~A Warning Against Mysticism~
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and
wor****pping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
In our verse we find that Mysticism was disqualifying the Colossian's
daily
walk with Christ, and was robbing them of their future reward with Christ
(3:24). The false teachers probably intimidated the Colossians into
believing they would be disqualified if they didn't follow their
prescribed
course. Mysticism is professing to have direct contact with God or direct
insight into truth by some special means. In our verse we find four of the
special means that were used.
The first was a voluntary or self-imposed humility, which could include
asceticism. We can accept ourselves in Christ, but this rigid self-denial
will only work toward self-occupation (vs. 23). The second was the wor****p
of angels. Angels are ministering spirits, but they never were to be
wor****pped! This would be Demonism. It denies the union of the believer
with
the Head, Christ in Glory. The third intruding into the unseen. This would
be visionary dreaming and Spiritism. This could also include Demonism.
What
a wide scope this covers! The last one was being vainly puffed up by the
fleshly mind. God call-ed it "the wisdom of this world" (1 Cor. 3:19);
today
it is called "Humanism." It could include: Rationalism, Intellectualism;
Higher Criticism; Liberalism; Neo-Evangelicalism; Situation Ethics; etc.
It
is the mind of the sin nature and can only produce death (Rom 8: 6).
In verse 19 Christ as the Head of the Body, is not so much an issue of
authority, as it is an issue that as the Head, He is the origin and source
of the Body's nourishment. Therefore, we are to hold fast to Him "in Whom
are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (vs 3). As the Body
holds
to the Head, we may experience "the increase of God!"
<<>><<>><<>>
November 3rd - St. Winifred VM (RM)
(also known as Winefride, Wenefrida, Gwenfrewi, Guinevra)
Died c. 680. Winifred is evidently an historical personage, but it is
equally
true that her true story can no longer be reconstructed because the
written
information is too late and fanciful to be reliable. Throughout the time
of
the
persecution of Roman Catholics in England, miracles were wrought for the
faithful who held tenaciously to the belief in miracles. Many cures were
worked
through the prayers of Saint Winefred at her tomb.
Winefred was the daughter of Trevith, one of the chief advisers of the
king
of
North Wales. Through her mother she is related to the Welsh saint Beuno, a
holy
priest. Her parents put her under instruction with this holy man, from
whom
she
learned the heavenly doctrine with great eagerness.
She grew daily in virtue and desired to shun all earthly things so that
she
might devote herself entirely to God. With the consent of her parents, she
consecrated herself entirely to God by a vow of virginity, choosing Jesus
Christ
as her Spouse.
Tradition says that a prince of that country named Caradoc (Caradog of
Hawarden
or Penarlag or Tegeingl in Flint****re) fell violently in love with her.
One
day
finding her alone in the house where she was preparing things for use at
the
altar, her parents having already gone to Mass, he tried to seduce her.
Winefred
told him she was already espoused to another, but he would not leave her
alone.
Sensing his evil designs she excused herself on the plea that she must
first
adorn herself more becomingly. When she was free of him she escaped
through
her
own chamber at the rear of the house and fled toward the church with all
speed.
The prince, tired of waiting and suspecting some kind of deceit, looking
out
of
the house saw a figure hurrying along the valley.
Violently angry at being deceived, he mounted his horse but was not able
to
overtake Winefred until she reached the door of the church. He was so
angry
that
he raised his sword and struck her before she could enter. Hearing the
tumult
outside, Saint Beuno and her parents came out immediately, to find their
dying
child lying slain before them at their feet.
The saint cursed the slayer, some writers saying that the ground opened
and
swallowed him up. The saint then praying to God, restored Winefred to life
again. It was on this spot where her blood had flowed that a fountain
gushed
forth from the ground. On account of this blood-shedding she was always
regarded
as a martyr, though she lived for many years thereafter.
The spot became known as Holywell, a place of pilgrimage for many
succeeding
ages, even to the present. After the death of Saint Beuno, having taken
the
veil, Saint Winefred went to live at the convent she established at
Guthurin
(Gwytherin in Denbig****re); there, with other holy virgins, she gave her
life to
God. (Another version says she succeeded Abbess Tenoi at the convent of a
double
monastery already on the site.)
She died on June 24. In the 12th century (1138), her relics were taken
from
Guthurin to Shrewsbury and deposited with great honor in the Benedictine
Abbey,
founded there some 50 years earlier. Her cultus spread to England as well.
Miracles were attested at Guthurin, Shrewsbury, as well as at Holywell
(a.k.a.
Treffynnon, Welltown).
Her story was recorded by a monk named Elerius as early as 660. It can be
safely
said, however, from the names of her contem****aries, that she lived and
died
in
the first half of the 7th century, about the same time as Saint Eanswith
of
Kent
(Murray).
At Holywell such vast quantities of water spring without interruption that
it is
estimated 24 tons are raised every minute, or 240 tons in less than 10
minutes.
The water is always clear as crystal.
In 1131 the Cistercians founded a monastery at Basingwerk nearby, which
was
enriched by Henry II. At that time the monks probably had charge of the
well,
though the spot was a place of pilgrimage long before that time.
No place was more famous for pilgrimages in the age of faith, where the
divine
mercy was implored through the intercession of Saint Winefred, who at that
spot
had glorified God and sanctified her own soul.
Many extraordinary physical cures of leprosy, skin diseases, and other
ailments
are recorded up to the time of the Reformation. Many authentic records of
cures
during the 17th century are also extant, so that the people still made
pilgrimages there.
Part of the beautiful Gothic building erected by Henry VII and his mother,
the
Countess of Derby, still remains. The people never forgot this holy place
or
the
saint whom they invoked. During the last century the pilgrimages were
revived.
There is now a beautiful Catholic church adjoining the well.
Pilgrimages to Saint Winefred's Well persisted after the Reformation, and
they
do to this day. Two poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins are devoted to this
saint.
In art Winefred is depicted as a Celtic maiden with a sword, fountain at
her
feet, and red ring around her neck where her head has been severed and
restored.
Sometimes she is shown with her head being restored by Saint Beuno, at
others as
an abbess with a ring around her neck, standing near the fountain
(Roeder).
She is venerated at Holywell, Wales. Reputed as abbess of Gwytherin,
Denbigh****re. Saint Beuno, Abbot, is chiefly venerated at Clynnog,
Carnarvon****re (d. 630, AC April 21).
Saint Quote:
Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom
you
are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one
another,
and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He
can.
--Blessed Mary MacKillop
Bible Quote:
19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the
prudence of
the prudent I will reject. 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe?
Where
is
the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this
world?
(1 Cor. 19:20)
<><><><>
Prayer
How lovely, O God, are Thy tabernacles! My soul longeth and fainteth for
Thy
courts, O living God, Who art the crown and reward of the saints, and
repayest
their sufferings and sorrows in this world with eternal joy. How blessed
are
all
they who, in this life, have served Thee faithfully! They behold Thee and
the
Lamb of God face to face; they bear Thy name on their foreheads, and reign
with
Thee forever. We therefore beseech Thee, O God, through their intercessor,
to
grant us Thy grace to serve Thee after their example, in sanctity and
justice;
to follow them in poverty, humility, meekness, repentance, in ardent
longing
for
all virtues, in peace-making and patience, and one day, like them, to
share
in
the joys of heaven. Amen.
Goffine's Devout Instructions
|
