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 Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:59 am |
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May 30th - Bl. Baptista Varani
Baptista was the daughter of Duke Julius Caesar of Camerino, Italy. She was
born in the capital city of that prince in 1459. In her earliest years she
took pleasure in the vanities of the world. Her heart, it is true, remained
unstained; but nevertheless she liked to appear in costly garments and
beamed with joy when she was adorned with glittering jewels.
But one day she heard a sermon by a Franciscan on the bitter sufferings of
Christ. The touching portrayal so wrung the heart of the young princess that
she bewailed her previous vanity with many tears and was henceforth a
changed person. From then on not a day passed on which she did not meditate
on the sufferings of our Lord. Under the spiritual direction of Blessed
Peter of Mogliano, a Franciscan, she also practiced various bodily
mortifications, and arose every night to pray the rosary in honor of the
Mother of God.
Meanwhile her father was contemplating marriage for her, but Baptista
desired only to devote herself to God and the contemplation of the divine
mysteries in some quiet convent cell. The duke opposed this wish of his
beloved daughter for the space of 2 years. At last, however, he consented
that she take the veil in the convent of the Poor Clares at Urbino.
Now Baptista was happier than if she had received a royal crown, and later
she often said: "Oh, what sweetness I experienced in the holy convent at
Urbino." Some years later, there was an urgent request that the daughters of
St. Clare establish themselves in Camerino. The duke built a convent for
them, and Baptista was sent there with several other sisters.
But now the servant of God, already firmly established in her vocation, was
not to escape the test of suffering. She endured long and painful maladies,
to which were added violent interior struggles and also persecution by
misguided people. But she thanked God for them all, feeling that she was
thereby more intimately united with her suffering Saviour. She prayed for
those who persecuted her; and when her father and brother were cruelly
murdered, Baptista prayed to God for the murderers: "O Lord, do not hold
this sin against them!"
Because of her fidelity in suffering, her crucified Lord constantly drew her
more closely to Himself. Christ revealed to her what suffering His own heart
endured, and had her record much of it for the benefit of others.
After she had served her Divine Spouse in the convent for more than 40
years, Baptista died blessedly on the 31st of May, 1517. Thirty years after
her death her body was exhumed, and the tongue which had so often prayed for
her enemies, was found incorrupt and fresh, as it is still preserved that
way in a special reliquary.
Baptista, who was venerated as a saint immediately after her death, was
declared Blessed by Pope Gregory XVI.
ON DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART
1. Consider how our Divine Lord led Blessed Baptista from the contemplation
of His bodily sufferings into the consideration of the sufferings of His
Sacred Heart. We wished to direct her to honor His Sacred Heart long before
He commended his devotion for the universal Church through St. Margaret Mary
Alacoque. Baptista did indeed worship the Sacred Heart perfectly. In
contemplating the sufferings of our Lord, her heart grew inflamed with love
that was at the same time contrite and willing to make sacrifices. That
induced her to forsake the vanity and glamour of the palace in order to
belong to God alone. Seldom has anyone fulfilled the appeal of our Lord,
"Give me your heart" (Prov 23:26) more perfectly. During this next month,
which is especially consecrated to the Heart of Jesus, He directs this
request also to you. For devotion to the Sacred Heart consists above all, in
offering one's own heart to the Heart of Jesus, and in sacrificing whatever
is apt to lead our heart away from Him. -- What sacrifices of this kind have
you to offer Him during this month?
2. Consider how, out of love for our suffering Savior, Blessed Baptista
practiced mortification and cheerfully offered up to God sickness and
interior affliction. Because she saw the Heart of Jesus grieving over the
sins of men, she found consolation in suffering with Him, and she prepared
sweet consolation for the Sacred Heart by offering her sufferings in
atonement for sin. Such an atonement is an essential part of true devotion
to the Heart of Jesus. Have we no need to render it for our own sins?
Offenses committed against God by those who are otherwise numbered among
good Christians wound the Heart of Jesus most painfully. He Himself
complains: "With these I was wounded in the house of those who loved Me
(Zach 13:6).-Have you, too, given occasion for this complaint? How do you
offer atonement?
3. Consider how Baptista imitated the Divine Heart in His perfect love. Not
only did she sincerely forgive the gravest of offenses, but she even pleaded
for forgiveness for the murderers of her father, as Christ prayed to His
Father for His executioners. Such prayer and forgiveness in imitation of the
Heart of Jesus are the most pleasing honor we can render Him. They satisfy
in great measure for our own failings against the Sacred Heart.-Frequently
look at the pierced Heart of Jesus on the cross and draw from it strength,
as did Blessed Baptista, to imitate His sentiments.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who didst inflame Blessed Baptista with the fire of love by the
contemplation of the sufferings of Thy only-begotten Son, grant through her
intercession that we may always devoutly honor these holy sufferings and
deserve to receive the fruits thereof. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Saint Quote:
Greed will demand of you labor, danger, hardships, and troubles, and you
will readily
agree to its demands. And for what purpose? So you can have what will fill
up your purse
but empty out your peace of mind!.
-St Augustine
Bible Quote:
Of everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and of him
to whom they have entrusted much, they will demand the more. (St. Luke
12:48)
<<>><<>>
Novena Prayer to Saint Maximilian Kolbe:
Lord God and my Saviour Jesus Christ, I beseech Thee Who said, "...greater
love than this no man has that a man lay down his life for his friends,"
through the intercession of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, whose life illustrated
such fervent love, I beseech Thee to grant to me my humble petition(s)...
....here mention your lawful request(s)...
Through the Militia Immaculata movement, which Maximilian founded, he
spread a fervent devotion to Our Lady throughout the world. Maximilian gave
up his life for a total stranger and loved his persecutors, giving us an
example of Divine love for all men - a love that was inspired by his true
devotion to Mary.
Grant unto me, O Lord, that I too may give myself entirely, without
reserve, to the charity and service of my Heavenly Queen in order to better
love and serve my fellow man in imitation of Thy humble servant, Saint
Maximilian Kolbe. Amen.
Hail Mary (thrice); Glory be. |
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