-- Philippians 3:8-10 –

-- Philippians 3:8-10 =E2=80=93

Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss for the excellent
knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ. And
may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but
that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God: justice
in faith. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the
fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death,. . .
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
The Apostle Paul, who wrote these verses, gave up everything -- family,
friendships and freedom -- in order to know Christ and his resurrection pow=
er.
We too have access to this knowledge and this power, but we may have to mak=
e
sacrifices to enjoy it fully. What are you willing to give up in order to k=
now
Christ? A crowded schedule in order to set aside a few minutes each day for
prayer and Bible study? Your friends approval? Some of your plans or pleasu=
res?
Whatever it is, knowing Christ is more than worth the sacrifice.

<<>><<>><<>>
June 20th - St. Fillan of Munster, Missionary to Loch Earn,
(Also known as Foelan, Foellan, Foilan, Foillan, Fulan)

Memorial
19 January
9 January (Ireland)
3 February on some calendars
20 June on some calendar

Early 8th century

The Irish Fillan, son of Feriach, grandson of King Ceallach of
Leinster, received the monastic habit in the abbey of Saint Fintan
Munnu. Then he accompanied his mother, Saint Kentigerna, and his
uncle, Saint Comgan, to Scotland, where he became a missionary monk.
He was perhaps a monk at Taghmon in Wexford and a hermit at
Pittenweem, Fife, before being chosen as abbot of the nearby
monastery, which he governed for some years. He retired to Glendochart
in Perthshire, where he lived a solitary life and built a church.
There he died and was buried at the place now called Strathfillan in
his honour. Until the early 19th century, the mentally ill were dipped
into the pool here and then left all night, restrained, in a corner of
Fillan's ruined chapel. If they were found loose the next morning,
they were considered cured.

Further north, in Ross-shire, there are dedications to his memory and
that of his uncle (Kilkoan and Killellan). Both Irish and Scottish
martyrologies recorded his sanctity, and the Aberdeen Breviary relates
some extraordinary miracles performed by him.

History also records that Robert the Bruce put his hopes of victory at
Bannockburn into the hands of Saint Fillan. It is reported that he
brought an arm relic of the saint into battle having passed most of
the night praying for his intercession. Not surprisingly, the Scottish
victory at Bannockburn revived and perpetuated his cultus, and his
feast is still kept in the diocese of Dunkeld (Attwater2,
Benedictines, Coulson, Farmer, Gill, Montague).

Saint Quote:
"Ask of God his graces in the name of Jesus Christ, and you shall
obtain whatsoever you desire. This our Saviour has promised, and his
promise cannot fail"
--St. Alphonsus de Liguori - "The True Spouse of Jesus Christ"

Saint Quote:
For he who sings praise, does not only praise, but also praises
joyfully; he who sings praise, not only sings, but also loves Him whom
he is singing about. There is a praise-filled public proclamation in
the praise of someone who is acknowledging God, in the song of the
lover there is love.
-- Saint Augustine of Hippo

Bible Quotes:
"If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children:
how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to
them that ask him?"  (Matt. 7:11 )

"if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it you"  (John 16:=
23)


<><><><>
Lauda Sion Salvatorem
Sion, Lift Up thy Voice and Sing
(Excerpt)
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus / Doctor Communis

Sion, lift thy voice and sing,
Praise thy Saviour and thy King,
Praise with hymns thy Shepherd true,
Dare thy most to praise Him well,
For He doth all praise excel,
None can ever reach His due.

Special theme of praise is Thine,
That true living Bread divine,
That life-giving flesh adored,
Which the brethren twelve received,
As most faithfully believed,
At the Supper of the Lord.

Let the chant be loud and high,
Sweet and tranquil be the joy
Felt to-day in every breast;
On this festival divine
Which recounts the origin
Of the glorious Eucharist.

St Thomas Aquinas wrote the Liturgy for Corpus Christi when Pope Urban
IV added the Solemnity to the universal Church=E2=80=99s Liturgical calenda=
r
in 1264. He provided a great sequence, one of the great poems chanted
or recited before the proclamation of the Gospel.
Lauda Sion is one of only four medieval sequences which were preserved
in the Roman Missal published in 1570 following the Council of Trent
(1545=E2=80=931563)=E2=80=94the others being Victimae Paschali Laudes (East=
er), Veni
Sancte Spiritus (Pentecost) and Dies irae (requiem masses).
(A fifth, Stabat Mater, would later be added in 1727.)
Before Trent, many feasts had their own sequences. The existing
versions were unified in the Roman Missal promulgated in 1570.
The Lauda Sion is still sung today as solemn Eucharistic hymn, though
its use is optional in the post-Vatican II Ordinary form.
As with St Thomas=E2=80=99s other three Eucharistic Hymns, the last few
stanzas of the Lauda Sion are often used alone, in this case, to form
the =E2=80=9CEcce Panis Angelorum=E2=80=9D.