Born in Sicily in 1430, to a rich and pious family, Bernard Scammacca was well educated but grew up a wild and self-indulgent youth. He received a leg wound in a duel and during his recovery he realized that he was headed in the wrong direction and needed to urgently make changes. At the age of 22, he pleaded to enter the novitiate of the Order of Preachers. As a Dominican friar, he became well-known for his life of repentance for his former ways, as well as his strict adherence to the rule of St. Dominic. He also spent considerable time working with the poor, founding a hospital that still exists. He rose to the position of prior then eventually vicar general of all the convents in Sicily. He died of natural causes in 1487.
CHALLENGE
It is said that when Blessed Bernard Scammacca walked in the gardens of his convent, birds would come down to sing to him, but would stop singing when he started to pray. Since the Dominicans have a great devotion to the Rosary, take a walk outside today and pray the Rosary, with the intention of discerning where in your life you urgently need to make a change.
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