Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?September_5th_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Bertinus_of_Sithiu?= To : All From : rich Date : Mon Sep 04 2017 10:00:36 From: rich September 5th =E2=80=93 St. Bertinus of Sithiu, OSB Abbot (RM) (also known as Bertin, Bercht) Born near Coutances, France; died at Sithiu, c. 709. Saint Bertinus, one of the greatest Benedictine abbots, became a monk at Luxeuil under Saint Waldebert, who had replaced the Rule of Saint Columban with that of Saint Benedict. His friend, Bishop Saint Omer, invited him and two companions, Saints Mommolinus and Bertrand, to Th=C3=A9rouanne to assist him in evangelizing among the Morini in the low-lying, marshy land near Pas-de-Calais in northern France. The trio persisted despite great physical hardships. They built the abbeys of Saint-Mommolinus and Sithiu. Bishop Omer appointed Mommolinus as abbot over both under the Rule of Saint Columban. When Mommolinus was consecrated bishop of Noyon about 661, Bertinus replaced him as abbot of Sithiu (called Saint-Bertin after his death) and built it into one of the great monastic, missionary, and agricultural centers of France. From there he spread the Gospel throughout the region. He was such an outstanding abbot that the monastery grew beyond its walls and spawned several new houses. Bertinus selected Saint Winnoc to establish one of these at Wormhoudt near Dunkirk. A church he built with Saint Omer near Sithiu in 663 later became the cathedral of the see of Saint Omer. The location of Saint-Bertin helped to spread his cultus into Britain. Anglo-Saxon and early Norman ecclesiastics often stopped there on their way to and from Rome. They carried devotion to him home. Bertinus's relics were restored to his abbey in 1052 after having been removed for safekeeping during the invasions of the Northmen (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer). In art, Saint Bertinus is portrayed as a Black Benedictine with a pastoral staff and a ship in his hand. The ship is his natural emblem because Sithiu was originally accessible only by water. He might also be shown as his soul is carried to heaven by angels (Roeder). Saint Quote: Go and exhort men to penance for the remission of their sins and for peace. You will find some among the faithful, mild and good, who will receive you with pleasure, and willingly listen to you; others, on the contrary, without religion, proud and violent, will censure you, and be very hostile to you; but make up your minds to bear all this with humble patience and let nothing alarm you. Be patient in tribulations, fervent in prayer, and fearless in labor. --St. Francis of Assisi Bible Quote Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a saviour. -- Isa. xlv. 8 <><><><> ON What Humility is Not [V] We are inclined sometimes to aim at a false humility and so to be hindered in our attainment of true humility. We must be on our guard against errors in this. Humility does not consist in shutting our eyes to the talents, ability, graces, and accomplishments that we possess. To do so is to refuse to acknowledge the good gifts that God had given us. If we have skill in music, in conversation, in painting, in languages, it is no humility to deny the fact. We ought to thank God for His goodness in bestowing upon us this talent. What is contrary to humility is to take the credit to ourselves, and to plume ourselves on what we have received from God. Humility does not consist in self-depreciation and in running ourselves down before others. This is often a cloak for pride. Sometimes its object is to obtain from others the praise we deny to ourselves; sometimes it is a marked expression of discontent. The continual song: "What a poor worm am I!" is very much opposed to the spirit of the Catholic Church, and to the cheerfulness that every Christian ought to show in his words. Nor does humility consist in, or even admit of discouragement. If we are discouraged, it generally means that we think more about our own success than about the glory of God. It means that we are not perfectly resigned; it means that our pride is wounded and our self-will thwarted, or that we have worldly motives in what we do, and seek honor from men and not from God. True humility is willing to fail in its projects if God so wills it. Examine yourself on these particulars, and see whether yours is true or false humility. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .