From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On the Desire for Eternal Life and the Wonder of God's Promises  [III]   
      
   CHRIST:   
   Do not ask for what is pleasant and profitable to yourself, but what   
   is acceptable to Me and tends to My glory; for if you view things in   
   their proper light, you will prefer and follow My direction rather   
   than your own desires, whatever they may be. I know your desire, and   
   have often heard your cry. You long for the glorious liberty of the   
   sons of God, (Rom. 8:21) while your eternal home and the joys of the   
   heavenly country already draw your heart. But the time for this has   
   not yet come; there remains warfare, work, and trial. You desire to be   
   filled with the supreme Good, but you cannot attain this blessing now.   
   I am that Good; wait for Me, says the Lord, until the coming of the   
   Kingdom of God.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 49   
      
      
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   October 11th - St. Kenneth of Kilkenny   
    (also known as Caimnech, Cainnic, Canicus, Cainnech, Canice, Kenny)   
      
   Born at Glengiven (Derry), Ireland, c. 515-527; died at Aghaboe (the   
   ox's field) in Laois, c. 599.   
      
   The bards, as poet-singers of their people’s history, occupied a   
   special place in the society of ancient Ireland.   
      
   In the early sixth century a certain bard in County Derry, in the   
   province of Ulster, fathered a son who was to achieve an even more   
   important stature than his father–that of a monastic missionary, as   
   one of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland”, and as a saint.   
      
   After becoming a monk and receiving ordination as a priest, St.   
   Kenneth and three of his fellow students under St. Finian of Clonard–   
   SS. Comgall, Kieran and Columba–went to Glasnevin Abbey to take   
   advanced studies under its abbot, St. Mobhi. Then Cainnech moved about   
   Ireland as a missionary, converting many to the Faith by his word and   
   example. He also set up monasteries and churches. Best known of the   
   monasteries was that of Aghaboe. He probably also established a   
   monastery and church at Kilkenny, for the church and the city that   
   arose around it were named after him. (Kilkenny means “Kenneth’s   
   Church”.)   
      
   By ancestry, St. Kenneth was a Pict: a member of that puzzling people,   
   probably Celtic, who lived principally in northern Britain, took up   
   arms against the Roman invaders, and eventually allied with the Scots.   
   Ancestry probably had something to do with his going over to Britain   
   to preach to the pagan Picts. There he worked with his “schoolmate”,   
   St. Columba (or Colmkille), who from his island mission of Iona on the   
   west coast of Scotland became the apostle of Scotland. Kenneth and   
   Columba both visited the Pictish king, Bude, then dwelling at   
   Inverness. Legend says that when this ruler, still a pagan, menaced   
   the missionaries with his sword, Kenneth, by a prayer, paralyzed his   
   sword-arm. (Temporarily, we hope.)   
      
   The two Irish monks made many converts in Pict-land. Abbot Kenneth   
   became widely known and revered in Scotland. Some of the monasteries   
   and churches he created still bear his name: Cambuskenneth near   
   Stirling; Kilchainnech on Iona; and Inchkenneth on one of the isles of   
   the Hebrides. Thus he remains a popular saint in both Ireland and the   
   land of the Scots, although the Irish prefer to call him Canice rather   
   than Kenneth.   
      
   What was St. Canice/Kenneth like? Little is known of his personality.   
   He was, however, referred to as “Luminous”. That probably means that   
   he was naturally talented. Spiritually, it may mean that he was a   
   charismatic figure.   
      
   As for his saintliness, there is a charming story that may illustrate it.   
      
   His dear associate St. Columba apparently made many trips across the   
   Irish Sea between Ireland and Scotland. The same seems to be true of   
   Kenneth. One time when the latter was in Ireland, Columkille and some   
   companions were crossing the sea when a tempest arose that threatened   
   to capsize their little vessel. The shipmates became frightened, but   
   Columba told them not to be afraid. “God,” he said, “will listen to   
   Kenneth, who is now running to church with one shoe to pray for us.”   
   It would seem that God, at the same time, had revealed to Canice his   
   friend’s response. For at that very moment, it was later learned,   
   Canice had jumped up from the table and rushed off, half-shod, to the   
   church. St. Columba’s boat, of course, made port.   
      
   They were great men, those early Celtic monks from the Isle of Saints   
   and Scholars. Possessed, themselves, of a faith that was both firm and   
   learned, they would eventually share that faith with the Germanic   
   peoples of western Europe.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "Brave and determined thinking is a friend of stillness. It is always   
   on the watch at the doors of the heart, killing or driving off   
   invading notions."   
   --St. John Climacus.   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   Now be patient, brethren, until the Lord's coming. Think of a farmer,   
   how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the earth... You too   
   must be patient.  (James 5:7-8)   
      
      
   An offering to God the Father    
      
   Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Blood, the Passion, and the Death of Jesus   
   Christ; the sorrows of Mary most Holy and of Joseph in satisfaction for my   
   sins, in aid of the holy souls of Purgatory, for the needs of Holy Mother   
   Church, and the conversion of sinners. Amen.   
      
   Eternal Father, I offer unto Thee the infinite satisfaction which Jesus   
   rendered to Thy justice in behalf of sinners upon the tree of the Cross;   
   and I pray that Thou wouldst make the merits of His Precious Blood   
   available to all guilty souls to whom sin has brought death; may they rise   
   again to the life of grace and glorify Thee for ever.   
      
   Eternal Father, I offer Thee the fervent devotion of the Sacred Heart of   
   Jesus in satisfaction for the lukewarmness and cowardice of Thy chosen   
   people, imploring Thee by the burning love which made Him suffer death,   
   that it may please Thee to rekindle their hearts now so lukewarm in Thy   
   service, and to set them on fire with Thy love, that they may love Thee for   
   ever.   
      
   Eternal Father, I offer Thee the submission of Jesus to Thy will, and I ask   
   of Thee, through His merits, the fullness of all grace and the   
   accomplishment of all Thy holy will. Blessed by God   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)