From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The leaves, the flowers, and the fruit   
      
      Naturalists tell us that of all the trees, only the fig  tree bears   
   its leaves, flowers, and fruit at the same time. In like manner the   
   Christian should have at the same time all three signs of love and   
   mercy: the leaves of words to instruct the ignorant, the flowers of   
   godly thoughts to love those who offend him, and the fruit of good   
   works to sustain the poor.   
      About such Christians the Lord said, Blessed are they who hunger   
   for justice, for theirs is the  kingdom of heaven. Justice means to   
   give every person his due. Thus for consoling others, the  penitent   
   sinner brings truth to his own tongue; for loving enemies he applies   
   the pledge of mercy to his heart; for sustaining his neighbor, he   
   brings the works of charity to all his faculties; and all this   
   particularly in the time of fasting. Gregory derives this beautifully   
   from the gospel passage:   
      "God approves that fast which lifts hands of almsgiving to his   
   eyes, which is done with love of neighbor, which is built on mercy."   
   —John Waldeby, O.S.A.   
      
      
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   February 24th - Blessed Luke Belludi   
   (1200-c. 1285)   
      
   In 1220, St. Anthony was preaching conversion to the inhabitants of   
   Padua when a young nobleman, Luke Belludi, came up to him and humbly   
   asked to receive the habit of the followers of St. Francis. Anthony   
   liked the talented, well-educated Luke and personally recommended him   
   to St. Francis, who then received him into the Franciscan Order.   
      
   Luke, then only 20, was to be Anthony's companion in his travels and   
   in his preaching, tending to him in his last days and taking Anthony's   
   place upon his death. He was appointed guardian of the Friars Minor in   
   the city of Padua. In 1239 the city fell into the hands of its   
   enemies. Nobles were put to death, the mayor and council were   
   banished, the great university of Padua gradually closed and the   
   church dedicated to St. Anthony was left unfinished. Luke himself was   
   expelled from the city but secretly returned. At night he and the new   
   guardian would visit the tomb of St. Anthony in the unfinished shrine   
   to pray for his help. One night a voice came from the tomb assuring   
   them that the city would soon be delivered from its evil tyrant.   
      
   After the fulfillment of the prophetic message, Luke was elected   
   provincial minister and furthered the completion of the great basilica   
   in honor of Anthony, his teacher. He founded many convents of the   
   order and had, as Anthony, the gift of miracles. Upon his death he was   
   laid to rest in the basilica that he had helped finish and has had a   
   continual veneration up to the present time.   
      
   Comment:  The epistles refer several times to a man named Luke as   
   Paul’s trusted companion on his missionary journeys. Perhaps every   
   great preacher needs a Luke; Anthony surely did. Luke Belludi not only   
   accompanied Anthony on his travels, he also cared for the great saint   
   in his final illness and carried on Anthony’s mission after the   
   saint’s death. Yes, every preacher needs a Luke, someone to offer   
   support and reassurance--including those who minister to us. We don’t   
   even have to change our names!   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "In all your acts, in all your works, in all your behavior, imitate   
   the good; be a competitor of the saints, keep your eye on the   
    heroism of the martyrs, follow the example of the just.”   
   --St. Isidore, Lamentations of a Sinner, 6th cent AD   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Blessed is anyone who has not sinned in speech and who needs feel no   
   remorse for sins.  [Ecclesiasticus 14:1]   
      
      
   <><><><>   
    Prv 15:15-18   
   15 All the days of the poor are evil,   
   but a good heart is a continual feast.   
   16  Better a little with fear of the LORD   
   than a great fortune with anxiety.   
   17 Better a dish of herbs where love is   
   than a fatted ox and hatred with it.   
   18 The ill-tempered stir up strife,   
   but the patient settle disputes.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)