Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?September_9th_=E2=80=93_Saint_Bettelin_of_Croyland?= To : All From : rich Date : Sat Sep 08 2018 10:12:35 From: rich September 9th =E2=80=93 Saint Bettelin of Croyland (also known as Beccelin, Bertelin, Berthelm, Bertram, Bethlin, Bethelm) 8th century. Saint Bettelin, a disciple of Saint Guthlac, was a hermit who practiced the most austere penances and lived a life of continual prayer in the forest near Stafford, England. He received counsel from his master on his deathbed and was present at his burial. After the death of Guthlac, Bettelin and his companions continued to live at Croyland under Kenulphus, its first abbot. There are unreliable legends about Bettelin, including a later one that he had to overcome temptation to cut Guthlac's throat while shaving him. They also say that Bettelin was the son of a local ruler who fell in love with a princess during a visit to Ireland. On their return to England, she died a terrible death. He left her in the forest when she was overcome by labor pains, while he had gone in search of a midwife. During his absence she was torn to pieces by ravenous wolves. Thereafter, Bettelin became a hermit. Another legends relates that Saint Bettelin left his hermitage to drive off invaders with the help of an angel, before returning to his cell to die. Some of his relics may have been translated to Stafford before the plunder and burning of Croyland by the Danes. He is the patron of Stafford, in which his relics were kept with great veneration (Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer, Husenbeth). Also see longer version found at: http://www.newmanreader.org/works/saints/bettelin.html Saint Quote: If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. -- Saint Francis of Assisi Bible Quote: "One body and one Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one Baptism" (Eph 4:5) <><><><> THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL (Imprimatur 1946) 16th Day THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER FOR THE SUFFERING SOULS "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins." (2 Mach. xii. 46) Prayer for the dead is holy, because pleasing to God; wholesome, because, through the merciful goodness of God it accomplishes its sublime and charitable object. Nothing is so pleasing to God as the sacrifice of love and mercy, especially when offered for the suffering souls, whom He loves most tenderly, because they are holy and sure of Heaven. To relieve the suffering souls we can do scarcely anything more salutary than to gain indulgences applicable to them, offering to God the perfect satisfaction of Christ and the saints, and performing good works in their behalf, that they may be comforted or entirely delivered from the pains of Purgatory. A suffering soul may receive an entire or a temporary remission of her penalty, in accordance with the indulgence applied, being either plenary or partial. Prayer: Open, O Lord! the rich treasures of Thy holy Church, in favor of the souls in Purgatory that they may receive full pardon, or, at least some relief in their pains; and grant us grace to deliver and to comfort a great number of suffering souls by prayer and good works. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Special Intercession: Pray for the souls, who, during their earthly career, endeavored to gain many indulgences for the faithful departed. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them; may they rest in peace. Amen. (3 times) Practice: Apply all the indulgences you can gain to the souls in Purgatory. Invocation: My Jesus, mercy! --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .