Saint Francis of Paola More Saints
From a letter by
Saint Francis of Paola, Hermit
(c. 1416-1507)
A Saint who cured the sick, raised the dead, prophesied, walked on water, influenced 7 Popes and 5 Kings, founded an order of hermits having almost 500 monasteries, and was canonized in just 12 years. Saint Francis was born at Paola in Calabria in 1416. He founded a congregation of hermits, which was later entitled the Order of Minims, and approved by the Apostolic See in 1506. He died at Tours in France in 1507.
Be converted with a sincere heart
May our Lord Jesus Christ, a most generous giver, reward you for your labor.
Avoid evil, cast danger aside. Though we are unworthy, we and your brothers never cease to pray to God the Father and to his Son Jesus Christ and also to the Virgin Mary that you may receive everything you need for your spiritual and physical well-being.
I earnestly admonish you, therefore, my brothers, to look after your spiritual well-being with judicious concern. Death is certain; life is short and vanishes like smoke.
Fix your minds, then, on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for us, he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sake he endured every torment of body and soul and shrank from no bodily pain. He himself gave us an example of perfect patience and love. We, then, are to be patient in adversity.
Put aside your hatred and animosity. Take pains to refrain from sharp words. If they escape your lips, do not be ashamed to let your lips produce the remedy, since they have caused the wounds. Pardon one another so that later on you will not remember the injury. The recollection of an injury is itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurtures our sin and hates what is good. It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It puts all virtue to flight. It is like a worm in the mind: it confuses our speech and tears to shreds our petitions to God. It is foreign to charity: it remains planted in the soul like a nail. It is wickedness that never sleeps, sin that never fails. It is indeed a daily death.
Be peace-loving. Peace is a precious treasure to be sought with great zeal. You are well aware that our sins arouse God's anger. You must change your life, therefore, so that God in his mercy will pardon you. What we conceal from men is known to God. Be converted, then, with a sincere heart. Live your life that you may receive the blessing of the Lord. Then the peace of God our Father will be with you always.Source: The Liturgy of the Hours - Office of Readings