From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   November 17th - St. Hilda (Hild) of Whitby, OSB Abbess (AC)   
      
   Born in Northumbria in 614; died at Whitby in 680.   
   Hilda was a grandniece of King Edwin of Northumbria and daughter of Hereric.   
   Both she and her uncle were baptized by Saint Paulinus at York in 627, when   
   she was 13. She lived the life of a noblewoman until 20 years later she   
   decided to join her sister Saint Hereswitha at the Chelles Monastery as a   
   nun in France. In 649, Saint Aidan requested that she return to Northumbria   
   as abbess of the double monastery (with both men and women, in separate   
   quarters) in Hartlepool by the River Wear.   
      
   After some years Saint Hilda migrated as abbess to the double monastery of   
   Whitby at Streaneshalch, which she governed for the rest of her life. Among   
   her subject monks were Bishop Saint John of Beverly, the herdsman Caedmon   
   (the first English religious poet), Bishop Saint Wilfrid of York, and three   
   other bishops.   
      
   At the conference she convened in 664 at Whitby abbey to decide between   
   Celtic and Roman ecclesiastical customs, Saint Hilda supported the Celtic   
   party. Nevertheless, she and her communities adhered to the decision of the   
   Council of Whitby to observe the Roman rule and customs. Her influence was   
   certainly one of the decisive factors in securing unity in the English   
   Church.   
      
   Hilda became known for her spiritual wisdom and her monastery for the   
   caliber of its learning and its nuns. Saint Bede is enthusiastic in his   
   praise of Abbess Hilda, one of the greatest Englishwomen of all time: she   
   was the adviser of rulers as well as of ordinary folk; she insisted on the   
   study of Holy Scripture and on proper preparation for the priesthood; the   
   influence of her example of peace and charity extended beyond the walls of   
   her monastery; 'all who knew her called her Mother, such were her wonderful   
   godliness and grace' (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia).   
      
   Saint Hilda is represented in art holding Whitby Abbey in her hands with a   
   crown on her head or at her feet. Sometimes she is shown (1) turning   
   serpents into stone; (2) stopping the wild birds from ravaging corn at her   
   command; or (3) as a soul being carried to heaven by the angels (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God. I have   
   an ever deeper and firmer belief that nothing is merely an accident when   
   seen in the light of God, that my whole life down to the smallest details   
   has been marked out for me in the plan of Divine Providence and has a   
   completely coherent meaning in God's all-seeing eyes. And so I am beginning   
   to rejoice in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to   
   me.   
   --Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Saint Edith Stein)   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   My brethren, if any of you err from the truth, and one convert him: 20 He   
   must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his   
   way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.   
   (James 5:19-20)   
      
      
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   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL   
    (Imprimatur 1946)   
      
   Seventh Day   
      
   PAIN OF SORROW FOR SIN   
      
        The soul departed, before the judgment-seat of God, is enlightened with   
   a perfect knowledge of the purity and sanctity of her Divine judge, clearly   
   perceiving the stains with which she is sullied, and her extreme   
   unworthiness of union with God. The thought: I have offended God, Who is   
   everlasting beauty and perfection; I am not yet worthy to appear before the   
   face of the Lord, Who is infinitely holy, not worthy to take possession of   
   my dwelling-place in Heaven,-is the greatest sorrow of the suffering soul.   
   Much more clearly than during their earthly lives do these holy souls   
   comprehend the perfections of God, and love Him above all things; therefore   
   the thought of having offended Him is a piercing sorrow which surpasses all   
   their other sufferings.   
      
        St. Ambrose tells us, there is no greater agony than remorse of   
   conscience caused by sin. There are examples on record, of men who died from   
   the effects of this vehement sorrow. Yet, how much more intense must be the   
   contrition of the suffering souls, who fully understand the great malice of   
   sin! We know by our own experience that the depth of sorrow for having   
   offended a person is equal to the love we bear him. The holy souls in   
   Purgatory, being inflamed with a perfect love of God, their perfect   
   contrition for sin is their greatest sorrow.   
      
   Prayer: O God, Father of grace and mercy! graciously regard the deep sorrow   
   of the suffering souls in Purgatory. Deign to accept their love, and grant   
   them remission of their punishment, that, united with Thee, they may praise   
   Thy goodness forever. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.   
      
   Special Intercession: Pray for the souls who, while on earth, loved God most   
   ardently.   
      
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon   
   them; may they rest in peace. Amen.  (Three times)   
      
   Practice: Try to make an act of perfect contrition for your sins.   
      
   Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!   
      
   Also see 31day prayer at:   
   http://www.faithfuldeparted.net/prayers.html   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)