.   
      
   After he had gone, Saint Benno ordered the local fisherman to cast   
   their nets into the Elbe, and after praying over the water, they   
   hauled in their nets. In the net was a fish that had the keys to the   
   cathedral hanging upon its fins. Benno retrieved the key and reopened   
   the cathedral. It was not soon thereafter that he was both imprisoned   
   and exiled, although would not stray from the teachings of the Church,   
   even under threat of punishment.   
      
   Saint Benno lived to be a very old man, and spent the last years of   
   his life preaching the faith to those who had not yet converted. He   
   never lost sight of his calling as a diocesan bishop, visiting and   
   preaching at all the parishes in his diocese, celebrating the Mass,   
   enforcing discipline and enacting reform amongst the clergy, and   
   building many grand cathedrals for the glory of the Lord. An   
   accomplished musician, Saint Benno encouraged music and chanting   
   during Masses throughout the diocese, penned many hymns, and wrote   
   extensively on the Gospels.   
      
   Following his death, at the age of nearly 100, Saint Benno was buried   
   in the cathedral at Meissen. When the cathedral was rebuilt in 1285,   
   his relics were translated to the new cathedral, and many miraculous   
   cures were reported at that time. His relics were later translated to   
   Munich in 1580, and Saint Benno remains the patron saint of that city   
   today.   
      
   Saint Benno lived during a difficult political time, and   
   managed—despite threat, imprisonment, and punishment—to remain true to   
   the teachings of the Church, and his role as priest and bishop. At a   
   time when the Church is criticized and attacked from both the inside   
   and outside, we look to saints like Saint Benno as inspiration. His   
   witness provides example to each of us, inspiring fidelity and truth,   
   even when these are the “hard decisions” to make.   
   by Jacob   
      
      
   Quote   
   God walks with sincere men, reveals Himself to humble men, enlightens   
   the understanding of pure minds, and hides His grace from the curious   
   and the proud.   
   --Imitation of Christ   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this   
   comes from evil.[a] Matthew 5:37   RSVCE   
      
   <><><><>   
   A prayer to the Sacred Heart:   
      
   O most Holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing,   
    I adore Thee, I love Thee, and with lively sorrow for my sins,   
    I offer Thee this poor heart of mine.  Make me humble, patient,   
   pure and wholly obedient to Thy will.  Grant, good Jesus, that   
   I may live in Thee and for Thee.  Protect me in the midst of   
   danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body,   
   assistance in my temporal knees, Thy blessing on all that I do,   
   and the grace of a holy death.  Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)