S. Romuald| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
St. Romuald
(950?-1027)
Latin Calendar
After a wasted youth, Romuald saw his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he fled to a monastery near Ravenna in Italy. After three years some of the monks found him to be uncomfortably holy and eased him out.
He spent the next 30 years going about Italy, founding monasteries and hermitages. He longed to give his life to Christ in martyrdom, and got the pope’s permission to preach the gospel in Hungary. But he was struck with illness as soon as he arrived, and the illness recurred as often as he tried to proceed.
During another period of his life, he suffered great spiritual dryness. One day as he was praying Psalm 31 (“I will give you understanding and I will instruct you”), he was given an extraordinary light and spirit which never left him.
At the next monastery where he stayed, he was accused of a scandalous crime by a young nobleman he had rebuked for a dissolute life. Amazingly, his fellow monks believed the accusation. He was given a severe penance, forbidden to offer Mass and excommunicated, an unjust sentence he endured in silence for six months.
The most famous of the monasteries he founded was that of the Camaldoli (Campus Maldoli, name of the owner) in Tuscany. Here he founded the Order of the Camaldolese Benedictines, uniting a monastic and hermit life.
His father later became a monk, wavered and was kept faithful by the encouragement of his son.
Stories:
A Polish duke had a son in the monastery where Romuald was living. On behalf of his father, the son presented Romuald with a fine horse. Romuald exchanged it for a donkey, saying that he felt closer to Jesus Christ on such a mount.
Comment:
Christ is a gentle leader, but he calls us to total holiness. Now and then men and women are raised up to challenge us by the absoluteness of their dedication, the vigor of their spirit, the depth of their conversion. The fact that we cannot duplicate their lives does not change the call to us to be totally open to God in our own particular circumstances.
Daily Meditation
Be Not Afraid:
Lord, I wait for You. In the deep of this winter season come to me. Assure me that your strength is my own: Your courage inspires me to be unafraid. Your light will warm and lead me on. Amen.
Quote by S. Padre Pio:
Pay attention and be very watchful.
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook One: 11-111
The first notebook of Saint Faustina begins her private revelations given from the Heart of Jesus to her. She writes in a beautiful and simple way. Though, as mentioned in the introduction, her actual words are not quoted in these reflections that follow, the messages that she received and articulated are presented.
In truth, her messages are those contained in Sacred Scripture and in the Tradition of our Church. And if you were to read through the lives and teachings of the saints, you would find the same revelations. God has always spoken to us throughout the ages. He speaks the one Message of Truth, and He reveals that Message in love. The revelations to Saint Faustina are one new way that God continues to speak and reveal Himself to us, His sons and daughters.
The reflections based on her first notebook, are intentionally short and focused. They are a way for you, the reader, to slowly and carefully listen to the Heart of God spoken to this great saint. Read these reflections slowly and prayerfully. Ponder them throughout the day and allow the Lord to speak to You the message He wants to give.
Reflection 37: Humility, Simplicity and Sincerity
There are three words to ponder today: humility, simplicity and sincerity. Humble souls see and know God because they do not turn to themselves in their need. They recognize that God is everything and, without Him, they are nothing. Simple souls do not get caught up in the complications of life. They are able to cut through the countless distractions and live a childlike trust in God. Sincere souls are honest souls who are pure in heart and pure in their intentions. Be honest and truthful in your Christian walk and God will overwhelm all that is not of Him in your life (See Diary #55).
Ponder these three gifts today: humility, simplicity and sincerity. How well do you live them in your life? If one stands out as the most challenging, then sit with that for a while. Let God speak to you as you open your heart to His Mercy.
Lord, I open myself to the gifts of humility, simplicity and sincerity. Help me to see each of them as a precious gift that You wish to bestow upon me. May my mind comprehend them and my will embrace them. Jesus, I trust in You.
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