February 1st

St. Severus of Ravenna B (RM)

Died c. 348. Severus was a poor weaver of Ravenna, Italy, who never dreamed
that
God would one day call him from his weaver's loom to rule a diocese, but God
has
strange ways of calling His servants and sometimes lays His hand upon them
in
the least likely places: from the plough and the bench have come some of the
greatest of His apostles.

So it happened that when the bishopric of Ravenna fell vacant in 283 and the
cathedral was filled with those who had gathered to elect a new bishop,
Severus
said to his wife, Vincentia, that he would visit the minister and see what
was
going on. She replied that he had much better remain at home and not show
himself in his working clothes among the nobles and well-dressed citizens.
"What
harm is there in my going?" he asked. "Why, you have work to do here," she
answered, "instead of gadding about sightseeing." When he persisted, she
said,
"Go, and may you come back with a good box on your ear," and added
sarcastically: "Go, then, and get elected bishop."

Severus, accustomed to her sharp tongue, set out and, entering the crowded
cathedral, stood at the back, ashamed of his working clothes covered with
flocks
of wool. When, in the course of the service, the power of the Holy Spirit
was
invoked in prayer, there appeared in the cathedral a white dove that
attracted
the attention of the assembly, and which after flying around fluttered at
the
ear of the poor spinner. He beat it off, but it returned and finally came to
rest upon his shoulder. Every eye was now turned in his direction, and the
people, regarding it as a heavenly sign, with one accord chose him to be
their
bishop.

Vincentia was still at home, and when a neighbor came running, breathless,
to
her door with the news, she laughed and would not believe it. "What a tale,"
she
said, "that a man who tosses a shuttle should be made a prelate!" But when
another came with the same story, and yet another, and a crowd gathered at
her
door, and she found it was true, she was speechless.

Thus, it came to pass that Severus the weaver became bishop of Ravenna and
who
can doubt that he was a good weaver, well respected for his work and
character,
and that he was chosen not only because of a good omen but also for his own
fine
qualities. For these he was chosen to accompany the papal legate to the
synod of
Sardica in 344.

He made a good bishop, and when at last he came to die, he said his last
Mass
before all the people, then quietly dismissed them with his blessing. When
all
had departed save a single boy who served at the altar, he bade the boy
close
the doors, and clothing himself in his episcopal robes, went to the tomb of
his
wife and daughter, who had died before him. There with the help of the boy
he
raised the stone, and descending into the grave, laid himself down, and
after a
prayer closed his eyes and fell asleep. After his death he was canonized a
saint, and is usually portrayed in his bishop's robes and with a weaver's
shuttle (Benedictines, Gill).

It may be that the dove was a common phenomenon, or that it was simply a
pious
addition to the story of unlikely bishops, but it occurs in several stories.

In art, St. Severus is a bishop weaving. He may have a loom and weaver's
tools
and, possibly, a dove on his shoulder (Roeder). He is the patron of glove
makers, hatters, and weavers (Roeder).

Saint Quote:
We therefore grossly deceive ourselves in not allotting more time to the
study
of divine truths. It is not enough barely to believe them, and let our
thoughts
now and then glance upon them: that knowledge which shows us heaven, will
not
bring us to the possession of it, and will deserve punishments, not rewards,
if
it remain slight, weak, and superficial.
--Saint Apollinaris of Hierapolis

Bible Quotes:
I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me. (Psalm 34:5)

Lord, I love the temple where you dwell, where your glory is.  (Psalm 26:8)