Subj : July 4th - Saint Bertha of Blangy To : All From : rich Date : Sat Jul 03 2021 10:29:21 From: rich July 4th - Saint Bertha of Blangy (644-723) Saint Bertha, born in France in the year 644, was the daughter of Count Rigobert, who served in the court of Clovis II, and Ursanna, daughter of the king of Kent in England. In the twentieth year of her age this beautiful and pious maiden was married to the cousin of the king, the noble Sigfried, who was determined to advance with his spouse along the paths of Christian perfection. They were blessed with five daughters, of whom two died in infancy; two others, Gertrude and Deotila, are canonized Saints like their mother. After several years of the most harmonious union, Sigfried died in 672, and Saint Bertha took the veil in a monastery which by divine instructions she built at Blangy in the district of Artois. The monastery was solemnly consecrated in January of the year 682, and the holy widow endowed it with her terrains. Her daughters Gertrude and Deotila, greatly impressed by their mother's act, soon followed her example. She was persecuted by Roger, or Rotgar, a young lord of the court of King Thierry III, who was furious over her refusal to give him Gertrude, already a professed religious, in marriage. He endeavored to slander her mother as being opposed to the succession of Thierry and involved with the English royalty in a conspiracy. The King sent for the Abbess to defend her cause, not sure that such conduct could be attributed to this holy woman. He took her in fact under his protection, and the persecution was halted. On her return to Blangy, Bertha had three churches built, to honor Saint Omer, Saint Vaast, and Saint Martin of Tours, and completed the construction of her convent. And then, after establishing the Rule of Saint Benedict and a regular observance in her community, she named Saint Deotila to replace her as abbess, and retired to a solitary cell to spend the remainder of her days in prayer. At the age of 79, having already buried her two daughters Deotila and Emma, she left Gertrude as Abbess in the monastery of Blangy, and died peacefully in the year 723. Sources: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Gu=C3=A9rin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 8; Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Saint Quote: He who would climb to a lofty height must go by steps, not leaps. --Pope St. Gregory the Great Bible Quote: He that is good, shall draw grace from the Lord: but he that trusteth in his own devices, doth wickedly. Man shall not be strengthened by wickedness: and the root of the just shall not be moved.=C2 (Proverbs 12:2-3) DRB <><><><> Consecration to the Sacred Heart By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) Pope from 1878-1903 Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine and Thine we wish to be but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us, freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee, many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful, who have never forsaken Thee but also of the prodigal children, who have abandoned Thee, grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Be Thou, King of all those. who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people =E2=80=93 of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Saviour; may it now descend upon them, a laver of redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: =E2=80=9CPraise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honour forever.=E2=80=9D Amen --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .