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La misma nada · Site Admin Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 709

The reading appointed from the Rule of St. Benedict for this day:

CHAPTER LVIII
Of the Manner of Admitting Brethren (cont.)

Let him who is received promise in the oratory, in the presence of all, before God and His saints, stability, the conversion of morals, and obedience, in order that, if he should ever do otherwise, he may know that he will be condemned by God "Whom he mocketh." Let him make a written statement of his promise in the name of the saints whose relics are there, and of the Abbot there present. Let him write this document with his own hand; or at least, if he doth not know how to write, let another write it at his request, and let the novice make his mark, and with his own hand place it on the altar. When he hath placed it there, let the novice next begin the verse: "Uphold me, O Lord, according to Thy word and I shall live; and let me not be confounded in my expectations" (Ps 118[119]:116). Then let all the brotherhood repeat this verse three times, adding the Gloria Patri.

The let that novice brother cast himself down at the feet of all, that they may pray for him; and from that day let him be counted in the brotherhood. If he hath any property, let him first either dispose of it to the poor or bestow it on the monastery by a formal donation, reserving nothing for himself as indeed he should know that from that day onward he will no longer have power even over his own body.

Let him, therefore, be divested at once in the oratory of the garments with which he is clothed, and be vested in the garb of the monastery. But let the clothes of which he was divested by laid by in the wardrobe to be preserved, that, if on the devil's suasion he should ever consent to leave the monastery (which God forbid) he be then stripped of his monastic habit and cast out. But let him not receive the document of his profession which the Abbot took from the altar, but let it be preserved in the monastery.

Martyrology-August 13th
Roman Martyrology-August 13th- on this date in various years-

At Rome, the blessed Hippolytus, martyr, who gloriously confessed the faith, under Emperor Valerian. After enduring other torments, he was tied by the feet to the necks of wild horses, and being cruelly dragged through briars and brambles, and having all his body lacerated, he yielded up his spirit. On the same day suffered also blessed Concordia, his nurse, who being scourged in his presence with leaded whips, went to our Lord, and nineteen others of his household, who were beheaded beyond the Tiburtine Gate, and buried with him in the Agro Verano.

At Imola, the birthday of St. Cassian, martyr. As he refused to worship idols, the persecutor called the boys whom the saint had taught and who hated him, giving them leave to kill him. The torment suffered by the martyr was the more grievous, as the hands which inflicted it, by reason of weakness, rendered death long drawn-out.

At Todi in Umbria, St. Cassian, bishop and martyr, under Emperor Diocletian.

At Burgos in Spain, Saints Centolla and Helena, martyrs.

At Constantinople, St. Maximus, a monk distinguished for learning and for zeal for Catholic truth. Valiantly disputing the Monothelites, he had his hands and tongue torn from him by the heretical emperor Constans, and was banished to Chersonesus, where he breathed his last. At this time, two of his disciples, both named Anastasius, and many others endured divers torments and the hardships of exile.

At Fritzlar in Germany, St. Wigbert, priest and confessor.

At Rome, the birthday of St. John Berchmans, a scholastic of the Society of Jesus, illustrious for his innocence and for his fidelity to the rules of the religious life. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII.

At Poitiers in France, St. Radegund, queen, whose life was renowned for miracles and virtues.

And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.

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