• July 8th - Saint Sunniva of Norway

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sun Jul 7 08:52:58 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    July 8th - Saint Sunniva of Norway

    THIS popular Norse legend is a sort of local version of the story of
    St Ursula.=C2 Sunniva, daughter of an Irish king, in order to avoid
    marriage or to escape dishonourable intentions or flying before an
    invader, put to sea with a number of followers in a boat without
    rudder, sail or oats.=C2 They were cast up on the island of SeIje, off
    the coast of Norway, where they lived in caves and fed upon fish
    presumably they got tired of this diet, for the inhabitants of the
    neighbouring mainland began to miss beasts from among their cattle
    left to graze on the island.=C2 Suspecting that the strangers were
    responsible they sent an armed party across to see about it; but when
    they arrived they found that the caves occupied by the refugees had
    been blocked up and the occupants entombed by a
    landslide--miraculously closed against their pursuers at the prayer of
    Sunniva.

    Some time afterwards passers-by in boats noticed a strange light
    streaming from the spot where the strangers had died.=C2 This story
    reached King Olaf Tryggvason (then engaged on an attempt to
    christianize the land), and he went to investigate, accompanied by a
    bishop.=C2 The caves were opened and bones found; but the body of
    Sunniva was intact and incorrupt.=C2 Olaf built a church there to
    shelter the body.=C2 This was in 995.

    In 1170 her relics were translated to the cathedral of Bergen, and the
    feast of the Seijemen was celebrated every year on this day during the
    middle ages.=C2 What truth lies behind the story it is impossible to
    tell. The bones discovered have been speculated to be those of slain sea-rovers; but why did King Olaf trouble to disinter them and build a
    church there?

    Saint Sunniva is the patron saint of the Norwegian Diocese of
    Bj=C3=B8rgvin, as well as all of Western Norway.

    The Latin legend, not older than the eleventh century seems to have
    been written by an Anglo-Saxon missionary bishop, Sigurd or Sigward.
    The text has been printed by G. Storm, Monumenta Historiae Norvegiae,
    pp. 147-152.=C2 See also the Analecta Bollandiana, vol. xvii (1898), p.
    347, and S. Undset, Saga of Saints (1934), pp. 68-86.=C2 For further references, see Analecta Bollandiana, vol. lii (1934), pp. 120,121.

    Saint Quote:
    When I pronounce the name of Mary,
    =C2 I feel myself inflamed with such love and joy,
    that between the tears and happiness
    which I pronounce this beautiful name,
    I feel as though my heart might leave my breast.
    For this sweet name is like a honeycomb dissolving
    in the innermost recesses of my soul.
    --Blessed Henry Suso

    Bible Quote:
    =C2 "Then for Zion will come a redeemer, for those who stop rebelling in
    Jacob, declares Yahweh. 'For my part, this is my covenant with them,
    says Yahweh. My spirit with which I endowed you, and my words that I
    have put in your mouth, will not leave your mouth, or the mouths of
    your children, or the mouths of your children's children, says Yahweh, henceforth and for ever.'"=C2 [Isaiah 59:20-21]


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    Be simple as doves.=C2 [Matt. 10:16 ]=C2 July: Simplicity

    31. God is a Being most simple in His essence, admitting no
    composition whatever. If, then, we desire to render ourselves as much
    like Him as possible, we should endeavor to be by virtue what He is by
    nature; that is, we ought to have a simple heart, a simple soul, a
    simple intention, a simple mode of action. We ought to speak simply,
    and to act frankly, without deceit or artifice, always letting our
    exterior reflect our interior, and never regarding anything in all our
    actions except God, Whom alone we endeavor and desire to please.
    --St. Vincent de Paul

    Such, in fact, was the simplicity of this Saint, for his exterior was
    always in entire conformity to his interior. Whoever heard his words
    could immediately know what was in his heart, which he always kept
    upon his lips. And however numerous and varied might be his
    occupations, they all had the same end, which was to please God alone.
    It might be truly said that he possessed this virtue to such a degree
    that the faculties of his soul were wholly steeped in it, and whatever
    he said or did proceeded from this source.
    ("A Year with the Saints".

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)