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From : rich
Date : Thu Jun 13 2019 08:58:22

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

June 14th =E2=80=93 St. Joseph the Hymnographer B (AC)
=C2 (Also known as Joseph of the Studium)

Died c. 845-883.

The monk Saint Joseph of the Studium was a prolific hymn-writer. Born
of Christian parents in Sicily, he was obliged to flee with other
Christians during an invasion by the Saracens, and reaching
Thessalonica became a monk. Afterwards he migrated to Constantinople,
where he joined the famous monastery of the Studium. Here he found
himself a member of a distinguished Christian fellowship, led by
Theodore Studites, its abbot, who was one of the outstanding
Christians of his day; but when persecution reached the city, Theodore
was scourged and imprisoned, and Joseph took ship for Rome.

There followed a period of misfortune and adventure in small sailing
ships. A sea voyage in those days was fraught with peril, for methods
of navigation were extremely primitive, time and distance were
calculated by the position of the sun and stars, and travellers were
not only exposed to hazards of wind and weather, but were at the mercy
of pirates who waylaid them as they made their slow and cautious
progress round the coasts.

As his ship passed through the islands of the Ionian Sea, it was
captured by pirates, and all on board were taken to Crete as prisoners
and there became slaves. For many years Joseph lived in servitude, but
even as a slave he pursued his active ministry and converted many in
Crete to the Christian faith.

Finally, regaining his liberty, he resumed his journey to Rome, where
he was received with great kindness, and afterwards returned to
Constantinople. The rest of his life was lived in retreat and was
mainly devoted to the writing of hymns, so that he became known as
Joseph the Hymnographer. Among them was one which vividly describes
his experiences at sea:

Safe home, safe home in port!
Rent cordage, shattered deck,
Torn sails, provisions short,
And only not a wreck.

=C2 When we sing those words we can remember that they came from the
heart of a man who had known storm and shipwreck, and that they
reflect his own bitter suffering.

In another of his hymns, "O happy band of pilgrims," we also catch
echoes of his stormy pilgrimage: of the trials and sorrows which he
had known as a slave and an exile, and pointing to the greater agony
of "the Cross that Jesus carried."

Even in those last years, however, Joseph was not to be left in peace.
There came a day when once again he was called upon to suffer for
Christ, this time to die as a martyr. But, before the end, he shared
in a great missionary enterprise, for during his time in
Constantinople he was among those who inspired the first missionaries
to Russia.

I'm not absolutely sure that Joseph the Hymnographer is identical to
Joseph of the Studium who is also celebrated on this day. The dates
are approximately the same. Joseph the Hymnographer was the bishop of
Salonika and the brother of Theodore Studites. Both are cited as great
liturgical poets (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Gill).


Saint Quote:
How can it concern you to know of what stock I am? If you want to know
my religion, I will tell you--I am a Christian, and am bound by
Christian obligations. I am called Alban by my parents, and I worship
and adore the true and living God, who created all things.
--Saint Alban

Bible quote:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye
shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than
raiment?"=C2  =C2 (Mat 6:25)


<><><><>
For the Lord's Cleansing, Defense,
and Governance of the Church

May your continual pity, O Lord,
cleanse and defend Your Church; and,
because without you she cannot endure in safety,
may she ever be governed by Your bounty.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end.
=C2 Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)

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