15 December 2014 Daily Saints, Bible Readings, Reflections, Prayer, Promise & Praise..... SAINT VIRGINIA CENTURIONE BRACELLI (1587-1651) Widower, Virginia Centurione Bracelli was born on April 2, 1587, in Genoa, from the family of Giorgio Centurione, duke of the Republic in the year 1621-1622, and Lelia Spinola. Both of them were of the ancient noble origin. She was baptized two days after her birth, received her first religious and literary formation from her mother and private tutor. She soon felt the need for a cloistered life but she had to succumb to her fathers strong will and marry Gaspare Grimaldi Bracelli on December 10, 1602. Gaspares family was both illustrious and wealthy, but he was wholly taken up with gambling and dissolute life. She gave birth to two daughters: Lelia and Isabella. The conjugal life of Virginia did not last long. As a matter of fact, Gaspare Bracelli, in spite of the matrimony and the fatherhood, he did not abandon his pleasures, which brought him to shorten his life. Virginia, however, with her great patience, prayer and affection, tried to convince her husband to a modest life. Unfortunately, Gaspare get ill died on June 13, 1607, in Alessandria, thus, enabling him to reach a state of grace and peace with God, relieved and assisted by his faithful wife. At the age of twenty, she became widow, pronounced her perpetual vow of chastity, refusing the occasion of the second marriage proposed by her father. She lived in her mother-in-laws house, taking care of the education and the administration of the goods of her children and dedicating herself through prayer and act of charity. In 1610, she clearly felt the special vocation to serve God through the poor. Although she was strictly controlled by her father and never disregarded the care for the family, Virginia began to devote herself to the needy. She personally helped the poor by sharing half of her wealth or by means of charitable institution. Virginia conveniently settled the marriage life of her daughters and totally offered herself to the needs of the abandoned children, the aged, the sick and to elevate the life of the marginalized people. In autumn of 1624-1625, the war between the Liguorian Republic and the Duke of Savoy, supported by France, increasing the unemployment and starvation, led Virginia to accomodate the first 15 abandoned youngs, and then, with the expansion of the refugees in town, enabled her to provide all their needs, specially the poor women. On August of 1625, with the death of her mother-in-law, she started not only to received the youngs but instead led herself to town, mostly in the disreputable quarters, in search for the needy and in danger of depravity. To help the increasing poverty, Virginia founded the Cento Signore della Misericordia Protettrici dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo, with the collaboration of the resident organization of Otto Signore della Misericordia. She had the specific task of controlling the needs of the poor, particularly the bashful people by means of visiting the house. To intensify the initiative of accomodating the youngs, precisely at the time of plague and of famine in 1629-1630, Virginia was obliged to rent the empty convent of Monte Calvario, where she transferred on the 13th of April 1631, together with her beneficiaries placed under the protection of Our Lady of Refuge. Three years after, the Institution expanded into three houses accomodating 300 patients. Hence, she thought the opportunity to ask the official acknowledgement from the Senate of the Republic, which was conceded on December 13, 1635. The beneficiaries of Our Lady of Refuge became for Virginia her excellent daughters, with whom she shared the food and clothing. She taught them catechism and train them to work so that they could earned their own sustenance. Virginia renounced to purchase the Monte Calvarios convent because it was very expensive, for this reason, she bought two villas next to Carignanos Hill that , with the construction of the new annex of the Church dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge, became the Mother House of the Institution. The spirit, which inspired the Institution founded by Virginia, was generally presented in the Rule compiled in 1644-1650. It is confirmed that all the domiciles should form a single Institution of Our Lady of Refuge, under the supervision and administration of the Protectors (noble lay appointed by the Senate of the Republic); there is also the confirmation of the separation between the daughters wearing the religious habit, and the daughters, who were not wearing habit, but altogether must live - with or without vows - like the most observant monks in obedience and poverty, working and praying. Moreover, they must be ready to give a hand in the public hospital, considering it as a vow. Meanwhile, the Institution is divided into two Religious Congregation: the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary (Suore di Nostra Signora del Rifugio di Monte Calvario) and the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary (Figlie di Nostra Signora al Monte Calvario). After the nomination of the Protectors (July 3, 1641), who were considered to be the real superiors of the Institute, Virginia disengaged herself from the government house. She was subdued to their needs and behaved according to their consent even in the acceptance of some needy youngs. She lived as the last daughter devoted to the household chores, went out in the morning and in the evening to beg for the sustenance of the living. She was a mother to everyone, specially for the sick, giving them most of her availability. In the past years, Virginia organized a group of social action tight to cure the roots of evil and to prevent ruins: the sick and the disabled were hospitalized in the Institute; the powerful men were sent to work; the women must trained themselves to embroidery frame and seamless stockings, and the children were obliged to go to school. With the increase of the activities and of the efforts, the collaborators of Virginia declined, particularly the women of the middle and upper class, who had feared to compromise their reputation in dealing with the corrupt people with a guide such as noble and a saint. Abandoned by the Auxiliaries and by the Protectors of the Institute, for which the government deprived of its power, Virginia, while her physical health was weakening, took the position and became responsible for the sisters in Carignanos House. Thus, regaining force in solitude. On March 25, 1637, she desired that the Republic would choose the Blessed Virgin as their Protectress. She pleaded to the Archbishop of the town, the institution of the forty hours devotion, which should start in Genoa at the end of 1642, and the preaching of the common missions (1643). She intervened to settle the common and bloody rivalries, which rose up, for petty reasons, between the noble families and the knights. In 1647, she achieved the reconciliation between the Archbishop See and the Government of the Republic, caused of their conflict in relation to the prestiges matter. Without losing sight to the most desolated, she offered her free time to everybody, independently from the social class, who turned towards her for helped. Gratified by the Lord with exultations, visions, interior locutions and other mystical gifts, she died on December 15, 1651 at the age of 64. She was beatified on 22 September 1985 and canonized on 18 May 2003 by Pope John Paul II. Monday of the Third Week of Advent Lectionary: 187 Reading 1 nm 24:2-7, 15-17a When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him, and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of a man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled: How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the LORD. His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach; His king shall rise higher, and his royalty shall be exalted. Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled. I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel. Responsorial Psalm ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 R. (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord. Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD. R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Alleluia Ps 85:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Show us, LORD, your love, and grant us your salvation. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel mt 21:23-27 When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Reflections: Are you willing to take a stand for the truth, even when it might cost you personally because of opposition or disapproval from others? When we fear the disapproval or rejection of our friends we are tempted to be evasive and to bluff our way to avoid confrontation or trouble. Jesus told his disciples that the truth would make them free - free to think and act according to what they know is right, honest, and good, rather than yield to deception, lies, and evil (John 8:32). Yielding to the Spirit of truth rather than falsehood When the Israelites began to enter the promised land, after their wilderness sojourn of forty years, they met stiff resistance and opposition from the people around them. Balak, one of the local rulers in Canaan, employed the services of Balaam, a prophet of Baal, to put a curse upon the Israelites. Balak wanted to scare the Israelites away through fear and ill omen. Balaam, however, prophesied blessing and protection to the Israelites rather than cursing and destruction. He yielded to the Spirit of truth rather than to the spirit of falsehood. He spoke the word of God contrary to the words which King Balak wanted him to speak. Balaam even prophesied that a star would one day announce the coming of the Messiah King from the house of Jacob. This king would destroy all the enemies of Gods people and establish a kingdom of peace (Numbers 24:17). When the prophet John the Baptist began to preach a message of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah, the religious leaders and rulers in Palestine resisted his word and persecuted him as well. Jesus met resistance, opposition, and fierce hostility from the religious rulers as well. Why did the religious leaders oppose Jesus and reject his claim to divine authority? Their view of religion did not match with Gods word because their hearts were set on personal gain rather than truth and submission to Gods plan and design for their lives. They openly questioned Jesus to discredit his claim to be the Messiah. If Jesus says his authority is divine they will charge him with blasphemy. If he has done this on his own authority they might well arrest him as a mad zealot before he could do more damage. Jesus, seeing through their trap, poses a question to them and makes their answer a condition for his answer. Did they accept the work of John the Baptist as divine or human? If they accepted Johns work as divine, they would be compelled to accept Jesus as the Messiah. They dodged the question because they were unwilling to face the truth. They did not accept the Baptist and they would not accept Jesus as their Messiah. There can be no compromise with Jesus authority - he is Truth incarnate The coming of Gods kingdom or reign on the earth inevitably leads to conflict - a conflict of allegiance to Gods will or my will, Gods justice or the worlds way of playing fair, Gods standard of absolute moral truth or truth relative to what I want to believe is good and useful for the time being. How do you respond to Jesus claim to be not only the Messiah, but the source of everlasting life and truth as well? Do you submit to his word and stake your life on the coming of his kingdom? Jesus promises that those who seek to live according to Gods truth will find true joy, freedom, and happiness both now and forever. Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let your light shine in my heart and in my mind that I may grow in understanding the truth of your word and find joy and freedom in living according to it. QUESTION BOX I too will ask a question. Matthew 21:24 Sometimes we pray and talk to God, even questioning Him, but He doesnt seem to answer. We wonder if Hes even listening. One reason for this is mentioned in todays Gospel reading. The chief priests and elders asked Jesus two questions (Mt 21:23). Jesus replied that He would not answer their questions until they answered His (Mt 21:24). Their answer to Jesus was, We do not know. He said in turn, Then neither will I tell you on what authority I do the things I do (Mt 21:27). Jesus loves to ask questions such as: Who do you say that I am? (Mt 16:15) Do you love Me? (Jn 21:17) Where are you? (Gn 3:9) Do you want to leave Me too? (Jn 6:67) Do you really believe? (Jn 16:31) What are you looking for? (Jn 1:38) Are you confident I can do this? (Mt 9:28) Will you repent and forgive? Do you love Me with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength? (see Mt 22:37) The Lord has many other questions for us. Jesus is asking you a question. Dont say: I dont know (see Mt 21:27). Answer Him in love. Prayer: Father, may Jesus get His questions answered this Advent. Promise: A Star shall advance from Jacob, and a Staff shall rise from Israel. Nm 24:17 Praise: Charles had lost his marriage and nearly his life by having it his way. He turned to the Lord and started living by Gods way...
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:24:41 +0000
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