Subj : January 19th - St. Nathalan of Aberdeen, Bishop
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Sat Jan 18 2020 06:49:03

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

January 19th - St. Nathalan of Aberdeen, Bishop

Born near Aberdeen (Tullicht?), Scotland; died 678.

Saint Nathalan's name is included in ancient Irish martyrologies, such
as that of Aengus. The Aberdeen breviary records that Nathalan was a
nobleman, who possessed a large estate which he gave to the poor in
order to become an anchorite. Nathalan is especially praised for
having earned his living by farming, "which approaches nearest to
divine contemplation." He fed his neighbours from his produce during
times of famine, and found that farming served him as a type of
penance.

During his pilgrimage to Rome, Nathalan was consecrated bishop by the
pope, because of his holiness and proficiency in profane and sacred
learning. He took up residence at Tullicht (now in the diocese of
Aberdeen), where he built a church, but he continued to use all his
revenues for the relief of the poor as he had previously. He continued
to earn his livelihood by the work of his hands, while living
austerely, and preaching the Gospel. He is also credited with founding
the churches at Bothelim and Colle.

His story has elements of folklore, which resembles that of several
other saints from this part of the world=E2=80=94but with a difference. A
sudden storm interfered with Nathalan's harvest, and he protested
against God. When he realized what he had done, he locked his hand and
leg together in irons and tossed away the key in the River Dee.

He vowed that his arm would never be free until he had made a
pilgrimage to Rome. Upon his arrival in the Eternal City, he met a boy
who offered him a fish for sale. He bought it and recovered the key
from the belly of the fish. It is said that when the pope heard of
this miracle, he determined to make him a bishop.

Many miracles were wrought at his tomb in Tullicht, where his relics
were preserved until the Reformation. It should be noted that the see
of Aberdeen had not yet been regularly established; it was first
erected at Murthlac by Saint Bean (f.d. October 26) at the beginning
of the 11th century, and transferred to Aberdeen by its fourth bishop,
Nectan (Attwater2, Benedictines, Coulson, Farmer, Husenbeth).


Saint Quote:
A man who has been assiduous in acquiring the fruits of love will not
cease loving even if he suffers a thousand calamities. Let Stephen,
the disciple of Christ, and others like him persuade you of the truth
of this (cf. Acts 7:60). Our Lord Himself prayed for His murderers and
asked the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they
were doing (cf. Luke 23:34).
--St. Maximos the Confessor

Bible Quote:
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of
you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb 3:13)


<><><><>
The Truth Speaks within Us without Noise of Words

 God speaks to the understanding by the light of His Spirit, and to
the heart by His holy inspirations. All that the Prophets deliver in
the Word of God, all the truths which preachers announce to us, cannot
enlighten the understanding nor touch the heart, if God Himself speak
not to us by the motions of His grace. We should therefore entreat the
Lord to speak to our interior while we exteriorly attend to or read
divine truths, for fear that hearing the word of God and not keeping
it, knowing His doctrines and not following them, conscious of His
will and not doing it we should become more and more culpable in His
sight.

Prayer: Speak to me, O Lord, speak in such a manner to my soul that I
may hear and obey Thee. Make known to me Thy designs for my salvation
and enable me to execute them. Teach me and all Christians, O Jesus,
what Thou art to us, and what we ought to be to Thee. Instruct us in
the sacred maxims of Thy Gospel, and induce us to practice them, for
what will it avail us to believe Thy heavenly doctrines, if we
endeavor not to follow them, and to live, as well as to believe, as
becometh Christians? O eternal Word of the Father, by which He spoke,
and all things were made, speak to my soul, say to it, I am thy
salvation. Work in me to will and to do, and consummate my salvation.
Amen.
--Thomas =C3  Kempis, From the Imitation of Christ
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)

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