11 October is the feast day for Blessed James of Ulm, in Germany. Blessed James was a Lay Brother, choosing out of humility not to be a Choir Religious. He was born in 1407 and died in 1491 in Bologna, where he had received the habit. As a young man he had made a pilgrimage to Rome and subsequently had a short career as a soldier and served as steward in a noble household in Capua, before journeying to Bologna where he was attracted to the church of St Dominic and sought in due course to enter the Dominican Order. Before his profession he pleaded with each of the friars to disregard his unworthiness.

Thereafter, he exemplified humility and unswerving obedience and a tender devotion to Our Lady and Her Son’s Passion. He was assiduous in praying

“O Jesu, born of Virgin bright, 

Immortal glory be to Thee. 

Help me this day, together with 

The Father and the Holy Ghost, 

For ever and ever, 

Amen.”

Howard Trust