How we should not Believe all we Hear  [III]

How wise was the holy soul (Saint Agatha) who said,'My mind is firmly established and grounded in Christ.' Were this true of myself, I
should never fear any man and no bitter words could disturb me. We
cannot foresee the future or provide against evils to come and if
things that we expect often harm us, how can unexpected events do
otherwise than seriously harm us? Why have I not made better provision
for my unfortunate self and why have I trusted so readily in others?
For we are but mortal men and nothing if not weak, even if many people
imagine and say that we are angels. There is none in whom I can trust,
Lord, save Yourself, who are the Truth and who neither deceives nor
can be deceived. But every man is deceitful, (Rom.3:4) weak, unstable
and fallible, especially in what he says so that we should not at once
believe even what at first appears to be true.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 45

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February 23rd - St. Boisil, Abbot, Prophet
(Also known as Boswell)

Died c. 664.
 Saint Boisil was the prior of the famous abbey of Melrose
(Mailross), situated on the Tweed River in a great forest in
Northumberland, while Saint Eata was abbot. Both were English youths
trained in monasticism by Saint Aidan.

Saint Bede says that Boisil was a man of sublime virtues, imbued with
a prophetic spirit. His eminent sanctity drew Saint Cuthbert to
Melrose rather than to Lindisfarne in his youth. It was from Boisil
that Cuthbert learned the sacred scriptures and virtue.

Saint Boisil had the holy names of the adorable Trinity ever on his
lips. He repeated the name Jesus Christ with a wonderful sentiment of
devotion, and often with such an abundance of tears that others would
weep with him. With tender affection he would frequently say, "How
good a Jesus we have!" At the first sight of Saint Cuthbert, Boisil
said to bystanders, "Behold a servant of God!"

Bede produces the testimony of Saint Cuthbert, who declared that
Boisil foretold to him the chief things that afterwards happened to
him. Three years beforehand he foretold of the great pestilence of
664, and that he himself should die of it, but that Eata the abbot
should survive.

In addition to continually instructing his brothers in religion,
Boisil made frequent excursions into the villages to preach to the
poor and to bring straying souls on to the paths of truth and life. He
was also known for his aid to the poor.

Again, Boisil told Cuthbert, recovering from the plague, "You see,
brother, that God has delivered you from this disease, nor shall you
ever feel it again, nor die at this time; but my death being at hand,
neglect not to learn something from me so long as I shall be able to
teach you, which will be no more than seven days." So Cuthbert asked,
"And what will be best for me to read which may be finished in seven
days." To which Boisil replied, "The Gospel of Saint John, which we
may in that time read over, and confer upon as much as shall be
necessary."

Having accomplished the reading in seven days, the man of God, Boisil,
became ill and died in extraordinary jubilation of soul, out of his
earnest desire to be with Christ.

During his life he repeatedly instructed his brothers, "That they
would never cease giving thanks to God for the gift of their religious vocation; that they would always watch over themselves against
self-love and all attachment to their own will and private judgment,
as against their capital enemy; that they would converse assiduously
with God by interior prayer, and labor continually to attain to the
most perfect purity of heart, this being the true and short road to
the perfection of Christian virtue."

Bede relates that Saint Boisil continued after his death to interest
himself particularly in obtaining divine mercy and grace for his
country and his friends. He appeared twice to one of his disciples,
giving him a charge to assure Saint Egbert, who had been hindered from preaching the Gospel in Germany, that God commanded him to repair the monasteries of Saint Columba on Iona and in the Orkneys, and to
instruct them in the right manner of celebrating Easter.

The relics of Boisil were translated to Durham, and deposited near
those of his disciple, Saint Cuthbert, in 1030 (Benedictines, Delaney, Husenbeth).


Saint Quote:
Let us then cast ourselves at the feet of this good Mother, and
embracing them let us not depart until she blesses us, and accepts us
for her children.
--Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Father and Doctor of the Church

Bible Quote:
"When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom."
(Proverbs 11:2)


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Patience

Patience is a virtue of the Lord:
He awaits the return of His children.
Forgive my trespasses Oh Lord Jesus,
For many times have I tested You.
I deserved the wrath of Your hand,
But You saw greater things for me:
Your patience has been enormous!
Grant me a droplet of such endurance,
That I may abolish my impious impatience,
Refraining from using unpleasant words,
And always reflecting Your serenity.
Great is the Lord Jesus in His ways!

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