Monday, January 18
ST. CARLO DA SEZZE (Charles of Sezze) (Italy, 1613-1670)
Lay Franciscan, Mystic, Writer
Born near Rome, the young Giancarlo dreamed of becoming a missionary to India,
inspired by the mission of Fr. Junipero Serra in the Americas. but God had other
plans for him and he ended up a lay Franciscan brother. A simple soul, he was
assigned to various priories around Rome, serving as doorman, gardener, porter.
Through it all, he served the sick and the needy by collecting alms and feeding
them. His confessors urged him to write about his spiritual life, and though
unlettered, he left many writings including his autobiography, The Grandeurs
of the Mercies of God. It is said that at Mass one day, at the Elevation, a ray
of light struck him in the chest and left a wound on the same spot where Christ
had been pierced by a lance. After he died, the wound took on the shape of a
Cross, which was the basis for his beatification. In life, he was known for his
spiritual counsel and for miracles of healing and multiplication of food. As he
lay dying, Pope Clement IX is said to have called him to his side for counsel.
He was canonized in 1959.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
No OR today.
THE POPE'S DAY
The Holy Father met today with
- Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline
of Sacraments.
- Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, and President of the French bishops conference, with
the Vice President, Mons Hippolyte Simon, Bishop of Clermont, adn the secretary-general, Mons. Antoine Herouard.
- Rabbi Jacob Neusner* and his wife
- Ecumenical delegation from the Lutheran Church of Finland, on the occasion of the Feast of St. Henry.
The Vatican announced that the Holy Father has accepted the retirement of Cardinal Godfried Daneels as
Archbishop of Malines-Brussels and named Mons. André-Mutien Léonard, who was Bishop of Namur, to succeed him.
[Mons. Leonard's nomination has been speculated on for weeks.]
*
All week I had been wondering what Rabbi Neusner thinks of the Pius XII and Holocaust controversy. I hope he writes something
for L'Osservatore Romano.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 18/01/2010 18:22]