From: richarra@gmail.com

Let Us Ceaselessly Watch

We ourselves, however, have the means to avoid being deceived as long
as we are prepared to stay even slightly alert and on the watch, not
because we have such power of ourselves but because it is then we are
granted grace from on high as well. You see, whenever we give evidence
of what resources lie within us, what the Lord has to offer follows on
all sides. Let us therefore be on the alert, I beseech you, and, aware
of the evil one's wiles, let us ceaselessly watch and implore God to
join us in our combat against him.
–-St. John Chrysostom.

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February 23rd – St. Willigis of Mainz, Bishop
(Also known as Villigiso)
Memorial
23 February
formerly 18 April

Born at Schöningen, Brunswick; died at Mainz, Germany, in 1011. Saint
Willigis was a man of humble origin, son of a wheelwright, who by 975
was imperial chancellor to Otto II, and archbishop of Mainz. As a
canon of Hildesheim (near Hanover), Willigis attracted the attention
of Otto II through Otto's precentor Wolkold, who became archbishop of
Meissen in 969. Willigis also served Otto III as chaplain and
chancellor, and left his mark as a capable and conscientious
ecclesiastical statesman. Through his efforts Christianity increased
in Schleswig-Holstein and southern Scandinavia; he consecrated a
succession of excellent bishops, provided for the building of several
great churches and other public works, and established or restored
collegiate churches in Mainz and Halberstadt. His personal life
included daily study of the Scriptures and the organized relief of the
poor. Willigis was a notable patron of the arts; his motto was "by art
to the knowledge and service of God."

On the death of Otto, Willigis became one of the most important and
influential people in the empire. Confirmed by Benedict VII in the
right to coronate emperors, Willigis crowned Otto III and later
influenced him in favor of abandoning Italy and concentrating his
resources north of the Alps. Otto III died young in 1002. The
succession was disputed but ended with Willigis crowning Saint Henry
II and his wife Saint Cunegund at Paderborn. He then served his third
monarch faithfully.

Unhappily Willigis had a long disagreement with Saint Bernward of
Hildesheim about jurisdiction over the convent of Gandersheim, a
quarrel apparently provoked by one of the nuns, a sister of Otto III.
At long last Willigis admitted he was in the wrong and gracefully
withdrew his claims. This seems to have been the only blot on a
vigorous and beneficent episcopate.

After he died of old age, Willigis's body was buried in St. Stephen's
Church in Mainz. His cultus arose immediately and spontaneously. It is
claimed that some of his Mass vestments have survived (Attwater,
Benedictines, Farmer).

Saint Willigis is represented in art as a bishop with a wheel, which
he chose as his insignia to symbolize his father's trade (Roeder). He
is the patron of carters and wheelwrights, who is venerated at
Hildesheim and Schoeningen (Roeder).


Saint Quote:
Let us relieve the poverty of those that beg of us and let us not be
over-exact about it.
--Saint John Chrysostom

Bible Quote:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and
it shall be opened to you.  [Matt. 7:7] DRB


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Reflection and Prayer from the Imitation of Christ

"Watch and pray" is the simple means which Jesus Christ prescribes to
enable a Christian to resist temptation, to avoid sin, and secure his salvation. To speak little to creatures and much to God, to renounce
useless and curious conversations, to speak only what is good or
necessary, is an excellent method of becoming an interior man, of
preserving purity of heart and peace of conscience, and of becoming
entirely united to God. A soul which gives itself through the senses
to creatures, and lives not an interior life, but amuses itself with
trifles, is not at all in a state to relish the things of God, or to
apply to prayer or recollection, which are so useful and so necessary
for salvation. Why, says St. Austin, dost thou, O dissipated and
wandering soul, seek content in created objects, in the goods and
pleasures of life? Seek within thyself, by recollection, the only true
and sovereign Good, who is there, and who alone can satisfy thy
desires.

Prayer: Give me, O God, that spirit of interior recollection which
will make me attentive to Thy holy will and faithful to Thy graces.
Grant that the remembrance of Thine awful presence may remind me
continually of Thy blessed life and conversation, and effectually
control me during my earthly pilgrimage. I am weary, O God, of living
an exile from Thy presence, and of being so little affected by the consideration of Thy majesty as to do nothing to please Thee. What can
I find in Heaven or on earth that is comparable to Thee? Thou art the
God of my heart: grant I may be ever sensible of Thy presence, and
desire only the happiness of pleasing Thee, in time, that Thou mayest
be my portion for eternity. Amen.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)