BL. HUMBELINE - 12 FEBRUARY

BLESSED HUMBELINE OF JULLY

Blessed Humbeline was born in 1092 at Fountaine-les-Dijon, France. Blessed Humbeline was the only daughter of the Lord of Fountaine, and St Bernard of Clairvaux was her brother.

After the death of their mother, St Bernard entered a nearby monastery, three years later forming his own monastery at Clairvaux. St Bernard’s widowed father and his five brothers also joined this monastic community.

A "MATERIAL GIRL"

Blessed Humbeline, however, preferred life in the material world. She married an adoring husband who lavished her with wealth, jewels and fine clothes. Blessed Humbeline loved horses and music, having a beautiful voice herself.

Yet over time she missed her brother St Bernard and so she decided to visit him at his monastery.

AN UNEXPECTED VISIT

She arrived at the monastery in fine clothes and with a large entourage of people. The gatekeeper of the monastery was horrified at such a display of wealth and St Bernard refused to come and meet his sister.

"I MAY INDEED BE A SINFUL WOMAN..."

She asked the gatekeeper to convey a message to her brother. The message read, “I may indeed be a sinful woman, but it was for such as me that Jesus Christ died.”

These words touched her brother deeply and he relented.

After having met with her brother, Blessed Humbeline rediscovered the spiritual life of her younger days. Many years later she entered a women’s monastery, being regarded as the founder of the Cistercian nuns.

THE FOUNDER OF THE CISTERCIAN NUNS

Blessed Humbeline died in her brother’s arms in 1135, her last words were those of Psalm 121, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

"I REJOICED WHEN THEY SAID TO ME, 'LET US GO TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD'"

Blessed Humbeline had reminded her brother of the great truth: that Jesus Christ died for all of us, including sinners. Her brother might scorn her wealth and fine appearance, but could not refuse to help her soul and spiritual life. It should be the same for us as well.

From: Spiritual Thought from Father Chris, February 2016

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Humbeline may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

WELCOME

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BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

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