Selections from Saints books at works

[eschator83]

With luck I will now paste a random selection from Saints books  currently displayed here at Saintsworks in hope of encouraging all readers to go to the link (which I would put in here if I knew how).

An extract from 'Edward H. Thompson - The Life and Glories of St. Joseph'
† Download the book   (download instuctions)


'Alone, ignorant of the way; exposed to danger from wild beasts and robbers; in the winter season; unprovided with means; to have to pass into foreign lands, not knowing what reception they would meet with; - all this might have prompted much anxious enquiry. But Joseph was silent. He had heard, and that sufficed. So he arose, and did as the angel had bidden him: he took the Child and His mother by night, and fled into Egypt. St. Peter Chrysologus says that this journey was so arduous that the very angels were struck with wonder when they beheld the Saviour required to make it.'

Reading this, I'm amazed that I've read or heard the Gospel so many times but can't recall thinking of this danger, even though I've thought many times about walking on water, calming the storm, escapes from mobs, 40 days in the desert, all incredible, of course, as was His entire life.

[Shin]

I will post the link here. As link posting is otherwise restricted the way to do it is to ask a moderator, nowadays just my poor self to post one.

A wonderful passage to read!

[eschator83]

I'm thinking this thread will very effectively encourage me not only to read regularly the selections displayed in works books, but also to consider seriously my reaction to them and hopefully encourage others to examine and share their own feelings.  Also, this thread is a half-step toward a new thread I'm thinking of introducing on another Forum, in which I would ask members to cite a good teaching on a Church doctrine or topic that I suggest.  I am hoping for an abundant response, and also to interrupt and reduce some of the debate when members blast off with their own opinions without much forethought, or courtesy, or research.
Certainly, problems like that aren't happening here at Saintsworks, but I'm curious if anyone here would participate or have concern about such a thread.
Meanwhile, here's a new selection from works books.  The copy paste procedure works fine; is it any concern?  I clicked on the link in the post above, but it progressed very slowly, and I interrupted it to be sure I wasn't downloading a whole book into my poor old out of capacity laptop.
   
An extract from 'The Autobiography of St. Anthony Mary Claret'
† Download the book   (download instuctions)

"During my stay in Viladrau all the sick of the town, as well as those who were brought there from other places, were cured. As word of this spread, in whatever town I went to, people would bring me a large number of sick persons suffering from all kinds of illness. There were so many sick and so many different illnesses, and I was so busy hearing confessions, that I didn't have time for prescribing physical remedies. I told the people, instead, that I would commend them to God, and in the meantime I would make the sign of the Cross over them, saying, "Super aegros manus imponent et bene habebunt." After I did this, they said that they were cured.

"I am of the opinion that these people were cured through the faith and trust with which they came, and that our Lord rewarded their faith with both bodily and spiritual health, for I would also exhort them to make a good confession of all their sins, and they did. Furthermore, I believe that the Lord did all this not because of any merits of mine -- I don't have any -- but to show the importance of the Word of God that I was preaching. Because these people had been so long accustomed to hearing nothing but evils, blasphemies, and heresies, our Lord God was calling their attention to His Word by means of these bodily healings. And indeed people came in droves, listened fervently to the Word of God, and made general confessions in their own towns, or even in others, because often it was impossible to hear the confessions of the many who wanted to confess.

"My God, how good you are! You use the very weaknesses of the body to cure those of the soul. You make use of this miserable sinner to heal both bodies and souls. What the prophet said could clearly be seen: Domini est salus. Yes, Lord, health was yours and you were giving it."

I have great hope in healing for all ill persons, and I pray frequently for it.  Usually, I address these prayers to a Patron Saint, sometimes to God as Father, or as Holy Trinity.  Here at camp I haven't been able   to translate St Anthony's Latin, and I'm wondering if he did not feel he had the power to heal.