From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Promised Gift   
      
      "Christ grants justification to those who believe in him, simply   
   because they have faith and not because they serve the law. The   
   blessing granted to Abraham for his exemplary faith is extended to the   
   Gentiles, so that we may receive the promised Spirit through faith.   
      In other words, the promised gift to believers is not a spirit of   
   outward observance but one of inward devotion inspired by love."   
   --St. Augustine--Commentary on Galatians 22   
      
   Prayer: O truly full of grace! Who can explain this grace? Who is able   
   to give thanks for this grace?   
   --St. Augustine--Sermon 290, 5   
      
   =================   
   November 3: - Saint Hubertus, Patron Saint of Hunters   
   (656-727)   
      
   Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Hubertus of Liege, the   
   Apostle of the Ardennes, and patron saint of hunters. Saint Hubertus’   
   life inspires us to respect all living creatures as creations of the   
   Almighty, and to find God in the everyday encounters in our lives.   
      
   Hubertus was born in the European city of Maastricht, to French   
   nobility. His father was the Duke of Aquintaine, Bertrand, and he was   
   the grandson of Charibert, King of Toulouse. As eldest son, Hubertus   
   was afforded the finer things in life, including the best education,   
   and plenty of time for leisure. He was drawn to the pleasurable   
   activities of youth—including gambling and licentiousness-- but   
   nothing made him happier than hunting. In fact, the chase of animals   
   was the primary activity in which he spent his days. His love for the   
   chase was such that he gradually stopped practicing any religious   
   affiliation, instead spending his days in the fields and woods,   
   trapping and hunting. Eventually, he was married and with his wife,   
   conceived a child.   
      
   As holy legend tells us, Hubertus was encouraged by his priest to   
   “give up” hunting for Lent. He refused. Moreover, on Good Friday,   
   Hubertus chose to go hunting, rather than attend solemn Mass with the   
   rest of the household. He departed, as was his habit, to the fields to   
   hunt. Riding his horse, along with his trusted hounds (which today are   
   referred to by his name), Hubertus was chasing a large and impressive   
   stag. As he was pursuing this magnificent beast of the forest, the   
   stag stopped and turned in a sun-drenched clearing.   
      
   Hubertus was astounded to see a Holy Crucifix suspended between the   
   antlers of the creature, and while he stopped, dumbfounded, heard a   
   voice emanating from the figure of Christ. The voice said to him:   
   "Hubertus, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you   
   shall quickly fall into the abyss of Hell!"   
      
   Hubert dismounted (rather, fell) immediately from his horse,   
   prostrated himself on the ground and asked the creature, "Lord, what   
   would you have me do?"   
      
   He immediately received the reply, "Go and seek Bishop Lambert and he   
   will instruct you."   
      
   Hubertus did as he was told. He traveled to visit Lambert, the Bishop   
   of Maastricht, who upon hearing his tale agreed to become his   
   spiritual advisor. As Hubertus was drawn into the faith, his pious   
   wife died during the childbirth of their first son. Taking his freeing   
   from earthly ties as a sign from the Lord, Hubertus renounced all his   
   honors, titles and military rank. He further relinquished his   
   birthright as heir to the Duchy of Aquintaine, bequeathing it to his   
   younger brother.   
      
   Hubertus, at the advice of his spiritual advisor, thereafter sought to   
   learn self discipline by living as a hermit in the great French   
   forest, the Ardennes. He distributed his wealth among the poor, and   
   following a period of discernment and contemplation, was moved to   
   enter the priesthood.   
      
   Following his ordination, he became the assistant administrator of the   
   diocese, working closely with Bishop Lambert. Upon his urging,   
   Hubertus made a pilgrimage to Rome to have audience with the pope,   
   during which Lampert was assassinated. The Pope received a mystical   
   vision of the good bishop’s death and appointed Hubert as the new   
   bishop on the spot! Hubert returned to become the 31st Bishop of   
   Maastricht (and the first Bishop of Liege) and was eventually   
   described as the "Apostle of the Ardennes." There he worked diligently   
   to remove the pagan beliefs that continued to thrive in the great   
   French forest. Upon tracking down the old places of pagan worship, he   
   would preach to the believers, leaving them, and generally allowing   
   them to make their own decisions regarding the faith. Without   
   exception, in every case, the pagan practitioners destroyed their own   
   places of worship, converting to the Christian faith.   
      
   Saint Hubertus became known for his preaching skills, as well as his   
   generosity to the poor. During his bishopric, he transformed the   
   manner in which tithing was used, caring for the basic needs of the   
   poor, rather than investing in grand buildings, fine robes, and golden   
   adornments. He further reportedly worked many miracles, exorcising   
   those possessed by demons and curing illnesses (including rabies)   
   after making the Sign of the Cross over the ill. Saint Hubertus also   
   possessed a gentle manner with dogs, who took to him with both   
   fidelity and love. The breed commonly known as bloodhounds are also   
   called Saint Hubert’s hounds.   
      
   After many years, during which he dedicated churches, and preached   
   with great effect to those around him, Saint Hubertus had a vision of   
   his impending death. Without slowing down his preaching schedule, he   
   feel sick, and within days died peacefully while praying the Lord’s   
   Prayer. Saint Hubert died at Tervueren, near Brussels, Belgium, in the   
   springtime. His feast, however, is celebrated in November due to his   
   love of hunting, which he never lost throughout his life.   
      
   Saint Hubert’s life reminds us that that the messages of the Lord can   
   come during the most unlikely situations, from the most unlikely of   
   messengers. An activity that had clearly become idolistic for Saint   
   Hubert was used by the Lord to bring him back to the faith. Similarly,   
   we are reminded to look around our lives, to those situations, people,   
   and activities who have become paramount and draw out attention away   
   from Our Creator. What might we do today—and who or what might we   
   encounter—that brings us back to the Lord?   
   by Jacob   
      
      
   Great St. Hubert, you were passionate about hunting, but when touched   
   by Divine Grace, you put down your bow and took up the collar of   
   Priesthood. Known for your miracles and the conversion of hundreds,   
   you convinced others to worship and glorify Our Lord.   
      
   Moved by your example, I implore your help. I ask for the Grace to   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)