Subj : July 24th - St. Declan of Ardmore To : All From : rich Date : Mon Jul 23 2018 10:10:24 From: rich July 24th - St. Declan of Ardmore, Bishop & Abbot St. Declan, son of Erc, chief of the Desii, was born at the beginning of the fifth century near Lismore, Co. Waterford. As a young boy he was sent to fosterage with a certain Dimma, who is said to have been a foreigner and a Christian. While under Dimma's guardianship, Declan was converted and baptised by one of the several Irish saints named Colman. After leaving Dimma, Declan went to Rome, where he studied for the priesthood and was later consecrated bishop. On his return to Ireland, he established a monastic community at Ardmore and was later confirmed in this office by St. Patrick himself. Declan was well known as an active missionary in Ireland prior top the coming of St. Patrick, the great organiser of Irish Christianity. Many miracles are attributed to the intervention of St. Declan. He is credited, in particular, with having arrested a serious plague by his prayers and fasting. He is reputed to have been a very close friend of St. David (patron saint of Wales) and, perhaps more importantly, to have been on very good terms with Aengus, king of Munster. His influence, therefore, would have been considerable. According to tradition, Declan made a miraculous return from Rome by crossing the sea on a large flagstone. Popular belief has it that this flagstone ran aground at Ardmore, where he decided to establish his monastery. To this day the flagstone is pointed out by the locals on the popular beach at Ardmore. St. Declan's day is still actively celebrated by the Ardmore parishioners on 24 July. Until recent times it was the custom, on this day, for those suffering from back ailments to crawl under the flagstone as a method of obtaining relief. One 19th century commentator, however, voiced a certain amount of disapproval of the practice on the grounds that participating ladies would, of necessity, reveal their ankles in the process. Such a display could, conceivably, lead the onlooking menfolk into temptation! The described treatment for backache, however, was said to have been ineffective if the patient had anything borrowed or stolen on his/her person at the time. Legend has it that he knocked on a woman's door and asked for a drink of water. She replied: "Unfortunately, I haven't a drop of water in the house. I have to draw it. You will have to walk a long distance from here to get fresh water. I have to draw it, myself, all the way!" The saint was filled with pity for the poor woman, as he replied, "Soon, you won't have too far to travel for water". He urged himself on but had to lie down on the slope of Toor mountain not far from Aglish. He stretched out his weary limbs and threw out one arm on the grass. Suddenly, he felt water oozing from the patchy grass between his fingers. It was the origin of a lovely fresh mountain stream. The water trickled down the mountain of Toor and formed a stream. This stream flows today, to St. Declan's Holy Well by Toor mountain. Very many cures have been reported from this Holy Well (which was restored in 1951) but the water is said to be particularly beneficial to those suffering from diseases of the eyes, sprains, and rheumatism. Each year, the week including his feast day is known as "Pattern Week". Pilgrims still come to pray at the site of Declan's church on the headland of Ardmore, adjacent to the round tower which is in an excellent state of preservation . St. Declan died in the latter half of the fifth century. He was laid to rest in his beloved Ardmore, and his burial place is marked by the ruins of an oratory built over his grave. The Irish Life of Saint Declan of Ardmore http://www.ccel.org/d/declan/life/declan.html The Round Tower of St. Declan's Cathedral (12th. century) http://www.vitruvio.ch/arc/ingrandimenti/g_stdeclans.htm Troparion of St Declan tone 4 Thou wast a bright light in Ireland before the days of Saint Patrick,/ O holy Father Declan./ Thou didst travel in Europe and return to found a monastery/ where thou wast ever kind to the poor./ We praise thee, O glorious Hierarch. Saint Quote: I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God. --Saint Dominic Savio Bible Quote That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter. For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities. (2 Corinthians 4-5) <><><><> The thoughts of man are vain and useless The thoughts of man, says the Scripture, are vain and useless, if, in them, he does not apply his mind to know and to love God, to forget and to hate himself. The simple and lively faith of a soul which believes all that God teaches, without examination or hesitation, and performs all that He requires for the attainment of salvation, is preferable to all divine and human sciences, which, of themselves, without such a faith, only fill the mind with pride, leave the heart dry, and avail naught for salvation. Prayer: Moderate, O Jesus, my eagerness to know so much, and correct my negligence in doing so little for salvation, since Thou wilt not judge me according to what I have known, but by what I have done, or neglected to do, to obtain it. Can I apply my thoughts to know Thee thoroughly, and not admire and love Thee? And can I truly know myself, and not despise and hate myself? O life unknown! life hidden in Jesus Christ, in God! what an excellent means art thou of sanctification and salvation, yet how little art thou practiced amongst Christians! Grant, O Lord, that all may know, esteem, and love it, and be directed by it. Amen. --Thomas =C3 Kempis, From the Imitation of Christ --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .