ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 13th of November
SAINT HOMOBONUS, MERCHANT, CONFESSOR
Homobonus was son to a merchant of Cremona, in Lombardy, who gave him this name (which signifies Good Man) at his baptism: the name of his family was Tucinge.
Whilst he trained him up to his own mercantile business in shop-keeping, without any school education, he inspired in him, both by his example and instructions, the most perfect sentiments of probity, integrity, religion, and virtue.
HE ABHORRED THE VERY SHADOW OF THE LEAST UNTRUTH
The saint from his infancy abhorred the very shadow of the least untruth or injustice, and having always the fear of God before his eyes, would have chosen with joy rather to forego the greatest advantages, and to suffer the loss of his whole fortune, than to stain his soul with the least sin.
This rule is the more necessary to persons engaged in trade, as they are more easily betrayed unawares into occasions of such sins, and are more apt to palliate, or extenuate them to themselves, unless a steady resolution put them infinitely upon their guard.
A man who is content, and ready to meet cheerfully the most grievous disappointments, and even the ruin of his temporal affairs rather than to tell the least lie, or any other way wilfully offend God, makes to him a constant sacrifice of obedience by this disposition of his soul, and secures to himself a lasting peace.
But probity is usually attended also with temporal success; for though a person may be a gainer by injustice in some particular occasions, it is an undeniable maxim, that honesty is the best policy, and that a man thrives in business by nothing so much as by unshaken integrity and veracity, which cannot fail to draw down the divine blessing, and gain a man the highest credit and reputation in all his dealings, which is his stock and his best fortune.
This St Homobonus experienced by his unexpected success in his business, which, under the divine blessing, was also owing to his economy, care, and industry.
HIS BUSINESS HE LOOKED UPON AS AN EMPLOYMENT GIVEN HIM BY GOD
His business he looked upon as an employment given him by God, and he pursued it with diligence upon the motive of obedience to the divine law, and of justice to himself, his family, and the commonwealth, of which he thus approved himself a useful member.
If a tradesman’s books be not well kept, if there be not order and regularity in the whole conduct of his business, if he do not give his mind seriously to it, with assiduous attendance, he neglects an essential duty, and is unworthy to bear the name of a Christian.
Homobonus is a saint by acquitting himself diligently, upon perfect motives of virtue and religion, of all the obligations of his profession.
By the advice of his parents, he took to wife a virtuous virgin, who was a prudent and faithful assistant in the government of his household, which, by the piety and regularity of all those who composed it, bespoke the sanctity and attention of the master.
St Homobonus avoided the common rocks on which so many traders dash. He, moreover, by his profession, attained the great end which every Christian is bound to propose to himself, the sanctification of his soul; for which he found in this state opportunities of exercising all virtues in a heroic degree.
The capriciousness, unreasonableness, injustice, and peevishness of many with whom he interfered in his dealings, he bore with admirable meekness and humility; and by patient silence, or soft answers, or by a return of gentleness and obsequiousness, he overcame perverseness and malice, and remained always master of his own soul.
Charity to the poor is a distinguishing part of the character of every disciple of Christ, and, provided that justice takes place, a tribute which the merchant owes to God out of his gains; and this was the favourite virtue of Homobonus.
CHARITY TO THE POOR
Not content with giving his tenths to the distressed members of Christ, after the death of his father (of whom he inherited a considerable stock in trade, besides a house in the town, and a small villa in the country), he seemed to set no bounds to his alms: he sought out the poor in their cottages, and whilst he cheerfully relieved their corporal necessities, he tenderly exhorted them to repentance and holy life.
His wife sometimes complained, that by his excessive alms he would soon reduce his family to beggary; but he mildly answered her, that giving to the poor is putting out money to the best interest, for a hundred fold, for payment whereof Christ himself has given us his bond.
HIS GENEROUS ALMSDEEDS
The author of his life assures us, that God often recompensed his charities by miracles in favour of those whom he relieved, and by multiplying his stores. His abstinence and temperance were not less remarkable than his almsdeeds.
The saint spent a considerable part of his time in prayer, and joined prayer with his business by the frequent aspirations by which he often raised his mind to God in sentiments of compunction and the divine praise and love amidst the greatest hurry, so that his shop, his chamber, the street, and every place was to him a place of prayer.
EVERY PLACE WAS TO HIM A PLACE OF PRAYER
It was his custom every night to go to the church of St Giles, a little before midnight, and to assist at matins, which it was then usual for many of the laity to do: and he left not the church till after high Mass the next morning.
At Mass the example of his fervour and recollection was such, as to inspire all who saw him with devotion. He waited some time prostrate on the pavement, before a crucifix in the church, till the priest began Mass.
THE EXAMPLE OF HIS HOLY LIFE
The slothful were quickened to virtue, and many sinners converted from vice by the example of his life, and the unction of his discourses. Sundays and holy days he always consecrated entirely to his devotions: prayer accompanied all his actions, and it was in the heavenly exercise of prayer that he gave up his soul to God.
For, on November 13, 1197, he was present at matins, according to his custom, and remained kneeling before the crucifix till Mass began. At the Gloria in excelsis he stretched out his arms in the figure of a cross; and soon after fell on his face to the ground; which those who saw him thought he had done out of devotion.
HE STRETCHED OUT HIS ARMS IN THE FIGURE OF A CROSS...
When he did not stand up at the gospel they took more notice of him, and some persons coming to him perceived that he had calmly expired.
Sicard, bishop of Cremona, after a rigorous examination of his virtues and miracles, went himself to Rome with many other venerable persons, to solicit his canonisation; which Pope Innocent III performed after the necessary scrutinies, the bull of which he published in 1198.
Source: Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints - 🎨 St Boniface and St Homobonus, patron saints of tailors
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Homobonus 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.
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