From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   How There is no Security From Temptation [III]   
      
   Do you imagine that you can always have spiritual joys at will? My   
   Saints did not, but had many troubles, countless trials and great   
   desolation of soul. But they patiently endured all these things and   
   trusted in God rather than themselves, knowing that 'the sufferings of   
   this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be   
   won hereafter. (Rom.8:18) Do you wish to enjoy immediately what many   
   others have only won after much sorrow and struggle? Wait for the   
   Lord; fight manfully and with high courage.(Ps. 26:14) Do not despair,   
   do not desert your post, but steadfastly devote yourself body and soul   
   to the glory of God. I will give you a rich reward,(Matt.16:27) and   
   will be with you in all your troubles.(Ps. 91:15)   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 35   
      
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   June 17th – St. Botulph, OSB Abbot (AC)   
    (Also known as Botulf, Botolph)   
      
   Died c. 680; feast of his translation is December 1. Botulph and his   
   brother, Saint Adulph, were two noble English brothers at the dawn of   
   Christianity on that island. They were probably born in East Anglia.   
   At some point they traveled into Belgian Gaul to learn more about   
   Christian discipline in a monastery because they were then scarce in   
   England. They progressed in the spiritual life to the point that   
   Adulph is said to have been raised to the episcopate, though this is   
   questioned. Botulph is said to have been chaplain to the convent where   
   two of his king's sisters lived, possibly at Chelles. (Liobsynde, the   
   first abbess of Wenlock (Salop), was from Chelles and Wenlock was   
   initially dependent on Ikanhoe.)   
      
   Botulph returned to England with the treasure he had found and begged   
   King Ethelmund of the South Saxons for land on which to set it. The   
   king gave him the wilderness of Ikanhoe (Icanhoh), formerly thought to   
   be near Boston (Botulf's stone) in Lincolnshire but now believed to be   
   Iken in Suffolk. (Others relate that the land was provided by the king   
   of East Anglia, either Ethelhere, 654, or more likely Ethelwold,   
   654-64.) There he built an abbey and taught the assembled brethren the   
   rules of Christian perfection and the institutes of the holy fathers.   
   He became one of the foremost missionaries of the 7th century.   
      
   Everyone loved Botulph: He was humble, mild, and affable. He always   
   practiced what he preached, finding an upright example far more   
   important than sermons. Nevertheless, Saint Ceolfrid traveled all the   
   way from Wearmouth to converse with this man "of remarkable life and   
   learning" before joining Saint Benedict Biscop at Wearmouth. Botulph   
   thanked God in good times and in bad, knowing that God works all   
   things to the good of those who love Him. He lived to a venerable age   
   and was purified by a long illness before his happy death   
      
   Although his monastery was destroyed by the Danes, his relics were   
   carried to Ely (the head) and Thorney Abbeys. It is said that when   
   Ethelwold sent his disciple Ulfkitel to collect the relics of Botulph   
   for Thorney Abbey, he found that he could not move them without also   
   taking those of Adulph as well. Saint Edward the Confessor gave some   
   of them to Westminster and others are at Bury Saint Edmunds. More than   
   70 English churches were dedicated to Saint Botulph, including four   
   parishes in London. Some other place-names also recall his sanctity   
   including the town of Boston in Lincolnshire and Botulph's bridge, now   
   Bottle-bride, in Huntingdonshire (Attwater, Benedictines, Farmer,   
   Husenbeth).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When the heart is occupied with worldly things, especially   
   superfluous ones, it forsakes the Lord--the Source of life and peace   
   --and is therefore deprived of life and tranquility, of light and   
   strength; but when it repents of its care for vain things, and wholly   
   turns from corruptible things to the incorruptible God, then the   
   fountain of living water again begins to flow into it, and peace,   
   tranquility, light, strength, and boldness before God and man one more   
   dwell within it. We must live wisely.   
   --St. John of Kronstadt.   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by   
   one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."  (Romans 5:19)   
      
      
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   YOUR CROSS   
      
   The everlasting God has in His Wisdom foreseen from eternity, the   
   cross He now presents to you as a gift from His innermost heart. This   
   cross He now sends you He has considered with his all-knowing eyes,   
   understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed   
   with loving arms and weighted with His own hands to see that it not be   
   one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name,   
   anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with his consolation, and   
   taken one last glance at you and your courage - has sent it to you   
   from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all   
   merciful love of God.   
   --St. Frances de Sales   
      
   Lord Help me to remember that   
   nothing is going to happen   
   to me today that you and   
   I together can't handle.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)