From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   September 1st - Saint Giles, Abbot   
   (640-720)   
      
   Saint Giles, whose name has been held in great veneration for many centuries   
   in France and England, was born in the year 640 in Athens, and was of noble   
   extraction. Certain remarkable works of medicine and poetry are attributed   
   to him, but his knowledge was primarily that of the Saints.   
      
   When as a young man he met a poor beggar who was sick and half-naked, he was   
   moved with compassion and gave him his splendid tunic; the moment the beggar   
   put it on, he found himself in perfect health. By this miracle, Giles   
   understood how pleasing almsgiving is to God, and shortly afterwards, he   
   distributed all his goods to the poor and entered upon a life of poverty,   
   suffering and humility. But Jesus Christ did not let Himself be outdone in   
   generosity, and soon miracles multiplied so greatly in his wake, that the   
   admiration of the world surrounded him. It became impossible for him to   
   profit in his own country from obscurity and retirement, which he desired   
   above all else. He therefore went to France and chose for his hermitage the   
   open spaces of the south, near the mouth of the Rhone.   
      
   Soon he was known there, too, by the miracles his kindness brought down from   
   heaven. He moved again, and this time Providence brought him near a hermit   
   of Greek origin like himself; then the two rejoiced in a common life of the   
   love of God. For two years they remained together, until the invasion of   
   their solitude caused Giles to migrate to a deep forest of southeastern   
   France, in the diocese of Nimes.   
      
   He passed many years in this intense solitude, living on wild herbs or roots   
   and clear water, and conversing only with God. He was nourished there by a   
   doe of the forest. One day, being pursued by Visigoths hunting in the   
   forests, she fled for refuge to the Saint and lay down at his feet. Moved to   
   tears, he prayed God to spare the life of the innocent animal. An arrow the   
   hunters had sent in her direction came and lodged in his hand, making a   
   wound which would never heal. When the hunters found the animal there and   
   saw the bleeding wound of the gentle hermit, they begged his pardon on their   
   knees, and the chase was ended. The Visigoth king, hearing of this, came to   
   visit this holy hermit, accompanied by the bishop, who afterwards ordained   
   Giles a priest.   
      
   The reputation of the sanctity of Saint Giles increased constantly by his   
   many miracles, which rendered his name famous throughout France. He was   
   highly esteemed by the pious king, but could not be prevailed upon to leave   
   his solitude. He accepted several disciples, however, and established   
   excellent discipline in the monastery which the king built for them.   
   Destroyed during the invasions of the Moslems who had entered Spain, it was   
   rebuilt during the lifetime of the founder and his disciples, when they   
   returned after the torment. In succeeding ages, it became a flourishing   
   abbey of the Benedictine Order, which bore his name.   
      
   Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on   
   Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea   
   (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894); Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de   
   l'année, by Abbé L. Jaud (Mame: Tours, 1950); Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies   
   des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 10.   
      
      
   Quote:   
   Persecutions serve to bring forth saints.   
   -St. Augustine   
      
   Bible Quote   
   14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus   
   Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.   
   (Galatians 6:14)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   STORMING HEAVEN   
      
   I have one foot in Heaven dear Jesus,   
   So don't think of slamming the door!   
   My arms are quite loaded with graces;   
   Please don't say that I'll need much more!   
   I could ransom my soul with a good heart,   
   Or the souls that I've tried to bring You.   
   I could gather the Prayers, the hard knocks,   
   The sparse wares-   
   But would that be enough to please You?   
   In my hand there's an earthly visa   
   Signed by Mary and dear Saint Theresa.   
   They had told me-it's true,   
   That whatever I do,   
   Do with love, and it's sure to please you!   
   So I'll plead my cause once more-   
   Won't You please Jesus, open the door?   
   My soul may have been weak with sin,   
   But that all changed when I let You in!   
   So those doors will be opened wide-   
   I'll see all Paradise inside.   
   Then I'll bask in the light that binds,   
   A true soul to the Heaven he finds!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)