Learning from the Saints
I had not realised that it was my turn to write an article for the magazine until a week before it was needed, so I have been exercised in my mind about what I should write.
It is October - the year already three quarters gone! - and in October the Church remembers a selection of "saints", people who have been valued for their qualities of holiness, generosity, wisdom and example. These include St Francis of Assisi, William Tyndale, St Denys, St Paulinus, St Wilfrid, Elizabeth Fry, Edith Cavell, Teresa of Avila, St Ignatius, St Luke, King Alfred, SS Simon and Jude, Martin Luther - and others I have not mentioned.
Living in a world which seems to have to come to terms with, and cope with, so much fear and greed and anger and violence, it is some consolation to look at the list of people whose example has been catalogued through the centuries, who have been admired and venerated for their wisdom and insights, their generosity and love.
Here is an excerpt from St Francis's Canticles to start the month:-
Praise to my Lord for Sister Water be;
Most useful, humble, precious, chaste is she.
Praise to my Lord for Brother Fire, so bright,
By whom thou dost illuminate the night;
For he is lively and most beautiful,
And most robust withal, and powerful.
Praised be my Lord and God for Mother Earth,
Who governs and sustains us; who gives birth
To all the many herbs and fruits that be,
And coloured flowers in rich variety.
Praised be my Lord for those who pardon wrong
For love of thee: enduring sorrow long,
Bearing their woes in peace - Blessed are they!
By the most high they shall be crowned one day.
Praised be my Lord for Sister Death, from whom
No living soul escapes. She brings the doom
Of endless woe to all who pass away
In guilt of mortal sin. But blessed they
Who die in doing thy most holy will.
To them the Second Death can bring no ill.
O praise and bless my Lord most thankfully,
And serve ye him with great humility.
And Martin Luther advises a friend who suffered from depression:
"When you are sad, and when melancholy threatens to get the upper hand, say ‘Arise! I must play a song unto the Lord on my regal (keyboard?), be it the Te Deum Laudamus or the Benedictus, for the scriptures teach us that it pleases Him to hear a joyful song and the music of stringed instruments."
Then begin striking the keys and singing in accompaniment, as David and Elisha did, until your sad thoughts vanish. If the devil returns and plants worries and sad thoughts in your mind, resist him manfully and say, "Begone, devil! I must now play and sing unto my Lord Christ!" The best thing you can do is to rap the devil on the nose at the very start.
When good people comfort you, my dear Matthias, learn to believe that God is speaking to you through them."
With love to you all,
Elizabeth.
Added: 1st October 2009 || Submitted by: Elizabeth Hartley.
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