Bible Verse
- Psalm 39:4 -
"Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life."
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Life is short no matter how long we live. If there is something important we
want to do, we must not put it off for a better day. Ask yourself, "If I had
only six months to live, what would I do?" Tell someone that you love him or
her? Deal with an undisciplined area in your life? Tell someone about Jesus?
Because life is short, don't neglect what is truly important.
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January 1st - St. Odilo of Cluny, OSB, Abbot (RM)
Born in Auvergne, France, c. 962; died at Souvigny, c. 1049. Saint Odilo was
a scion of the very aristocratic French family of Mercoeur. He joined the
monastery of Cluny when he was still very young. About 991, the abbot, Saint
Mayeul, named him coadjutor. Upon the Mayeul's death in 994, Odilo became
Cluny's fifth abbot.
During his 54 years in office he brought the other Cluniac houses into
closer and closer dependence upon the mother house, and increased the number
of foundations from 37 to 65. Among his general activities was the support
he gave to Abbot Richard of Saint-Vanne for the acceptance in France of the
institution called the Truce of God (Treuga Dei), whereby military
hostilities were regularly suspended at certain times (Fridays through
Mondays, Advent, and Lent). This measure had economic as well as religious
and social significance and also guaranteed sanctuary to those seeking
refuge in a church. Odilo also effectively promoted the Pactum Dei, whereby
ecclesiastical persons and property were protected against attack in war.
In 998 (or 1031 by some accounts) he ordered that in all Cluniac houses
November 2, the day after the Feast of All Saints, should be observed in
memory of and prayer for all the dead; this observance, All Souls' Day,
afterwards spread to the whole Western Church.
Though he was a friend of princes and popes, he was exceedingly gentle and
kind and known throughout Christendom for his liberality to the needy.
Odilo's concern for the people was also shown by the lavish help he gave
during several famines, especially in 1006, when he sold Church treasures to
feed the poor, and again from 1028-1033.
Saint Odilo's physical appearance was unimpressive, belying the strength of
his character. He practiced great personal austerities (he wore a hair-shirt
and studded iron chains) on himself, but liberality and kindness toward
others. He experienced ecstasies. It is obvious that he was beloved by his
contemporaries; Fulbert of Chartres surnamed Odilo "the Archangel of Monks."
Odilo united in his character gentleness with firmness, organizational
skills with the ability to reconcile enemies. His favorite saying is that he
would rather be damned for being too merciful than for being too severe. He
promoted the spirit of true monasticism and tried to remove its abuses.
During his rule, he sought to promote the close unity of Cluny and the Holy
See.
It is appropriate that he should die during the Octave of Christmas because
his favorite topic for sermons was the mystery of the Incarnation. The place
of the Blessed Virgin was also worked out by Odilo, to whose writings the
Mariology of Saint Bernard owes much.
His duties involved him in much traveling about, though he was ill during
the last five years of his life. It was on a journey of inspection that he
died, at the priory of Souvigny; he was about 86 (Attwater, Benedictines,
Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer).
In art Saint Odilo is portrayed as a Benedictine abbot with a skull and
crossbones at his feet. Because he instituted the Feast of All Souls, at
times he may be shown (1) saying Mass with purgatory open at his side; or
(2) with angels releasing souls from purgatorial fire (Roeder). He is
invoked on behalf of souls in purgatory and against jaundice (Roeder).
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In the traditional cycle today is the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord.
In the Old Law, by rite of Circumcision, every male Jew became a member and
shared in all the blessings and privileges of the chosen people of God. A
Jew who failed to be initiated by the ceremony was excluded. Our Lord is the
Son of God by nature, and absolutely sinless, and therefore did not need
adoption into the membership of God's children. Yet, he submitted to the
Law. Today the Church also celebrates the Holy Name of Jesus, given at the
rite of Circumcision.
In the new cycle, today is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Always
held in faith amongst the laity and clergy, Mary was declared Mother of God,
by penalty of anathema, for all Christendom at the Council of Ephesus in AD
431.
Quote:
"For, since ye are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye appear to me
to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died
for us, in order, by believing in His death, ye may escape from death. It is
therefore necessary that, as ye indeed do, so without the bishop ye should
do nothing, but should also be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle
of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall be found. It
is fitting also that the deacons, as being the ministers of the mysteries of
Jesus Christ, should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not
ministers of meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are
bound, therefore, to avoid all grounds of accusation, as they would do
fire."
-Ignatius of Antioch,Epistle to the Trallians,2(A.D. 110)
Bible Quote
9 I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace
unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to
the heart. (Psalms 84:9)
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FAITHFUL AND TRUE
You look at your soul-
Lost it's sparkle and vim;
And you can't figure out
how old Satan got in.
You check your reserves-
Got to line up those graces
to rescue you fast from those dark, hidden places!
You shine up your armor
to fight once anew,
For our dear Holy Father
cast aside by the few.
Your eyes are on Heaven;
Your words are a prayer
to join the vast army
of the folks who still care.
We'll raise up a banner
called 'Faithful and True',
and show the whole world
what a true love can do!
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