- Psalm 90:14-17 -
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us -
yes, establish the work of our hands.
_____________________________________________________________________
Because our days are numbered, we want our work to count, to be effective
and
productive. We desire to see God's eternal plan revealed now and for our
work to
reflect his prominence. If we feel dissatisfied with this life and all its
imperfections, remember that our desire to see our work established is
placed
there by God. But our desire can only be satisfied in eternity. Until then
we
must apply ourselves to loving and serving God.
<<>><<>><<>>
April 17th - St. Donnan and Companions, Martyrs
(also known as Dounan)
Died on Eigg, c. 616-618. Saint Donnan was an Irishman monk of whom little
is
known except that he must have been one of the most active early Scottish
saints
judging from the trail of place names (usually Kildonan) stretching from
Galloway to Perth and Aberdeenshrie in Uig, South Suist, Sutherland,
Arran,
and
Eigg. Many were converted to Christianity through his efforts. Some say he
was a
monk of Iona under Saint Columba; others that he was associated with the
Pictish
Church and followed the missionary path of Saint Ninian
He eventually established a community of monks on the island of Eigg at
Loch
Ewe
in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. While he was celebrating Mass on Easter
eve,
a gang of armed men arrived. When Mass was over, they herded the 52 monks
into
the refectory, set fire to it. Those who tried to escape were killed by
the
sword.
According to D'Arcy, the record of Columba's death in the Martyrology of
Aengus
prophesies Donnan's end: "Donnan then went with his monastic family to the
Western Isle and they took up their abode there in a place where the sheep
of
the queen of the country were kept. 'Let them be killed,' said she. 'That
would
not be a religious act," said her people. But they were murderously
assailed. At
this time the cleric was at Mass. 'Let us have respite till Mass is
ended,'
said
Donnan. 'Thou shalt have it,' said they. And when it was over they were
slain,
every one of them."
Thus, it is said that the deed was prompted by the local chieftainess, who
resented the monks' presence on the island, or by a local woman who had
lost
her
grazing rights; but it may simply have been a Viking raid. The monks,
whose
names are recorded in the Martyrology of Tallaght compiled c. 792, are
viewed as
martyrs. His feast is kept at Argyll and the Isles. His staff was
venerated
at
Husterless until its destruction during the Reformation. Eigg has remained
Catholic "as if by special blessing of these martyrs" (Attwater,
Attwater2,
Benedictines, Coulson, D'Arcy, Farmer, Gill, Montalembert, Moran, Simpson,
Skene).
This Version found at:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0417.htm
Saint Quote:
"It is certain that the true spirit is inclined rather to afflictions,
aridity,
disgust, and trials, than to sweet and pleasing communications; for it
knows
that the former is that following of Christ and that denial of self so
much
inculcated by the Lord"
-St. John of the Cross
The Lord appeared to St. Catherine with two crowns in His hand, One of
gold,
the
other of thorns, and told her to choose whichever she preferred. She chose
the
second. From that time she conceived so great a love for afflictions and
trials,
that she said: "There is nothing that consoles me so much, and gives me so
much
comfort, as afflictions and crosses, and it seems to me that if I had not
this
support from time to time I should live the most wretched life in the
world;
and
if God should give me my choice whether to go now into Paradise or to
remain
a
little longer here to suffer, I should choose the latter rather than the
former,
for I know how much glory is increased by sufferings."
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote:
41 Now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in the
garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. 42 There,
therefore,
because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the
sepulchre
was
nigh at hand. (John 19:41-42)
<<>><<>>
The Litany of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear
us.
God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of the Crucified, pray for us.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us.
Mournful Mother, pray for us.
Sighing Mother, pray for us.
Afflicted Mother, pray for us.
Forsaken Mother, pray for us.
Desolate Mother, pray for us.
Mother most sad, pray for us.
Mother set around with anguish, pray for us.
Mother overwhelmed by grief, pray for us.
Mother transfixed by a sword, pray for us.
Mother crucified in thy heart, pray for us.
Mother bereaved of thy Son, pray for us.
Sighing Dove, pray for us.
Mother of Sorrows, pray for us.
Fount of tears, pray for us.
Sea of bitterness, pray for us.
Field of tribulation, pray for us.
Mass of suffering, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Rock of constancy, pray for us.
Remedy in perplexity, pray for us.
Joy of the afflicted, pray for us.
Ark of the desolate, pray for us.
Refuge of the abandoned, pray for us.
Shield of the oppressed, pray for us.
Conqueror of the incredulous, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Medicine of the sick, pray for us.
Help of the faint, pray for us.
Strength of the weak, pray for us.
Protectress of those who fight, pray for us.
Haven of the shipwrecked, pray for us.
Calmer of tempests, pray for us.
Companion of the sorrowful, pray for us.
Retreat of those who groan, pray for us.
Terror of the treacherous, pray for us.
Standard-bearer of the Martyrs, pray for us.
Treasure of the Faithful, pray for us.
Light of Confessors, pray for us.
Pearl of Virgins, pray for us.
Comfort of Widows, pray for us.
Joy of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen of thy Servants, pray for us.
Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled, pray for us.
V. Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray, O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon,
a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious
Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her
Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and
reigns world without end, AMEN.
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