From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Royal Road of the Holy Cross  (6)   
      
       If you carry the cross willingly, it will carry and lead you to   
   the desired goal where indeed there shall be no more suffering, but   
   here there shall be. If you carry it unwillingly, you create a burden   
   for yourself and increase the load, though still you have to bear it.   
   If you cast away one cross, you will find another and perhaps a   
   heavier one. Do you expect to escape what no mortal man can ever   
   avoid? Which of the saints was without a cross or trial on this earth?   
   Not even Jesus Christ, our Lord, Whose every hour on earth knew the   
   pain of His passion. “It behooveth Christ to suffer, and to rise   
   again from the dead, . . . and so enter into his glory.  (Luke 24:46,   
   26)  How is it that you look for another way than this, the royal way   
   of the holy cross?   
   --Thomas à Kempis--Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 12   
      
   ===============   
   December 23rd - Our Lady of Beauraing: A Call to Pilgrimage   
      
   Today marks the anniversary of the appearance of Our   
   Blessed Mother to five children in Beauraing, Belgium in 1932. Our   
   Lady of Beauraing, also known as the “Virgin of the Golden Heart,” had   
   appeared to Fernande, Gilberte, and Albert Voisins and Andree and   
   Gilberte Degeimbres the over the previous weeks, beginning on November   
   29. On that day, the children saw a “beautiful lady” walking through   
   the air above a railroad bridge. Dressed in a flowing white gown, the   
   lady emanated a radiant glow, and smiled at them as she approached.   
   She was observed to be praying, never spoke, and simply gazed upon   
   them with beautiful blue eyes.   
      
   Following the initial apparition, Our Blessed Mother continued to   
   appear to the children (on December 2, December 8, December 21),   
   confirming her identity as the Immaculate Virgin, and requesting that   
   a chapel be built. She further implored them to “Always be good.” The   
   apparitions did not occur every night, but the children visited the   
   convent garden, hoping to see her each night.   
      
   On the 23rd of December, 1932, the children waited eagerly in the   
   convent garden for the Virgin of the Golden Heart to appear. As was   
   her custom, she did, alighting on the small hawthorn tree. As was now   
   customary, a large crowd had gathered to watch the children, hoping to   
   glimpse the beautiful lady themselves. As the crowd watched, the   
   children dropped to their knees in unison, and began praying the   
   Rosary in earnest. Our Lady joined them, although she was only visible   
   to the visionaries.   
      
   At the conclusion of their prayers, Fernande asked Our Blessed Mother,   
   “why do you come?”   
      
   Smiling gently, Mary replied, “That people may come here on   
   pilgrimages.” She then departed, leaving the children alone in the   
   garden. Everything Our Blessed Mother had said served as prelude to   
   the core of her message of prayer and redemption, which she would   
   deliver in the next series of apparitions.   
      
   The Blessed Virgin would return to the children 33 times for the   
   conversion of sinners. Our Blessed Mother graced us with her golden   
   heart, encouraging us to sacrifice ourselves for the Lord, and for the   
   salvation of the world. We pray today, in the words of Our Mother, to   
   find the strength and virtue “to be good” in the eyes of the Lord.   
      
   by Jacob   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Hell is not the lot of any true client of Mary for whom she prays even   
   once, and for whom she says to her Son that she wishes him to be saved   
   ... It is sufficient that you desire our salvation, O Mary, and we   
   cannot help but be saved.   
   --St. Anselm   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Behold our shield, O God;   
       look upon the face of thine anointed!   
   10 For a day in thy courts is better   
       than a thousand elsewhere.   
   I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God   
       than dwell in the tents of wickedness. [Psalms 84:9-10]  RSVCE   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Our Lady of Beauraing, Immaculate Virgin, bring to Jesus, your Son,   
   all the intentions that we entrust to you today. Mother of the Golden   
   Heart, reflection of the Father's tenderness, look upon the men and   
   women of our time with love and fill them with the joy of your   
   presence. You, who promised to convert sinners, help us discover the   
   infinite mercy of our God. Awaken within us the grace of conversion so   
   that our lives may be a reflection of that mercy. Make every moment of   
   our existence "a yes" to the question you ask today: "Do you love my   
   Son? Do you love me?" Then the kingdom of Jesus will come to the   
   world. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)