From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
October 13th =E2=80=93 St. Coloman of Stockerau (of Melk), Martyr
(also known as Colman, Colomannus)
Died in Stockerau, Austria, on October 18, 1012. Saint Coloman, an
Irish or Scottish monk of royal lineage who began a penitential
pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was stopped at Stockerau, about six miles
from Vienna. At that time there were continual skirmishes between
Austria, Moravia, and Bohemia. So the stranger, who spoke no German,
was accused of being a spy and, after various tortures, hanged to
death with several robbers.
For 18 months Coloman's body remained on the gibbet, uncorrupted and
unmolested by the birds and beasts=E2=80=94a miracle. The scaffolding itsel=
f
was said to have taken root and sent forth green branches, one of
which is preserved under the high altar of the Franciscan church at
Stockerau. Many miracles were wrought by his incorrupt body.
Three years after Coloman's death, Bishop Megingard translated his
relics to Melk (then called Mark, the capital of the ancient Marcomans
near Moravia), at the request of Marquis Saint Henry of Austria, who
built a tomb for him in the imposing abbey on the Danube River in
western Austria. Four popes have granted indulgences to those who pray
at the shrine of Saint Coloman (or Colman?) at Melk (Paschal II,
Clement VI, Innocent VI, and Leo X). Melk burned a 70-pound wax candle
in 1713 in petition for the saint's prayers against the plague that
was devastating the land.
Many churches and chapels in Austria, Swabia, the Palatinate, Hungary,
and Bavaria bear his name. On his feast day in Melk, hundreds of
horses and cattle are brought to the abbey for Coloman's blessing.
Dozens of neighboring parishes made a pilgrimage to his chapel near W=C3=BCrtemberg on Whitsunday until the 18th century (Benedictines, D'Arcy, Encyclopedia, Fitzpatrick, Gougaud, Husenbeth, Kenney, Tommasini).
In art, Saint Colman is a pilgrim monk with a rope in his hand. At
times he may be shown (1) hanged on a gibbet; (2) with tongs and rod;
and (3) as a priest with a book and maniple. He is venerated in Melk
and Ireland. Colman is the patron of hanged men and horses. He is
invoked against plague (Roeder) and for husbands by marriageable girls (D'Arcy).
Additional information
Celebrated by the people of Schwangau. Every year, the village
celebrates the St. Coloman, the patron saint of the pilgrimage church.
Just as it has been for centuries, this religious feast is celebrated
on the Sunday closest to October 13th, the name-day of the Irish
saint. This feast also involves entertainment and is a most happy
occasion. The famous church, has been the destination of great
pilgrimages since the 15th century.
See:
http://www.koenigswinkel.com/koenigswinkel/frame2.htm
The famous baroque church standing in a field in front of the village
has been the destination of great pilgrimages since the 15th century.
According to the legend, Coloman would have been resting, preaching
and even pasturing cattle in Schwanengau during a pilgrimage trip he
made from Ireland, his country, to Jerusalem. Up to present days he
has always been invoked by catholic believers when someone gets ill
among people or animals as well, or in case of overflowings and
storms.
The first chapel has probably been built between 1350 and 1400. An
altar consecration is documented on August 8th, 1495 but it's not
clear whether the chapel was rebuilt or just enlarged in that
occasion. A civil document demonstrates the increasing importance of pilgrimages to the Coloman church: 1552 the Emperor Karl V officially
granted to the Colomansfest in Schwangau the right to be a market day.
So pilgrims had the possibility to combine their pilgrimage with
further important events.
Markets were not only a pleasant break in the hard and monotone work
life, but they also offered a rare occasion to buy wares. Local
handicraftsmen planned an enlargement implemented by the plasterer
Johann Schmutzer. The consequent Coloman church, consecrated in 1685,
was the first great work of this builder and artist, who was going to
win his fame above all as builder of the Wessobrunn cloister.
His work together with St. Coloman will be focused on Sunday, October
12th, when more than 200 riders on their gorgeously harnessed horses
will attract thousands of inhabitants and guests of Schwangau to
celebrate there Mass at 10 am. According to the ancient custom, at the
end of the celebration the riders will ride three times round the
Church and will be blessed. Then, like in ancient times, the feast
will be happily resounding all around the church.
Saint Quote:
"It is more perfect to bear adversity bravely and patiently, than to
pour out your sweat in doing good works"
--St. Bonaventure (Doctor, 1221-74) - "Instructions On Christian Morality"
Bible Quotes:
"In your patience you shall possess your souls"=C2 (Luke 21:19)
" count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations
[sickness, afflictions]"=C2 (James 1:2)
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For Our Deceased Service Men
Thou art all-powerful, O God, and livest forever in light and
joy. Look with pity and love, we beseech Thee, upon those
men who have bravely fought and gallantly died for our
country. By laying down their lives, they have showed
supreme love for others. We implore Thee to accept their
sacrifice and their belief in the justice of the cause for which
they died. May their offering not be in vain. Deign to forgive
any sins or misdeeds they may have committed. Bring them
quickly we implore Thee, into Thine august presence where
fear, sadness, mourning and death no longer exist. Have pity,
in thy loving kindness on those they leave behind. In Thine own
inscrutable ways, make good their absence, and lavishly
bestow Thy love and consolations upon those deprived of
their presence. This we ask of Thee in the name of Jesus
Christ our King. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)