From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
September 3rd - St Aigulf, Martyr
Aigulf was born at Blois, and became a monk at Fleury. About 670 a
new abbot was required at L=C3=A9rins, where the passage of time and the ravages of the Moors had impaired discipline, and Aigulf, now a monk
of 20 years' experience with a reputation for solid virtue and
stability, was sent to fill the office. But as is usual in such
circumstances some of the religious were well content with the old
ways and willing to go to a good deal of trouble to frustrate the
efforts to improve their observance. In this case two of them,
Arcadius and Columbus, went too far. They appealed to the local
governor against the abbot, and when he sent a company of soldiers to
keep order they used them to kidnap St. Aigulf and four of his chief supporters. and carry them off to sea. They were landed on the island
of Capraia, between Corsica and the coast of Tuscany, where their eyes
and tongues were torn out and they were put to death. But one of the
monks escaped and brought word to L=C3=A9rins of what had taken place.
It has been suggested, not without reason, that even were the abbot
and his companions carried off by the soldiers, it is more likely that
they were massacred by some marauding party of Moors. The bodies were
brought back to L=C3=A9rins and their transportation was reported to be the occasion of many miracles. Later, a controversy arose between L=C3=A9rins
and Fleury as to which abbey really possessed the body of St. Aigulf.
According to a biography of St. Aigulf written by a monk of Fleury
about the year 850 the saint was put in charge of the party of monks
from Fleury and Le Mans which Mommolus, abbot of the first named, sent
to Italy to save the relics of St. Benedict from the hands of the
Lombards. The rights of this affair and the resting-place or places of
the relics of St. Benedict do not concern us here. It is sufficient
to notice that this St. Aigulf almost certainly had nothing to do with
it.
A somewhat lyrical account of AiguIf written by Adrevaldus, a monk of
Fleury who lived two centuries later, does not inspire confidence.
The Bollandists print it in the Acta Sanctorum, September, vol. i,
together with a shorter narrative which they believe to be of earlier
date and more reliable. See also H, Moris, L'Abbaye de L=C3=A9rjns (1909),
and DHG., vol. i, cc. 1141-1142.
Saint Quote
=E2=80=9CAs Scripture says,
=E2=80=9CThose who instruct many in justice
will shine as stars for all eternity.=E2=80=9D
They will attain this more easily,
if they make a covenant of perpetual obedience
and strive to cling to Christ
and please Him alone
because, in His words,
=E2=80=9CWhat you did to one of the least
of my brethren, you did to me.=E2=80=9D
--St Joseph Calasanz (1557-1648)
REFLECTION
=E2=80=9CMary is the stem of the beautiful flower on which the Holy Spirit rests with the fullness of His gifts. Hence, those who want to obtain
the seven gifts of the Spirit must seek the flower of the Holy Spirit
on the stem (Mary).
We go to Jesus through Mary and through Jesus we find the grace of the
Holy Spirit.=E2=80=9D=E2=80=A6St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You made Mary the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Help me
through Mary and Jesus to reach the Spirit and obtain His surpassing
gifts. Holy Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, be my companion
and my guide. Amen
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