Bible Verse
-- Ephesians 4:1-3 --
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the
calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing
with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace.
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God has chosen believers to be Christ's representatives on earth. In light of
this truth, Paul challenges us to live lives worthy of the calling we have
received -- the awesome privilege of being called Christ's very own. This
includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding and peaceful. People are
watching your life. Can they see Christ in you? How well are you doing as his
representative?
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March 26th - St. Ludger
First Bishop of Munster
(Died 809)
Saint Ludger was born in Friesland (the Netherlands) about the year 743. His
father, a nobleman of the first rank, at the child's own request, committed him
very young to the care of Saint Gregory, Bishop of Utrecht, a disciple of Saint
Boniface and his successor in the government of the see of Utrecht. Saint
Gregory educated him in his monastery of Utrecht, and gave him the clerical
tonsure.
Ludger, desirous of further religious studies, passed over into England, and
spent four and a half years under Alcuin, Rector of a famous school at York. In
773 he returned home, and when Saint Gregory died in 776, his successor,
Alberic, compelled Saint Ludger to receive the priesthood.
The new bishop employed him for several years in preaching the Word of God in
Friesland, where he converted great numbers, founded several monasteries, and
built many churches. The pagan Saxons then entered and ravaged the country, and
drove out the missionaries. Saint Ludger traveled to Rome to consult Pope Adrian
II as to what course he should take, and what he thought God required of him. He
then retired for three and a half years to Monte Cassino to study Saint
Benedict's Rule; there he wore the habit of the Order and conformed to its
practices during his stay, but made no religious vows.
In 787, Charlemagne overcame the Saxons, conquering Friesland and the coast of
the Germanic Ocean as far as Denmark. Saint Ludger was sent by the Emperor, who
had heard of him, to evangelize the pagans of five districts; thus he returned
into East Friesland, where he brought the Saxons to the Faith, with the province
of Westphalia. He founded the monastery of Werden, twenty-nine miles from
Cologne. In 802, Hildebald, Archbishop of Cologne, in spite of his strenuous
resistance, ordained him Bishop of Munster. He joined to his diocese five
cantons of Friesland which he had converted, and founded the monastery of
Helmstad in the duchy of Brunswick.
Being accused to the Emperor Charlemagne of wasting his income and neglecting
the embellishment of churches, that prince ordered him to appear at court. The
Saint, when he was summoned before the Emperor, was at prayer, and told the
messenger he would follow him as soon as he had finished his devotions. He was
sent for three times before he was ready, and his delay was represented to the
Emperor by the courtiers as contempt for his Majesty. The Emperor, with some
emotion, asked Saint Ludger why he had made him wait so long, though he had sent
for him often. The bishop answered that although he had the most profound
respect for his Majesty, yet God was infinitely above him; that while we are
occupied with Him, it is our duty to forget everything else. This answer made
such an impression on Charlemagne that he dismissed him with honor and disgraced
his accusers.
Saint Ludger was favored with the gifts of miracles and prophecy, but desired
that these not be published. His last sickness did not hinder him from
continuing his functions up to and including the last day of his life, which was
Passion Sunday. On that day he preached very early in the morning, said Mass
towards nine, and preached again before nightfall, in another town. He told
those with him that he would die during the night, and indicated a place in his
monastery of Werden where he wished to be interred. He died as he foretold, on
March 26, 809.
Reflection. Prayer is an action so sublime and supernatural that the Church in
her Canonical Hours teaches us to begin it by a fervent petition of grace to
perform it well. We ought never to appear before God, to offer Him our homages
or supplications, without trembling and without being deaf to all creatures, and
closing off our senses to any object apt to distract our minds from God.
Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's
Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers:
New York, 1894); Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin
(Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 4.
Spiritual Bouquet: He who does not take up his cross and follow Me, is not
worthy of Me. St. Matthew 10:38
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The traditional Seven Offerings of the Most Precious Blood of Christ:
Opening prayer:
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in
atonement for my sins, and in supplication for the holy souls in Purgatory and
for the needs of Holy Church.
I. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus of Thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for my dear Mother the holy Church,
that she may enlarge her borders and be magnified among all the nations of the
earth; for the safety and well-being of her visible head, the sovereign Roman
Pontiff; for the cardinals, bishops, and pastors of souls, and for all the
ministers of Thy sanctuary.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as It was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Blessing and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus, Who with His Blood hath saved
us!
II. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for peace and union among all Catholic
kings, princes and leaders, for the humiliation of the enemies of our holy
Faith, and for the welfare of all Christian people.
Blessing and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus, Who with His Blood hath saved
us!
III. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for the repentance of unbelievers, for
the uprooting of heresy, and for the conversion of sinners.
Blessing and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus, Who with His Blood hath saved
us!
IV. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my kindred, friends, and
enemies; for the poor, the sick, and wretched, and for all for whom Thou, my
God, knoweth that I ought to pray, or wouldeth have me pray.
Blessing and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus, Who with His Blood hath saved
us!
V. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all who, this day, are passing to
the other life; that Thou wouldeth save them from the pains of hell, and admit
them quickly to the possession of Thy glory.
Blessing and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus, Who with His Blood hath saved
us!
VI. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all those who love this great
treasure, for those who join with me in adoring it and honoring it, and who
strive to spread devotion to it.
Blessing and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus, Who with His Blood hath saved
us!
VII. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my wants, spiritual and
temporal, in aid of the holy souls in purgatory, and chiefly for those who most
loved this precious Blood, the price of our redemption, and who were most devout
to the sorrows and pains of most holy Mary, our dear Mother.
Blessing and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus, Who with His Blood hath saved
us!
(Conclusion) Glory be to the Blood of Jesus; now and forever, and though out
all ages! Amen. +
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