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Best security against disaster and destruction:

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Rich

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Jul 24, 2022, 3:30:29 AM7/24/22
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Best security against disaster and destruction:

What's the best security against disaster and destruction? In the
ancient world a strong city, an impregnable fortress, and a secure
house were built on solid rock because they could withstand the forces
of nature and foe alike. Isaiah speaks of God as an "everlasting rock"
(Isaiah 26:4). He is the rock of refuge and deliverance (Psalm 18:2)
and the rock in whom there is no wrong (Psalm 92:15). Scripture warns
that destruction will surely come to those who place their security in
something other than God and his kingdom. Jesus' parables invite us to
stake our lives on the coming of his kingdom or face the consequences
of being unprepared when the day of testing and destruction will
surely come.

<<>><<>><<>>
July 24th - St. Declan of Ardmore, Bishop & Abbot

St. Declan, son of Erc, chief of the Desii, was born at the beginning
of the fifth century near Lismore, Co. Waterford. As a young boy he
was sent to fosterage with a certain Dimma, who is said to have been a
foreigner and a Christian. While under Dimma's guardianship, Declan
was converted and baptised by one of the several Irish saints named
Colman.

After leaving Dimma, Declan went to Rome, where he studied for the
priesthood and was later consecrated bishop. On his return to Ireland,
he established a monastic community at Ardmore and was later confirmed
in this office by St. Patrick himself. Declan was well known as an
active missionary in Ireland prior top the coming of St. Patrick, the
great organiser of Irish Christianity.

Many miracles are attributed to the intervention of St. Declan. He is
credited, in particular, with having arrested a serious plague by his
prayers and fasting. He is reputed to have been a very close friend of
St. David (patron saint of Wales) and, perhaps more importantly, to
have been on very good terms with Aengus, king of Munster. His
influence, therefore, would have been considerable.

According to tradition, Declan made a miraculous return from Rome by
crossing the sea on a large flagstone. Popular belief has it that this
flagstone ran aground at Ardmore, where he decided to establish his
monastery. To this day the flagstone is pointed out by the locals on
the popular beach at Ardmore.

St. Declan's day is still actively celebrated by the Ardmore
parishioners on 24 July. Until recent times it was the custom, on this
day, for those suffering from back ailments to crawl under the
flagstone as a method of obtaining relief. One 19th century
commentator, however, voiced a certain amount of disapproval of the
practice on the grounds that participating ladies would, of necessity,
reveal their ankles in the process. Such a display could, conceivably,
lead the onlooking menfolk into temptation! The described treatment
for backache, however, was said to have been ineffective if the
patient had anything borrowed or stolen on his/her person at the time.

Legend has it that he knocked on a woman's door and asked for a drink
of water. She replied: "Unfortunately, I haven't a drop of water in
the house. I have to draw it. You will have to walk a long distance
from here to get fresh water. I have to draw it, myself, all the way!"
The saint was filled with pity for the poor woman, as he replied,
"Soon, you won't have too far to travel for water". He urged himself
on but had to lie down on the slope of Toor mountain not far from
Aglish.

He stretched out his weary limbs and threw out one arm on the grass.
Suddenly, he felt water oozing from the patchy grass between his
fingers. It was the origin of a lovely fresh mountain stream. The
water trickled down the mountain of Toor and formed a stream. This
stream flows today, to St. Declan's Holy Well by Toor mountain.

Very many cures have been reported from this Holy Well (which was
restored in 1951) but the water is said to be particularly beneficial
to those suffering from diseases of the eyes, sprains, and rheumatism.

Each year, the week including his feast day is known as "Pattern
Week". Pilgrims still come to pray at the site of Declan's church on
the headland of Ardmore, adjacent to the round tower which is in an
excellent state of preservation .

St. Declan died in the latter half of the fifth century. He was laid
to rest in his beloved Ardmore, and his burial place is marked by the
ruins of an oratory built over his grave.


Troparion of St Declan tone 4

Thou wast a bright light in Ireland before the days of Saint Patrick,/
O holy Father Declan./
Thou didst travel in Europe and return to found a monastery/
where thou wast ever kind to the poor./
We praise thee, O glorious Hierarch.


Saint Quote:
I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything,
even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.
--Saint Dominic Savio

Bible Quote
That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it
is not granted to man to utter. For such an one I will glory; but for
myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities. (2 Corinthians 4-5)

<><><><>
The thoughts of man are vain and useless

The thoughts of man, says the Scripture, are vain and useless, if, in
them, he does not apply his mind to know and to love God, to forget
and to hate himself. The simple and lively faith of a soul which
believes all that God teaches, without examination or hesitation, and
performs all that He requires for the attainment of salvation, is
preferable to all divine and human sciences, which, of themselves,
without such a faith, only fill the mind with pride, leave the heart
dry, and avail naught for salvation.

Prayer:
Moderate, O Jesus, my eagerness to know so much, and correct my
negligence in doing so little for salvation, since Thou wilt not judge
me according to what I have known, but by what I have done, or
neglected to do, to obtain it. Can I apply my thoughts to know Thee
thoroughly, and not admire and love Thee? And can I truly know myself,
and not despise and hate myself? O life unknown! life hidden in Jesus
Christ, in God! what an excellent means art thou of sanctification and
salvation, yet how little art thou practiced amongst Christians!
Grant, O Lord, that all may know, esteem, and love it, and be directed
by it. Amen.
--Thomas à Kempis, From the Imitation of Christ
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