From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Quality is superior to quantity   
      
       As good theologians teach,(20) God is more glorified by a single   
   act of charity of ten talents than by ten acts of charity of one   
   talent each. Likewise a single very perfect just soul pleases God more   
   than many others who remain in mediocrity or tepidity. Quality is   
   superior to quantity. This is why the plenitude of grace in Mary   
   surpassed from the first day of her existence that of all the saints,   
   as a single diamond is worth more than a quantity of other precious   
   stones.   
       Charity, therefore, ought by our merits to grow until death. With   
   this infused virtue, our aptitude to receive a new increase grows,(21)   
   our spiritual heart dilates more and more, and our divine capacity is   
   enlarged according to the words of the psalm: "I have run the way of   
   Thy commandments, when Thou didst enlarge my heart." (22) St. Paul   
   also says: "Our heart is enlarged. . . . Be you also enlarged." (23)   
      
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   May 17th - St. Paschal Baylon, Confessor   
   (by Fr. Prosper Gueranger 1870)   
      
   Paschal Baylon was born of poor and pious parents, at Torre-Hermosa, a   
   small town of the Diocese of Seguenza, in Aragon. Even from his   
   infancy, he gave many signs of future sanctity. Being endowed with a   
   good disposition, and having a great love for the contemplation of   
   heavenly things, he passed the years of boyhood and youth in tending   
   flocks. He loved this kind of life more than any other, because it   
   seemed to him best for fostering humility and preserving innocence. He   
   was temperate in his food, and assiduous in prayer. He had such   
   influence over his acquaintance and companions, and was so dear to   
   them, that he used to settle their disputes, correct their faults,   
   instruct their ignorance, and keep them out of idleness. He was   
   honored and loved by them as their father and master; and even then,   
   was often called the Blessed Paschal.   
      
   Thus did this flower of the valley bloom in the world, that desert and   
   parched land; but once planted in the house of the Lord, he shed,   
   everywhere around him, a wondrous odour of sanctity. Having embraced   
   the severest sort of life, by entering the Order of the Discalced   
   Friars Minor of strict observance, Paschal rejoiced as a giant to run   
   his way. Devoting himself wholly to the service of his God, his one   
   thought, both day and night, was how he could further imitate his   
   Divine Master. His brethren, even they that were most advanced, soon   
   began to look upon him as a model of seraphic perfection. As for him,   
   he put himself in the grade of the Lay-Brothers. Looking on himself as   
   the offscouring of all, he, with humility and patience, cheerfully   
   took on himself the most tiring and menial work of the house, which   
   work he used to say belonged to him by a special right. He mortified   
   and brought into subjection his flesh, which, at times, would strive   
   to rebel against the spirit. As to his spirit, he, by assiduous   
   self-denial, maintained its fervour, and daily stretched himself   
   forward to the things that were more perfect.   
      
   He had consecrated himself, from his earliest years, to the Blessed   
   Virgin; he honored her, as his Mother, by daily devotions, and prayed   
   to her with filial confidence. It would be difficult to describe the   
   ardour of his devotion to the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.   
   Even after his death, this devotion seemed to linger in his body; for   
   when laid in his coffin, his eyes were seen to open and shut twice   
   during the elevation of the sacred Host, to the astonishment of all   
   that were present. He publicly and openly professed before heretics   
   his faith in the dogma of the Real Presence, and had much to suffer on   
   that account. His very life was frequently attempted; but, by a   
   special providence of God, he was rescued from the hands of the wicked   
   men who sought to kill him. Frequently, when at prayer, he was in   
   ecstasy, and swooned away with the sweetness of love. It was on these   
   occasions that he was supposed to receive that heavenly wisdom,   
   whereby he, though uneducated and illiterate, was enabled to give   
   answers upon the profoundest mysteries of Faith, and even write   
   several books. Finally, being rich in merit, he happily took his   
   flight to heaven, at the hour which he had foretold, in the year of   
   our Lord 1592, on the 16th of the Calends of June (May 17), and on the   
   Feast of Pentecost, (the same on which he was born,) being in his 52nd   
   year. These and other virtues having procured him great reputation,   
   and being celebrated for miracles both before and after his death, he   
   was beatified by Pope Paul the V, and canonized by Alexander the 8th.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Whatever you do, think not of yourself, but of God.   
   --St. Vincent Ferrer   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and   
   weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with   
   rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6 )   
      
      
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   Prayer for Final Perseverance:   
      
   O Jesus, my Saviour, my God, by Thy Sacred Heart,   
    by the most pure Heart of the Virgin Mother,   
    by whatever is pleasing to Thee in heaven and on earth,   
    I beg and entreat Thee, grant me holy perseverance,   
    grant me patience. Give me grace and courage that I may   
    efficaciously employ the means which Thou hast given.   
      
   Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love. 3 times   
   Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation. 3 times   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)