From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Mary at the foot of the Cross   
      
   "She is at the foot of the Cross on Calvary, though all the Apostles,   
   St John only excepted, have fled; she stands erect there, firm in her   
   faith that her Son is the Son of God, that He is the Lamb of God Who   
   is even then taking away the sins of the world, that though apparently   
   defeated, He is Victor over Satan and sin, and that in three days He   
   will conquer death by His resurrection. Mary's act of faith on Calvary   
   was the greatest ever elicited on earth, for the hour was unspeakably   
   dark and its object was the most difficult of all – that Jesus had won   
   the greatest of victories by making the most complete of immolations.   
   Her faith was aided then by the gifts of the Holy Ghost. By the gift   
   of Understanding she read far into the revealed mysteries, far into   
   their inner meaning, their harmony, their appropriateness, their   
   consequences. She was particularly favoured in her understanding of   
   the mysteries in which she herself had a part to play, such as the   
   virginal conception of Christ, His Incarnation, and the whole economy   
   of the Redemption. ... It was increased also by the fact that Mary was   
   confirmed in grace and preserved free from every shortcoming – lack of   
   confidence as well as presumption.”   
   --Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange:   
      
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   April 25th – St. Phaebadius of Agen B    
    (Also known as Fiari, Phebade)   
   Died c. 392.   
      
    When the second Arian confession of faith was drawn up at Sirmium in   
   358, Bishop Saint Phaebadius of Agen, southern Gaul, worked with Saint   
   Hilary of Poitiers to successfully stamp out the heresy in Gaul. His   
   extant book in defense of the faith is so masterfully written that it   
   increases our regret that his others works have been lost.   
      
   Phaebadius was one of the best known prelates of his time and presided   
   over several councils. At the council of Rimini in 359, Phaebadius and   
   Saint Servatus of Tongres zealously opposed the Arians; however,   
   Ursacius and Valens tricked them into accepting a captious   
   proposition. When the two bishops realized the implications, they   
   declared that they had been deceived and condemned what they had done   
   at Rimini. To repair the evil he had unwittingly done, Saint   
   Phaebadius redoubled his opposition against the heresy during the   
   council of Paris in 360 and that at Saragossa, Spain, in 380. There is   
   an excellent treatise refuting the heretical act of the council of   
   Rimini, which Phaebadius is believed to have authored. It is   
   translated into Greek in the 49th discourse of Saint Gregory   
   Nazianzen. Saint Phaebadius was a decrepit old man when Saint Jerome   
   mentioned him among "the illustrious men" of the Church (Benedictines,   
   Husenbeth).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "Do not be vexed at the contradictions you meet in ordinary   
   intercourse, for they give an opportunity to practice the most   
   precious and amiable virtues, which Our Lord has recommended to us.   
   Believe me that true virtue is no more reared in outward repose, than   
   good fish in the stagnant water of a swamp. How shall we prove our   
   love for God, who has suffered so much for us, if not among   
   contradictions and repugnances?"   
   --St. Francis de Sales   
      
   The blessed Seraphino the Capuchin was once in company with his   
   Superiors and a young secular, who, seeing him so simple, humble, and   
   imperturbable, took a fancy to tyrannize over him and to go so far as   
   to slight, insult, and even strike him. Brother Seraphino, unmoved by   
   all these insults, only said, with perfect amiability: "Ah, my little   
   saint! my little saint!" (It was by this name that he would call those   
   who insulted him.) "Let us do good in the service of God."   
      
   ("A Year with the Saints".  April - Patience)   
      
   Bible Quote   
    Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ is risen again from the dead,   
   of the seed of David, according to my gospel. 9 Wherein I labour even   
   unto bands, as an evildoer; but the word of God is not bound. 10   
   Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they   
   also may obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly   
   glory.  (2 Tim. 2:8-10)   
      
      
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   HAPPINESS IS JESUS THE LORD   
      
   I wake up in the morning to face another day,   
   A day filled first with gladness,   
   For I have learned to pray.   
   I lift my eyes to Heaven, and ask what I can do to   
   Face another working day   
   Along the path to You?   
   Temptations are beside me, for me to cast aside;   
   For there has been a promise   
   To be Your loving bride.   
   I open wide the door, steadfastly on my way,   
   To give and take the worst and best   
   With every passing day.   
   My mission fills my heart,   
   There is no room for fear,   
   I'll always tell the story   
   Of when you came so near.   
   They'll never quite believe me,   
   Though what I say is true   
   That all these visions that I saw,   
   Were gifts that came from You!   
   --St. Teresa   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)