From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
    -- 2 Chronicles 7:14 --   
      
   And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall   
   make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for   
   their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive   
   their sins and will heal their land.  DRB   
   =================================   
   True repentance is more than talk--it is changed behavior. Humble ourselves   
   by admitting our sins; pray to God, asking for forgiveness; seek God   
   continually; and turn from sinful behavior. Whether we sin individually, as   
   a group, or as a nation, following these steps will lead to forgiveness. God   
   will answer our earnest prayers.   
      
      
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   October 21st - Blessed Josephine Leroux   
   1748-1794   
      
   Josephine entered the convent of the Poor Clares at Valenciennes when   
   she was 22 years old. In 1770 she made her vows. Then the French   
   Revolution broke out, and the religious were rudely driven from their   
   convents. Josephine at first returned to her family. But when   
   Valenciennes was captured by the Austrians, Josephine could not resist   
   the impulse to return to the enclosure. However, the convent of the   
   Poor Clares at Valenciennes had not yet been rebuilt, and she took   
   refuge in the convent of the Ursulines, where her own sister lived.   
      
   But the victorious revolutionary army retook the city, and Josephine   
   was placed under arrest as having been disloyal to her country.   
   Without being in any way perturbed, she confronted the band of   
   soldiers who came to arrest her and she said, "It was hardly necessary   
   to make so much ado for the purpose of taking a weak woman captive!"   
   Then, having served her captors with refreshments, she followed them   
   to prison.   
      
   Because she had resumed the life of a religious contrary to the laws,   
   Josephine was condemned to death. With holy serenity and perfect   
   resignation to God's holy will she accepted the death sentence and   
   prepared for it by receiving the Bread of Heaven for her journey to   
   the Divine Bridegroom. With a cheerful countenance she went out to the   
   place of execution, singing sacred hymns along the way. She declared   
   herself truly fortunate at being deemed worthy to give her life for   
   the Catholic Faith. "Could anyone fear to leave this place of exile,"   
   she said, "when he reflects on the beauty of Paradise?"   
      
   At the scaffold she gratefully kissed the hand of the executioner, and   
   in a clear voice forgave everybody. Then she placed her head on the   
   block. Her sister, Mary Scholastic, and four other companions died a   
   martyr's death with her. This occurred on October 23, 1794. Pope   
   Benedict XV enrolled her among the blessed.   
      
   ON THE TEST OF LOVE   
   1. The test of love is sacrifice. Christ met the test in the sacrifice   
   of the Cross, and He demands of those who love Him that they prove   
   their love by the test of the cross. Blessed Josephine knew this and   
   desired to show her loyalty to her Lord. So, after being forced to   
   leave her convent by the evil authorities, she returned to the   
   enclosure of a convent despite the risk it involved. She was arrested   
   and willingly made the sacrifice of her life for the love of   
   Christ.--Are we as ready and as courageous in showing our love for   
   Christ?   
   2. We can and must make sacrifices in this life. There are thousands   
   of opportunities offered for making small sacrifices for which we need   
   no permission. Let us make them with love and generosity, for it is   
   love that gives value to sacrifice. Each time we deprive ourselves of   
   anything for Jesus' sake, we are thinking of Him and loving Him.--Does   
   He not deserve that much from us?   
   3. One of the noblest acts of sacrifice is the conquest of self-love.   
   Our Lord builds His sanctuary on the ruins of self-love. "He must   
   increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). But to decrease is not   
   enough in this matter. Self must disappear, so that we can say: "I   
   live, now not I, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20). The secret of   
   sanctity consists in loving much, but this love presupposes interior   
   and daily warfare. Let us be generous, let us be valiant, so that,   
   like Blessed Josephine, we may in the end also be victorious by   
   passing the test of love.   
      
   Reflection: The Saints fasted, toiled, and wept, not only for love of   
   God, but in fear of damnation. How shall we, with our self-indulgent   
   lives and unexamined consciences, face the judgement seat of Christ?   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.   
   -- Saint Benedict of Nursia   
      
      
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   PRAYER OF THE CHURCH   
   Pour into our hearts, Lord Jesus, fear and love for Thee, so that   
   through the merits and example of the holy virgin Josephine, we may   
   rather choose death than ever consent to offend Thee. Who livest and   
   reignest forever and ever. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)