August 6th - St. Schetzelon, Hermit (AC)
(Also known as Schetzel, Scocelin, Jocelin, Gislain, Ghislain)
Died 1141. Very little is known with certainty about Schetzelon, a
well-known saint in Luxembourg. He was raised in a pious household and
believed that he could grow in holiness only by withdrawing from the
world.
He began his fifteen-year life as a hermit in Grünewald Forest near Trier,
Germany, where the locals can still identify the grotto near a fountain
named after him.
Escaping distractions is not always easy, even for a hermit. One day snow
fell overnight covering Schetzelon entirely-except for his face. A
freezing
hare found that warm spot and settled comfortably on the hermit's face.
Schetzelon later reproached himself for allowing this incident to distract
him from his prayers.
He foraged for food when it was available and begged for it at the local
farmhouses during winter. The farmers came to know him and left pieces of
stale bread for the hermit, knowing that he would have refused anything
that
was fresh. Out of respect for the life he had chosen, they never tried to
speak to him, nor to see him. It is said that he would approach houses at
night because he had no clothes except a monk's cincture. Saint Bernard
once
brought him a tunic and pair of shoes, which Schetzelon tried on to please
the monk, but he soon discarded them saying that he did not need them.
When he died, a chapel was built in his honor which drew pilgrims. The
water
at his spring was blessed each year. In 1150, his body was translated to
Munster Abbey to make the pilgrimage more convenient. The abbey was
destroyed by Charles V in 1544, and it is believed Schetzelon's relics
were
moved to the church of Our Lady at the castle of Luxembourg. Schetzelon is
sometimes confused with another called Gezelin (Encyclopedia).
taken from:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm
Saint Quote:
Humility is the mother of many virtues. From it spring obedience, holy
fear, reverence, patience, modesty, mildness, and peace; for, whoever is
humble easily obeys all, fears to offend any, maintains peace with all,
shows himself affable to all, is submissive to all, does not offend or
displease any, and does not feel the insults which may be inflicted upon
him. He lives happy and contented, and in great peace.
-St. Thomas of Villanova
Bible Quote
16. And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure
their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you,
they
have received their reward. 17. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy
head,
and wash thy face; 18. That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy
Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay
thee. (Matthew 6:16-18)
><><><>
"Hail, Mother and Virgin, imperishable temple of the Godhead, venerable
treasure of the whole world, crown of virginity, support of the true faith
on which the Church is founded throughout the whole world.
"Mother of God, who contained the infinite God under your heart, whom no
space can contain: Through you the Most Holy Trinity is adored and
glorified, demons are vanquished, satan cast down from heaven and into
hell,
and our fallen nature again assumed into heaven.
"Through you the human race, held captive in the bonds of idolatry,
arrives
at the knowledge of the truth. What more shall I say of you? Hail, through
whom kings rule, through whom the only-begotten Son of God has become a
star
of light to those who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Amen.
"All of us are united with Christ inasmuch as we have received Him who is
one and indivisible in our bodies. Therefore we owe the service of our
members to Him rather than to ourselves."
-Saint Cyril of Alexandria.
|
