Tommorrow, August 8, 2008 will be my birthday. I will be celebrating with my sister-in-law, Janet, who shares my birthday, and will be taking a few days off from blogging. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks, Ian, Elena, and Easter! I love getting birthday greetings, even if they are belated. That just gives me an excuse for extending the celebration. ;)
August 11 is the memorial of St. Clare, one of my favorite saints. She was the first woman to follow the life of radical poverty practiced by St. Francis of Assisi and is the co-founder of the Poor Clares. Although I am not a Franciscan, I have had Franciscan friends, clergy, and spiritual directors instruct me on the beauty of St. Clare's spirituality. I have also learned a great deal from reading about her over the years. Clare and Francis (2007) is a film which depicts the fascinating story of her dramatic conversion and surrender to the will of God. St. Clare is the patron saint of television. She is also the patron of eye disorders, embroiderers, good weather, and telephones. The Contemplative Life The Lady Clare was born into a noble family in Assisi in 1193 and was admired for her great beauty. When she heard Francis of Assisi preach his Lenten homilies at the Church of San Giorgio, she was captivated by his words. At age eighteen, she heard him say: "When the
Today is the feast of Saint Michael de Sanctis, also known as St. Michael of the Saints, a Spanish Discalced Trinitarian priest, the patron of cancer patients. Michael Argemir was born on September 29, 1591 at Vic, Catalonia, Spain. At age 6, he told his parents that he planned to become a monk and began modeling his life after Saint Francis of Assisi. Michael’s parents died when he was about ten years old. He then served as an apprentice with a local merchant. During this apprenticeship, he continued his fervent devotion to the Lord, especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the age of 12, he joined the Trinitarian Friars at Barcelona, taking his vows at St. Lambert’s monastery in Saragosa four years later. Shortly afterwards, Michael expressed a desire to join the reformed group of Trinitarians and was given permission to do so. He went to the Novitiate at Madrid and, after studies at Seville and Salamanca, he was ordained a priest. Twice he served as Superior of the hou
St. Gerard was born to a noble family in Staves, Belgium, in 895. He descended from a royal line of military men and at first felt a share in this call to arms. He trained for the army and, as a page of the count of Namur, he was sent on a special mission to the French court. There, Gerard realized that he was being called to the monastic life. He stayed in France and joined the Benedictines of St. Denis, abandoning his noble birthright and all his worldly possessions. He spent eleven years in France as a monk before becoming a priest. Following his ordination, he left for Belgium in order to found a new abbey on his own estate of Brogne. He was its abbot for twenty-two years and during that period was instrumental in introducing St. Benedict's Rule into numerous houses in Flanders, Lorraine and Champagne.He became known for his engaging sweetness of temper, his strict observance of the Rule of St. Benedict and for the replacement of lukewarm religious practice with true piety.
Happy early birthday! :D
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Jane
Have a wonderful and blessed birthday Jean - and Janet too!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy day! Many blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteHappy, Happy Birthday, Jean!!! I hope you will have a wonderful few days!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and here's great big HUG for ya!
Ebeth
Happy, happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!! Have fun celebrating.
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy birthday from all the way down under. May your day be full of blessings.
ReplyDeleteTherese
Happy Birthday!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Jean !! ( a day late)
ReplyDeleteVery happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteBelated Birthday greetings to you my friend :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone, for the birthday greetings and blessings!
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful birthday!
God bless you!
Oh Jean! I've been so busy with kids I missed this post!! I'm so sorry. I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you always.
No problem, Esther! Thanks for your kind words and cheerful greetings!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThousand lashes with a wet noodle to me too Jean for missing your Birthday! Hope it was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Jean!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you abundantly!
Thanks, Ian, Elena, and Easter!
ReplyDeleteI love getting birthday greetings, even if they are belated. That just gives me an excuse for extending the celebration. ;)