From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Believe the message of the holy apostles   
      
      Christ had to be patient with Thomas when he said he would not   
   believe and with the other disciples too when they thought they were   
   seeing a ghost. Because of his desire to convince the whole world, he   
   most willingly showed them the marks of the nails and the wound in his   
   side; because he wished those who sought this evidence as a support   
   for their faith to have no possible reason for doubt, he even took   
   food although he had no need for it.   
      But when anyone accepts what he has not seen, believing on the word   
   of his teacher, the faith by which he honors the one his teacher   
   proclaims to him is worthy of great praise. Blessed, therefore, is   
   everyone who believes the message of the holy apostles who, as Luke   
   says, were eyewitnesses of Christ's actions and ministers of the word.   
   If we desire eternal life and long for a dwelling place in heaven, we   
   must listen to them.   
   --St. Cyril of Alexandria   
      
      
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   February 8: Saint Cuthman of Steyning   
   ( Also known as Cuthmann)   
      
   d. 9th century   
      
    Saint Cuthman of Steyning was an English church builder and miracle   
   worker. The life of Saint Cuthman is one of holy legend, recounting   
   his various exploits made possible only through the grace of God.   
   Regardless of the veracity of these legends, what we take from the   
   life of Saint Cuthman is a profound respect and love for his mother, a   
   dedicated service to the Lord, and unwavering faith—all lessons we can   
   apply to our own lives today.   
      
   Cuthman was born into a wealthy English family in Chidham, and worked   
   as a shepherd, grazing the family’s flocks. Pious from an early age,   
   he was steadfast and faithful, never failing in his religious   
   observances or his work in the fields. It is said that through the   
   power of prayer, Cuthman was able to keep his grazing sheep safe in a   
   circle under his watchful eye. Following his father’s death, who per   
   legend was killed by Vikings, he was left to care for his sick and   
   elderly mother, who subsequent to a disease was unable to walk without   
   assistance.   
      
   One afternoon, while praying over his sheep, Saint Cuthman received a   
   command from the Lord: to travel east into the pagan countryside and   
   erect a church. The Lord promised that Cuthman would known where to   
   erect this church by a heavenly sign. Saint Cuthman desired nothing   
   more than to obey, but worried about his mother. She could not be left   
   behind, and it would be incredibly difficult to take her with him.   
   However, ever obedient, he sold his flocks and bought a cart in which   
   to transport his mother. Tying a rope halter around his neck, he set   
   off over the bumpy and muddy roads, pulling his mother behind him.   
      
   Now, this travel was not easy, given the condition of the roads and   
   the weight of his mother. Yet Saint Cuthman proceeded night and day,   
   rarely stopping for food or rest until his halter frayed and snapped.   
   Having used all his money to buy the cart, he was unable to buy more   
   rope, so instead cut some elder branches to fashion a new halter. The   
   farmers in a nearby field, observing what they considered foolish   
   behavior, mocked him. But Cuthman continued on his way, saying to   
   them: “Men mock and heaven shall weep!” at which a rainstorm flooded   
   their fields and destroyed their crops. It is said that every spring   
   these same fields are flooded.   
      
   Saint Cuthman continued on his journey, pulling his mother, until his   
   elder-twig halter snapped. This happened by a pagan mound topped by a   
   stone (see picture), and Cuthman took this as the sign where he should   
   erect his church. He prayed on the spot:   
      
   Father Almighty, you have brought my wanderings to an end; now enable   
   me to begin this work. For who am I, Lord, that I should build a house   
   to your Name? If I rely on myself, it will be of no avail, but it is   
   you who will assist me. You have given me the desire to be a builder;   
   make up for my lack of skill, and bring the work of building this holy   
   house to its completion.   
      
   The stone of Saint Cuthman   
   The wooden church built by Saint Cuthman was built in the spot of the   
   more modern Saint Andrew’s Church in Steyning,, Sussex. Together with   
   his mother, he lived in a small hut nearby while his days were spent   
   building a cathedral as promised to the Lord. Saint Cuthman used the   
   pagan stone in the alter of his church, to assure that local pagans   
   would come to venerate there, leading to their conversion. (The stone   
   was later removed during excavations and placed outside the church of   
   Saint Andrew).   
      
   During the course of construction, many miracles occurred at the   
   intercession of Saint Cuthman. For example, while fitting the roof   
   beams, a stranger appeared to assist. This stranger, who legend tells   
   us was Saint Andrew, hung his leather gloves on a sunbeam while   
   assisting Cuthman. On another occasion, when Cuthman was feeling   
   discouraged by obstacles to construction, a stranger appeared and told   
   him how to remedy the trouble, saying;   
      
   " Nothing is wanting to those that fear the Lord."   
      
   Saint Cuthman, overcome with awe, asked for the stranger’s name.   
      
   " I am He," was the answer, "in whose name thou buildest this temple."   
      
   Saint Cuthman was similarly targeted by a local pagan wise-woman and   
   the devil. Objecting to his Christianity and “divine works,” she stole   
   his oxen to use as her own. In return, Cuthman harnessed her two sons   
   to his plow, using them as substitutes, and so successfully rebutted   
   her curse that the woman flew high into the air. Upon landing, legend   
   tells us that the ground swallowed her hole, with the devil claiming   
   her as his own. The devil, for his part, attempted to dam the entire   
   area in one evening and flood away the holy church, but Saint Cuthman   
   tricked the devil by knocking roosters off their perches (so they   
   would signal daybreak early) and flashing a candle behind a sieve to   
   simulate the rising sun. The devil fled, having failed in his task.   
      
   Saint Cuthman lived beside his church, building a robust Christian   
   community. Upon his death, he was venerated there, with many pilgrims   
   reporting miraculous cures at his holy intercession. His relics were   
   later translated to the Benedictine monastery at FeCamp, France.   
      
   The life of Saint Cuthman is a reminder and example of filial piety,   
   prayer, hard work, and faith. His life and legends serve to remind us   
   of the importance of obedience, confidence in the Lord, and steadfast   
   forbearance in the face of adversity and discouragement. We are called   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)