• =?UTF-8?Q?4_February_=E2=80=93_Saint_Rabanus_Maurus_OSB?=

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Wed Feb 3 08:51:55 2021
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    4 February =E2=80=93 Saint Rabanus Maurus OSB

    =C2 Archbishop, Monk, Abbot,Theologian, Poet, Writer, Teacher,
    Encyclopedist =E2=80=93 also known as Hrabanus or Rhabanus and =E2=80=9CThe=
    Teacher of
    Germany=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 born in 776 at Mainz, Germany and died on 4 Febr= uary 856 at
    Winkel, Germany of natural cause. In the most recent edition of the
    Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum, 2004, pp. 133), his feast is
    given as today and he is qualified as a Saint (=E2=80=98sanctus').

    Rabanus was born of noble parents in Mainz. The exact date of his
    birth remains uncertain, but in 801 he was ordained a deacon at
    Benedictine Abbey of Fulda in Hesse, where he had been sent to school
    and had become a monk. At the insistence of Ratgar, his abbot, he
    went to complete his studies at Tours. There he studied under St Alcuin(735-804) , who in recognition of his diligence and purity gave
    him the surname of Maurus, after the favourite disciple of Benedict,
    Saint Maurus.

    Returning to Fulda, in 803 he was entrusted with the principal charge
    of the abbey school, which, under his direction, became one of the
    most pre-eminent centres of scholarship and book production in Europe
    and sent forth many erudite and saintly pupils. It was probably at
    this period that he compiled his excerpt from the grammar of Priscian,
    a popular textbook during the Middle Ages. According to Alban Butler=E2=80= =99s
    Lives of the Saints, Rabanus ate no meat and drank no wine.

    In 814 Rabanus was ordained a priest. Shortly afterwards, apparently
    on account of disagreement with Abbot Ratgar, he withdrew for a time
    from Fulda. This banishment has long been understood to have
    occasioned a pilgrimage to Palestine, based on an allusion in his
    commentary on Joshua. Rabanus returned to Fulda in 817 on the
    election of a new abbot, Eigil, and at Eigil's death in 822, Rabanu=
    s
    himself became abbot. He handled this position efficiently and
    successfully but in 842 he resigned so as to have greater leisure for
    study and prayer, retiring to the neighbouring monastery of St
    Petersberg.

    In 847, he was chosen to be Archbishop of Mainz, at the age of
    sixty-three and the last years of his life were spent directing the
    affairs of his Diocese, holding provincial Synods and directing a
    multitude of charitable works. During a famine, he fed three hundred
    poor people at his own house. He became bedridden shortly before his
    death and from the moment of his death was regarded as a saint.

    Blessed Rabanus composed a number of hymns, the most famous of which
    is the Veni Creator Spiritus. This is a hymn to the Holy Spirit often
    sung at Pentecost and at ordinations. It is known in English through
    many translations, including Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,Come,
    Holy Ghost, Creator blest and Creator Spirit, by whose aid. Veni
    Creator Spiritus was used by Gustav Mahler as the first chorale of his
    eighth symphony.

    One of his most popular and enduring works is a spectacular collection
    of poems centred on the cross, called De laudibus sanctae crucis or In
    honorem sanctae crucis, a set of highly sophisticated poems that
    present the cross (and, in the last poem, Rabanus himself kneeling
    before it) in word and image, even in numbers.

    He was buried at the monastery of St Alban's in Mainz but later his
    relics were transferred to Halle.

    anastpaul.com/2020


    Saint Quote:
    When you observe some thought suggesting that you seek human fame, you
    can be sure it will bring you disgrace.
    --St. Mark the Ascetic

    Bible Quote:
    Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the
    word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.=C2 Jas
    1:21


    <><><><>
    'In regard to the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, not the
    least part may be handed on without the Holy Scriptures.=C2 Do not be
    led astray by winning words and clever arguments.=C2 Even to me, who
    tell you these things, do not give ready belief, unless you receive
    from the Holy Scriptures the proof of the things which I announce. The salvation in which we believe is not proved from clever reasoning, but
    from the Holy Scriptures.
    --Cyril of Jerusalem =C2 (Catechetical Lectures 4,17.)

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