O Lord, permit us here to raise our voice;
And waft before Thy throne our feeble praise,
And thank Thee for those angels whom Thy choice
Hath lent our weakness to direct its ways,
And free us from the envious foes that lurk
To spoil the beauty of Thy cherished work.
Ant. O holy Angels, our guardians, defend us in the combat, that we perish
not in the dreadful judgement.
V. In sight of Thy angels I will sing to Thee, my God.
R. I will adore at Thy holy temple, and confess to Thy name.
Prayer:
O God, Who, with unspeakable providence, hast vouchsafed to appoint Thy
holy angels to be our guardians, grant to Thy humble suppliants to be
always defended by their protection, and to enjoy their everlasting
society, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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May 15th - St. Silvanus of Tabennisi, Hermit (AC)
4th century.
Saint Silvanus was an actor who abandoned the world to become a monk at
Tabennisi under Saint Pachomius. For some time he led an undisciplined
life,
trying to entertain the other monks and often transgressing the rule of
silence.
Pachomius endeavored to reform him by remonstration, prayers, sighs, and
tears,
for his poor soul. It was a fruitless endeavor for a long time, but
Pachomius
persisted until one day he explained to the impenitent Silvanus the
dreadful
judgments which threaten those that mock God.
From that moment Silvanus began to lead a life of great edification to the
rest
of the brethren and began to bewail his past misdemeanors. When others
entreated
him to moderate the floods of his tears, "Ah," said he, "how can I help
weeping,
when I consider the wretchedness of my past life, and that by my sloth I
have
profaned what was most sacred? I have reason to fear lest the earth should
open
under my feet, and swallow me up, as it did Dathan and Abiron. Oh! suffer
me to
labor with ever-flowing fountains of tears, to expiate my innumerable
sins. I
ought, if I could, even to pour forth this wretched soul of mine in
mourning; it
would be all too little for my offenses."
His sentiments of contrition helped him so to progress in virtue that the
holy
abbot proposed him as a model of humility to the rest. After eight years
in this
penitential course, God had called Silvanus to himself. Saint Pachomius
was
assured by a revelation, that his soul was presented by angels a most
agreeable
sacrifice to Christ. The saint was favored with a spirit of prophecy, and
with
great grief foretold the decay of monastic fervor in his order in
succeeding
ages. He is especially honored among the Greeks (Benedictines, Husenbeth).
In
art, Saint Silvanus is a hermit watering flowers. He is venerated by the
Greeks
(Roeder).
From:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0515.shtml
Saint Quote:
As it is not possible, in this pilgrimage of ours, not to meet and become
entangled with each other, if we would preserve interior peace we must
possess a
great fund of meekness to oppose to the unexpected assaults of anger.
-St. Francis de Sales
Philip II, King of Spain, had spent many hours of the night in writing
a
long letter to the Pope, and when it was finished he gave it to his
secretary to
be folded and sealed. But he being half-asleep, poured ink over it instead
of
sand, and nearly died of fright when he saw what he had done. But the
king,
without any excitement, only said, "Here is another sheet of paper' and
went
back calmly to his writing. Another day, when he was going to hunt, he
took a
seat to have his boots put on. When one was on, the other was not to be
found,
and he waited for it a long time, without giving any sign of impatience,
or
saying a single word. At the time of his coronation, a soldier, in trying
to
keep back the crowd with a pole, broke thereby three crystal lamps that
were
over the throne, so that the oil fell on the rich dresses of the king and
queen.
"Well:" said the king, "this is a sign that in my reign there will be the
unction of peace and abundance."
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". May - Meekness)
Bible Quote
13 Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew,
by a
good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13)
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Psalm 50 (51)
God, have mercy on me
Take pity on me, Lord, in your mercy; in your abundance of mercy wipe
out my guilt. Wash me ever more from my guilt and cleanse me from
my sin.
For I know how guilty I am: my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned, and I have done evil in your
sight. Know this, so that you may give just sentence and an unbiased
judgement.
See, I was conceived in guilt, in sin my mother conceived me; but you
love truth in the heart, and deep within me you have shown me your
wisdom.
You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be made clean; you will
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. You will make me hear the
sound of joy and gladness; the bones you have crushed will rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins and wipe out all my transgressions;
create a pure heart in me, God, put a steadfast spirit into me.
Do not send me away from your presence, or withdraw your holy spirit
from me; give me again the joy of your salvation, and be ready to
strengthen me with your spirit.
I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will return to you.
Free me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, God my saviour, and my
voice will glory in your justice.
Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will proclaim your praise; for you do
not delight in sacrifices: if I offered you a burnt offering, it would not
please you. The true sacrifice is a broken spirit: a contrite and humble
heart, O God, you will not refuse.
Be pleased, Lord, to look kindly on Sion, so that the walls of Jerusalem
can be rebuilt, Then indeed you will accept the proper sacrifices, gifts
and burnt offerings; then indeed will bullocks be laid upon your altar.
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