Friday, April 1, 2011

This saint had the honor of giving both of his parents Extreme Unction and Viaticum

                     April 1 --  St. Hugh of Grenoble

St. Hugh was born in 1053 of holy and noble parents.  His father, an illustrious military man labored by all means to make the soldiers in his charge faithful to their Christian heritage and avid warriors against vice. 

His mother through prayer, fasting and good works served God faithfully in her motherly vocation.  Both parents had the singular honor of receiving Extreme Unction and Viaticum from the hands of their son.

At the age of 27, St. Hugh was made Bishop of Grenoble and charged with the task of reforming the clergy of his diocese.  Working zealously for two years proved fruitless and Hugh retired to the austere abbey of Chaise-Dieu in Auvergne.

One year later, Pope Gregory VII sent St. Hugh back to his pastoral charge with the words, " Go to your flock; they need you."  This time St. Hugh's constant preaching touched hearts and the face of his diocese changed. On April 1, 1132, St. Hugh was called by God.

Let us pray to St. Hugh for the virtue of constancy and obedience.  When we are plagued with seeming failure, we should remember the example of St. Hugh.  His initial work proved fruitless only for him to return through obedience to gain success.

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