October 31st - St. Foillan of Fosses, OSB Abbot (RM)
(also known as Faillan)
Born in Ireland; died in Belgium, c. 655. Among the brothers of Saint
Fursey
were Foillan and Saint Ultan, who went to England with Fursey about 630.
There they built a monastery at Burgh Castle in Suffolk near Yarmouth, and
were missionary monks under him among the East Angles.
When Fursey departed for Gaul, Foillan succeeded him as abbot, but the
destruction of their monastery and the depredations of the Mercians under
Penda, drove Foillan and Ultan to follow their brother across the sea.
They were welcomed to Neustria by King Clovis II. Abbess Blessed Ida of
Nivelles gave Foillan land at Fosses, Belgium, where he set up a monastery
and did missionary work among the Brabanters of the surrounding country,
on
whom he made a lasting impression.
He kept up close relations with Saint Gertrude's establishment at
Nivelles,
and this was the occasion of his untimely end: It was when returning from
saying Mass at Nivelles that he was set upon by robbers in the forest of
Seneffe and murdered with three companions. Their bodies were not found
until nearly three months later.
Ultan succeeded Foillan as abbot of Fosses, and he too was revered as a
saint.
In September every seventh year at Fosses, there is a spectacular
procession, called the March of Foillan, to honor the saint. Foillan's
relics are honored by an official mounted guard and salutes are fired
seven
times along the route of the procession. (Attwater, Delaney, Encyclopedia,
Montague).
Foillan is depicted as a bishop with two armed men under his feet.
Sometimes
he is shown (1) refusing the cup at the table of Pepin; (2) carrying hot
coals in his vestment for incense; (3) praying before the church while the
city burns; (4) kneeling, pierced by a spear; (5) beaten with a club; or
(6)
with sword and palm (Roeder).
Foillan is the patron of children's nurses, dentists, surgeons, and
truss-makers (Roeder). He is widely honored in both Ireland and northern
France (Montague).
This Version taken from:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm
Quote:
Nothing but self-will can separate us from God
-St. Alphonsus Liguori
Bible Quote
1 Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of
the
saints. (Psalms 149:1)
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Indulgenced Prayers
Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
From sudden and unprovided death, O Lord, deliver us.
O Lord, my God, I now, at this moment, readily and willingly
accept at Thy hand whatever kind of death it may please
Thee to send me, with all its pains, penalties, and sorrows.
(7 years every time said. Plenary indulgence at the point of
death to all those who at any time of their lives, with sincere
love toward God and with the usual conditions, make this kind
of act)
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we in the hour of
death, being strengthened by the sacraments and cleansed
of all sins, may with joy deserve to be received into the
bosom of Thy mercy. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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