From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Lord fills all things with blessing from above   
      
   "So that by every means the Lord might be known to be God by nature,   
   he multiplies what is little, and he looks up to heaven as though   
   asking for the blessing from above. Now he does this out of the divine   
   economy, for our sakes. For he himself is the one who fills all   
   things, the true blessing from above and from the Father. But, so that   
   we might learn that when we are in charge of the table and are   
   preparing to break the loaves, we ought to bring them to God with   
   hands upraised and bring down upon them the blessing from above, he   
   became for us the beginning and pattern and way."   
   --by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD) (excerpt from FRAGMENT 177)   
      
   ==============   
   August 31: Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne   
   (died 651)   
      
   "His life is in marked contrast to the apathy of our times."   
   (Venerable Bede on Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne)   
      
    Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne , known as the Apostle of the English (or   
   the Apostle of Northumbria). Saint Aidan was the founder and first   
   bishop of the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne. He is credited   
   with restoring Christianity to the region. It is said of him, by   
   Bishop Lightfoot, “Augustine was the Apostle of Kent, but Aidan was   
   the Apostle of the English." Saint Bede the Venerable would write of   
   Saint Aidan in his biography: "he was a pontiff inspired with a   
   passionate love of virtue, but at the same time full of a surpassing   
   mildness and gentleness."   
      
   Aidan was born in Ireland, probably in Connacht, and studied as a monk   
   at the monastery on the Island of Iona in Scotland. While Christianity   
   had spread into Britain centuries earlier, during the invasion of the   
   Romans, gradually paganism had reclaimed the region. When Oswald of   
   Northumbria regained the kingship, he sought to re-establish   
   Christianity, and bring the light of Christ to the peoples living   
   there. (Oswald is likely to have converted himself, upon a visit to   
   the monastery on Iona).   
      
   Based upon his experience on Iona, King Oswald requested missionaries   
   be sent to work amongst the peoples. At first the monastery sent a new   
   bishop named Cormán, but he met with no success and soon returned to   
   Iona, reporting that the Northumbrians were too stubborn to be   
   converted. Saint Aidan criticized Bishop Cormán's methods and was sent   
   as a replacement in 635.   
      
   Upon arrival in Northumbria, Aidan established Lindisfarne--an island   
   similar to Iona--as the center of his diocese. Here Aidan established   
   an Irish-type monastery of wooden buildings: a small church, small,   
   circular dwelling huts, perhaps one larger building for communal   
   purposes and in time, workshops as needed. The monks lived a life of   
   prayer, study and austerity, but spent the majority of time preaching   
   and engaged in activities of conversion. Through translation efforts   
   of the royal family--first Oswald, and then Oswine of Deira after the   
   death of Oswald--Aidan and his fellow monks preached the Gospel to all   
   who would listen. Over time, he came to be recognized for his piety   
   and gentleness, and respected by even the harshest critics of   
   Christianity.   
      
   Gentle and unassuming, Aidan traveled on foot from one village to   
   another, engaging those he met in polite conversation, and slowly   
   raising their interest in Christianity. According to legend, the king   
   gave Aidan a horse so that he wouldn't have to walk, but Aidan instead   
   gave the horse to a beggar, modeling the charitable love of Christ.   
   Through patience and wisdom, Christianity took root in these rural   
   communities, and began to grow, fanned by the flames of love and zeal   
   of Aidan and his companions. To further the growth of the faith, Aidan   
   took in 12 English boys to train at the monastery, hoping to ensure   
   that the area's future religious leadership would be English. The   
   monastery he founded grew and helped found churches and other   
   monasteries throughout the area. By his death, it was widely   
   recognized as a center of Christian faith and learning throughout the   
   regions.   
      
   Numerous miracles were attributed to him while alive, including his   
   intercession to save the city of Bamburgh during attack by pagans. As   
   holy legend tells us, when the pagans attacked the city, they set the   
   walls on fire. Aidan prayed for respite, and the winds turned against   
   the invaders, blowing the smoke from their own fires over the invading   
   army. They were forced to flee, and the city was saved.   
      
   After 16 years as bishop, Aidan died at Bamburgh. In his life we see   
   the zeal and the spirit of the first Apostles--a spirit based in   
   generosity and dedication, in passing along the gifts of grace one   
   possesses to all encountered. The Venerable Bede wrote of Saint Aidan:   
   "He neither sought nor loved anything of this world, but delighted in   
   distributing immediately to the poor whatever was given him by kings   
   or rich men. He traversed both town and country on foot, never on   
   horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity. Wherever on his   
   way he saw any, either rich or poor, he invited them, if pagans, to   
   embrace the mystery of the faith; or if they were believers, he sought   
   to strengthen them in their faith and stir them up by words and   
   actions to alms and good works."   
    by Jacob   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Every time we come into the presence of the Eucharist we may say: This   
   precious Testament cost Jesus Christ His life. For the Eucharist is a   
   testament, a legacy which becomes valid only at the death of the   
   testator. Our Lord thereby shows us His boundless love, for He Himself   
   said there is no greater proof of love than to lay down one's life for   
   one's friends.   
   --Saint Peter Julian Eymund   
      
   Bible Quote   
   Then Jesus said to them: My time is not yet come; but your time is   
   always ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth: because I   
   give testimony of it, that the works thereof are evil.  (John 7:6-7)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Saint Aidan’s Prayer:   
      
   Leave me alone with God as much as may be.   
   As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,   
   Make me an island, set apart,   
   alone with you, God, holy to you.   
      
   Then with the turning of the tide   
   prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,   
   the world that rushes in on me   
   till the waters come again and fold me back to you.   
      
   O holy Bishop Aidan, Apostle of the North and light of the Celtic   
   Church, glorious in humility, noble in poverty, zealous monk and   
   loving missionary, intercede for us sinners that Christ our God may   
   have mercy on our souls.   
      
   Thou didst teach and preserve Christ’s doctrine and didst spread the   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)