March 27: Saint Rupert, Bishop

Misericordiae domini quia non sumus sumpti quia non defecerunt miserationes ejus. Lam. Jer. 3.
If you stil have life and even existence itself, that is due to the mercy of God.
Sinus matris expansus est, parata sunt foramina Petrae, patent viscera misericordiae Dei nostri. S. Bern. Serm. 7. qui habit.
The bosom of the Virgin is ready to receive us. The womb of the Mercy of God is open to us so that we may resign ourselves to His Holy Will.

Example: Saint Rupert the Bishop found his refuge. The dignity of the Episcopate was quite agreeable to someone with royal roots like himself. He is cruelly scourged in the commons of his episcopal see before being exiled. His resignation to the Will of God allows him to accept his station in life. He trusts in the mercy of God, and with this confidence he accepts the task of converting the unfaithful. In his land of exile, he baptized a heathen king, several strong and influential lords, and a multitude of other people from all walks of life. At last, he decided to return to his homeland. He chose twelve companions renowned for their excellence in holiness and in doctrine. They helped him uproot idolatry in the land and to build temples in honor of Christ Crucified. One of the most prominent of these was dedicated to the Sacred Virgin at the request of Rupert. He died in the year 628 after having predicted the day of his death. While men were weeping on Earth, the angels rejoiced in Heaven.

Practice: A soul resigned to the Will of God never finds anything that truly worries it, because it only sees the work of God's Mercy regardless of the pain it may suffer. Exile is as agreeable as the homeland! Poverty hurts less than wealth. As long as that soul serves God, and that it honors His commandments and counsel, it is always content. That hope which is anchored in God lets it taste the fruit of paradise without ceasing. Floods, storms, and all manner of calamities may desolate the Earth, but that will not trouble a heart which trusts in God and is resigned to His Holy Will. Therefore, will all of its days not be joyful?