Appreciating God’s Grace (5)

[Weedy]

Appreciating God’s Grace (5)

Be grateful, therefore, for the least gift and you will be worthy
to receive a greater. Consider the least gift as the greatest, the
most contemptible as something special. And, if you but look to the
dignity of the Giver, no gift will appear too small or worthless. Even
though He give punishments and scourges, accept them, because He acts
for our welfare in whatever He allows to befall us.
He who desires to keep the grace of God ought to be grateful when
it is given and patient when it is withdrawn. Let him pray that it
return; let him be cautious and humble lest he lose it.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 10

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August 19th - St. Mochta of Louth, Abbot, Bishop
( Also known as Mocheteus, Mochteus, Mochuta)

Died c. 534
He was born in Britain but was brought to Ireland as a child. Saint
Mochta was an important saint in Ireland, as is evident by the number
of stories that grew up around his name. He was a disciple of Saint
Patrick, who was educated and consecrated bishop in Rome by Pope St.
Leo I, but some scholars believe he was consecrated by Saint Patrick.

When he returned to Ireland, he settled at a place in County Meath
called Kell Mor Ydan (now unknown). Local opposition led him to move
north to Louth in eastern Ireland. Louth was originally the site of a
shrine to the Celtic god Lugh. With twelve companions Saint Mochta
founded a large monastery that gained a nation wide reputation. Both
monastery and village were burned and plundered frequently by the
Danes in the period 829-968

St. Mochta is claimed as the first bishop of Louth. Among the legends
that arose, he and Patrick made a pact that each would care for the
other's community after the founder's death. It is also claimed that
Mochta numbered 200 bishops among his disciples and lived to be 300
years old - a punishment because he doubted the ages of many of the
patriarchs of the Old Testament. Scholars believe that he, the last of
Patrick's disciples then alive, died at 90.

Louth, the smallest county in Ireland, covers an area of only
317 square miles. It runs northwards from the River Boyne to
Carlingford Lough, consisting mainly of fertile undulating country
with a coastline of wide sandy bays and occasional rocky headlands. In
the north, however, between Dundalk Bay and Carlingford Lough, is the
mountainous Cooley Peninsula. The territory now known as County Louth
figures prominently in the epic tales of ancient Ireland. It was also
the scene of important events, and many chapters of Ireland's history
are illustrated by the county's numerous relics of the
past(Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth).


Saint Quote:
The birds are the saints, who fly to heaven on the wings of
contemplation, who are so removed from the world that they have no
business on earth. They do not labour, but by contemplation alone they
already live in heaven.
--St. Anthony of Padua

Psalm 34:4-7 (RSVCE)
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.


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Few embrace humility

"Many," says Saint Jerome, "embrace the shadow and appearance of humility,
but few embrace humility itself." It is very easy to look down upon the
ground, to speak in a humble tone, to fetch a sigh or two, now and then,
and to own one's self a sinner and a miserable creature at every word; but,
if you say any thing to these persons which may hurt their feelings in the
least, you will see how far they are from true humility. "Let, therefore,"
adds Saint Jerome, "all feigned and affected language be dropped; it is
patience that shows a man to be truly humble"; it is that which is the
touch-stone of humility.