Our saint was born of a noble Florentine family about the year 995. His father was arranging for him to become a soldier when Hugo, the only other child, was murdered by a relative. It was Good Friday, and Gualbert, accompanied by an armed escort, met the murderer in a narrow pass. There was no way to avoid one another. They met, and the murderer, with arms crossed on his breast, threw himself at Gualbert's feet. Moved by his plea for mercy and the remembrance of Christ's dying act of forgiveness, he spared the murderer's life and lifted him up as a brother. 
The holy martyrs, Nabor and Felix, suffered in the persecution of Maximian. "They were Christian soldiers in the army of Emperor Maximian Hercules. Because of their Christian faith they were tried in Milan and beheaded in Lodi, Italy, (303 or 304). Their bodies were interred in Milan" (Martyrology). When Emperor Frederic Barbarossa captured Milan in the twelfth century, he gave the sacred relics to Reinald, archbishop of Cologne. Soon after, Reinald transferred the bodies of the holy martyrs to his episcopal see, where they are still venerated in one of the cathedral's magnificent chapels. 
According to Tradition, when St. Veronica saw Jesus fall beneath the weight of the cross He carried to his pending crucifixion, she was so moved with pity she pushed through the crowd past the Roman Soldiers to reach Jesus. She used her veil to wipe the blood and sweat from His face. The soldiers forced her away from Jesus even as He peered at her with gratitude. She bundled her veil and did not look at it again until she returned home. When she finally unfolded the veil--history does not clarify exactly what kind of material the veil was made from--it was imprinted with an image of Christ's face.
Those of us who have been loved and cared for by our parents have some understanding of what it’s like to receive love from God the Father. Yet we understand even more when we ourselves become parents. Jesus invites us to reflect on this when he asks: “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? … How much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?” (Luke 11:11, 13).
The moment a newborn baby is placed in her parents’ arms, the couple feels overwhelming love. But as the child grows and develops her own priorities, her parents can identify with the disappointment and frustration God expresses in today’s words from Hosea. “The more I called them, the farther they went from me.” How clear it is: what the child sees as an autocratic restriction is really a loving safeguard. And what we see as strict rules from a distant God really are boundary markers that keep us safe in his kingdom.
When a child of ours disregards our rules or advice, we may be tempted to react in anger and punish him for defying us. But in our better moments, we know the best response is to find a suitable consequence that will help teach him to make better choices. This is how God treats his people. Ever faithful, he promises to restore them as soon as they come to their senses.
Spend some time today reflecting on the way you show love to your children, your students, or anyone who depends on you. Then recall how your heavenly Father has shown you love in the past. He is not done loving you! He longs to point out the path of an even fuller life. Ask him to help you see that path more clearly. Ask him, also, to show you how he himself is willing to walk with you on that path. And if you find that you’ve been following a different path, just turn around and come back. Your Father is always ready to welcome you back.
“Father, thank you for loving me so faithfully. Help me to discern your plan for me so that I can follow you wholeheartedly.”
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16 Matthew 10:7-15