From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   July 21st - St. Arbogast of Strasbourg   
      
   Born in Aquitaine, France; died c. 678. Although the Irish and Scottish both   
   claim Saint Arbogast as their own, the 13th-century Chronicle of Sens by   
   Richer   
   and the Life of Saint Florentius, his successor, strongly support the claim   
   of   
   Scotland. His acta, however, tell us that Arbogast was born of a noble   
   family in   
   Aquitaine, France.   
      
   His vita, attributed to Bishop Utone of Strasbourg (died 965), tells us that   
   Arbogast was living as a recluse in the Sacred Forest (Heiligesforst or   
   Haguenau) of Alsace when King Dagobert took an interest in him. The holy   
   hermit   
   was often called to court to share his wisdom with the king, who, about 630,   
   forced on Arbogast the see of Strasbourg. Shortly after his consecration,   
   Arbogast raised Dagobert's son Sigebert to life when he had been killed by a   
   fall from his horse. Although many other miracles are ascribed to the saint,   
   he   
   was famed for humility and wisdom.   
      
   Because of the king's affection for the bishop, the see was endowed with   
   several   
   large estates, including Rufach and the old royal palace of Isenburg.   
   Arbogast   
   founded or endowed several monasteries, including Surbourg, Shutteran, and   
   possibly Ebersheimmünster (although Saint Odilia's father, Adalric, and   
   Bishop   
   Saint Deodatus of Nevers are the principal founders of this last one).   
      
   Apparently Saint Arbogast retired before his death, because the year before   
   Dagobert offered the see of Strasbourg to Saint Wilfrid, who was on his way   
   to   
   Rome to challenge the division of his see. When Wilfrid declined, Saint   
   Florentius was consecrated.   
      
   At Arbogast's request, he was interred on a mountain in the place set apart   
   for   
   the burial of criminals. The church of Saint Michael was built over his tomb   
   and   
   Saint Arbogast's Abbey rose nearby. His second successor translated his body   
   with honor into the abbey church. A church was built in his honor in 1069,   
   but   
   it was destroyed by the Protestants in 1530. His relics were scattered   
   during   
   the Thirty Years War (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth).   
      
   In art, Saint Arbogast is a bishop walking dryshod over a river, sometimes   
   with   
   Saint Sebastian (Roeder). He is the patron of Strasbourg, but his feast is   
   also   
   kept in several Swiss cantons (Farmer).   
      
      
   Saint Quote   
      
   As for us, we hold to what we believed ten and twenty years ago; to what our   
   forefathers believed one hundred years ago, and one thousand years ago, and   
   to   
   that which the whole Catholic world has always believed.   
   --Blessed Brother Solomon Le Clerq   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but   
   through Me. St. John 14:6   
      
   Most people who profess piety ask advice of directors about their prayers   
   and   
   spiritual exercises. Few inquire whether they are not in danger of damnation   
   from neglect of works of charity. Let us never forget the terrible foretold   
   words of the Final Judge: "Depart from me, workers of iniquity; I was   
   hungry,   
   and you did not feed Me; I was without shelter, you did not take Me in...; I   
   was   
   sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me, etc." (Cf. Matt. 26:31-46)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Four Prayers in Times of Weakness, Trial, Tribulation:   
      
   Thou makest a root below the soil flourish, O Lord; and Thou   
   can makest fruitful the darkness in which Thou dost keep me.   
   -Jean-Pierre de Caussade:   
      
   I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I   
   offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee; I would have   
   no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to   
   pray; pray Thyself in me.   
   - Fenelon:   
      
   May I be patient!  It is so difficult to realize what one   
   believes, and to make these trials, as they are intended, real   
   blessings.   
   -John Henry Cardinal Newman:   
      
      
   Mine own heart let me more have pity upon.   
   -Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ:   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)