From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
October 7th - St. Osith, Abbess
(Died c. 700)
According to tradition, Osith was daughter of Frithuwold, the Mercian
sub-King of Surrey. Her mother was Wilburga, daughter of King Penda of
Mercia. The parents of Osith, with St. Erconwald, founded the
monastery of Chertsey (Surrey) in 675. She was born at Quarendon, near Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire), and her childhood was spent in the care
of her maternal aunts, the two holy abbesses, St. Edith of Aylesbury
and St. Edburga of Bicester.
There is an old story that St. Edith sent Osith, one day, to take a
book to St. Modwenna at her nunnery, in order to point out to her a particularly interesting passage she had discovered. To reach
Modwenna's house, Osith had to cross a stream by a bridge. As the
stream was swollen and the wind was high, she was blown into the water
and remained there for two days before she was discovered. Edith
thought she was safe with Modwenna who, not expecting her visit, was
not surprised at her non-appearance. On the third day, Edith,
wondering why her pupil had not returned with an answer to her
message, came to Modwenna. Great was the consternation of the abbesses
when they found they had lost their charge. They went to search for
her. Following the banks of the stream, they saw the child lying at
the bottom, holding the book open at the passage she had been told to
show to Modwenna. The abbesses prayed for her restoration, and
commanded her to arise from the water and come to them. This she did:
she, her dress and the book being quite uninjured. There is some
confusion over which Modwenna is meant here. The story seems to
indicate St. Modwenna of Burton-on-Trent, but this is impossible. The
lady in question is probably the little known St. Modwenna of
Northumbria.
After the death of St. Edith, Osith returned to her parents, who soon
accepted, on her behalf, an offer of marriage from Sighere, King of
Essex, who reigned jointly with Sebba. Sighere had relapsed into
heathenism, but promised to become a Christian on marrying Osith.
Osith's inclinations, however, had turned towards a religious life and
she would rather have been an abbess than a queen, having secretly
made a vow of celibacy. Her fate was decided for her though and she
was given to Sighere, whilst still praying that she might have no
husband but the Lord. On her marriage, she went with her husband,
probably to London, which was then the capital of Essex. On some
pretext or other, she declined, for several days, to receive the King
in her bower - a separate house for herself and her attendant ladies
within the enclosure of the Royal residence. At last, however, her
contrivances were exhausted and so was the King's patience. Her
seclusion came to a sudden end and her husband stood before her. Still
she prayed that she might keep her vow, but Sighere began to protest
that, without her, life held no happiness and no interest for him. But
even while he spoke, there was a sound of eager voices and hurrying
feet. Some of his lords cried, "The stag, the stag" and close to the
gate was the largest stag that ever was seen. Up sprang Sighere and,
with all his Court, started in pursuit. Osith regarded this
interruption as an answer to her prayers and took his departure as a
release from her engagement. She sent in all haste for Bishops Acca
and Bedwin and, when the King returned, after a chase of four or five
days, he found her a veiled nun. He generously gave her an estate at
Chich (St. Osiths) in Essex, and built her a church and a monastery,
where she soon gathered many holy nuns.
After many years, on 7th October around 700, the Danes made a raid on
the Essex coast. Their leader tried by threats and entreaties to make
Osith renounce her religion, but in vain and, incensed at his failure,
he cut off her head. As it fell to the earth, a fountain bubbled up
which, for many years afterwards, had a wonderful power of curing
diseases. Osith rose to her feet and carried her head in her hands to
the church, staining the door with blood as she opened it. Her family
claimed her body and it was buried for a while at Aylesbury Abbey; but
the saint intimated, by visions and other signs, that she chose to
rest in her own monastery. There, accordingly, she was eventually
placed in a rich shrine by Maurice, Bishop of London.
She is represented in art with a stag behind her and a long key
hanging from her girdle, or otherwise carrying a key and a sword
crossed, a device which commemorates St. Peter, St. Paul and St.
Andrew.
Edited from Agnes Dunbar's "A Dictionary of Saintly Women" (1904).
..
Saint Quote:
If we love God and are faithful to Him, we shall be at peace, and this
peace shall endure.
--St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
Bible Quote:
Which of you shall convince me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why
do you not believe me? 47 He that is of God, heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God. (John
8:46-47) DRB
<><><><>
Thanksgiving for Baptismal Graces
I BELIEVE in Thee, O God the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth.
Thou hast accepted me as Thy child, and in the laver of regeneration,
Thou hast constituted me as an heir of Thy Kingdom.
I believe in Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son, Who hast
suffered and died for me, and through Thy Precious Blood hast
ransomed me from the slavery of Satan.
I believe in Thee, O Holy Spirit, Who hast made me and consecrated
me as Thy temple and chosen me as a vessel of grace.
I renounce the devil with all his works and all his pomps. I renounce
all the evil desires of the flesh and the world with all its vanities.
and deceits, and I firmly resolve to lead a truly Christian life. May
the Most Holy Trinity strengthen my purpose, by whom I seal this
renewal of my Baptismal vows, in the Name of the Father, + and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)