From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
July 28th - St. Samson
Saint Samson was born in Wales around the year 485 and is considered
one of the greatest missionaries to come from Britain. At the age of
seven, his parents dedicated him to the service of God in gratitude
for his birth after a long period of childlessness. He was enrolled
under Saint Illtud at his monastery at Llanwit, Glamorgan; when he
reached manhood Samson was ordained deacon and priest by Illtud
himself. This caused considerable jealously among a number of the
monks, and two nephews of Illtud attempted to murder Samson, who
therefore left the community to live as a hermit on the island of
Caldey off the coast of Pembrokeshire.
Samson's father Amon and his uncle Umbrafel joined him on the islan=
d
after Amon had recovered from a serious illness, having received the
last rites from his son. When the abbot Piro died, Samson succeeded
him but resigned after a trip to Ireland and resumed his eremitical
life in Wales with Amon and two others.
After a time, Samson went to Cornwall were he was consecrated bishop
as well as abbot of Saint Dubricius Monastery. He then traveled
throughout Cornwall, working as a missionary, founding monasteries and churches, and gathering to himself many followers. He crossed the
Channel to continue his missionary activities in Brittany. There he
was given some land on which to build a monastery; this site in time
became the town of Dol, which became the spiritual center of Brittany.
Sensing that the end of his earthly life was near, Samson undertook a
journey throughout the whole region of Neustria, moving slowly from
parish to parish, often stopping to preach or to celebrate the Divine
Office. His missionary activities throughout Britain and Brittany
ended only with his death around the year 565.
During his life and after his death many miracles were attributed to
Saint Samson. Some of his relics, including an arm and a crosier, were
acquired in the 10th century by King Athelstan of Wessex for his
monastery at Milton Abbas in Dorset, which is why Samson's feast is
kept in many places in England. Samson's name is still greatly revered throughout Brittany and Wales.
Lessons--Samson
1. St. Samson was a great missionary of his time, spreading the Word
of God throughout Britain and Brittany. While we pray for all
missionaries, let us not forget that we too are called to be
missionaries, called to bring the Word of God to all those we come in
contact with.
2. St. Samson's work in the Lord's vineyard didn't =
end until his
death. If we are retired or approaching retirement age, let us not
forget that the spreading of the Gospel is not something we should
ever retire from. Whatever our age, whatever our walk in life, we can=E2=80=94and must=E2=80=94all work to bring Christ to the world.
Saint Quote:
"Let no one wear a mask, otherwise he will do ill; and if he has one,
let him burn it."
--St Philip Neri
Bible Quote:
Give in to God: resist the devil, and he will run away from you. The
nearer you go to God, the nearer he will come to you. Humble
yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. (James 4:7-8,10 )
<><><><>
A prayer to Christ to overcoming a sin of passion:
Beloved Jesus, in the Sacrament of the Altar, be forever thanked and
praised. Love, worthy of all celestial and terrestrial! Who, out of
infinite love for me, an ungrateful sinner, didst assume my nature, didst
shed Thy most Precious Blood in the cruel scourging, and didst expire on a shameful cross for my eternal welfare.
Now, illumined with lively faith, with the outpouring of my whole soul and
the fervor of my heart, I humbly beseech Thee, through the infinite merits
of Thy painful sufferings, give me strength and courage to destroy and ever=
y
evil passion which sways my heart, to bless Thee in my greatest
afflictions, to glorify Thee by the exact fulfillment of my duties,
supremely hate all sin, and thus to become a Saint. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)