From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   — Proverbs 12:23 —   
   A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,   
   but the heart of fools blurts out folly.   
   __________________________   
      
   Prudent people have a quiet confidence. Insecure or uncertain people   
   feel the need to prove themselves, but prudent people don't have to   
   prove anything. They know they are capable, so they can get on with   
   their work. Beware of showing off or being a "know-it-all." If you are   
   modest, people may not notice you at first, but they will respect you   
   later.   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   January 26th – St. Alberic, Abbot Of Citeaux   
   (Co-Founder Of The Cistercian Order )   
   d. 1109   
      
   THE experiences of St. Alberic in his efforts to find a religious home   
   in accord with his aspirations after high perfection throw rather a   
   lurid light upon the untamed temper of the recruits who formed the raw   
   material of monastic life in the 11th century. We know nothing of his   
   boyhood, but we hear of him first as one of a group of 7 hermits who   
   were trying to serve God in the forest of Collan, not far from   
   Châtillon-sur-Seine. There was a certain Abbot Robert, a man of good   
   family, who in spite of a previous failure with a community of unruly   
   monks was in high repute for virtue. Him the hermits with some   
   difficulty obtained for a superior, and in 1075 they moved not far off   
   to Molesmes, where they built a monastery, with Robert for abbot and   
   Alberic for prior. Benefactions flowed in upon them, their numbers   
   grew, but religious fervour decayed. In time a turbulent majority set   
   monastic discipline at defiance. Robert lost heart and withdrew   
   elsewhere. Alberic struggled on to maintain order, but things came to   
   such a pass that the monks beat and imprisoned their prior, and   
   eventually, if we may trust our rather confused authorities, Alberic   
   and Stephen Harding, the Englishman, could stand it no longer, and   
   also quitted Molesmes.   
      
   Probably, when the news of these scandals leaked out, the alms of the   
   faithful began to dry up and the pinch made itself felt. In any case,   
   amendment was promised, so that Robert and Alberic and Stephen were   
   prevailed upon to return; but the old troubles and relaxed observance   
   soon reappeared, and Alberic seems to have been the leading spirit in   
   persuading a group of the more fervent to establish elsewhere a new   
   community living under a stricter rule.   
      
   In the year 1098 21 monks took up their abode in the   
   wilderness of CÎteaux, some little distance to the south of Dijon and   
   more than 70 miles from Molesmes. These were the first beginnings of   
   the great Cistercian Order. Robert, Alberic and Stephen were elected   
   respectively abbot, prior and sub-prior, but shortly afterwards St.   
   Robert returned to the community he had quitted. Thus Alberic became   
   abbot in his place, and it is to him that some of the more distinctive   
   features of the Cistercian reform must probably be ascribed; this way   
   of life aimed at a restoration of primitive Benedictine observance,   
   but with many added austerities. One of its external features was the   
   adoption for the choir monks of a white habit (with a black scapular   
   and hood), a change said to have been made in consequence of a vision   
   of our Lady which was vouchsafed to St. Alberic. A more notable change   
   was the recognition of a special class of fratres conversi, or lay   
   brothers, to whom the more laborious work, and particularly the field   
   work in the distant granges, was entrusted; but manual work was normal   
   for all the monks, their choir observances were much shortened and   
   simplified, and more time was available for private prayer.   
      
   Alberic was a monk near Chatillon-sur-Seine until he joined a group to   
   form a new monastery at Molesmes. Robert served there as abbot, and   
   Alberic was prior. The monks of Molesmes rebelled against the harsh   
   rule instituted there and imprisoned Alberic and forced Robert to   
   leave the monastery. Released, Alberic tried a second time to reform   
   the members, but he was unsuccessful. In 1098, he and 21other monks   
   left Molesmes and established another religious house at Citeaux.   
   Robert was again abbot, and Alberic prior. They were joined this time   
   by Stephen Harding as subprior.   
      
   Thus was founded the Cistercian Order, one of the most distinguished   
   religious houses in the Church. Robert returned to Molesmes within a   
   few years, restoring the primitive Benedictine rule there. The   
   additional austerities that he introduced into Molesmes gave it a true   
   Cistercian character; however, Stephen Harding is credited with   
   providing the overall Cistercian attributes. Alberic remained at   
   Citeaux, where he died on January 26.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Stretch forth your hand towards God as an infant towards its father to   
   be conducted by Him.   
   --St. Francis de Sales   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for   
   judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness." [Psalm 9:7-8]   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   St. Paul told the Corinthians (1 Cor 12:26): "If one member [of   
   Christ] suffers, all the members suffer. For we are naturally bound   
   together, we form one body in Christ. An old Rabbis said it well,   
   Simeon ben Eleazar: "Someone has committed a transgression. Woe to   
   him! He has tipped the scale to the side of debt for himself and for   
   the world. For any sin of someone harms all. There is no such a thing   
   as a victimless crime.   
      
   So the Holiness of God wants the scales rebalanced because He loves   
   what is right in itself. He also wants it rebalanced because the   
   imbalance is harmful to all the other members of Christ.   
      
   But one member can make up for another. So St.. Paul said (Col 1:24):   
   "I fill up the things that are lacking to the tribulations of Christ   
   in my flesh for His body, which is the Church." Of course, Christ   
   lacked no suffering. His suffering was beyond telling. But the whole   
   Christ, that is, Christ with His members, can lack something. For we   
   are not saved as individuals. We are saved in as much as we are   
   members of Christ. And of course that means we must be like Him--like   
   Him in the matter of making rebalance for sin. St. Paul knew that many   
   members of Christ were not doing their part--but he, Paul, could make   
   up for them. So he did.    
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)