Gossipers Stir Up Disharmony

"Gossipers are described in a certain passage of the Scriptures this
way: "The heart of the fool is as the wheel of the cart." It carries
hay, and creaks, and keeps on creaking without end. Thus there are
many brothers and sisters who do not dwell together except physically.

What type of people do dwell together? People about whom it can be
said: "They have one mind and one heart in the service of God."
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 132, 8

Prayer: Remember me, O Lord, not according to your wrath, which I have deserved, but according to your mercy. This befits you, O Lord, not
owing to my merit but to your kindness.
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 24, 7

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28 May – St Germanus of Paris
known as the “Father of the Poor”

 Bishop, Monk, Teacher, Reformer, Writer, Apostle of the Poor, Miracle Worker.

Born Germain in 496 at Autun, France and died on 28 May in 576 in
Paris, France of natural causes.

 His remains were interred in a decorated tomb in the chapel of Saint Symphorien next to the abbey church c 635 and then translated to the
Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (St Germanus-in-the-Fields) in 754 by
order of King Pepin the Short.  He was Canonised in 754 by Pope
Stephen II. Patronage – archdiocese of Rimouski, Quebec.

 In his youth he was conspicuous for his fervour. After being ordained
priest, he was made abbot of Saint Symphorian’s monastery, built near
the walls of the city; he was favoured at that time with the gifts of
miracles and prophecy. It was his custom to pray for the greater part
of the night in the church, while his monks slept. He bestowed on the
poor of the region all that he could of the monastery’s resources in provisions, and provoked at times the indignation of the religious,
who at one time had him arrested and imprisoned. He had scarcely been
placed in a cell, when the doors opened of themselves and the bishop,
being informed of it, recognised his sanctity and treated him with
great respect.

One night, in a dream, he thought a venerable old man presented him
with the keys of the city of Paris and said to him that God committed
to his care the inhabitants of that city, that he might save them from perishing. Four years after this divine admonition, in 554, happening
to be at Paris when that see became vacant by the death of the bishop
Eusebius, he was raised to the episcopal chair, though he endeavoured
by many tears to decline the charge.

His promotion made no alteration in his mode of life. The same
simplicity and frugality appeared in his dress, table, and furniture.
His house was perpetually crowded with the poor and the afflicted and
he always had many beggars at his own table. He had edifying books
read during the meals, that their souls and his own might be
nourished. God gave to his sermons a wonderful influence over the
minds of all ranks of people, so that the face of the whole city was
in a very short time entirely changed.

King Childebert of the Francs, who until then had been an ambitious,
worldly prince, was converted by the sweetness and the powerful
discourses of the Saint. He founded many religious institutions and
sent large sums of money to the good bishop, to be distributed among
the indigent. When Saint Germanus learned that some poor folk,
inhabitants of a village he was passing through one day, had been
imprisoned by their lord for non-payment of debts, he went to pray and
shed tears, face to the ground, at the gate of the subterranean jail
where the unfortunate victims were lamenting. The overlord refused to
open its doors but an Angel came down and did so and the entire crowd,
scarcely believing in their good fortune, came as one person, to kneel
in gratitude before their benefactor. At that point the overlord gave
them full amnesty and cancelled their debts. Demons fled from the
bishop’s presence, as they had before Our Lord, his Master, asking to
be allowed to remain in the forest on the mountains.

In his old age Saint Germanus lost nothing of the zeal and activity
with which he had filled the great duties of his station in the vigour
of his age. Nor did the weakness to which his corporal austerities had
reduced him make him alter anything in the mortifications of his
penitential life, which redoubled in celestial ardour as he approached
more closely the end of his course. By his zeal, the remains of
idolatry were extirpated in France. The Saint continued his labours
for the conversion of sinners, the deliverance of prisoners and the
relief of the poor, until he was called to receive his reward at the
age of 80, on the 28 May, 576.

Fortunatus had visited Germanus’ Shrine in Paris and described the
shrine as “nothing but a string of miracles”. Germanus, according to Venantius had performed his first miracle in the womb, preventing his
mother from performing an abortion. The most valuable work of St
Germanus, is An Exposition of the Liturgy, published from an ancient
manuscript by Dom Martenne. The greatest virtue of St Germanus was his unbounded charity to the poor. Liberality in alms moves God to be
liberal to us in the dispensations of His spiritual graces but he who
hardens his heart to the injuries and wants of others, shuts against
himself the treasury of heaven.

https://anastpaul.com/2018/05/04/

Saint Quote:
Not only think of the road through which thou art traveling, but take
care never to lose sight of that blessed country in which thou art
shortly to arrive. Thou meetest here with passing sufferings, but wilt
soon enjoy everlasting rest. When thou lookest up to the recompense
everything thou dost or sufferest will appear light, and no more than
a shadow; it bears no proportion with what thou art to receive for it.
Thou wilt wonder that so much is given for such trifling pains.
--St. Augustine

Bible Quote:
Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out. That when the times of refreshment shall come from the
presence of the Lord, and he shall send him who hath been preached
unto you, Jesus Christ.  Whom heaven indeed must receive, until the
times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the
mouth of his holy prophets, from the beginning of the world.  (Acts
3:19-21) DRB


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Most Holy Virgin, My Consolation
By St Germanus (c 490-576)

Most Holy Virgin!
Who are the greatest consolation
that I receive from God,
you who art the heavenly dew
which assuages all my pains,
you who are the light of my soul
when it is enveloped in darkness,
you who are my guide in unknown paths,
the support of my weakness,
my treasure in poverty,
my remedy in sickness,
my consolation in trouble,
my refuge in misery,
and the hope of my salvation,
hear my supplications,
have pity on me,
as becomes the Mother of so good a God,
and obtain for me a favourable reception
of all my petitions at the throne of mercy.
Amen

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