On Bearing with the Faults of Others (III)
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We wish to see others severely reprimanded; yet we are unwilling to be
corrected ourselves. We wish to restrict the liberty of others, but
are not willing to be denied anything ourselves. We wish others to be
bound by rules, yet we will not let ourselves be bound. It is amply
evident, therefore, that we seldom consider our neighbor in the same
light as ourselves. Yet, if all men were perfect, what should we have
to bear with in others for Christ’s sake?
–Thomas à Kempis –Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 16
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October 8th – St. Keyne
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(c. 461- 505)
(Welsh-Cain, Latin-Caginus, English-Keyne)
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Properly called Cain, though commonly known as St. Keyne, this saintly
lady had a number of popular epithets: St. Cain Wyry (the Virgin),
Cain Breit (the Bright) or Ceinwen (the Fair). She was the daughter of
Brychan Brycheiniog, King of Brycheiniog in South Wales, a man of many
saintly children: by some accounts, 24 daughters besides sons. Keyne
was his most distinguished child. Many noble lords sought her hand in
marriage but, wishing to remain a virgin, she crossed the Severn to
find a wooded solitary abode. She travelled via Kentchurch, in
Herefordshire, and settled in a place where now stands the town of
Keynsham on the Avon in Somerset. It is said, however, that she was
warned by the local King that the area was swarming with serpents and
neither man nor beast could inhabit it. St. Keyne, addressing herself
to her heavenly spouse, obtained of him by the fervour of her prayer,
that all this poisonous brood should be changed into stones perfectly
resembling the winding of serpents. Today, these are considered to be
the fossilized remains of ammonites. A similar miracle is sometimes
recorded of St. Hilda.
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After living an austere and saintly life in Keynsham for some years,
St. Keyne made a pilgrimage to Dinsol which is traditionally said to
be St. Michael’s Mount, but was probably St. Keyne, near St. Neots.
She gave to the Cornish people here, a well which has the wonderful
property of conferring the chief domestic authority on husband or
wife, whichever first, after marriage, drinks of its waters. The
parish of Kenwyn near Truro is probably named after her. Keyne’s
nephew, St. Cadog, son of her sister, Gwladys, was surprised to find
her at Dinsol and tried to persuade her to return home with him. The
locals were opposed to this, but she did eventually follow him some
years later. Keyne made herself a small habitation at the foot of a
mountain in her native country, almost certainly at Llangeinor in
Glamorgan though possibly at Llangenny in Powys. She obtained, by her
prayers, a spring of water which was helpful in divers infirmities and
it remains at the former still. Here she stayed for many years and
finally died on 8th October 505, a gracious smile and a beautiful rosy
colour appearing on her face. She was buried there by St. Cadog.
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Saint Quote:
“On the Lord’s Day all worldly labor should cease and Christians
should give themselves up to prayer, so as to expiate by their prayers
on that day the faults committed during the week.”
—St. Gregory the Great (Pope, Doctor, 540-604)—”Instructions On
Christian Morality
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Bible Quotes:
“What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the
sabbath-day?” – 2 Esdras 13:17
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“Blessed is the man … that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it.” –
Isaias 56:2
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O Lord, Show Thy Mercy to Me
By St Jerome (347-419)
Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church
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O Lord, show Thy mercy to me
and gladden my heart.
I am like the man
on the way to Jericho,
who was overtaken by robbers,
wounded and left for dead.
O Good Samaritan,
come to my aid.
I am like the sheep which went astray.
O Good Shepherd,
seek me out and bring me home,
in accord with Thy will.
Let me dwell in Thy house
all the days of my life
and praise Thee,
forever and ever
with those who are there.
Amen.
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