From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   November 14th - St. Dyfrig, Bishop of Ergyng   
    (Latin: Dubricius; English: Devereux)   
      
   St. Dyfrig was the son of the unmarried Princess Efrddyl, daughter of King   
   Peibio Clafrog (the Leprous) of Ergyng. The King was furious when he   
   discovered   
   his daughter was pregnant, some say because he was the father of her child,   
   and   
   he tried to destroy her by casting her into the River. He failed and Dyfrig   
   was   
   born at Chilstone (Child's Stone) in the parish of Madley (Herefords),   
   traditionally in the mid-6th century.   
      
   When the baby Dyfrig kissed his grandfather, he cured him of his leprosy and   
   the   
   King Peibio quickly grew to love him. He gave him the whole area around   
   Madley   
   called Ynys Efrddyl. Here, Dyfrig, who had grown up a Christian, founded a   
   monastery at Hennllann (Hentland) where he entered the religious life. After   
   seven years, he founded a second establishment at Moccas and, at these two   
   places, he became the tutor of many saints: Teilo, Samson, Ufelfyw,   
   Merchwyn,   
   Elwredd, Gwnwyn, Cynwal, Arthfoddw, Cynnwr, Arwystl, Inabwy, Cynfran,   
   Gwrfan,   
   Elhaern, Iddneu, Gwrddogwy, Gwernabwy, Ieuan, Aeddan and Cynfarch amongst   
   them.   
   Dyfrig became Bishop of Ergyng, probably from Caer-Ergyng   
   (Weston-under-Penyard)   
   and then Bishop of the whole of Glywysing & Gwent. Later, he was supposedly,   
   raised to be Archbishop of Wales by St. Germanus, with his base at Caerleon.   
   In   
   this capacity, he is said have consecrated St. Deiniol as Bishop of Bangor   
   Fawr   
   and to have crowned the High-King Arthur at Caer Fudi (variously thought to   
   be   
   Silchester or Woodchester).   
      
   Dyfrig was a great friend of St. Illtud and supported him in the foundation   
   of   
   Llanilltud Fawr Abbey (Llantwit Major) which he often visited. He would   
   always   
   spend lent on Ynys Byr (Caldy Island) nearby and consecrated St. Samson as   
   Bishop of Dol there in AD 521. He also liked to call upon St. Cadog at   
   Llancarfan and had a small cell built a mile away where the Fynnon Ddyfrig   
   still   
   survives.   
      
   In AD 545, Archbishop Dyfrig attended the Synod of Llandewi Brefi in order   
   to   
   condemn the Pelagian Heresy and, with St. Deiniol, persuaded St. Dewi to   
   also   
   attend. The latter spoke so eloquently that Dyfrig resigned his   
   Archiepiscopate   
   in Dewi's favour. Dewi moved the Archiepiscopal See to Mynyw (St. Davids)   
   while   
   Dyfrig retired to the Abbey on Ynys Enlli (Bardsey). He was not there long   
   before he died (on 14th November) and was buried within the monastic   
   confines.   
   His body was later translated to Llandaff Cathedral, in 1120, where his   
   shrine   
   can still be seen today.   
      
   Dyfrig is amongst the most important of early Welsh saints, despite the fact   
   that the area in which he was active is now part of the English county of   
   Herefordshire. Most details of his life appear only in the unreliable Book   
   of   
   Llandaff (early 12th century) where a number of forged charters bearing his   
   name   
   can also be found; but he was certainly an historical character and   
   important   
   religious figure as referenced in the 7th century Breton Life of St. Samson.   
   Most difficult to tie down is the exact period of his episcopate.   
   Traditionally   
   this was in the late 6th century, his death occurring in AD 612. However, it   
   is   
   generally agreed that this is much too late and a death date of AD 550 or   
   even   
   earlier, perhaps AD 532, is now favoured. Bartrum suggested Dyfrig was born   
   around AD 465, though this would preclude his traditional family   
   relationships.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Understanding, knowledge, and wisdom must increase and powerfully grow in   
   one   
   and in all, both in each individual man and in the Church, during the   
   passage of   
   time and of the ages, but grow solely within its own species, that is to   
   say,   
   within the same dogma, in the same sense, and in the same meaning [in eodem   
   dogmate, eodem sensu, eademque sententia].   
   -St. Vincent of Lerins   
      
   Bible Quote   
   3 And Jesus answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying: Is it   
   lawful   
   to heal on the sabbath day? 4 But they held their peace. But he taking him,   
   healed him, and sent him away. 5 And answering them, he said: Which of you   
   shall   
   have an ass or an ox fall into a pit, and will not immediately draw him out,   
   on   
   the sabbath day?  6 And they could not answer him to these things.   (Luke   
   14:3-6)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A prayer to Holy Mary, Mother of God:   
      
   Rejoice Mary, Mother of God, Virgin, full of grace, the Lord is with   
   thee: blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb,   
   for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. Meet it is in truth, to   
   glorify thee, O Birth-giver of God, ever blessed, and all undefiled, the   
   Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare   
   more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without stain didst bear God the   
   Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee. Amen.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL   
    (Imprimatur 1946)   
      
      
   Twenty-Second Day   
      
   ALMS-GIVING AFFORDS GREAT RELIEF TO THE DEPARTED   
      
        Besides prayer and other acts of devotion, there are practical good   
   works   
   we can perform for the relief of the suffering souls, among which   
   alms-giving is   
   one of the most prominent; for this, being a work of mercy, is especially   
   efficacious in obtaining mercy for the holy souls. Not the   
      
   rich alone are able to give alms; the poor can do so as well; since it is   
   not   
   the value of the gift, but the good intention, in which it is bestowed, that   
   is   
   acceptable in the sight of God. We also shall, one day, be numbered among   
   the   
   suffering souls, and who is in greater need and poverty than they? The most   
   miserable beggar in this world can at least complain of his wants, and ask   
   others to assist him; but the souls in Purgatory cannot do even this, for,   
   the   
   instances in which they are permitted to implore aid of the living are   
   exceptional cases, and very few are on record. What consolation it will   
   afford   
   us when, in our own great time of need, the poor whom we befriended and   
   comforted upon earth, in the company of the holy souls, whom we delivered by   
   offering this work of mercy for them, shall come to our assistance by their   
   prayers and pious supplications! Therefore, says Holy Scripture: "Do good to   
   thy   
   friend before thou die; and according to thy ability, stretching out thy   
   hand,   
   give to the poor." (Eccl. xiv. 13.)   
      
   Prayer: Lord! graciously look down upon the alms we offer for the redemption   
   of   
   the captive souls in Purgatory. Bestow upon them the full merit thereof,   
   that   
   they may be able to discharge their debt; accept, we beseech Thee, this boon   
   of   
   charity, that delivered from debt and penalty, Thou mayest lead them into   
   Thy   
   heavenly kingdom. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)