From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Joy of a Good Conscience: (4)   
      
     It is characteristic of a humble soul always to do good and to think   
   little of itself. It is a mark of great purity and deep faith to look   
   for no consolation in created things. The man who desires no   
   justification from without has clearly entrusted himself to God: "For   
   not he who commendeth himself is approved," says St. Paul, "but he   
   whom God commendeth."  (2 Cor. 10:18.)  To walk with God interiorly,   
   to be free from any external affection--this is the state of the   
   inward man.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 6   
      
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   November 13th - St. Homobonus   
   (d. 1197)   
      
   Some of the Latin baptismal names that ancient Christian parents   
   bestowed on their children were quaint but devout: like   
   “Quodvultdeus,” which means “whatever God wants”; or “Deusdedit,”   
   “God’s gift”; or “Desideratus,” “wanted”.   
      
   In the 12th century, there lived in Cremona, Italy, a prosperous   
   merchant who took his newborn son to church and announced to the   
   priest that he wanted him baptized “Homobonus”. The word means “good   
   man”. The parent had chosen the child’s baptismal name with care, and   
   he was determined to teach his son how to live up to its implications.   
      
   He fulfilled his plan well. Homobonus grew up well-instructed in the   
   skills of merchandising, but at the same time a lover of honesty,   
   virtue and self-respect. He came to appreciate that his calling as a   
   businessman was a divine calling. God wanted him to be just where He   
   had put him; it was in the marketplace that he would work out his   
   salvation.   
      
   Providentially, Homobonus of Cremona found a wife who possessed the   
   same convictions. Others of their mercantile class might trip over the   
   occupational hazards of ambition, dissipation and vain display, but   
   not Mr. and Mrs. H. Their simple life style gave them all the more   
   means and incentive to reach out to the less fortunate. God   
   appreciated this saintly couple’s works of mercy, and even set His   
   stamp of approval on them by working miracles in favor of those whom   
   they assisted; so the author of St. Homobonus’s biography assured us.   
      
   Among the worthy merchant’s devotional habits was to go daily to the   
   church of St. Giles to “report” to God on his activities. It was   
   during one of these visits that he came to the end of his life. On   
   November 13,1197, he was attending Mass. At the Gloria he stretched   
   out his arms in the shape of a cross and fell forward into a   
   prostration. Those beside him thought this was just an act of personal   
   penance. But when he failed to stand for the Gospel, they went over to   
   him and found that he had died.   
      
   Pope Innocent III canonized this holy Cremonian only two years after   
   his death. No reason to wait longer. Homobonus had obviously lived up   
   to his name. Like Charlie Brown (if we may make such a comparison), he   
   was a GOOD MAN.   
      
   Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those who survive us could say of us in   
   all sincerity, “He was a good man,” or “She was a good woman.” There   
   could be no higher human praise. It would mean that we had, as St.   
   Paul says, shown ourselves “children of God beyond reproach… like the   
   stars in the sky.” It would mean that we had conscientiously lived up   
   to the particular task God assigned to us and not wasted his graces.   
   This would mean that we had fully understood why we were created: to   
   know God and love Him and serve Him in this world so as to be happy   
   with Him forever in heaven.   
   –Father Robert   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   I thank thee, O Lord, that Thou hast vouchsafed to honor me with a   
   perfect love towards Thee, and hast made me to be bound with iron   
   chains, like Thy Apostle Paul.   
   -- Saint Ignatius of Antioch   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!   
   (Psalm 47:2)   
      
      
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   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL   
    (Imprimatur 1946)   
      
   Third Day   
      
   DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY   
      
        The destiny awaiting us at death is not the same for all men: "He   
   will render to every man according to his works." (Matt. xvi. 27.)   
   Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory are the three places into which the souls   
   of the departed are received. Heaven is the happy destination of   
   perfectly pure and holy souls only; Hell the final doom of the   
   reprobate; Purgatory, temporarily for the just, who are not as yet   
   entirely purified. There God completes the punishment due to their   
   faults, which were not sufficiently atoned for on earth; there He   
   submits these holy souls to the last purgation, to cleanse them from   
   the least stain, and, by fire, to bring them to that degree of   
   perfected purity, which is necessary for them before being admitted to   
   eternal bliss.   
      
   Hence there are two classes of souls in Purgatory:   
      
     1. Those who depart this life, stained by venial sins and imperfections.   
      
     2. Those who have repented sincerely 'of their mortal sins and   
   confessed them, if possible, without having done sufficient penance   
   for them. Judging from our lives, experience teaches us that most men   
   deserve Purgatory for both causes.   
      
   Prayer: Graciously hear, O God, the fervent prayers we offer Thee for   
   the suffering souls in Purgatory, who, not having satisfied Thy divine   
   justice, confide in Thine infinite mercy and our intercessions. Extend   
   unto them Thy consolations, and redeem them, through Christ, our Lord.   
   Amen.   
      
   Special Intercession: Pray for the souls of those who suffer in   
   Purgatory for little faults.   
      
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine   
   upon them; may they rest in peace. Amen. (Three times)   
      
   Practice: Be conscientious and faithful in the performance of little   
   duties, and offer the inconvenience for the suffering souls.   
      
   Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)