Day 19, JOYFUL, July 17, St. Alexius, Confessor

St. Alexius, June 17, Dom Gueranger, Liturgical Year

Although we are not commanded to follow the Saints to the extremities where their heroic virtue leads them, nevertheless, from their inaccessible heights, they still guide us along the easier paths of the plain. As the eagle upon the orb of day, they fixed their unflinching gaze upon the Sun of Justice ; and, irresistibly attracted by his divine splendour, they poised their flight far above the cloudy region where we are glad to screen our feeble eyes. But however varied be the degrees of brightness for them and for us, the light itself is unchangeable, provided that, like them, we draw it from the authentic source. When the weakness of our sight would lead us to mistake false glimmerings for the truth, let us think of these friends of God ; if we have not courage enough to imitate them, where the com mandments leave us free to do so or not, let us at least conform our judgments and appreciations to theirs: their view is more trustworthy, because farther reaching ; their sanctity is nothing but the rectitude wherewith they follow up unflinchingly, even to its central focus, the heavenly ray, whereof we can scarcely bear a tempered reflection. Above all, let us not be led so far astray by the will-o'-the- wisps of this world of darkness, as to wish to direct, by their false light, the actions of the saints : can the owl judge better of the light than the eagle ?

The Church, in the breviary gives us the following very short notice of our hero, St. Alexius:

V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May God the Father Omnipotent, be to us merciful and clement. Amen. 

Reading 4
Alexis was a member of one of the noblest Roman families. Through his exceeding great love for Jesus Christ, he received a particular command from God to leave his bride untouched upon his wedding night, and to undertake a pilgrimage to the most famous Churches of the world. For seventeen years he remained occupied in these journeys and utterly unknown. At the end of that time, his name was spoken from an image of the most holy Virgin Mary in the city of Edessa, in Syria, and when he found himself recognised he took ship from thence. He landed at Porto near Rome, and fared to the house of his own father, who gave him shelter as a strange beggar. He lived there unrecognised by any for seventeen years more, and then passed away to heaven, in the time of Pope Innocent I. He left behind him a writing giving his name, family, and the story of his life.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.

R. The Lord made him honourable, and defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait for him
* And gave him perpetual glory.
V. He went down with him into the pit, and left him not in bonds.
R. And gave him perpetual glory.

Epistle, from the Mass of the Day (1 Tim:6)

[6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world: and certainly we can carry nothing out. [8] But having food, and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content. [9] For they that will become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition. [10] For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith, and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.

[11] But thou, O man of God, fly these things: and pursue justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life.