From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Humility [1]   
      
   Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues because   
   it enables us to see and judge correctly, the way God sees. Humility   
   helps us to be teachable so we can acquire true knowledge, wisdom, and   
   an honest view of reality. It directs our energy, zeal, and will to   
   give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us   
   to love and serve others willingly and selflessly, for their own sake,   
   rather than for our own. Paul the Apostle gives us the greatest   
   example and model of humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who   
   emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and... who humbled   
   himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross   
   (Philippians 2:7-8). Do you want to be a servant as Jesus loved and   
   served others? The Lord Jesus gives us his heart--the heart of a   
   servant who seeks the good of others and puts their interests first in   
   his care and concern for them.   
      
   Prayer:   
   "Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the   
   tyranny of selfish pride and self-concern. Teach me to be humble as   
   you are humble and to love others generously with selfless service and   
   kindness."   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   November 5th - Feast of the Holy Relics   
      
   By relics of the Saints we mean all that remains of them after their   
   death — their bones, their ashes, their clothing and other objects   
   used by them. Enemies of the Church have condemned the cult of the   
   relics of the Saints as being borrowed from pagan customs and without   
   apostolic origin. The decision of the Council of Trent suffices to   
   show the falsehood and bad faith of their reasoning. That Council, in   
   effect, decreed quite otherwise, that the bodies of the martyrs and   
   other Saints, who were the living members of Jesus Christ and the   
   temples of the Holy Spirit, must be honored by the faithful, and that   
   through them God grants a great many benefits to the living. Its   
   decision was based on the usage already established in the first   
   century and which has remained constant in the Church, as well as on   
   the teaching of the Fathers and Councils.   
      
   The cult of holy relics is therefore not only permitted, but   
   commanded; it is not only a right, but a duty. Let us note well that   
   the cult of holy relics diverges from pagan practices in that it is   
   supernatural. We do not honor what remains of the Saints for any   
   motive derived from nature, but from motives based on the Faith. If   
   one honors the memory and remains of great men worthy of that   
   appellation, it is regarded as justice; but when one honors the memory   
   and remains of the Saints, it is more than justice, it is the virtue   
   of religion. The final object of the cult of the holy relics is God   
   who sanctifies the Saints; it is Jesus Christ, whose members the   
   Saints are. This cult is so legitimate that God Himself sometimes   
   glorifies the relics of His Saints by heavenly perfumes, by other   
   marvelous privileges, by countless miracles. Let us add that the cult   
   of holy relics also has its foundation in the glorious resurrection   
   which is awaiting the bodies of the Saints. God Himself will   
   reassemble these remains at the end of the world and will give them   
   all the brilliance and beauty of which they are capable.   
      
   Let us then venerate, with respect, devotion and confidence, these   
   precious relics which once were animated by such great souls, were the   
   instruments of beautiful and holy works and of astonishing virtues,   
   and which will some day be honored by a brilliant and immortal glory.   
   Let us value pilgrimages made to the tombs of the Saints, and   
   celebrate religiously the feast of the holy relics, which   
   appropriately follows closely upon All Saints Day, the feast day of   
   the splendid holy souls who are in heaven.   
      
   Source: Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l’année, by Abbé L. Jaud   
   (Mame: Tours, 1950).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   God sometimes gives a certain union of heart and tender love for our   
   neighbor, which is one of the greatest and most excellent gifts that   
   His divine bounty bestows on man.   
   --St. Francis de Sales   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Hymn: Sanctorum Meritis   
      
   Let us together celebrate the glorious delights merited by the Saints,   
   and their heroic deeds: for the mind exults to proclaim in song these   
   the noblest of conquerors.   
      
   These are they whom the world in its folly abhorred; while they, the   
   faithful followers of Thy name, O Jesus merciful King of the heavenly   
   citizens, despised the world as barren and devoid of fruits and   
   flowers.   
      
   For Thy sake they scorned the range of men, their savage threats and   
   cruel stripes: the fiercely rending hook, vanquished by their courage,   
   left the brave heart untouched.   
      
   Like sheep, they are slaughtered by the sword: not a murmur, not a   
   complaint escapes them; but with unqualing heart, the soul, conscious   
   of right, preserves its patience.   
      
   What voice, what tongue could relate the rewards Thou preparest for   
   the Martyrs? For, adorned with the purple of their own blood, they   
   bind their brows with victory's glittering laurels.   
      
   We beseech thee, O supreme and only God, that Thou wouldst cleanse   
   away our sins, remove all evils, and grant peace to Thy servants, that   
   they may sing glory to Thee for all ages to come. Amen.   
      
   V. The Saints shall rejoice in glory;   
   R. They shall be joyful in their beds.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)