From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Cleansed by Jesus' word   
      
      "So the world - life enslaved by carnal passions - can no more   
   receive the grace of the Spirit than a weak eye can look at the light   
   of a sunbeam. First the Lord cleansed his disciples' lives through his   
   teaching, and then he gave them the ability to both see and   
   contemplate the Spirit. He says, 'You are already made clean by the   
   word I have spoken to you' (John 15:3). Therefore 'the world cannot   
   receive him, because it neither sees him nor knows him... You know   
   him, for he dwells with you' (John 14:17). Isaiah says, 'He who   
   settled the earth and the things in it; and gives breath to the people   
   on it, and Spirit to them that tread on it' (Isaiah 42:5). From this   
   we can learn that those who trample earthly things and rise above them   
   become worthy to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."   
    by Basil the Great, 329-379 (excerpt from ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 22.53)   
      
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   May 30th - Blessed Andrew Franchi, OP   
      
   Born in Pistoia, Italy, in 1335; died 1401; beatified in 1921. Blessed   
   Andrew was born into the noble dei Franchi Boccagni family. He entered   
   the Dominican Order at Pistoia about 1351, when the Italian peninsula   
   was still under the shadow of the plague and was deeply involved in   
   fratricidal wars. Another theory has it that he entered Florence in   
   1348, which was the year the plague reached its peak. Whichever date   
   he entered, he did so to give attention to his immortal soul, at a   
   time when the world around him was apparently falling to pieces.   
      
   Andrew proved to be a good religious and an able administrator. He   
   served as prior in three convents while still quite young. In 1378, he   
   was appointed bishop of Pistoia, an office he filled with distinction   
   and holiness for 23 years.   
      
   It is written of Andrew that he devoted himself to the poor, and spent   
   his revenues to relieve their misery and to rebuild the ruined   
   churches. He had a great personal devotion to Our Lady, to the Holy   
   Childhood, and to the Three Holy Kings. As bishop, he lived a life of   
   extreme simplicity, retaining his religious habit, and as much as he   
   could of the rule. A year before his death, he resigned his office and   
   retired to die at his old convent of Pistoia (Benedictines, Dorcy).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Whenever we think of Christ we should recall the love that led him to   
   bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God   
   showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of his love; for love calls for   
   love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and   
   to rouse ourselves to love him. For if at some time the Lord should   
   grant us the grace of impressing his love on our hearts, all will   
   become easy for  us and we shall accomplish great things quickly and   
   without effort.   
   -- Saint Teresa of Avila   
      
      
   Meditation for the Day   
     Very quietly God speaks through your thoughts and feelings. Heed the   
   Divine voice of your conscience. Listen for this and you will never be   
   disappointed in the results in your life. Listen for this small, still   
   voice and your tired nerves will become rested. The Divine voice comes   
   to you as strength as well as tenderness, as power as well as   
   restfulness. Your moral strength derives its effectiveness from the   
   power that comes when you listen patiently for the still, small voice.   
   --From Twenty-Four Hours a Day   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   MARY, I BEG YOU   
   By St Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)   
   Magnificent Doctor, Marian Doctor   
      
   Mary, I beg you,   
   by that grace through which   
   the Lord is with you   
   and you will to be with him,   
   let your mercy be with me.   
   Let love for you always be with me,   
   and the care for me be always with you.   
   Let the cry of my need,   
   as long as it persists, be with you,   
   and the care of your goodness,   
   as long as I need it, be with me.   
   Let joy in your blessedness   
   be always with me,   
   and compassion for my wretchedness,   
   where I need it, be with you.   
   Amen   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)