- Proverbs 11:30 -

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.
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A wise person is a model of a meaningful life. Like a tree attracts people
to its shade, his or her sense of purpose attracts others who want to know
how they too can find meaning. Gaining wisdom yourself, then, can be the
first step in leading people to God. Leading people to God is important
because it keeps us in touch with God while offering others eternal life.

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December 25th - St. Anastasia, Martyr

The passio of Saint Anastasia explains that the saint was the daughter of a
prominent Roman by the name Praetextatus, and had St. Chrysogonus as her
advisor. In time, she married the pagan Publius.

Anastasius went on to care for the Christians being held in prisons by
Diocletian, which prompted Publius to forbid Anastasia from leaving the
house.

December 24th - St. Delphinus, Bishop of Bordeaux
(d. 403)

Little is known of the origins of Saint Delphinus; it is after his elevation
to
the episcopate that he became famous among the bishops of his time as a
vigilant
protector of the truth. We have written evidence, however, that his piety
and
learning made him so celebrated that the saintliest bishops of the Church
were
honored to be his friends and to correspond with him.

- Jeremiah 29:11 -

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
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There are many mysteries in life, many things we don't understand. God doesn't
always tell us how He's working out His plan. But in His time and in His way He
clearly lets us know He's working out His best for us because He loves us so.
- Roy Lessin

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September 19th - St. Januarius, Bishop

Saint Januarius, (in Italian, San Gennaro), bishop of Naples, is a saint and
martyr for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
According to legendary sources, he died in 305 during the Diocletian persecution
of Christians. He was imprisoned while visiting incarcerated deacons at the
sulphur mines of Puteoli, the modern Pozzuoli. After many tortures, including
being thrown to lions in Pozzuoli's Flavian Amphitheater, he was beheaded at
Solfatara, along with his companions, who included Festus (a deacon) Desiderius
(a lector) Sossus (Sossius) (friend) Proculus (friend) Acutius (friend) and
Euticius (friend) (see Proculus of Pozzuoli).

- 2 Timothy 2:15 -

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who
does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
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What you are is God's gift to you;
What you do with yourself is your gift to God.
- Danish Proverb

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September 11th - St. Paphnutius

Paphnutius was a common name among the monks of the Egyptian desert. The
Paphnutius we remember today was a 4th century monk of the Egyptian desert.
Nothing is known of his early life except that he spent several years under
the direction of St. Antony of the Desert (January 17th). Paphnutius was
esteemed by all for his great simplicity and holiness of life. He was
consecrated bishop of the Upper Thebaid and during the persecution of
Diocletian, he suffered severe physical injury and was forced into slave
labor in the mines.

- 1 Timothy 1:17 -

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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You can rest today. You know the King. He has it all under control. You can
give Him your "to-do" list. He holds all time in His hands. He is powerful
and over all things. Enjoy each moment. The King is on His throne.
- Pearls From Heaven

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September 9th - St. Wulfhilda of Barking, OSB Abbess (AC)

Died c. 980-1000; other feasts include that of her translation on September
2, c. 1030 (with the relics of Saints Hildelith and Ethelburga), as well as
on March 7 and September 23 at Barking.

(Act 12:8) And the angel said to him: Gird thyself and put on thy sandals.
And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee and follow
me,

- 1 Peter 1:22 -

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you
have
sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
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"Sincere love" involves selfless growing; a self-centered person can't truly
love. God's love and forgiveness free you to take your eyes off yourself and
to
meet others' needs. By sacrificing his life, Christ showed that he truly
loves
you. Now you can love others by following his example and giving of yourself
sacrificially.

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September 6th - St. Bega, Prioress of St. Bees and Copeland

Died: AD 681

The legend is that St. Bega, commonly called St. Bee of Egremont, was the
daughter of an Irish king and was the most beautiful woman in her country.
She
was to be married to the King of Norway, but she...

-- Proverbs 21:13 --

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.
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We should work to meet the needs of the poor and displaced homeless and
protect their rights -- we may be in need of such services ourselves
someday.

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September 1st - St. Verena, Companion of the Theban Legion

The virgin Verena came from Upper Egypt and followed the troops into Europe.
She lived in Milan in the home of a holy man named Maximus for some years,
visiting prisoners and comforting those who had lost loved ones through
martyrdom. When she heard about the martyrdom of St. Victor of Soluthurn,
one of the Theban legion, she crossed the Alps to Aguanum and stayed at the
home of a Theban fugitive not far from there.

A perfect disciple will be like his master

After specifically reserving the office of teaching
to himself, Christ immediately went on to give as the rule of this teaching
that whoever wants
to be greatest should be the servant of all. And he gave the same rule in
other words when he
said: Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Anyone therefore who
wants to be
Christ's disciple must hasten to learn the lesson he professes to teach, for
a perfect disciple
will be like his master. Otherwise, if he refuses to learn the master's
lesson, far from being
a master himself, he will not even be a disciple.
--Paschasius Radbertus

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August 29th - St. Medericus (Merry), OSB Abbot (RM)

Born in Autun, France; died c. 700. While he was about 13, Saint Merry took
the Benedictine habit, probably at Saint Martin's in Autun, where 54 fervent
monks lived, whose penitential and regular lives...

Each little flower

I understood too that the love of our Lord is revealed in the simplest soul
who offers no resistance to his grace as well as in the most sublime soul.
In
fact, since the
essence of love is humility, if...

August 20th - St. Oswin, King and Martyr

Murdered at Gilling, near Richmond, Yorkshire, England, on 20 August, 651,
son of Osric, King of Deira in Britain. On the murder of his father by
Cadwalla in 634, Oswin still quite young was carried away...