From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

February 11th - St. Gobnata, Abbess of Ballyvourney
(Also known as Gobnet, Gobnait)

6th century

=C2 One of the most popular of the saints of Munster, she was born in
County Clare but had to flee from enemies and took refuge in the Isle
of Aran, where there is a church at Inisheer, Kilgobnet, Gobnat's
church. After a time an angel appeared and told her that this was not
to be "the place of her resurrection" but she must make a journey
until she came upon nine white deer and this would be the sign for her
to settle and build a monastery.

So she set out to search for the spot that God had chosen for her and
she founded churches on the way, among them Dunguin in County Kerry
and Dungarven in County Waterford. It was in County Cork that she saw
three white deer near Cloudrohid; then at Ballymakeera she saw six and
going further she arrived at Ballyvourney and found nine grazing near
a wood. There she founded her monastery.

Saint Abban of Kilabban, County Meath, Ireland, is said to have worked
with her on the foundation of the convent in Ballyvourney, County
Cork, on land donated by the O'Herlihy family, and to have placed
Saint Gobnat over it as abbess.

St Gobnat had a particular calling to care for the sick and she is
credited with saving the people at Ballyvourney from the plague. She
is also regarded as the Patroness of bees. Gobnata (meaning "Honey
Bee", which is the equivalent of the Hebrew "Deborah") Of course honey
is a useful ingredient in many medicines but she is said to have
driven off a brigand by sending a swarm of bees after him and making
him restore the cattle he had stolen. In fact she seems to have been
very able in dealing with brigands. Set in the wall of the ruined
church at Ballyvourney there is a round stone, which she is said to
have used as a sort of boomerang to prevent the building of a castle
by another brigand on the other side of the valley from her monastery.
Every time he began building she sent the stone across and knocked
down the walls, as fast as he could build, until he gave up in
despair.

There is a field near to the village called the Plague Field
commemorating the area she marked out as consecrated ground, across
which the plague could not pass. The "Tomhas Ghobnata", which is the
Gaelic for Gobnat's measure, a length of wool measured against her
statue, is still in demand for healing, and in the church a much worn
wooden statue of the thirteenth century is preserved and shown on her
festival. At Killeen there is Gobnat's Stone, an early cross pillar
that has a small figure bearing a crozier on one side.

A well still exists at Ballyvourney that is named after her. As with
many Irish saints, there are stories of wondrous interactions with
nature.

Her grave in the churchyard at Ballyvourney is decorated with crutches
and other evidence of cures obtained through Gobnata's intercession.
Among the miracles attributed to her intercession were the staying of
a pestilence by marking off the parish as sacred ground. Another
tradition relates that she routed an enemy by loosing her bees upon
them. Her beehive has remained a precious relic of the O'Herlihys.

The round stone associated with her is still preserved. In art, Saint
Gobnata is represented as a beekeeper.


Troparion of St Gobnet tone 3

As a spiritual child of the God inspired Abban/
thou didst worthily guide many into monastic virtue, most holy Gobnet./
=C2 Wherefore we entreat thee to intercede for us/
that we may be guided aright/
and be found worthy of the great mercy of Christ our God.


Bible Quote:
"for the Lord is a judge who is utterly impartial. He never shows
partiality to the detriment of the poor, he listens to the plea of the
injured party. He does not ignore the orphan's supplication, nor the
widow's, as she pours out her complaint." Ecclesiasticus 35:12-13


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Invocations to Our Lady of Lourdes

O EVER Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge
of sinners, comfort of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles,
my sufferings; deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in
the Grotto of Lourdes, thou wert pleased to make it a privileged
sanctuary, whence thou dispenses thy favors, and already many
sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual
and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence, to implore
thy maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my
requests. I will endeavor to imitate thy virtues, that I may one day
share thy glory, and bless thee in eternity. Amen.

O MARY, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

O BLESSED be the Holy and Immaculate Conception of the most blessed
Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

HOLY Virgin Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and our Mother,
speak thou for us to the Heart of Jesus, Who is thy Son and our Brother.

OUR Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

MY Mother, deliver me from mortal sin!

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