From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Think Lowly   
      
      "Do you wish to be great? Then begin from what is slightest. Do you   
   plan to construct a high and mighty building? Then think first about   
   the foundation of humility.   
      When people plan to erect a lofty and large building, they make the   
   foundations all the deeper. But those who lay the foundation are   
   forced to descend into the depths."   
   --St. Augustine--Sermon 69, 2   
      
      Prayer: Lord, my God, how great you are, and yet you make your home   
   in the humble of heart! It is you who lift up the downtrodden, and you   
   who are their grandeur.   
   --St. Augustine--Confessions 11, 31   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   July 24th - St. Declan of Ardmore   
      
   St. Declan, son of Erc, chief of the Desii, was born at the beginning   
   of the fifth century near Lismore, Co. Waterford. As a young boy he   
   was sent to fosterage with a certain Dimma, who is said to have been a   
   foreigner and a Christian. While under Dimma's guardianship, Declan   
   was converted and baptised by one of the several Irish saints named   
   Colman.   
      
   After leaving Dimma, Declan went to Rome, where he studied for the   
   priesthood and was later consecrated bishop. On his return to Ireland,   
   he established a monastic community at Ardmore and was later confirmed   
   in this office by St. Patrick himself. Declan was well known as an   
   active missionary in Ireland prior top the coming of St. Patrick, the   
   great organiser of Irish Christianity.   
      
   Many miracles are attributed to the intervention of St. Declan. He is   
   credited, in particular, with having arrested a serious plague by his   
   prayers and fasting. He is reputed to have been a very close friend of   
   St. David (patron saint of Wales) and, perhaps more importantly, to   
   have been on very good terms with Aengus, king of Munster. His   
   influence, therefore, would have been considerable.   
      
   According to tradition, Declan made a miraculous return from Rome by   
   crossing the sea on a large flagstone. Popular belief has it that this   
   flagstone ran aground at Ardmore, where he decided to establish his   
   monastery. To this day the flagstone is pointed out by the locals on   
   the popular beach at Ardmore.   
      
   St. Declan's day is still actively celebrated by the Ardmore   
   parishioners on 24 July. Until recent times it was the custom, on this   
   day, for those suffering from back ailments to crawl under the   
   flagstone as a method of obtaining relief. One 19th century   
   commentator, however, voiced a certain amount of disapproval of the   
   practice on the grounds that participating ladies would, of necessity,   
   reveal their ankles in the process. Such a display could, conceivably,   
   lead the onlooking menfolk into temptation! The described treatment   
   for backache, however, was said to have been ineffective if the   
   patient had anything borrowed or stolen on his/her person at the time.   
      
   Legend has it that he knocked on a woman's door and asked for a drink   
   of water. She replied: "Unfortunately, I haven't a drop of water in   
   the house. I have to draw it. You will have to walk a long distance   
   from here to get fresh water. I have to draw it, myself, all the way!"   
   The saint was filled with pity for the poor woman, as he replied,   
   "Soon, you won't have too far to travel for water". He urged himself   
   on but had to lie down on the slope of Toor mountain not far from   
   Aglish.   
      
   He stretched out his weary limbs and threw out one arm on the grass.   
   Suddenly, he felt water oozing from the patchy grass between his   
   fingers. It was the origin of a lovely fresh mountain stream. The   
   water trickled down the mountain of Toor and formed a stream. This   
   stream flows today, to St. Declan's Holy Well by Toor mountain.   
      
   Very many cures have been reported from this Holy Well (which was   
   restored in 1951) but the water is said to be particularly beneficial   
   to those suffering from diseases of the eyes, sprains, and rheumatism.   
      
   Each year, the week including his feast day is known as "Pattern   
   Week". Pilgrims still come to pray at the site of Declan's church on   
   the headland of Ardmore, adjacent to the round tower which is in an   
   excellent state of preservation .   
      
   St. Declan died in the latter half of the fifth century. He was laid   
   to rest in his beloved Ardmore, and his burial place is marked by the   
   ruins of an oratory built over his grave.   
      
   See.   
   https://irelandsholywells.blogspot.com/2011/08/saint-declans-well-ardmore.html   
      
   https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-declan-of-ardmore5th-century/   
      
   The Irish Life of Saint Declan of Ardmore   
   http://www.ccel.org/d/declan/life/declan.html   
      
      
   Quote:   
   Why do we talk and gossip so continually, seeing that we so rarely   
   resume our silence without some hurt done to our conscience? ...   
   Devout conversation on spiritual things helpeth not a little to   
   spiritual progress, most of all where those of kindred mind and spirit   
   find their ground of fellowship in God.   
   --Thomas à Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ   
      
   Bible Quote   
   That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it   
   is not granted to man to utter.  For such an one I will glory; but for   
   myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities. (2 Corinthians   
   4-5)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Troparion of St Declan tone 4   
      
   Thou wast a bright light in Ireland before the days of Saint Patrick,/   
   O holy Father Declan./   
   Thou didst travel in Europe and return to found a monastery/   
   where thou wast ever kind to the poor./   
   We praise thee, O glorious Hierarch.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)