From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On the Contrary Workings of Nature and Grace  [III]   
      
   Nature is unwilling to be mortified, checked or overcome, obedient or   
   willingly subject. Grace mortifies herself, resists sensuality,   
   submits to control, seeks to be overcome. She does not aim at enjoying   
   her own liberty, but loves to be under discipline; and does not wish   
   to lord it over anyone. Rather does she desire to live, abide and   
   exist always under God's rule, and for His sake she is ever ready to   
   submit it to all men. (1 Pet. 2:13)   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 54   
      
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   January 9th - Feast of Saint Adrian of Canterbury   
    (635-710)   
      
   Saint Adrian of Canterbury was born and raised in Africa, but traveled   
   frequently between Africa and Europe after becoming a monk, spreading   
   the word of God. Following his rejection of an invitation from the   
   Pope to become Archbishop of Canterbury, Adrian agreed to serve as the   
   Holy Father’s advisor and assistant. However, he remained in   
   Canterbury for most of his life, performing his duties there.   
      
   Saint Adrian is best known as the Abbot of Saint Peter and Paul’s   
   Monastery in Canterbury. Under his unwavering leadership, the school   
   flourished and became the center of learning of that time, attracting   
   many students, and producing countless future Church leaders. Students   
   were instructed in Greek and Latin, as well as their native languages.   
   In addition to teaching these languages, Adrian taught poetry,   
   astronomy and math, as well as Scripture and virtue. Adrian expanded   
   the teachings of the Church beyond that of theology to include the   
   phyiscal and material sciences—a tradition the Church continues today.   
      
   Upon his death, Saint Adrian was buried in the monestary. During   
   construction, several hundred years after his death, Adrian’s body was   
   discovered in an incorrupt state. Several miracles were reported to   
   have occurred at his tombside. Students continue to visit his tomb,   
   especially during times of difficulty.   
      
   Today, we look to Saint Adrian for inspiration. We are all slow to   
   learn—especially when it comes to spiritual life lessons. We think we   
   know the answers, and fail to consider our answers may not be what the   
   Lord wants from us. Like Saint Adrian, we pray to expand our views   
   beyond ourselves, and listen for instruction and teaching from the   
   Blessed Mother and our Lord.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   “No one can be saved without divine light. Divine light causes us to   
   begin and to make progress, and it leads us to the summit of   
   perfection. Therefore if you want to begin and to receive this divine   
   light, pray. If you have begun to make progress and want this light to   
   be intensified within you, pray. And if you have reached the summit of   
   perfection, and want to be super-illumined so as to remain in that   
   state, pray.”   
   --Blessed Angela of Foligno   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why do you trouble this woman? For   
   she hath wrought a good work upon me.  For the poor you have always   
   with you: but me you have not always.  For she in pouring this   
   ointment on my body hath done it for my burial.  [Mt. 26:10-12] DRB   
      
      
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   A hymn of contrition, from the Office of Matins:   
      
   THE DUSKY veil of night hath laid, the varied hues of earth in shade;   
   before Thee, righteous Judge of all, we contrite in confession fall.   
      
   Thou, when the fourth day was begun, didst frame the circle of the sun,   
   and set the moon for ordered change, and planets for their wider range:   
      
   To night and day, by certain line, their varying bounds Thou didst assign;   
   and gavíst a signal, known and meet, for months begun and months complete.   
      
   Enlighten Thou the hearts of men; polluted souls make pure again:   
   unloose the bands of guilt within; remove the burden of our sin.   
      
   Grant this, O Father, ever One, with Christ, Thy sole-begotten Son,   
   Whom, with the Spirit we adore, one God, both now and evermore.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)