From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   March 23rd - Sts. Gwinear, Piala & Comp. MM (AC)   
   (Gwinear is also known as Fingar, Guigner, Gwinnear)   
      
   Died 460. This saint's vita was not written by Anselm, probably a Cornish   
   canon,   
   until about eight centuries after his death. There is evidence that the   
   basics   
   of the story are true. When Saint Patrick was evangelizing Ireland, he came   
   to   
   the court of King Clito and was treated with scorn. But the king's son   
   Gwinear   
   was more courteous than his father. Though not yet a Christian, he   
   recognized   
   Patrick's piety and rose to his feet to offer the saint his own seat.   
   Later, as   
   he was hunting and at the same time meditating on Christianity, he was   
   converted. Gwinear let his horse go free and began to live as a hermit.   
   After   
   King Clito's death, the saint returned home, but not to assume the throne.   
   Instead he took 770 men and women (including his converted sister Piala) to   
   spread the Christian faith in Wales and Brittany. At first they landed at   
   the   
   mouth of the Hayle River.   
      
   Among the celebrated miracles alleged to have been performed by the saint,   
   one-at Puvigner in Brittany-indicates his reputation for loving animals.   
   Short   
   of water the saint struck the ground and created not one fountain but three:   
   one   
   for himself, the other two for his dog and his horse.   
      
   The saint and many of his followers died as martyrs. The Cornish tyrant   
   Teudar   
   had long hated the Christians. He kept a lake filled with reptiles in   
   amongst   
   which he threw those he disliked. It is said that Teudar came upon a band of   
   Gwinear's Christian friends "from behind" and killed them.   
      
   Later Gwinear and some companions came across their bodies. The saint knew   
   his   
   own martyrdom could not be far off. "Here brethren is the place of our   
   rest," he   
   told his companions. "Here God has appointed that we should cease from our   
   labors. Come therefore and let us gladly sacrifice our lives for him. Let us   
   not   
   fear them that kill the body. Rather let us fear him who has power to cast   
   both   
   body and soul into hell."   
      
   Shortly afterwards the saint was caught by Teudar and beheaded at Hayle near   
   Penzance. A basilica was built in later years over his grave. And the   
   Cornish   
   village of Gwinear bears his name to this day. He is also still venerated in   
   Pluvigner (diocese of Vannes), Brittany, as Saint Guigner, where his legend   
   has   
   adapted to local conditions. At Pluvigner, there is a stained glass window   
   of   
   Gwinear hunting a stag with a cross between its antlers (reminiscent of   
   Saint   
   Eustace) and a well near the church to which processions go on the day of   
   Pardon.   
      
   Some of Gwinear's company escaped and gave their names to churches from   
   Saint   
   Ives to Porthleven. While there is no reliable evidence that Gwinear and his   
   companions were Irish or missionaries nor that they were massacred by a   
   tyrant,   
   the historical record suggests that he came from Wales with another local   
   saint,   
   Meriadoc, evangelized the district of Comborne and Gwinnear (Cornwall), and   
   went   
   to Brittany (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia, Farmer).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   O wondrous exchange, eternal life is promised to us by the humility of the   
   Lord,   
   who bowed himself down to our pride.   
   -St. Augustine, Confessions   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge him before   
   My   
   Father in heaven.  (Matthew 10:32)   
      
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The fifth sorrowful mystery prayer of the Eucharistic Rosary, to be offered   
   before the Blessed Sacrament:   
      
   The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord, offered for self-sacrifice for God,   
   and our neighbor, forgiveness of injuries:   
      
   O good and merciful Saviour! Thy love, more than iron nails, keeps Thee   
   riveted to the cross whereon Thou atoneth for our sins in the midst of   
   unspeakable torments; we find Thee also riveted by the same love in the   
   Sacrament of the Altar, continuing Thy sacrifice to the end of ages in   
   order to apply to us the fruits thereof.   
      
   Sweet Lamb, perpetually immolated for us, we adore Thee, and we beg of   
   Thee, through the intercession of Thy holy Mother, such a hatred of sin as   
   will make us prefer the death of the body to the staining of the soul.   
      
   Imprimatur: + John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York, Sept 19, 1908.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A Prayer for Fighting Pornography   
      
   O Lord Jesus Christ, protector of souls, mercifully hear our prayers for   
   protection against the purveyors of evil, against the wiles of Satan and his   
   followers who seek to entrap us with the snares of pornography and lust and   
   vice. O Jesus, grant that we may boldly step forward to defeat these enemies   
   of men's souls, through the power and protection of Your most precious   
   Blood, offered for us on the Cross.   
      
   Lord Jesus, we beg the conversion of all who pander to the weakness of men   
   and women through pornography. Bring these and all Your people to their   
   final home in Heaven.   
   Virgin most pure, pray for Your children here on earth who must face   
   temptations thrust on them by evil men.   
      
   Saint Maria Goretti, model of purity, help us to follow Your example in   
   forgiveness of others and love of God; pray to God that we will be   
   successful in our daily fight against the evil forces of pornography and   
   temptations of the flesh; and ask God to give strength and wisdom to those   
   who battle against the satanic forces of evil, that they may triumph for God   
   and the salvation of souls. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect us and have   
   mercy on us. Virgin most pure, pray for us. Saint Maria Goretti, pray for   
   us. - Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)