From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
    God's angels serve us   
      
   Who are the angels and why do they intervene between heaven and earth?   
   The Scriptures tell us the angels are God's servants and messengers. "   
   They are the mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice   
   of his word" (Psalm 103:20). The angels belong to Christ and were created   
   for and through him (Colossians 1:16). The Letter to the Hebrews   
   speaks of the role of the angels in God's plan of salvation:   
   "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve,   
   for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)   
      
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   January 11th - Sts. Ethenea and Fidelmia    
   (also known as Ethna and Fedelma)   
   d. 433.   
      
    The story is told that one summer day the little daughters of King   
   Laoghaire of Connaught, Ethna and Fedelma, who were barely out of   
   childhood and full of fun, went for their daily bath in a private   
   place near the palace, a place to which no one ever came so early in   
   the morning. But this special day they were surprised to hear voices   
   and see tents encamped on the grassy slope near the pool.   
      
   There was a drone of a strange language and every now and again a   
   sweet voice broke into song and mingled with that of the birds in the   
   nearby woods and the murmuring of the river. Saint Patrick and his   
   companions, who had arrived during the night with a message for the   
   King of Connaught, were praying the Divine Office in Latin. Finally,   
   each group spied the other.   
      
   The older princess asked, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"   
      
   Patrick hesitated, then said: "We have more important things to tell   
   you than just our names and where we're from. We know who the one true   
   God is whom you should adore. . . ."   
      
   The girls were delighted, rather than annoyed. In a flash something   
   seemed to light up inside them, to make a blinding white blaze in   
   their hearts and minds. They knew at once that this was real, real   
   news and that it was true. It all happened instantaneously. Then they   
   asked a whole torrent of questions:   
      
   "Who is God?" "Where does He live?" "Will He live forever?" and on and   
   on as excited young people do.   
      
   Patrick answered each question quickly and simply. He, too, was   
   delighted: the light that blazed up in the girls was in the man, too,   
   and the three lights together made a tremendous glow. Everyone else   
   stood listening raptly, feeling lucky to be witnesses to the saintly   
   man and the sweet girls--and the Holy Spirit in their midst.   
      
   "Oh, tell us how to find the good God. Teach us more about the kind   
   Jesus, who died upon the Cross. Tell us more, more, more," the   
   princesses urged. But there was no need for more; the two had already   
   received the gift of the Spirit of Truth.   
      
   Patrick led them to their bathing pool, where he baptized them. For a   
   short time thereafter, Ethna and Fedelma were very quiet for they were   
   in deep prayer. Meanwhile, Patrick prepared to say Mass. Then the   
   princesses began again, "I want to see Jesus Christ now," said Ethna.   
      
   "And so do I," echoed Fedelma. "I want to be with Him in His home forever."   
      
   Patrick, moved by this loving longing, very gently explained that they   
   would not be able to see God until after their death. They were still   
   young, so it would be a long time before they could see Him as He is.   
   If they lived good Christian lives, then they would be able to go to   
   God for always and great joys would replace the present sorrows. The   
   girls pondered this as Patrick began the Mass.   
      
   As Mass went on everyone was still, but the river and woods seemed to   
   sing God's praises. Then the youngest man rang a little bell and all   
   bowed their heads. Jesus Christ was with them in the grassy knoll in   
   the king's park. Soon the bell rang again. Patrick beckoned the   
   princesses forward and gave them Holy Communion.   
      
   For a little while the girls looked so happy and so beautiful that   
   they were like angels. And then, we are told, they died. They longed   
   so much to be with Jesus that they died of longing. Saint Patrick was   
   exceedingly happy to have met such quick and whole-hearted belief   
   (Benedictines, Curtayne).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   In the Christian combat, not the striker, as in the Olympic contests,   
   but he who is struck, wins the crown. This is the law in the celestial   
   theatre, where the Angels are the spectators.   
   --St. John Chrysostom   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the   
   glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness shall cover   
   the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee,   
   and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  (Isaias 60:1-2)   
      
      
   Troparion of Ss Ethenia and Fidelmia Tone 5   
      
   O daughters of King Laoghaire and first-fruits of Patrick's mission   
   / most pious Ethenia and Fidelmia,   
   / you were blessed to receive the   
   monastic veil from Ireland's Enlightener.   
   / Weeping and lamenting we call upon your charity   
   / Pray to Christ our God   
   / that He will raise up a new Patrick in our day,   
   / that we may be led into the Way of Salvation.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Eternal Father   
      
   Eternal Father, I desire to rest in Thy Heart this night. I make the   
   intention of offering to Thee every beat of my heart, joining to them as many   
   acts of love and desire. I pray that even while I sleep, I will bring back   
   to Thee souls that offend Thee. I ask forgiveness for the whole world,   
   especially for those who know Thee and yet sin. I offer to Thee my every   
   breath and heartbeat as a prayer of reparation.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)