From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Jesus speaks of his death and resurrection   
      
   "I think we have an obligation to examine this, too: that Jesus was   
   delivered into the hands of men, not by men into the hands of men but   
   by powers to whom the Father delivered his Son on behalf of us all. In   
   the very act of being delivered and coming under the power of those to   
   whom he was delivered, he “destroyed him who had the power of death.”   
   For “through death he destroyed him who has the power of death, that   
   is, the devil, and delivered all those who through fear of death were   
   subject to lifelong bondage."   
    by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 13.8)   
      
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   August 22nd - Blessed Bernard Perani   
   (Also known as Bl. Bernard d’Offide Bernard Offida, Bernard Offidski)   
      
   Blessed Bernard of Offida was the son of simple peasant folk. The   
   family lived in the neighborhood of the little Italian town of Offida   
   and were highly esteemed for their honesty and piety.   
      
   There were seven children in the family, but Bernard proved to be a   
   special joy to his mother, who often held him up as a model to the   
   other children. The little lad, however, so loved his brothers and   
   sisters that, if anyone of them had committed a fault, he would go and   
   ask forgiveness for him and offer to take the punishment.   
      
   As he advanced in age his vocation to a higher life manifested itself   
   quite distinctly. Everything attracted him to God. When he tended the   
   cattle, he often took out a holy picture, which he constantly carried   
   with him, posted it in some quiet spot, and then knelt down to pray   
   before it. He would then command his flock not to stray from the   
   pasture, and they obeyed his command.   
      
   On Sundays Bernard would sometimes remain in church until evening   
   without any food whatsoever. Although he was very useful to his   
   father, still, the latter perceived that he was not destined for the   
   world. He therefore suggested to his son to make choice of a convent   
   that he would like to enter.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   “God could have given us the Redeemer of the human race, and the   
   Founder of the Faiths in another way than through the Virgin, but   
   since Divine Providence has been pleased that we should have the   
   Man-God through Mary, who conceived Him by the Holy Spirit and bore   
   Him in her womb, it only remains for us to receive Christ from the   
   hands of Mary.”   
   --Pope Saint Pius X   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,   
       and my yield than choice silver.  [Prv 8:19]  RSVCE   
      
   REFLECTION   
    “Mary is the stem of the beautiful flower on which the Holy Spirit   
   rests with the fullness of His gifts. Hence, those who want to obtain   
   the seven gifts of the Spirit must seek the flower of the Holy Spirit   
   on the stem (Mary).   
   We go to Jesus through Mary and through Jesus we find the grace of the   
   Holy Spirit.”…St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The Queenship of Mary   
      
   “She has surpassed the riches of the virgins,   
   the confessors, the martyrs, the apostles,   
   the prophets, the patriarchs and the angels,   
   for she herself is the first-fruit of the virgins,   
   the mirror of confessors, the rose of martyrs,   
   the ruler of apostles, the oracle of prophets,   
   the daughter of patriarchs, the queen of angels.”   
   --St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)