- John 15:9-11 -
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my
love.
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed
my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that
my
joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
_____________________________________________________________
When things go well we feel elated. When hard****ps come, we sink into
depression. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of cir***stance. Joy
comes from a consistent relation****p with Jesus Christ. When our lives are
intertwined with his, he will help us walk through adversity without
sinking
into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive
highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us
level-headed,
no matter how high or low our cir***stances.
<<>><<>><<>>
October 27th - St. Otteran of Iona, Abbot
(Also known as Odhran, Oran)
Born in Britain; died c. 563. Otteran, abbot of Meath, was one of the 12
who
accompanied Saint Columba (f.d. June 9) to Iona. Other historians say that
Otteran was at Iona before Columba, based on the fact that the ancient
cemetery there is called Reilig Oran. He died soon after their arrival,
the
first of the monks from Ireland to die at Iona. Soon thereafter, Columba
saw
Otteran's soul ascending to heaven following a battle between angels and
devils [Irish toll houses?]. Otteran may have founded the monastery at
Leitrioch Odrain (Latteragh, Tipperary). He has given his name to Oronsay.
His feast is kept throughout Ireland (Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer,
Montague).
Saint Oran's Iona http://www.scot****storyonline.co.uk/oran.html
(with photograph)
St Orans Abbey built in the11th century has been rebuilt over time and was
completely restored in the 20th century. The oldest part is that of the
restored is St Oran's Chapel, to the south of the abbey on the right,
which
is plain and unadorned save for its splendid 11th-century Norman doorway.
It
is said that Columba was prevented from completing the building of the
original chapel until a living person had been buried in the foundations.
His friend Oran volunteered and was duly buried. Columba later asked for
the
face to be uncovered so that he could bid a final farewell to his friend,
but Oran was found to be alive and claimed he had seen Heaven and Hell,
describing them in such blasphemous terms that Columba ordered he be
covered
up immediately!
Surrounding the chapel is the Reilig Odhrain, the sacred burial ground,
which is said to contain the graves of 48 Scottish kings, including
Macbeth's victim, Duncan, as well as four Irish and eight Norwegian kings.
The stones you see today are not the graves of kings but of various
im****tant people from around the West Highlands and Islands. The most
recent
is that of John Smith, leader of the British Labour Party from 1992 until
his untimely death in 1994.
Beside the Road of the Dead, which leads from the abbey church to St
Oran's
Chapel, stands the eighth-century St Martin's Cross. This is the finest of
Iona's Celtic high crosses and is remarkably complete, with the Pictish
serpent-and-boss decoration on one side and holy figures on the other.
Standing in front of the abbey entrance is a replica of St John's Cross,
the
other great eighth-century monument. The restored original is in the
Infirmary Museum, at the rear of the abbey, along with a fine collection
of
medieval gravestones.
No part of St Columba's original buildings survives, but to the left of
the
main entrance is St Columba's Shrine, the small, steep-roofed chamber
which
almost certainly marks the site of the saint's tomb. You get a good view
of
the whole complex from the top of the small grassy knoll opposite the
abbey
entrance. This is Torr an Aba, where Columba's cell is said to have been.
The Abbey itself has been carefully restored to its original beautiful
simplicity and inside, in a side chapel, are marble effigies of the eighth
Duke of Argyll and his third wife, Duchess Ina.
Troparion of St Otteran tone 8
O Father Otteran, thou wast the first/
among the saintly Columba's disciples to repose/
and be laid to rest in the blessed soil of Iona./
As in thy life thou didst live only for Christ/
we pray thee to intercede for us that we may
follow thee into the way of salvation.
Saint Quote:
God loves our neighbors so much that He gave His life for them; and He is
glad even to have us leave Him to do them good. How grateful to Him,
then,
may we believe the services we render them! Ah, if we understood well how
im****tant is this virtue of the love of our neighbor, we should give
ourselves entirely to the pursuit of it.
-St. Teresa
Bible Quote
Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not
gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.
(Ecclesiasticus 31:8)
<><><><>
MARY, GUARDIAN OF THE FLOWERS
In a garden of souls stands a Lady so fair,
She caresses each petal growing weak from despair,
Breathes the strength down upon them,
Brings the waters of life,
Feeds the plants that have weakened
From the earth's constant strife.
The flowers spread out in colors profuse,
Each a bud a fair promise of heavenly use.
Tender hands take the bent stalk
Grown weak from the flight,
From the darkness of soil that has shut out the light.
Turned the blossoming petal with soft tender hands,
To face up to the Light that ****nes down from His land
Sprinkles stardust to cover the flowers with grace
As they grow on the path
That leads straight to the place.
Where the fairest of Flowers sits next to Her Son,
As She welcomes you all
From a mission well done!
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