March 30: Saint Rieul, Bishop

Qui est iste, qui dixit ut fieret, Domino non jubente, Lament. Jer. 3.
Who is this, who declares what may be without it being commanded by the Lord?
Sit fortis et constans amor tuus; nec cesdens terroribus, nec succumbens laboribus. S. Bern. serm 20. in cant.
May your love be constant, may your resignation to the Will of God be firm, that it yield not to terror or succumb to hardship.

Example: Imitate Saint Rieul, first bishop of Senlis. He was the third companion of Saint Denis on his voyage to France. God, pleased by their holy party, desired that Rieul see the following sign while celebrating Mass: Three doves carrying banners, on which were written the names of all those who would soon endure death for Jesus Christ. In great austerity, Rieul declared war on the idols. The demon which refused to let go of its subjects sought to enter into the mule of this incomparable prelate. By a miracle, the beast drew a cross in the sand with its hoof. This sign of the Cross struck Hell with unimaginable terror. Rieul miraculously opened a prison to liberate many Christians who were imprisoned there. What pains did he not endure in his life to establish the kingdom of Christ Crucified? What perseverance he possesses by following exactly the movements of the Will of God.

Practice: You will always be weak, Lover of God, if you do not shore yourself up on that foundation. As soon as the fear of displeasing others ensnares you, the desire to maintain your reputation will cause you to make a thousand exceptions and ultimately becoming unfaithful to God. What misery! If you intend to reform your life, to frequent the sacraments, to become virtuous, but the gaze of others keeps you from doing so, then would you call that conforming yourself to the Will of God? If all that we can expect from you is weakness and lawlessness, then you certainly must not expect to have days of joy.