From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
    -- Proverbs 17:16 --   
      
       Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to   
   get wisdom?   
       ========================   
       This verse is a warning against investing one's money or time in a fool,   
   since that investment is sure to be lost. The word "fool" can be defined as   
   one who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding; one who acts   
   unwisely on a given occasion. We all, unfortunately, know these kind of   
   people.   
      
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   January 30th - St. Hyacintha Mariscotti   
      
   (1585-1640)   
   Most of the nun-saints written up in this column have had   
   straightforward careers, whatever their setbacks: a pious youth, an   
   early entrance into the convent, a conscientious observance of the   
   holy rule, and a reputation for prayerfulness, good works and mystical   
   favors. Sister Hyacintha Mariscotti, on the other hand, started off as   
   an unlikely vocation. Only gradually did she come around and make up   
   for lost time.   
      
   Clarice Mariscotti was the daughter of a noble couple, Marcantonio and   
   Ottavia Orsini Mariscotti. Born in Vignanello, some 50 miles north of   
   Rome, she was educated in the Franciscan convent at nearby Viterbo. An   
   older sister was a nun there, but Clarice showed little patience with   
   pieties, and even her preservation from death at 17 little touched her   
   heart. She looked forward rather to marriage. At age 20 she picked   
   young Marquis Cassizucchi as her choice, but her parents gave him   
   instead to her younger sister. Clarice became downright furious.   
      
   According to the then-current (and unwise) policy, she now, as a   
   spinster daughter, was expected to enter the convent. She did receive   
   the veil of the Franciscan order at her school-convent in Viterbo,   
   taking the name Hyacintha (Giacinta). But she warned her father that   
   she intended to live there with all the worldly comforts that she felt   
   entitled to as a noblewoman. She therefore demanded that he furnish   
   her cell elegantly. She wore a habit of the finest fabric, had her own   
   kitchen, and both received guests and went calling at pleasure. While   
   she attended devotions regularly and did not offend against her vow of   
   chastity, her disregard of the Franciscan spirit of obedience, and   
   especially poverty, caused grave scandal in that convent for ten long   
   years.   
      
   At length, however, when Sister Hyacintha came down with a slight   
   illness, her Franciscan confessor, visiting her cell, pointed out the   
   inappropriateness of its furnishings. That gave her pause, but no   
   complete healing. Later on, however, during the course of a really   
   serious illness, she experienced a genuine change of heart, and made a   
   public confession of her faults before the whole community of sisters.   
      
   From that time on Gacinta was a different woman, a true Franciscan.   
   She discarded her costly habit for an old, used one; she went   
   barefoot; she practiced self-denial rigorously, frequently fasting on   
   bread and water; she intensified her personal devotion to the child   
   Jesus, to the passion of Christ, to the Holy Eucharist, and to the   
   Blessed Mother. Deeply contemplative, she even received miraculous   
   gifts. Towards the needy she showed courageous charity, nursing the   
   plague-ridden, and establishing two lay confraternities to attend to   
   the needs of the needy, especially the homeless, those in jail, and   
   impoverished nobles who were too proud to beg. For all these she   
   herself would beg from door to door. Good deeds of this sort deserved   
   high praise, but she now rejected any commendation, considering   
   herself the unworthiest of mortals.   
      
   Despite her almost extreme piety, the reformed Giacinta was noted for   
   her common sense. She might deny herself even necessary food and   
   sleep, but she showed great balance in guiding the novice sisters   
   along prudent lines. Asked once what she thought of a certain nun   
   reputed for union with God, she replied, “First of all I should like   
   to know how far she is detached from creatures, humble and free from   
   self-will, even in good and holy things…. The sort of people who most   
   appeal to me are those who are despised, who are devoid of selflove   
   and who have little sensible (spiritual) consolation…. The cross, to   
   suffer, to persevere bravely in spite of the lack of all sweetness and   
   relish in prayer: This is the true sign of the spirit of God.” How   
   completely Franciscan was that statement!   
      
   St. Hyacintha died at 55 in 1640. When she was canonized in 1807, the   
   papal document said that “through her apostolate of charity she won   
   more souls to God than many preachers of her time.” When we see a   
   willful, self-indulgent person somersault into utter selflessness, we   
   are surely witnessing the grace of God powerfully at work. Though she   
   achieved this turnabout three centuries ago, St. Hyacintha is still a   
   parable for our self-centered times. Are we weighted down by worldly   
   possessions, pleasures, a rebellious spirit, sinful addictions?   
   Giacinta’s example, however belated in her own life, reminds us that   
   with God all things are possible, even joyous liberation from our   
   worst enslavements.   
   –Father Robert   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Do you want our Lord to give you many graces? Visit him often. Do you   
   want him to give you few graces? Visit him seldom. Visits to the   
   Blessed Sacrament are powerful and indispensable means of overcoming   
   the attacks of the devil. Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed   
   Sacrament and the devil will be powerless against you.   
   --Saint John Bosco   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and   
   weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with   
   rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6 )   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer of the graces   
      
   Mary, Mother of the Eucharist,   
   precious gem of God,   
   shining pearl of the sky and the earth,   
   co-redemptrix of mankind,   
   Mother of us all,   
   look at your poor and humble creatures,   
   help us to understand the love   
   of Jesus the Eucharist.   
   Gain for us the graces   
   that each one needs,   
   provided that they are in accordance with God's will.   
   Mary, Mother of the Eucharist,   
   Mother of Jesus and our Mother,   
   we, even if imperfect,   
   count on your help.   
   Thank you Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.   
      
    (At the end say three Hail Mary with the ejaculatory prayer: Mother of the   
   Eucharist, pray with us)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)