From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

March 28th =E2=80=93 Saint Stephen Harding
Also known as Esteban Harding, Etienne Harding, Stefano Harding

Memorial 28 March
formerly 17 April

(died 1134)

Saint Stephen Harding was founder of the Cistercian monasteries, and
third abbot of the monastery at Citeaux. Referred to by his brothers
as =E2=80=9Cthe Pragmatic Englishman,=E2=80=9D Citeaux grew in membership a=
nd
prosperity under his leadership, allowing the expansion and
sustainability of the Order, which he would later formalize in the
Carta Caritatis (the Charter of Love).

Stephen Harding was born in Dorset, England, the son of a nobleman. At
a young age, Stephen's parents delivered him to the abbey at
Sherbourne, consecrating him to the Lord, and entrusting the monks
there to raise their son. Proficient in English, French, and Latin,
Stephen demonstrated an incredible aptitude for his studies, but
became dissatisfied with the corruption in the monastery at
Sherbourne. He became a traveling scholar, continuing his studies in
Paris and Rome. Eventually, Stephen settled at the abbey of Molesme in Burgundy, serving the abbot there, Saint Robert of Molesme.

When Saint Robert left Molesme, attempting to distance himself from
corruption and laxity that had developed there, Stephen and Saint
Alberic accompanied him. Eventually, twenty-one additional monks
deserted Molesme to join Saint Robert, Stephen, and Saint Alberic, and
the three leaders formed a new monastery at Citeaux.

Initially, Saint Robert served as abbot, but left to return to Molesme
after one year. Saint Alberic served as abbot until his death in 1108,
at which point, Saint Stephen assumed the role. As abbot, Stephen
guided the new monastery over a period of great growth. Saint Bernard
of Clairvaux visited in 1112 and brought with him his followers.
Between 1112 and 1119, a dozen new Cistercian houses were founded to
contain the monks coming to the new movement. In 1115, for example,
Saint Stephen built the abbey of Clairvaux, and installed St. Bernard
as its Abbot. From it 800 abbeys were born.

In 1119, Stephen wrote the Carta Caritatis, ('Charter of Love'), the
document which established the charter and unifying principles for the Cistercian Order. The Charter of Love (also referred to as the Charter
of Charity) was a six page constitution which laid out the
relationship between the Cistercian houses and their abbots, set out
the obligations and duties inherent in these, and ensured the
accountability of all the abbots and houses to the underlying themes
of charity and living according to the rule of Benedict.

Saint Stephen served the monastery at Citeaux for 25 years, and while
the initial 3 abbots are considered founders of the Order, none are
considered as responsible for shaping the beliefs and growth of the
Order as Saint Stephen. Saint Stephen was guided by practicality, in
both his administration of the monastery complex and his scholarship.
He revised the Cistercian Breviary, eradicating corruptions that had
crept in chant, and translated many works personally by consulting
ancient texts and consulting with rabbis on the difficult Hebrew
passages. The monks at Citeaux labored endlessly to copy and
illuminate these passages, and the scriptorium at Citeaux was regarded
as famous in its day.

In 1133, Saint Stephen resigned as head of the order, due to age and disability. He died the following year. The account of his death is particularly moving for its humility. When confronted by his
contemporaries, who assured him that he had nothing to fear in the
next world, Saint Stephen replied: "I assure you that I go to God in
fear and trembling. If my baseness should be found to have ever done
any good, even in this I fear, lest I should not have preserved that
grace with the humility and care I ought."

In the words of author Stephen Tobin, "Stephen Harding found C=C3=AEteaux
just another reformed abbey, and left it the head of the first
(European) religious order ... Nothing like it had ever been seen
before ... At the head of a flourishing family of daughter houses,
with a clearly defined manifesto and full legal constitution, C=C3=AEteaux
was a force for change, and a force to be reckoned within a world
where (other leaders) vied to outdo each other in accruing and
displaying wealth and power.=E2=80=9D

Saint Stephen instructed and formalized his brothers in the tenets of
monastic life: Obedience, Poverty, Chastity, Silence, Prayer and Work.
His life was a balance of practicality and devotion, spending his days
in prayer for the blessings of the Lord upon the order, while
attending to the practical daily management of many monasteries.
Throughout his accomplishments, he remained humble and penitent, never
taking credit for the successes and growth of the Cistercians, but
instead, attributing all good things to the Lord. Today, we pray for
the practicality and devotion of Saint Stephen Harding, as we journey
toward Easter.
-- by Jacob


Saint Quote:
Depend upon it, it is better to learn how to live without being angry
than to imagine one can moderate and control anger lawfully; and if
through weakness and frailty one is overtaken by it, it is far better
to put it away forcibly than to parley with it; for give anger ever so
little way, and it will become master, like the serpent, who easily
works in its body wherever it can once introduce its head.
--St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life

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. [1 Peter 4:13-1=
4]


<><><><>
The Good Morning God Prayer

Good Morning God!
You are ushering in another day,
untouched and freshly new.
So here I am to ask you, God,
if You'll renew me too.

Forgive the many errors that I made yesterday
and let me try again dear God
to walk closer in Your way.

But Lord, I am well aware,
I can't make it on my own.
So take my hand and hold it tight,
for I cannot walk alone.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)