From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
September 1st - St. Giles, Hermit and Abbot
from Mary, Help of Christians, 1908
Athens, in Greece, was the native city of St. Giles. He was of noble
parentage, and devoted himself from early youth to piety and learning.
After the death of his parents he distributed his rich inheritance to
the poor, and to escape the applause of men for his charity left his
country to bury himself in obscurity.
He sailed for France, and on his arrival there retired to a deserted
country near the mouth of the river Rhone. Later he made his abode
near the river Gard, and finally buried himself in a forest in the
diocese of Nimes. In this solitude he passed many years, living on
wild herbs and roots, with water for his drink. It is related that for
some time a hind (deer) came daily to be milked by him, thus
furnishing him additional sustenance. Here he lived, disengaged from
earthly cares, conversing only with God, and engaged in the
contemplation of heavenly things.
One day the king instituted a great hunt in the forest where Giles
lived, and encountered the hind. Giving chase, the royal hunter was
led to the saint's hut, where the panting animal had sought refuge.
The king inquired who he was, and was greatly edified at the holiness
of his life. The fame of the saintly hermit now spread far and wide,
and was much increased by the many miracles wrought through his
intercession. The king tried to persuade him to leave his solitude,
but prevailed upon him only in so far, that Giles accepted several
disciples and founded a monastery in which the rule of St. Benedict
was observed, and of which he was chosen the abbot. He governed his
community wisely and well, and at the earnest solicitation of his
monks was ordained priest.
The fame of St. Giles' sanctity induced the Frankish King, Charles
Martel to call him to his court to relieve him of a great trouble of conscience. The saint made the journey, and told the king that he
would find relief and comfort only by the sincere confession of a sin
which he had hitherto concealed. The king followed his advice, found
interior peace and dismissed Giles with many tokens of gratitude. On
his homeward journey the saint raised the recently deceased son of a
nobleman to life.
After a short stay in his monastery St. Giles went to Rome, to obtain
from the Pope the confirmation of some privileges and the apostolic
blessing for his community. The Pope granted his wishes, and presented
him, besides, with two grand and beautifully carved doors of cedar
wood for his church. St. Giles died at a ripe old age on September 1,
725. Many miracles were wrought at his tomb.
LESSON
St. Giles left his native country and retired into solitude to escape
the notice and applause of the world, and served God as a recluse. To
lead such a life, there must be a special call from God. It is not
suited to all, and even inconsistent with the duties of most men. But
all are capable of disengaging their affections from the inordinate
attachment to creatures, and of attaining to a pure and holy love of
God. By making the service of God the motive of their thoughts and
actions, they will sanctify their whole life.
In whatever conditions of life we may be placed, we have opportunities
of subduing our evil inclinations and mortifying ourselves by frequent self-denials, of watching over our hearts and purifying our senses by recollection and prayer. Thus each one, in his station of life, may
become a saint, by making his calling an exercise of virtue and his
every act a step higher to perfection and eternal glory.
See more at:
http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Giles.html
Saint Quote:
When tempted, invoke your Angel. he is more eager to help you than you
are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He
trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.
--St. John Bosco
Bible Quote
"You see now that it is by deeds, and not only by believing, that
someone is justified. There is another example of the same kind: Rahab
the prostitute, was she not justified by her deeds because she
welcomed the messengers and showed them a different way to leave?"
[James 2:24-25]
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Prayer:
Correct in me, O Lord; that indolence of mind in which I
squander away my time with trifles, and that uselessness of thought
which withdraws me from the enjoyment of Thy presence, and distracts
my attention in the time of prayer; or if, when I recite my prayers, I
cannot always think of Thee, grant that my distractions may not be
voluntary, so that whilst they divert my mind, they may never withdraw
my heart from Thee. Teach me, O Lord, before prayer, to prepare my
soul, that, urged by my many necessities, and by a desire of pleasing
Thee, I may fulfill this important duty with a becoming sense of Thine
awful presence, and of the subject on which I seek relief from Thy
bounty and mercy. Amen
--Thomas =C3 Kempis, From the Imitation of Christ
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