Saints celebrated on the 12th of May
Prayer to the Angels and the Saints
Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.
In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.
Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.
Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.
BL. IMELDA LAMBERTI, CHILD
At the age of ten Imelda entered a convent of the Order at Bologna, as a pupil. Soon, however, she petitioned for and obtained the habit; and thenceforth surpassed in virtue, especially in simplicity and obedience, even the oldest Sisters.
The chaplain thought her too young to make her first Communion, and the poor child was consumed by her ardent desires. But who can oppose God when He wills to favour a pure soul? On Ascension Day whilst all the Sisters approached the Holy Table to receive their Saviour, Imelda alone, through obedience, remained away; but her sighs and prayers drew God to her.
SHE DIED OF LOVE
To the amazement of all a Host appeared over her head; the priest, understanding the Divine Will came forward to receive It and communicated the little maiden. Imelda could not contain her happiness: her eyes closed, her heart ceased to beat: she died of love (1333).
The celebrated Prosper Lambertini, who became Pope under the name of Benedict XIV, a member of the same family, laboured to propagate devotion to her. A Confraternity for First Communicants has been established in our days under her patronage; many indulgences have been granted to it by the Holy See, and Heaven has blessed it with rich fruits of grace.
PRAYER
O Jesus! how often have I eaten the Bread of Angels without hunger or desire! (Blessed Henry Suso)
PRACTICE
See whether your desire for Holy Communion is purely divine, or has anything human in it. You may discover this by the care you take in preparing for this august Sacrament, and the manner in which your preserve its fruits.
(Bl. Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier, O.P., Saints and Saintly Dominicans - originally 16th September)
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