- St. Anna, the Prophetess (71). (Historical)
- St. Giles (724). Abbot or Abbess. Patron of physically disabled. (Traditional)
- Twelve Holy Brothers (258). Martyr. (Traditional)
ST. GILES, whose name has been held in great veneration for several ages in France and England, is said to have been an Athenian by birth, and of noble extraction. His extraordinary piety and learning drew the admiration of the world upon him in such a manner that it was impossible for him to enjoy in his own country that obscurity and retirement which was the chief object of his desires on earth. He therefore sailed to France, and chose an hermitage first in the open deserts near the mouth of the Rhone, afterward near the river Gard, and lastly in a forest in the diocese of Nismes. He passed many years in this close solitude, living on wild herbs or roots and water, and conversing only with God. We read in his life that he was for some time nourished with the milk of a hind in the forest, which, being pursued by hunters, fled for refuge to the Saint, who was thus discovered. The reputation of the sanctity of this holy hermit was much increased by many miracles which he wrought, and which rendered his name famous throughout all France. St. Giles was highly esteemed by the French king, but could not be prevailed upon to forsake his solitude. He, however, admitted several disciples, and settled excellent discipline in the monastery of which he was the founder, and which, in succeeding ages, became a flourishing abbey of the Benedictine Order.
REFLECTION: He who accompanies the exercises of contemplation and arduous penance with zealous and undaunted endeavors to conduct others to the same glorious term with himself, shall be truly great in the kingdom of heaven.
WORD OF THE DAY
OMRI. King of Israel from 885 to 874 B.C. He was a general who ascended the throne after the speedy elimination of Zimri (king for seven days). Perhaps Omri’s most notable achievement was moving the seat of government from Tirzah to a hill named Samaria (I Kings 16:16). The redoubtable defenses he erected made it impregnable for years to come. By judiciously marrying his son Ahab to Jezebel and his daughter Athaliah to Jehoram, he forged useful alliances with Tyre and Judah. He is bitterly characterized in I Kings as "displeasing to Yahweh and was worse than all his predecessors" (I Kings 16:25). The prophet Micah substantiated this: "You keep the laws of Omri . . . and they force me to make a terrible example of you" (Micah 6:16).
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
