From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
September 28th - St. Lioba of Bischoffsheim, Abbess, Virgin
Also known as (Liobgytha)
Born at Wimborne, Dorsetshire, England; died at Schornsheim (near
Mainz), Germany, c. 779.
Saint Lioba's mother, descended of an illustrious family and closely
related to Saint Boniface (f.d. June 5), had been barren for a long
time before the saint was born. Nevertheless, Ebba immediately offered
her to God and raised her in piety. She received her first education
at Minster-in-Thanet. While Lioba was still young, she was placed in
the care of the king's sister Saint Tetta (f.d. today) at the
Benedictine convent in Wimborne (Winburn or "fountain of wine"). Lioba
matured spiritually and emotionally under Tetta's tutelage, and
eventually took the religious veil.
Tetta also ensured that she had a good education. Letters to Boniface
reveal that Lioba understood and wrote verse in Latin. She limited her
reading, however, to books that would stir her spirit to love of God.
She knew by heart the divine precepts of the Old and New Testaments,
the principal canons of the Church, the holy maxims of the Fathers,
and the rules of the monastic life.
Boniface kept in touch with his young relative through frequent
correspondence. Recognising her virtue and abilities, in 748, he
requested of her bishop and abbess that she be sent to him with about
30 pious companions to undertake charitable work with women in
Germany. Although Tetta regretted the loss of her protege, she could
not refuse.
Upon their arrival in Germany, Boniface settled the women religious at Tauberbischofsheim ("bishop's home," possibly his own previous
residence). Lioba's zeal attracted so many vocations that her convent
was populating many other foundations throughout the country. Lioba's
convents were one of the most powerful factors in the conversion of
Germany.
The saint organized her convents in the true monastic tradition with a combination of manual labour (in scriptorium, kitchen, bakery,
brewery, and garden), intellectual study (all had to learn Latin),
community devotions, and leisure. No extreme austerities were
permitted to interfere with the corporate life established by the
Rule.
Her love of God was so appealing. She was always ready to set her hand
to any task she might ask of others and did it with cheer and modesty.
It is said that she was beautiful, that her countenance was angelic,
and that her nuns loved her. Perhaps this is so because Lioba took to
heart Saint Paul's advice: "Do nothing out of selfishness or out of
vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than
yourselves" (Philippians 2:3) and "anticipate one another in showing
honour" (Romans 12:9b). Thus, Lioba often washed the feet of her
sisters in emulation of her Lord. The corporal acts of mercy were her
delight, especially extending hospitality to strangers and caring for
the poor. She was always patient, kind, and accessible to all who
needed her.
Nevertheless, kings and princes honoured and respected her, especially
Pepin the Short, Blessed Carloman (f.d. August 17) and Charlemagne.
Charlemagne often called her to court at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) to
seek her advice. His wife, Blessed Hildegard (f.d. April 30), loved
her deeply and always heeded her advice, as did some of the bishops.
Before his martyrdom, Saint Boniface commended Lioba and her community
to the care of Saint Lullus (f.d. October 16) and his monks at Fulda,
and requested that her bones be buried next to his at their deaths
that they might be raised at the resurrection and spend eternity
together. It is said that the tender affection uniting Boniface and
Lioba forms one of the most charming episodes in church history.
Following Boniface's death in 754, Lioba frequently visited Fulda. By
special dispensation, she would be allowed with two elder sisters to
join in the choir.
Upon the advice of Lullus, Lioba resigned her offices in her old age
and retired to the convent at Schornsheim, where she redoubled her
prayer and penance. Occasionally she would answer Empress Hildegard's
plea to visit her, but return to her cell as quickly as she could. On
her last visit, she embraced the queen, kissed her on her garment,
forehead, and mouth, then said: "Farewell, precious part of my soul;
may Christ, our Creator and Redeemer, grant that we may see each other
without confusion in the day of judgement."
After her death, Lioba was interred at Fulda, on the north side of the
high altar, near the tomb of Saint Boniface. Her tomb was honoured
with miracles; her biographer, Rudolph of Fulda, assures us he was
himself an eyewitness to several. Her relics were translated in 819
and again in 838 to the church of Mount Saint Peter. Her name was
first inserted into a martyrology by Hrabanus Maurus c. 836
(Attwater2, Benedictines, Bonniwell, Coulson, Farmer, Husenbeth).
Saint Quote:
He who communicates most frequently will be freest from sin, and will
make farthest progress in Divine Love.
--Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Bible Quote:
"Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from
God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he
should commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall he render unto
him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. Yea, surely
God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment
(Job 34:10-12 )
l
<><><><>
Jesus, gentlest Savior,
God of might and power,
Thou Thyself art dwelling
In us at this hour.
Nature cannot hold Thee,
Heaven is all too strait
For Thine endless glory
And Thy royal state.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)