From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   -- Luke 12:15 --   
      
   Then he said to them, "Watch out!   
   Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;   
   a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."   
   =================================   
   Jesus says living the good life has nothing to do with being wealthy,   
   so be on guard against greed (desire for what we don't have). This is   
   the exact opposite of what society usually says. Advertisers spend   
   millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more and more   
   of their products, we will be happier,  more fulfilled, more   
   comfortable. How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy? Learn   
   to tune out expensive enticements and concentrate instead on the truly   
   good life -- living in a relationship with God and being holy in who   
   you are and what you do.   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   February 6th – St. Vedast of Arras B (AC)   
    (Also known as Foster, Gaston, Vat, Vaast, Waast)   
      
   Born in western France, died February 6, 539; other feasts at Arras   
   are celebrated on July 15 and October 1. When he was still very young,   
   Vedast had left his home and led a holy life concealed from the world   
   in the diocese of Toul, where the bishop, charmed with his virtue,   
   consecrated him to the priesthood. Vedast, a fellow-worker with Saint   
   Remigius in the conversion of the Franks, was instrumental in the   
   conversion of Clovis I to Christianity.   
      
   The occasion of Clovis's conversion was a victory over the Alemanni in   
   496. He had already been influenced by Saint Clothilde, whom he had   
   married four years earlier. After his victory, he was heading to   
   Rheims to receive baptism at the hands of Remigius, but at Toul he   
   requested the help of a priest who might instruct and prepare him for   
   the holy sacrament as he traveled. Vedast was presented to his majesty   
   for this purpose. When Vedast restored the sight of a blind man along   
   the Aisne River with a prayer and the sign of the cross, Clovis was   
   strengthened in his resolve to become a Christian and some of his   
   courtiers converted immediately.   
      
   After being consecrated in 499 as bishop of Arras (united with Cambrai   
   in 510) by Remigius, Vedast ruled the united sees of Arras-Cambrai for   
   about 40 years. Upon his arrival in Arras, he restored sight to a   
   blind man, and cured another who was lame. These miracles excited the   
   attention, and disposed the hearts of many to open themselves to   
   receive the Gospel. Although the region had been Christianized during   
   the Roman occupation, the repeated incursion of Vandals and Alans had   
   virtually destroyed any remnant of the faith. At the beginning of   
   episcopacy, the only vestige of Christianity in his see was a ruined   
   church. Though nearly discouraged at the ravages done to the faith,   
   Vedast's patience, meekness, charity, and most especially prayers,   
   allowed God to triumph over superstition and lust, and the faith was   
   restored throughout that area.   
      
   Vedast was buried in the cathedral, but 128 years later Bishop Saint   
   Aubertus changed a little chapel which Vedast had built in honor of   
   St. Peter into an abbey, and translated St. Vedast's relics into this   
   new church, leaving a small portion of them in the cathedral. The   
   great abbey of Saint Vedast was finished by Bishop Saint Vindicianus   
   and endowed by king Theodoric or Thierry, who lies buried in the   
   church with his wife Doda.   
      
   Many sites through Arras, Cambrai, and Belgium commemorate his name,   
   as do three ancient churches in England (in London, Norwich, and   
   Tathwell in Lincolnshire). Although it is unlikely that Vedast ever   
   visited England, his cultus there dates to the 10th century, which was   
   heightened in the 12th century by the presence of Arrouaise   
   Augustinians in the country. In England, he is sometimes known as   
   Saint Foster, which is the derivation of that family name.   
      
   The feast of Vedast was included in the Benedictional of Saint   
   Ethelwold, the Missal of Robert of Jumieges, and the Leofric missal,   
   as well as the calendars of Sarum, York, and Hereford. Blessed Alcuin   
   wrote a vita for Vedast, as well as an Office and Mass in his honor   
   for usage at Arras. In a letter to the monks of Arras in 769, Alcuin   
   calls Vedast his protector (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer,   
   Husenbeth).   
      
   As in the stained glass image in the church of Blythburgh, Suffolk,   
   Saint Vedast is pictured as a bishop with a wolf carrying a goose in   
   its mouth (Roeder) (which had been rescued by Vedast for its poor   
   owners). Other attributes include a child at his feet or a bear   
   (Farmer). He is invoked on behalf of children who walk with   
   difficulty, and for diseases of the eyes (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.   
   -- Saint Francis of Assisi   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "I say then Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of   
   the flesh."  (Galatians 5:16)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A Prayer for Light   
      
   O Light everlasting, surpassing all created light! (Ps. 27:1; John   
   8:12) Pour forth from Heaven the glorious rays of Thy light and pierce   
   the very depths of my heart! Purify, gladden, light and quicken the   
   powers of my spirit, that it may hold to Thee with joy unspeakable.   
   Oh, when shall come that blessed and longed for hour, when Thou   
   filleth me with Thy presence and be to me All in all. (I Cor. 15:28)   
   Until Thou granteth this, I can know no fullness of joy. As yet, alas,   
   my lower nature is strong within me; it is not yet wholly crucified,   
   nor entirely dead. (Rom. 6:6) It still fights strongly against the   
   spirit, stirring up conflicts within me and will not allow the kingdom   
   of the soul to remain at peace. O Christ, who rules the power of the   
   sea and quells its raging waves, (Ps. 89:9) come near and help me!   
   Scatter the nations that delight in war (Ps. 68:30) and overcome them   
   in Thy strength. (Ps. 60:12). Display thy mighty power, I pray, and   
   show Yourself glorious in might; I have no hope nor refuge (Ps. 31:2)   
   but in Thee, O Lord My God.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 34   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)