From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   June 3rd - St. Liphardus of Orléans, Abbot (RM)   
   (Also known as Lifard)   
      
   Died c. 550.   
      
   Well-born Saint Liphardus was a prominent lawyer of Orléans. His   
   conscientious   
   attention to duty did not hinder him from progressing spiritually. He   
   regularly   
   prayed all parts of the Divine Office, either publicly or privately, and was   
   assiduous in participating in the sacraments.   
      
   When he was about 40 years old, he retired from his profession and was   
   ordained   
   a deacon. He was so filled with awe in the presence of God that when he   
   assisted   
   in the holy Mass he looked like an angel at the altar. Nevertheless, his   
   love of   
   penance and holy contemplation grew so strong that he felt called to   
   withdraw   
   entirely from the world in order to embrace the eremitical life at a place   
   called Mehun or Meung on the Loire. His disciple, Saint Urbicius accompanied   
   him. Together they built a hermitage of twigs and rushes wherein they led a   
   life   
   of penance: a diet of bread and water, clothes of sackcloth, night-time   
   vigils,   
   and constant prayer. Upon witnessing the virtue of Liphardus, Bishop Mark of   
   Orléans, who then resided at Cleri, ordained him to the priesthood and   
   allowed   
   him to found a monastery on the site of the hermitage, now known as the   
   abbey of   
   Meung-sur-Loire (before 541). The community grew in size and virtue because   
   the   
   many miracles worked by Liphardus drew others to him.   
      
   Upon his death, the body of Liphardus was buried at Meung over which a   
   chapel,   
   then a collegiate church, were built. A church in Orléans and several nearby   
   are   
   dedicated to his memory (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).   
      
   Liphardus is portrayed in art as an abbot kneeling in ecstasy with a dragon   
   near   
   him. He is invoked against snakes (Roeder).   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   There is a perfect Trinity, in glory and eternity and sovereignty, neither   
   divided nor estranged. Wherefore there is nothing either created or in   
   servitude   
   in the Trinity; nor anything superinduced, as if at some former period it   
   was   
   non-existent, and at some later period it was introduced. And thus neither   
   was   
   the Son ever wanting to the Father, nor the Spirit to the Son; but without   
   variation and without change, the same Trinity abideth ever.   
   --Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,   
   praising   
   God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on   
   whom   
   His favor rests."  (Luke 2:13:14)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Lead Gently Lord, And Slow   
     By Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)   
      
     Lead gently, Lord, and slow,   
       For oh, my steps are weak,   
     And ever as I go,   
       Some soothing sentence speak;   
      
     That I may turn my face   
       Through doubt's obscurity   
     Toward thine abiding-place,   
       E'en tho' I cannot see.   
      
     For lo, the way is dark;   
       Through mist and cloud I grope,   
     Save for that fitful spark,   
       The little flame of hope.   
      
     Lead gently, Lord, and slow,   
       For fear that I may fall;   
     I know not where to go   
       Unless I hear thy call.   
      
     My fainting soul doth yearn   
       For thy green hills afar;   
     So let thy mercy burn--   
       My greater, guiding star!   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer   
      
   Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to   
   Thee,   
   to examine is prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it   
   perfectly, for the praise and glory of Thy Name.  Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)