From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
June 17th =E2=80=93 St. Moling of Wexford (of Ferns) B
=C2 (Also known as Molling, Mullins, Myllin, Molignus, Dairchilla)
Born in Wexford; died 697. Saint Moling is said to have been a monk at Glendalough. Later he was founder and abbot of Aghacainid (Teghmolin,
Saint Mullins) in County Carlow beside the Barrow River on which he is
reputed to have established the ferry service which continues to
today. For a time he lived in a nearby hermitage. Afterwards he
succeeded Saint Aidan as bishop of Ferns, which included the entirety
of Leinster.
Moling was a singular benefactor to his country. In 693, he persuaded
King Finacta to release the people of Leinster from the heavy tribute
of oxen which had been imposed by king Tuathal Techmar. He resigned
his see some years before his death. In addition to his eminent
sanctity, manifested by the gifts of prophecy and miracles, this saint
is celebrated in Ireland for the abundant Gaelic poetry he wrote=E2=80=94mo=
re
than any other saint except Columba. At his death Moling was interred
in his own monastery of Teghmoling.
The Book of Mulling is a 9th-century Book of the Gospels, which was
probably copied from Moling's autograph as its colophon suggests. It
was described by Gerald of Wales (c. 1200) and survives in a splendid
jewelled shrine in Trinity College library in Dublin. It is especially
noted because of its plan for Moling's monastery; some crosses on the
plan probably indicate places of sanctuary. The cultus of Moling was
early and widespread (Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth, Montague).
Below is a sample from the many legends that arose around Moling's pet fox.
"The blessed bishop Moling used to keep animals both wild and tame
about him, in honor of their Maker, and they would eat out of his
hand. And among these was a fox. Now one day the fox stole a hen that
belonged to the brethren and ate it. The brethren brought their
complaint, and the man of God scolded the fox and accused him of being perfidious above other animals.
"The fox, however, seeing his master wroth with him, gazed upon him
with solicitude, and made off to a convent of nuns that were under
Saint Moling's care, captured a hen by guile, and bringing her to his
lord, presented her safe and sound. And the Saint, smiling, said to
him: 'Thou hast offered rapine to atone for theft. Take back this hen
to her ladies, and deliver her to them unharmed; and hereafter do thou
live without stealing, like the rest of the animals.' Hearing this,
the fox took the hen between his teeth and deposited her unharmed in
her ladies' cloister. And those who saw so great a marvel wrought in
either place, made merry over it and blessed God.
"Another time another fox stole a book from the brethren, and carried
it off to hide it in one of his dens, intending to come back shortly
and gnaw on it there. But on his return to the monastery, he was found
stealing and eating a honeycomb. Whereupon the brethren laid hold on
him and brought him to Saint Moling, and accused him of stealing the
book.
"And the holy man bade the brethren to let him go free. And when he
was released, the Saint said to him, 'O wise and crafty one, be off,
and bring me back that book unharmed, and quickly.' At that, off went
the fox, and hastened to bring the book from his cave, and set it down
dry and unharmed before the holy bishop.
"And then he lay upon the ground before the man of God, as if seeking forgiveness. And the Saint said, 'Get up, you wretch, and fear naught;
but never touch a book again.' And the fox got up rejoicing, and
fulfilled in marvelous wise the Saint's behest; for not only did he
never touch books again, but if any one would show him a book in jest,
he took to flight" (Plummer).
Saint Quote:
Take pains to refrain from sharp words. Pardon one another so that
later on you will not remember the injury. The recollection of an
injury is itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurtures our sins and
hates what is good. It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It
puts all virtue to flight.
--Saint Francis of Paola
Bible Quote:
Dearly beloved: Rejoice in the measure that you share Christ's
sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly.
Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then
God's spirit in its glory has come to rest on you.=C2 [1 Peter 4=
:13-14]
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Act of Contrition to the Sacred Heart and Prayer for Pardon and Grace
MOST Sacred and Adorable Heart of Jesus! humbly and with contrite
heart I prostrate myself before Thee. bitterly bewailing that I was
remiss in Thy love and have offended Thee by my ingratitude and
unfaithfulness, thereby becoming unworthy of the manifestations of Thy
love. Filled with confusion and fear, I can but say, "I have sinned
against Thee, I have sinned!" Most Amiable and Divine Heart, have
mercy on me, though I do not deserve mercy. Reject me not, but reveal,
rather, I beseech Thee, the excess of Thy mercy by granting me, a poor
sinner, who appears before Thee in the abyss of his nothingness and
misery, pardon for my sins.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)