Subj : December 3rd - St. Berinus of Dorchester To : All From : rich Date : Sun Dec 02 2018 08:38:22 From: rich December 3rd - St. Berinus of Dorchester Also known as Birinus of Genoa Apostle of Wessex Berin of=E2=80=A6. Birin of=E2=80=A6. Frankish priest, born c.600. Died 3 December 650 at Dorchester. Birinus was probably a Frank, consecrated a bishop by Archbishop Asterius in Genoa. In 634, he was sent by Pope Honorius I to convert the pagan people of Mercia. He landed at Portchester (Hampshire) and moved up through the Christian Celts of Hampshire to Silchester (Hampshire). Before he reached Mercia though, he encountered the pagan Saxons of the Thames Valley. Finding them greatly in need of Christian teaching, he decided to stay and was directed to the King's estate on the Berkshire Downs, probably at Cholsey (Berkshire). Here he met King Cynegils of Wessex who chose Churn Knob (Blewbury, Berkshire) as the site for the saint's first sermon. He must have thought this ancient pagan place to be a fine spot to intimidate the newcomer. However, Birinus was unperturbed and even managed to persuade the King of the merits of Christianity. Cynegils allowed Birinus to preach throughout his Kingdom, but it took a while before he himself was totally converted. The King was, at the time, desperately trying to finalise an alliance with the powerful King Oswald of Northumbria. Together he hoped they could defeat the hated Mercians. Cynegils arranged negotiations at his palace in Easthampstead (Berkshire), and the King of Northumbria traveled down to meet him. On reaching Finchampstead (Berkshire), the King became thirsty and prayed for water. The Holy Dozell's (or St. Oswald's) Well instantaneously sprang up and flowed fresh water. At the Royal talks, the only sticking point was that Oswald was a Christian and would not ally himself to any pagan. So the King of Wessex decided it was time to be baptised into this new church. Oswald agreed the alliance could then be cemented by the marriage of his daughter and the southern King. Birinus was sent for and, at the nearby Fountain Garth (Bracknell, Berkshire), Cynegils was baptised immediately. The bishop was given the old Roman town of Dorcic (Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire) in which to build himself a cathedral, and the Royal party travelled north to examine the site. On the way many of the Royal courtiers also expressed a desire to become Christian, so at the Brightwell (Berskhire) crossing of the Thames near Dorchester, Birinus arranged for a large proportion of his Court to be baptised en mass. The King's son, Cwichelm, resisted at first, but he was eventually converted to Christianity the following year. King Cynegils died in 643 and, about five years later, the new King, Cenwalh, invited Birinus to establish an important minster at Winchester. Other churches in Wessex have a lesser claim to a Birinian foundation: St. Mary's, Reading (Berkshire); St. Helen's, Abingdon (Berkshire) and the parish church of Taplow (Buckinghamshire), where the saint is said to have bapised the local Saxons in Bapsey Pond. These were the beginnings of the See of Wessex. Birinus became its first Bishop and remained so until his death in 649. His shrine at Dorchester became a great place of pilgrimage, but controversy later arose when the Bishop moved his seat to Winchester and claimed to have taken the body of Birinus with him. Winchester Cathedral still has his relics. Birinus had great devotion for the Body of Our Lord, as is shown in the account of his walking on the sea to procure the corporal given him by Pope Honorius, wherein he ever carried the Blessed Eucharist. Many miracles took place at the discovery of Birinus's relics, and Huntingdon among others speaks of "the great miracles of Birin". At present, there is a growing devotion to him in the Established Church, due probably to the connection of the British royal family with Cedric, a side branch of whose stock was Cynegils. <><><><> Daily Thoughts and Prayers for Our Beloved Dead "Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me" Job. 19-21. 12th DAY They are not strangers who implore our help--they are our own; our parents, brothers and friends. They are the devoted hearts who loved us so tenderly and for us so earnestly toiled and suffered. Now that they are gone from our midst, does not our heart reproach us for not having sufficiently shown our affection in the past? Prayers:=C2 Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis. De Profundis =C2 =C2 Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice. =C2 =C2 Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. =C2 =C2 If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark my iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand it? =C2 =C2 For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord. =C2 =C2 From the morning watch even until night; let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy; And with Him plenteous redemption. =C2 =C2 And He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities. =C2 =C2 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, And let perpetual light shine upon them: =C2 =C2 May they rest in peace. Amen. O Lord Jesus Christ, have compassion on Thy Church suffering.=C2 Temper Thy justice with pity and open the gates of Heaven for the Souls in Purgatory, that they may praise and glorify Thee forever. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .