Tuesday, February 17th, 2009
Daily Archive
Theology on Tap – February 23
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 17 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Parish News
Theology on Tap-NYC for Young Adults in their 20s and 30s
Join young adults for a series of lectures at Metro 53 Bar and Restaurant, 307 East 53rd Street, between 2nd and 1st Avenues. The event is from 7pm-8:30pm. The first lecture of 2009 is on February 23, 2009, by Fr. Richard Gill, moderator of Theology on Tap-NYC. The topic for this night is “Grill the Priest: An Open Forum of Questions.” On this night you can ask any question about the Catholic Faith and Church teachings. For more details, visit www.totnyc.org.
Seven Holy Founders of Servite Order (13th century)
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 17 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
See how good and delightful it is
for brothers to live in unity.
From Butler’s Lives of the Saints:
Between the years 1225 and 1227 seven young Florentines joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin-popularly known as the ‘Laudesi’ or Praisers. It was a period when the prosperous city of Florence was being rent by political factions and distracted by the heresy of the Cathari: it was also a time of general relaxation of morals even where devotional practices were retained. These young men were members of the most prominent families of the city. Whether they were all friends before they joined the Laudesi is not clear, but in that confraternity they became closely allied.
The eldest was Buonfiglio Monaldo, who became their leader. The others were Alexis Falconieri, Benedict dell’ Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Ricovero Uguccione, Gerardino Sostegni, and John Buonagiunta. They had as their spiritual director James of Poggibonsi, who was chaplain of the Laudesi, a man of great holiness and spiritual insight. All of them came to realize the call to a life of renunciation, and they determined to have recourse to our Lady in their perplexity. On the feast of the Assumption, as they were absorbed in prayer, they saw her in a vision, and were inspired by her to withdraw from the world into a solitary place and to live for God alone. There were difficulties, because, though three of them were celibates, four had been married and had ties, although two had become widowers. Suitable provision for their dependents was arranged, and with the approval of the bishop they withdrew from the world and betook themselves to a house called La Carmarzia, outside the gates of Florence, twenty-three days after they had received their call. Before long they found themselves so much disturbed by constant visitors from Florence that they decided to withdraw to the wild and deserted slopes of Monte Senario, where they built a simple church and hermitage and lived a life of almost incredible austerity.