TODAY THE LATIN CHURCH CELEBRATES THE FESTIVAL OF SAN ROMUALDO AN ITALIAN MONK WHO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TERRORS OF THE YEAR THOUSAND FLED TO THE DESERT OF TUSCANY. HE FOUNDED THE ORDER OF THE CAMALDUENSES, WHICH IS THE MOST RIGOROUS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT IS EREMITICAL. THE ANNALS SAY THAT ROMUALDO LIVED 120 YEARS AND THAT THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE HE DID NOT SUFFER ANY ILLNESS WHICH CONFIRMS THE GOSPEL MOTTO IN THE WORDS OF JESUS THAT HE WHO SEEKS HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT AND HE WHO DISPENSES IT WILL KEEP IT. WHEN I SEE RUSSIAN MONKS CELEBRATE DURING SERVICES THAT LAST THREE HOURS, I PERFECTLY UNDERSTAND THIS STATEMENT. THE ORANTES ARE THE LIGHTNING ROD OF DIVINE WRATH AGAINST THE SINS OF HUMANITY. I REMEMBER TODAY ESPECIALLY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON THE TURKISH AND SYRIAN BORDER. AFTER THE REFORM OF VATICAN II, THE CAMALDUENS RECEIVED THE COMMISSION TO ACCELERATE A MEETING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH THE JEWS