From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth {3}   
      
   What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking   
   humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that   
   makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to   
   God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For   
   what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the   
   principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the   
   love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God   
   and serve Him alone.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 1 Ch. 1   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   January 6th - Saint Erminold of Prüffening   
      
   (died 1121)   
   Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Erminold of Prüffening, abbot   
   and martyr for the faith. Saint Erminold was a Benedictine abbot, who   
   maintained such strictness in his monastery, that he was slain by one   
   of his own lay brothers.  His life is an example of order and   
   devotion, in a troubled world.  He is famed for his spirit of prayer   
   and charity for the poor and needy.   
      
   Erminold was born to one of the royal families in Swabia (one of the   
   four original provinces of Germany), and was given to the abbot of   
   Hirschau, a local monastery, to be educated. His tutor, William, was   
   one of the most learned and pious men of those times, and Erminold   
   flourished under his tutelage, by the grace of God.  He made rapid   
   progress in his studies, and upon completion, promptly took the vows   
   of monastic life.  There, he lived a life of quiet devotion and strict   
   adherence to community rules.   
      
   In 1110, Erminold was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Lorch by   
   Emperor Hney V.  However, as the Emperor owed Erminold’s brother a   
   favor, he refused the position, given the appearance of simony (the   
   buying or selling of ecclesiastical positions, or profit from sacred   
   things). Returning to Hirschau, he resumed his quiet life.   
      
   Only seven years later, the Bishop of Bamberg, invited Erminold to   
   assume the abbotship of the Abbey at Pruffening, near Ratisbon,   
   Germany. He became the first father there, attracting new members and   
   growing the congregation in the faith.   
      
   Saint Erminold was a great friend of the poor. Upon assuming   
   leadership at Pruffening, Erminold emptied all the storehouses of his   
   monastery to feed the needy during a famine. When at length nothing   
   was left to feed his monks, the saintly man begged God to intervene,   
   and invoked the intercession of the martyr, Saint George. His prayers   
   were answered when the next day a rich noble came to the abbot,   
   promising to relieve their want from his own wealth.   
      
   Saint Erminold insisted on strict discipline, according to the Rule of   
   Saint Benedict. While the majority of his community lived in harmony,   
   some lay brothers took offense at his strictness, and in 1121, one   
   named Aaron killed him. It is said by some that he was beaten with a   
   piece of timber, whereas other accounts indicate he was stabbed. All   
   accounts agree that following his mortal wound, he lingered in life   
   for a few days, passing into Heaven on Epiphany at the hour he had   
   predicted. He had stated, “Tomorrow, during the solemnities of the   
   greater Mass, with the choir singing, ‘Glory to God in the highest,’ I   
   shall depart from this world.” Following his death, a large number of   
   miracles were recorded at his tomb at St. George Church at Prüffening   
   Abbey in Regensburg, Germany   
    by Jacob   
      
   Quote:   
   Who is going to save our Church?  Not our bishops, not our priests and   
   religious.  It is up to you, the people.  You have the minds, the   
   eyes, the ears to save the Church.  Your mission is to see that your   
   priests act like priests, your bishops like bishops and your religious   
   act like religious.   
   --Abp. Fulton J. Sheen   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   God is certainly more desirous of our best welfare than we are   
   ourselves; and He knows the ways and means of promoting it better than   
   we, for they are in His hands as Ruler of the Universe; wherefore, in   
   all the accidents which befall us, most certainly that happens which   
   is the best.   
   -- St. Augustine   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the   
   words of eternal life.  (John 6:69)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Holy Mary, my patron,   
   I ask you to pray for me to Jesus your son.   
   Through your constant prayers,   
   may God continue to guide my paths   
   and help me to follow Jesus in love.   
      
   Holy Mary, pray for me   
   and for all the people of God.   
      
   Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)