St. Gregory VII. POPE AND CONFESSOR, A.D. 1085
by VP
Posted on Saturday May 25, 2024 at 01:00AM in Saints
"THIS saint was born in Tuscany, and educated at Rome.. He wonderfully illustrated the Church of God by his learning, sanctity, and every kind of virtue. While he was yet a youth, he entered the monastery of Cluni, and served God in a religious state with so much fervour, that he was elected prior by the holy fathers of that monastery. But Divine Providence had greater designs upon him, and he was called back to Rome, where he signalized himself by his zeal, sanctity,and learning, and preached with great reputation and fruit in the court of the pious Emperor Henry III. The holy Pope St. Leo IX. had the highest esteem for him, often followed his counsels, and made him abbot of St. Paul's. In 1054 he was sent by Pope Victor II. as legate into France, in order to abolish the practice of simony in conferring benefices in the Church. A certain bishop who was accused of this crime, denied the charge. St. Gregory bade him recite the Glory be to the Father, which he endeavoured to do, but was never able to pronounce the name of the Holy Ghost. At this miraculous conviction he was struck with remorse and confusion, and casting himself at the saint's feet, humbly confessed his crime.
On the death of Alexander II. St. Gregory was chosen pope, much against his will, and in spite of every effort which he made to keep that heavy burden from his shoulders. He expressed the most sensible grief at his election, and with tears implored the prayers of the whole Church, for grace to discharge his functions in a worthy manner. He shone, however, like the sun in the house of God, and powerful in word and work, applied himself vigorously to repair the discipline of the Church, to propagate the faith, to restore the liberty of the Church, and to extirpate errors and corruption. While he was saying Mass, certain holy men saw a dove descend upon his shoulder, and cover his head with its wings, which they understood to indicate that the Holy Spirit directed him in governing the Church. He suffered much from the violent opposition and persecution of the Emperor Henry IV., and many other storms were raised against him. But he ever preserved a perfect tranquillity of soul, having his heart fixed on God. He fell sick at Salerno, and died on the 25th of May, 1085.
Endeavour, like this great
saint, ever to love justice and hate iniquity. Receive all afflictions
cheerfully; adore in all things the holy will of God, and you will live and die in great peace." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Ember Saturday in Whitsun Week. Christ was entombed. (Fast and half-abstinence)
by VP
Posted on Saturday May 25, 2024 at 01:00AM in Tradition
Prayer for Good Harvest, Félix de Vigne
"As God was pleased at this time to show mercy to His apostles, in sending to them the Holy Ghost, to prepare them for duly satisfying that great charge, which Christ had committed to them, consider how desirable it is that He should show mercy to you likewise, and by the operation of the same Holy Spirit, vouchsafe to prepare you for satisfying the obligations, which belongs to your state. You are a Christian: endeavour therefore to understand the import of this word, and to have a sense of all the obligations annexed to this character. You have lived perhaps many years in this profession; but how little care have you taken to know the duties belonging to this name! Beg now that the Holy Ghost would enter into your soul, and that you may now live by his Spirit. He will take off your heart from the world, and practically convince you that all that belongs to this world is vanity and affliction of spirit. He will give you a dislike of all that has hitherto pleased you, to the prejudice of your soul; so that you will now have no relish for those entertainments, which you know to be vain and foolish. He will lessen in you all worldly solicitude; and let not the concerns of this life any more possess your heart with excess. You will then have it fixed in your mind that all the things of this world are but momentary, and daily pass away, and whether they please or displease us, must soon come to an end; and therefore that you ought not to afflict yourself about them, and much less, let the concern for them take off your heart from eternity.
This being an Ember Day, recommend to the fatherly providence of God the fruits of the earth; begging that by his blessing all may go on to a plentiful harvest. Beseech Him also to preserve us from all pestilential distempers, both in man and beast; and grant us such a sense of gratitude, that the enjoyment of his blessings may oblige us not only to be thankful, but likewise faithful to our merciful and gracious benefactor." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Prayers for Ember Days:
Listen, Almighty God, we beseech Thee, to the prayers which Thy universal Church offers to Thee at this time, beseeching Thy blessing on those who are about to be admitted to Thy Holy Service of the Altar, in particular on Deacons Cong lee and Ross Williams. Give Thy grace to all who are called to any office and administration amongst Thy clergy, and so replenish them with the truth of Thy doctrine, and indue them with innocence of life, that they may faithfully serve Thee, to the glory of Thy great name and the benefit of Thy Holy Church. Amen
O God, of Whose mercies there is no number, and of Whose goodness the treasure is infinite, we humbly thank Thee for the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Continue Thy mercy to us, and give us also so much of Thy temporal blessings as Thou knowest to be for our good. Grant that the fruits of the earth may, by Thy holy favor, increase and multiply. Defend them from all drought, frosts or tempests, or whatever else may be hurtful to them. It is from Thy hand only that we look for succor, and to Thee we have recourse in all our necessities. Amen.
Source: St. John's Manual 1856, Archbishop of New York John J. Hugues
