Hildi
2006-03-27 17:47:11 UTC
March 27th - St. Gelasius of Armagh B (AC)
(Also known as Giolla Iosa, Gioua-Mac-Liag)
Died March 27, 1174. Son of the Irish poet Diarmaid, Saint Gelasius (meaning
`servant of Jesus') was the learned abbot of Derry for 16 years. He was
consecrated bishop of Armagh c. 1138, when Saint Malachy resigned and served
as primate of Ireland until 1174. During his long episcopacy Gelasius had
to deal with the events before and after the Norman invasion, including the
alleged Donation of Ireland by Pope Adrian IV to Henry II of England,
Henry's arrival in Ireland in 1171, and Pope Alexander III's confirmation of
everything granted by Adrian IV.
He reconstructed the Cathedral of Armagh, and, in 1162, consecrated Saint
Laurence O'Toole archbishop of Dublin, although the invasion and settlement
of Dublin by Norsemen meant that the Christians of that see were looking
more to Canterbury than Armagh. That same year, during the Synod of Clane in
County Kildare, a uniform liturgy was ensured throughout Ireland by
requiring that only Armagh-trained or Armagh-accredited teachers of divinity
may teach in any school attached to the Irish Church.
Gelasius was an indefatigable prelate. He made constant visitations
throughout Ireland, reorganized old monasteries, and convened synods. He is
said to have been the first Irish bishop to whom the pallium was sent;
Eugenius III's papal legate, Cardinal Paparo, brought four pallia with him
to the Synod of Kells in 1152 for the archbishops of Armagh, Cashel, Dublin,
and Tuam. The records of this synod include the firsts mention of tithes in
Irish annals, which Cardinal Paparo proposed but none of the participants
supported. The matter of tithes and the Peter's Pence was an important
consideration in subsequent negotiations between Pope Adrian IV and Henry II
of England.
Gelasius convened another synod at Armagh in 1170 in the hope of finding
some means to expel the Anglo-Norman, who had invaded the country the
previous year, before they became too entrenched. In 1171, Henry II arrived,
lavishly entertained the civic and ecclesiastic Irish leaders, and requested
the convening of the Synod of Cashel, during which he presented a plan for
improving the Church of Ireland. At this time there was no mention of any
claim of Canterbury or the Donation; however, the eighth canon of the synod
decreed that the Irish Church would celebrate the Divine Office according to
the usage of the Church of England (which was still Catholic).
The bishop of Armagh did not attend the Synod of Cashel. At that time he was
occupied in a visitation of Connacht and Ulster in an attempt (in concert
with the high king) to organize a defense of Ireland. He realized that Henry
had duped many of Irish princes by masking his true intentions.
The following year Henry fell under interdict for his murder of Saint Thomas
Becket. When news of Henry's penitential, bare-foot walk to the shrine of
Saint Thomas and his plans for the `uplift' of the Irish Church reached
Rome, Alexander III confirmed the Donation of Ireland made by Adrian IV.
Shortly thereafter the Church of Ireland became English: the School of
Armagh was closed (c. 1188) and the last native bishop of Armagh until the
Reformation died in 1313 (Benedictines, D'Arcy, Encyclopedia, Healy,
Husenbeth, Kenney, MacNeill, O'Hanlon, Stokes).
This Version taken from:
http://users.erols.com/saintpat/ss/ss-index.htm
<><><><>
Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself. (Matthew 16:24)
"Take heed not to foster thy own judgment, for, without doubt, it will
inebriate thee; as there is no difference between an intoxicated man and one
full of his own opinion, and one is no more capable of reasoning than the
other"
-St. Francis de Sales
The blessed Alexander Sauli, a Corsican bishop, always asked others advice
in the affairs of his diocese, not trusting to his own opinion. He
considered himself ignorant and totally unfit for the duties of his office,
though he had been a famous professor of theology and director of St.
Charles, and had even been called the ideal of bishops.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". March - Mortification)
Bible Quote:
15 And when he had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, he drove
them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of
the changers he poured out, and the tables he overthrew. 16 And to them that
sold doves he said: Take these things hence, and make not the house of my
Father a house of traffic. (John 2:15-16)
<><><><>
Martyrology
At Drizipara in Hungary, St. Alexander, a soldier. Under the Emperor
Maximian, after he had endured many sufferings for Christ, and had performed
numerous miracles, he completed his martyrdom by being beheaded.
In Illyria, SS. Philetus, a senator, his wife Lydia, and his sons Maccdo and
Theoprepius; also Amphilochius, a captain, and Chronides, a notary. After
they had undergone many tortures for confessing Christ, they gained the
crown of glory.
In Persia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Zanitas, Lazarus, Marotas,
Narses, and five others. They were savagely cut to pieces in the reign Of
Sapor, King of the Persians, and so merited the palm of martyrdom.
At Salzburg in Austria, St. Rupert, bishop and confessor, who spread the
Gospel in a wonderful manner among the Bavarians and Austrians.
In Egypt, the hermit St. John, a man of great sanctity. Among other
evidences of his virtue was the gift of prophecy by which he foretold to the
Emperor Theodosius his victories over the tyrants Maximus and Eugene.
<><><><>
Prayer of Saint John Damascene
O Lord and Master Jesus Christ my God; You alone have power to absolve men
from their sins. Forgive all my transgressions committed deliberately or
through human frailty, in word or by deed. Grant that, without condemnation,
I may partake of Your divine, glorious, most pure, and life-giving
Mysteries. Let my sharing in Your Body and Blood be for the forgiveness of
my sins and for the healing of my soul and body, as well as for a pledge of
the life to come in Your kingdom; for You are a merciful and gracious God,
and we glorify You, Father +, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and
forever. - Amen.
(Also known as Giolla Iosa, Gioua-Mac-Liag)
Died March 27, 1174. Son of the Irish poet Diarmaid, Saint Gelasius (meaning
`servant of Jesus') was the learned abbot of Derry for 16 years. He was
consecrated bishop of Armagh c. 1138, when Saint Malachy resigned and served
as primate of Ireland until 1174. During his long episcopacy Gelasius had
to deal with the events before and after the Norman invasion, including the
alleged Donation of Ireland by Pope Adrian IV to Henry II of England,
Henry's arrival in Ireland in 1171, and Pope Alexander III's confirmation of
everything granted by Adrian IV.
He reconstructed the Cathedral of Armagh, and, in 1162, consecrated Saint
Laurence O'Toole archbishop of Dublin, although the invasion and settlement
of Dublin by Norsemen meant that the Christians of that see were looking
more to Canterbury than Armagh. That same year, during the Synod of Clane in
County Kildare, a uniform liturgy was ensured throughout Ireland by
requiring that only Armagh-trained or Armagh-accredited teachers of divinity
may teach in any school attached to the Irish Church.
Gelasius was an indefatigable prelate. He made constant visitations
throughout Ireland, reorganized old monasteries, and convened synods. He is
said to have been the first Irish bishop to whom the pallium was sent;
Eugenius III's papal legate, Cardinal Paparo, brought four pallia with him
to the Synod of Kells in 1152 for the archbishops of Armagh, Cashel, Dublin,
and Tuam. The records of this synod include the firsts mention of tithes in
Irish annals, which Cardinal Paparo proposed but none of the participants
supported. The matter of tithes and the Peter's Pence was an important
consideration in subsequent negotiations between Pope Adrian IV and Henry II
of England.
Gelasius convened another synod at Armagh in 1170 in the hope of finding
some means to expel the Anglo-Norman, who had invaded the country the
previous year, before they became too entrenched. In 1171, Henry II arrived,
lavishly entertained the civic and ecclesiastic Irish leaders, and requested
the convening of the Synod of Cashel, during which he presented a plan for
improving the Church of Ireland. At this time there was no mention of any
claim of Canterbury or the Donation; however, the eighth canon of the synod
decreed that the Irish Church would celebrate the Divine Office according to
the usage of the Church of England (which was still Catholic).
The bishop of Armagh did not attend the Synod of Cashel. At that time he was
occupied in a visitation of Connacht and Ulster in an attempt (in concert
with the high king) to organize a defense of Ireland. He realized that Henry
had duped many of Irish princes by masking his true intentions.
The following year Henry fell under interdict for his murder of Saint Thomas
Becket. When news of Henry's penitential, bare-foot walk to the shrine of
Saint Thomas and his plans for the `uplift' of the Irish Church reached
Rome, Alexander III confirmed the Donation of Ireland made by Adrian IV.
Shortly thereafter the Church of Ireland became English: the School of
Armagh was closed (c. 1188) and the last native bishop of Armagh until the
Reformation died in 1313 (Benedictines, D'Arcy, Encyclopedia, Healy,
Husenbeth, Kenney, MacNeill, O'Hanlon, Stokes).
This Version taken from:
http://users.erols.com/saintpat/ss/ss-index.htm
<><><><>
Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself. (Matthew 16:24)
"Take heed not to foster thy own judgment, for, without doubt, it will
inebriate thee; as there is no difference between an intoxicated man and one
full of his own opinion, and one is no more capable of reasoning than the
other"
-St. Francis de Sales
The blessed Alexander Sauli, a Corsican bishop, always asked others advice
in the affairs of his diocese, not trusting to his own opinion. He
considered himself ignorant and totally unfit for the duties of his office,
though he had been a famous professor of theology and director of St.
Charles, and had even been called the ideal of bishops.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". March - Mortification)
Bible Quote:
15 And when he had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, he drove
them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of
the changers he poured out, and the tables he overthrew. 16 And to them that
sold doves he said: Take these things hence, and make not the house of my
Father a house of traffic. (John 2:15-16)
<><><><>
Martyrology
At Drizipara in Hungary, St. Alexander, a soldier. Under the Emperor
Maximian, after he had endured many sufferings for Christ, and had performed
numerous miracles, he completed his martyrdom by being beheaded.
In Illyria, SS. Philetus, a senator, his wife Lydia, and his sons Maccdo and
Theoprepius; also Amphilochius, a captain, and Chronides, a notary. After
they had undergone many tortures for confessing Christ, they gained the
crown of glory.
In Persia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Zanitas, Lazarus, Marotas,
Narses, and five others. They were savagely cut to pieces in the reign Of
Sapor, King of the Persians, and so merited the palm of martyrdom.
At Salzburg in Austria, St. Rupert, bishop and confessor, who spread the
Gospel in a wonderful manner among the Bavarians and Austrians.
In Egypt, the hermit St. John, a man of great sanctity. Among other
evidences of his virtue was the gift of prophecy by which he foretold to the
Emperor Theodosius his victories over the tyrants Maximus and Eugene.
<><><><>
Prayer of Saint John Damascene
O Lord and Master Jesus Christ my God; You alone have power to absolve men
from their sins. Forgive all my transgressions committed deliberately or
through human frailty, in word or by deed. Grant that, without condemnation,
I may partake of Your divine, glorious, most pure, and life-giving
Mysteries. Let my sharing in Your Body and Blood be for the forgiveness of
my sins and for the healing of my soul and body, as well as for a pledge of
the life to come in Your kingdom; for You are a merciful and gracious God,
and we glorify You, Father +, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and
forever. - Amen.