From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Be zealous within your soul   
      
       "Be zealous within your soul, but do not give the slightest sign,   
   word, or hint of it outwardly; and you will manage this as soon as you   
   stop looking down on your neighbor, something you may be inclined to   
   do. And if this is so, then become like your brethren in order not to   
   differ from them solely by the measure of your conceit.   
       I once saw an inexperienced disciple who used to boast in certain   
   quarters about the achievement of his teacher. He imagined that in   
   this way he would win glory for himself from another's harvest. But he   
   only got a bad name for himself, for everyone put this question   
   concerning him,  "How then could a good tree grow such a dead branch?"   
   -- St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, 4 Be zealous   
      
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   2 May – Saint Antoninus of Florence OP   
      
    (1389-1459)   
   Archbishop of Florence, Dominican Priest and Friar, Confessor, spiritual   
   director, apostle of mercy, theologian, writer, reformer, Prior of the Order.   
      
   Born as Antonio Pierozzi (also called de Forciglioni) on 1 March 1389 in the   
   city of Florence and died on 2 May 1459 at Florence, Italy. Known as   
   “Antoninus the Counsellor”   
   . Patronages – Moncalvo, Turin, Italy, University of Santo Tomas Graduate   
   School, Manila, Philippines, Saint Antoninus Parish, Municipality of Pura,   
   Tarlac Philippines.   
      
   Anthony Pierozzi, born on 1 March 1389, was soon nicknamed “Antoninus”   
   (“Little Anthony”), either because of his small stature or his weak   
   health. Thus began the life of the future Saint Antoninus born to noble   
   parents in Florence, Italy.   
      
   The influence of the Dominicans on Antoninus’ early life led him to seek   
   admittance to the Dominican Order at the age of 15. Antoninus approached the   
   prior of the convent in Fiesole, Blessed Brother John Dominic (c 1355–1419,   
   with his request to be    
   admitted to the Order. Perhaps noticing the weak health of the aspirant and   
   not wishing to give an outright refusal to Antoninus’ request, Brother John   
   Dominic told him to come back once he had memorised the Decretum of Gratian,   
   or the Code of Canon    
   Law at the time. To the prior’s surprise, the youth returned within the year   
   having accomplished the task required of him. He was thus admitted to the   
   Order.   
      
   The love and zeal he had as a novice never left Antoninus. He became a great   
   reformer more by example than by word. Elected prior at a young age, Antoninus   
   served as superior for many years. He, like his brothers in St Dominic and St   
   Thomas Aquinas, was    
   concerned with the formation of the friars of the Order of Preachers. Hence he   
   prepared the Summa Moralis, a systematic and comprehensive presentation of   
   Christian Moral Theology, which he wrote, as he said, during the summer and   
   the winter of his life.    
   Antoninus’ writings treated the practical aspects of living the faith. His   
   writings were a major development in the field of moral theology. St Antoninus   
   also wrote a biography of Blessed John Dominic and a history of the world.   
      
   Antoninus’ devotion to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spiritual counsel   
   earned him the title of Antoninus the Counsellor. Such was his ability to   
   instruct and to guide others.   
   Antoninus accepted into the Order Brother John of Fiesole, the future artist,   
   Fra Angelico (c 1395–1455). Having an eye for recognising the gifts of   
   others, Antoninus instructed Fra Angelico to prepare his own Summa Moralis,   
   not in words but through    
   his painting. Hence when the new convent of San Marco was built, Prior   
   Antoninus had Fra Angelico grace each of the friar’s cells with a painting   
   based on a scene from the life of Christ.   
      
   After he was appointed Archbishop of Florence, Antoninus’ residence became   
   known as the hostel for the poor, such was his generosity and service for   
   victims of poverty. His sensitivity to the needs of others led him to found   
   the “Men of St Martin,”    
   in order to offer quiet support to the wealthy who had become indigent. Hence,   
   the Archbishop lived out the works of mercy.   
      
   He came to win the esteem and love of his people, especially by his energy and   
   resource in combating the effects of the plague and earthquake in 1448 and   
   1453.  Antoninus lived a life of austerity as archbishop, continuing to   
   follow the Dominican Rule.    
   His relations with the Medici regime were close but not always harmonious,   
   with his serving several times as an ambassador for the Republic to the Holy   
   See during the 1450s.   
      
   St Antoninus died on 2 May 1459 and Pope Pius II conducted his funeral. The   
   pope happened to be on his way to the Council of Mantua when he heard of the   
   archbishop’s death. The archbishop’s wish was that he be buried at the   
   priory which he had    
   founded in the city.     
   He was Canonised on Trinity Sunday, 31 May 1523 by Pope Adrian VI, who himself   
   held ideas of radical and drastic church reform similar to those of Antoninus.   
      
   Eternal God, you blessed Saint Antoninus with a marvellous gift of counsel. By   
   the help of his prayers, while we walk in the darkness of this life, may we   
   learn from the light of Christ all that we ought to do. We ask this through   
   our Lord Jesus Christ,    
   your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever   
   and ever. Amen   
      
   From Anastpaul 2019   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When it is all over you will not regret having suffered; rather you will   
   regret having suffered so little, and suffered that little so badly.   
   --St. Sebastian Valfre   
      
      
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   Almighty Father, we await the healing power of Jesus, Your Son. Let us not be   
   discouraged   
   by our weaknesses as we prepare for His coming. Keep us steadfast in Your   
   love. We ask this   
   through Christ our Lord. Amen.   
      
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   DEAR JESUS, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I   
   go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and   
   possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only   
   be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me and be so in me   
   that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence   
   in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only   
   Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you   
   shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)