SAINT ZITA-


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SAINT ZITA-
Patron of Domestics/1218-1278/Feast:Apr.27-#40

fr:Dear Saint,worldlings often fail to admire faithful domestics or servants.
They bow before those who occupy high positions,even when these 
lead immoral lives.
You,your sister and your uncle were brought up in a truly Christian family.
*Your uncle became a Cistercian and your sister chose the life of a hermit.
You saw clearly that one can do God's will when exercising the most 
humble functions in the world,by always following the guidance of the 
Holy Spirit.
After all,our Lady proclaimed herself a "handmaid" of the Lord,
and this she did as a mother in a household.

St:When God placed us on earth,
He wanted us to do work of some kind.
Joseph was a carpenter,Mary was a homemaker,and Jesus also engaged 
in carpentry.
My parents worked properly and their life taught me even better than 
their words.
*Too many couples fail to give a good Christian education in the home.
Parents must inspire their offspring to live as children of God.
It was because of my exemplary parents that I chose to become a 
domestic for a well-to-do family.

fr:You were a model domestic and in reality became the Patroness of 
domestics.
For forty-eight years you worked with perfect devotedness in that family.
*You always found time for spiritual exercises,attended Mass daily,
and led a life of loving union with God.
You knew that Christ had said that He had come not to be served but to 
serve.

St:I can say in all truth that I tried never to lose time.
I never refused to do extra work.
This,of course,did not please the other domestics,but I tried to practice 
patience in their regard.
*We who are now in eternity are aware that some "workers" do a 
minimum of work and then ask for a maximum wage.
Others pass the time in idleness whenever they are unobserved and 
naturally find time for gossip.

ws:A domestic is not good if she lacks industriousness.
Work-shy piety in people of our position is sham piety.

fr:Dear Saint,you know that in our age people have lost the sense of 
"honest pride in one's work." 
They have the attitude that anything goes so long as they get paid at the 
end of the week.
*Inspire more and more Christians to follow your example.
Let them learn by experience that God can also be found in their work.
Help them to realize that by their work--no matter how menial--they are 
building the world and getting it ready for Christ's Coming.
And in so doing they will learn how true are Christ's words that there 
is more joy in giving than in receiving.

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