- Psalm 61:8 -
Then will I ever sing praise to your name
and fulfill my vows day after day.
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David made a vow to praise God each day. He continually praised God
through
both the good and difficult times of his life. Do you find something to
praise God for each day? As you do, you will find your heart elevated from
daily distractions to lasting confidence.
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December 12th - St. Finian (Finan) of Clonard
St. Finian, "The Master of the Saints of Ireland" was born in the latter
part of the fifth century, at Myshal in County Carlow, on the slopes of
Mount Leinster. His father was Rudraigh, an Ulsterman of noble lineage.
His
mother was a Leinster woman called Telach. At an early age he was placed
under the care of St. Fortchern. This serious induction into the Christian
Church awakens in him a hunger for more learning that drives him across
the
sea to Britain, and then further afield to France.
St. Martin's famous monastery at Tours is his first point of landing, and
his experiences there shape his idea of religious life. Tours is noted for
its austerity, for its sacrifice of physical comfort for spiritual gain.
Finian finds himself at home in this environment, and begins a lifetime of
austere monastic discipline. After a time of study at Tours, Finian was
directed by St. Fortchern to proceed to Wales to perfect himself in
holiness
and sacred knowledge under the great saints of that country. Here, Finian
continued his studies at the monastery of Cadog the Wise, at Llancarfan in
Glamorgan****re. He remains there for years, at prayer and study, growing
in
strength of spirit.
After a long sojourn there, thirty years according to some sources, Finian
at long last returns to his native land of Ireland, moving about from
place
to place, preaching, teaching, and founding churches. He comes first to
Aghowle in County Wicklow at the foot of Sliabh Condala, where Oengus, the
king of Leinster, has no hesitation in granting him a site there. But
Finian
is a driven man, and he travels north to Dunmanogue on the river Barrow,
where he establishes another church. From there, he goes to the town of
Kildare, to study and teach at St Brigid's monastery. He is held in high
regard by Brigid, but he is still not settled where God wants him to be,
and
Finian is led by an angel to Cluain Eraird (Clonard), which he was told
would be the place of his resurrection. Brigid presents him with a gold
ring
on his departure.
Clonard is situated on the beautiful river Boyne, just beside the boundary
line of the northern and southern halves of Ireland, but was little more
than a wasteland at that time. There were no secular authorities to be
negotiated with, and Finian could simply commandeer as large a swath of
land
as he deems necessary. Instead he built a little cell and a church of clay
and wattle, and continued his life of study, mortification, and prayer.
The
fame of his learning and sanctity was soon noted abroad, and scholars of
all
ages flocked from every side to his monastic retreat-young laymen and
clerics, abbots and bishops, and those illustrious saints who were
afterwards known as the "Twelve Apostles of Erin". Those who live with him
must live like him, and he is well known for his intolerance of
self-indulgence. He himself sleeps on a cold floor, resting his head on a
stone, and at all times, wears a girdle of iron as a penance for his body.
As the foundation grew, the clay church gave way to a substantial stone
structure, and in the Office of St. Finian it is stated that there were no
fewer than 3000 pupils getting instruction at one time in the school in
the
green fields of Clonard under the broad canopy of heaven. The master
excelled in exposition of the Sacred Scriptures, and the extraordinary
popularity which his lectures enjoyed was widely attributed to his
biblical
scholar****p. His gift for teaching, his ability to impress the great and
good, and his absolute dedication to the ascetic ideal, inspired a whole
generation. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise and Columcille of Iona are among the
many
to have trained under him. They and many others took seeds of knowledge
from
Finian's monastery at Clonard, and planted them abroad with great success.
Towards the end of his life, Finian was struck down by plague, and moved
out
of Clonard to prevent infection to others. He went to nearby Ross
Findchuill, singing Psalm 132, "Here shall I rest". One of his last acts
was
to receive communion from his former pupil, Columb son of Crimhthan, and
then, at one with his life and Lord, departed this world. The exact date
of
the saint's death is uncertain, but it was probably 552, and his
burial-place is in his own church of Clonard, which for centuries after
his
death continued to be renowned as a seat of Scriptural learning.
This Version Taken From:
http://www.allsaintsbrookline.org/celtic/saints/finian.html
Saint Quote
Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment
and
in suffering for the Beloved.
--St. John of the Cross
Bible Quote:
8 But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold
they
that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. 9 But what
went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10
For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy
face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. (Matthew 11:8-10)
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ASPIRATIONS FOR THE DYING
[To be pronounced in the presence of a dying person]
O God, be gracious to me; O God, have mercy on me;
O God, forgive me my sins!
O God the Father, have mercy on me;
O Jesus, be gracious to me;
O Holy Spirit, strengthen me!
O God the Father, do not reject me; O Jesus, do not
abandon me; O God the Holy Spirit, do not forsake me!
O my God, into Thy hands I commend my spirit;
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! O Jesus,
Son of Mary, have mercy on me!
O Jesus, I believe in Thee; O Jesus I hope in Thee;
O Jesus, I love Thee!
O Jesus, I place all my trust in Thy bitter Passion!
O Jesus, in Thy Sacred Wounds I hide myself!
O Jesus, I enclose myself in Thy Sacred Heart!
Holy Mary, Mother of God, assist me!
Holy Mary, protect me from the evil spirit!
Holy Mary, turn thine eyes of mercy upon me!
O Mary, Mother of mercy, obtain grace for me
from thy dear Son!
Come to my aid, O Mary, in this my anguish and need!
O Mary, enclose me in thy virginal Heart!
O Mary, commend me to thy Son, present me to thy
Son, reconcile me with thy Son!
St. Joseph, obtain for me grace and mercy!
St. Joseph, assist me in my struggle against the enemy
of my salvation!
St. Joseph, to thee do I entrust my soul: do thou save it
for me!
St. Joseph, remember me, and obtain mercy for me!
O holy Guardian Angel, do not abandon me, but
combat for me and preserve me from the evil one!
My dear Patron Saints, pray for me!
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, into Thy hands I commend my spirit!
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