May 20th - St. Ethelbert
- From: "Traudel" <hildegard8@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 10:34:37 -0500
May 20th - St. Ethelbert
Date of birth unknown; d. 794; King of the East Angles, was, according to
the "Speculum Historiale" of Richard of Cirencester (d. about 1401), the son
of King Ethelred and Leofrana, a lady of Mercia. Brought up in piety, he was
a man of singular humility. Urged to marry, he declared his preference for a
life of celibacy, but at length consented to woo Altrida (Alfrida), daughter
of Offa, King of the Mercians. Leofrana foreboded evil and tried to dissuade
Ethelbert; but in spite of an earthquake, an eclipse of the sun, and a
warning vision, he proceeded from Bury St. Edmunds to Villa Australis, where
Offa resided. On his arrival Altrida expressed her admiration for Ethelbert,
declaring that Offa ought to accept him as suzerain. Cynethryth, the
queen-mother, urged by hatred of Ethelbert, so poisoned Offa's mind against
him, that he accepted the offer of a certain Grimbert to murder their guest.
Ethelbert, having come for an interview with Offa, was bound and beheaded by
Grimbert. The body was buried ignominiously, but, revealing itself by a
heavenly light, was translated to the cathedral at Hereford, where many
miracles attested Ethelbert's sanctity. The head was enshrined at
Westminster Abbey.
The "Chronicon" of John Brompton (fl. 1437) adds a few particulars: the body
with the head was first buried on the banks of the Lugg. On the third night
the saint commanded one Brithfrid, a nobelman, to convey his relics to
Stratus-way. During the journey the head fell out of the cart and healed a
man who had been blind for eleven years. Finally the body was entombed at
Fernley, the present Hereford. According to Brompton, Altrida became a
recluse at Croyland. Offa repented of his sin (Matthew of Paris represents
Offa as ignorant of the plot till after Ethelbert's murder), gave much land
to the martyr, "which the church of Hereford holds to the present day",
founded St. Albans and other monasteries, and made his historic pilgrimage
to Rome.
St. Ethelbert figures largely in the Missal, Breviary, and Hymnal of the Use
of Hereford. His feast is on 20 May. Thirteen English churches, besides
Hereford cathedral, are dedicated in honour of Ethelbert; and one of the
gateways of Norwich cathedral bears his name.
This Version taken from:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05553a.htm
Quote:
Resist your impatience faithfully, practicing, not only with reason, but
even against reason, holy courtesy and sweetness to all, but especially to
those who weary you the most.
-.St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote
14 Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. 15 Who, when
they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16
For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands upon them, and
they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17)
<><><><>
An Offering of the Holy Face Of Jesus Christ
Eternal Father, turn away Your angry gaze from all guilty people whose faces
have become unsightly in Your eyes. Look instead upon the face of Your
beloved Son, for this is the Face of Him in whom You are well pleased. We
now offer You this Holy Face, covered with shame and disfigured by bloody
bruises, in reparation for the crimes of our age, in order to appease Your
anger, justly provoked against us. Because Your divine Son, our redeemer,
has taken upon His head all the sins of His people that they might be
spared, we now beg of You, Eternal Father, to grant us mercy. - Amen.
.
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