Subj : January 21st - St. Meinrad, Hermit To : All From : rich Date : Sun Jan 20 2019 07:33:44 From: rich January 21st - St. Meinrad, Hermit, Martyr As the patron and in some sense the founder of the famous abbey of Einsiedeln in Switzerland, one of the few which have preserved unbroken continuity since Carolingian times, St. Meinrad (Meginrat) cannot here be passed over. By birth he is supposed to have been connected with the family of the Hohenzollerns. He became a priest, entered the Benedictine abbey at Reichenau, and later on was given some teaching work beside the upper Lake of Zurich. His soul, however, pined for solitude, and for the opportunity of devoting himself entirely to contemplation. He consequently sought out a spot in a forest, and there, with the permission of his superiors, he settled about the year 829. The fame of his sanctity, however, brought him many visitors, and seven years later he found it necessary to move still farther south and farther from the abodes of men. The place where he finally took up his abode is now called Einsiedeln (i.e. Hermitage). There he lived for 25 years, carrying on a constant warfare with the Devil and the flesh, but favoured by God with many consolations. On January 21, 861, he was visited by two ruffians who had conceived the idea that he had treasure somewhere stored away. Though he knew their purpose, he courteously offered them food and hospitality. In the evening they smashed in his skull with clubs, but finding nothing, took to flight. The legend says that two ravens pursued them with hoarse croakings all the way to Zurich. By this means the crime was eventually discovered, and the two murderers burnt at the stake. The body of the saint was conveyed to Reichenau and there preserved with great veneration. Some forty years later Bl. Benno, a priest of noble Swabian family, went to take up his abode in St. Meinrad's hermitag= e at Einsiedeln. Though forced, much against his inclination, in 927 to accept the archbishopric of Metz, he returned to Einsiedeln later on, gathering round him a body of followers who eventually became the founders of the present Benedictine abbey. See the Acta Sanctorum for January 21, also the Life of St. Meinrad in MGH., Scriptores, vol. xv, pp. 445 seq. There are many modern accounts of St. Meinrad; see e.g. 0. Ringholz, Wallfahrtsgeschichte von U. L. Frau von Einsiedeln, pp. 1-6. The two ravens appear in the arms of Einsiedeln and are also used as the emblems of the saint. Saint Quote: Many appear full of mildness and sweetness as long as everything goes their own way; but the moment any contradiction or adversity arises, they are in a flame, and begin to rage like a burning mountain. Such people as these are like red-hot coals hidden under ashes. This is not the mildness which Our Lord undertook to teach us in order to make us like unto Himself. We ought to be like lilies in the midst of thorns, which, however they be pricked and pierced, never lose their sweet and gentle fragrance. -- St. Bernard Bible Quote: And giving thanks, broke and said: Take ye and eat: This is my body, which shall be delivered for you. This do for the commemoration of me. [1 Cor 11:24] DRB <><><><> Reflection and Prayer from the Imitation of Christ On Obedience =C2 =C2 We must not be satisfied with exteriorly submitting to obedie= nce and in things that are easy, but we must obey with our whole heart, and in things the most difficult. For the greater the difficulty, the greater also is the merit of obedience. Can we refuse to submit to man for God's sake, when God, for love of us, submits to man, even to H= is very executioners? =C2 =C2 Jesus Christ was willingly obedient during His whole life, an= d even unto the death of the Cross; and am I unwilling to spend my life in the exercise of obedience, and to make it my cross and my merit? Independence belongs to God, who has made man dependent upon others, that his subordination may be to him the means of his sanctification. I will therefore form myself upon the model of my submissive, dependent, and obedient Saviour, and dispose of nothing in myself, not even of my own will. Prayer: O my Saviour, Who, in obedience to Thy Father, wast conceived in the womb of Mary, Who didst go down to Nazareth, and wast subject to Thy parents for thirty years, Who wouldst be born and live, and die in obedience, induce us to follow Thine example, to obey Thee in all things in the persons of our superiors, who hold Thy place in our regard. Grant that, doing willingly what is ordained us, and endeavoring to believe it best, we may spend our whole lives in continual obedience, and thus secure for ourselves Thy grace in time, and Thy glory for all eternity. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .