From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Zeal in Amending our Lives  (7)   
      
      A fervent religious accepts all the things that are commanded him   
   and does them well, but a negligent and lukewarm religious has trial   
   upon trial, and suffers anguish from every side because he has no   
   consolation within and is forbidden to seek it from without. The   
   religious who does not live up to his rule exposes himself to dreadful   
   ruin, and he who wishes to be more free and untrammeled will always be   
   in trouble, for something or other will always displease him   
   'A Kempis: -- Imitation of Christ Book 1, Ch 25   
      
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   April 8th - Saint Agabus the Prophet   
   (also known as Saint Agabos)   
      
   Memorial 8 April   
   8 March (Greek calendar)   
   13 February on some calendars   
      
   in 1st century Antioch   
      
   Saint Agabus was one of the seventy disciples of Christ sent out to   
   preach the Gospel, and holy martyr of Antioch. Saint Agabus was graced   
   with the gift of prophecy, and was likely present in the upper room on   
   the day of Pentecost. Saint Agabus is mentioned in the Acts of the   
   Apostles, in which he is recorded as predicting a great famine   
   thorughout the Roman Empire.   
      
   27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.   
   28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the   
   Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world:   
   which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Acts 11: 27-28)   
      
   Saint Agabus later predicted the imprisonment of Paul, attempting   
   unsuccessfully to convince him to refrain from journeying to   
   Jerusalem:   
      
   10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a   
   certain prophet, named Agabus.   
   11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his   
   own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the   
   Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall   
   deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.   
   12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place,   
   besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.   
   13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?   
   for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for   
   the name of the Lord Jesus.   
   14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of   
   the Lord be done.   
   15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to   
   Jerusalem. (Acts 21:10-15)   
      
   Saint Agabus traveled, preaching the Gospel with his fellow disciples   
   of Christ. He converted both Jews and Greeks, attracting the attention   
   of the Jews of Jerusalem. He was arrested, tortured, beaten, and   
   dragged by a rope around his neck outside the city. He was stoned to   
   death at Antioch. At the moment of his death, a glowing light from   
   Heaven shone down, causing those in attendance to look upon it in   
   amazement. A Jewish woman proclaimed, "Truly this man was righteous,”   
   and converted to Christianity on the spot. The crowds promptly stoned   
   her and she was buried with the holy saint in his tomb.   
      
   Today we pray that Saint Agabus, and all the holy martyrs of the   
   faith, inspire us to live our lives with the conviction and certainty   
   of Christ--that we may proclaim the Gospel through our thoughts,   
   words, and actions each day!   
      
      
   Readings   
   At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, and   
   one of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that   
   there would be a severe famine all over the world, and it happened   
   under Claudius. So the disciples determined that, according to   
   ability, each should send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. –   
   Acts 28:27-29   
      
   Saint Quote   
   The Father in heaven urges us, as children of heaven, to ask for the   
   bread of heaven. [Christ] himself is the bread who, sown in the   
   Virgin, raised up in the flesh, kneaded in the Passion, baked in the   
   oven of the tomb, reserved in churches, brought to altars, furnishes   
   the faithful each day with food from heaven.   
   --St. Peter Chrysologus, Homilie 67: PL 52, 392   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "But someone may say: So you have faith and I have good deeds? Show me   
   this faith of yours without deeds, then! It is by my deeds that I will   
   show you my faith."  James 2:18:   
      
      
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   Short prayers to the Holy Trinity:   
      
   O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee who art dwelling by Thy   
   grace within my soul.   
      
   O Most Holy Trinity, who art dwelling by Thy grace within   
   my soul, make me love Thee more and more.   
      
   O Most Holy Trinity, who art dwelling by Thy grace within   
   my soul, sanctify me more and more.   
      
   Abide with me, O Lord, be Thou my true joy.    
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)