Wednesday, Sept. 1, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
ST. EGIDIUS (Giles, Gilles, Gil, Egidio) (b Athens, ca 650, d France, ca 710), Hermit and Abbot
Born a wealthy noble in Athens, after his parents died, Egidius used his wealth to help the poor and soon became known as a miracle worker. To escape
the adulation, he left Greece around 683 for France where he lived as a hermit in a cave outside Nimes. The enduring legend about him is that he lived so
deprived that God sent him a hind to nourish him with her milk. One day, a hunter aimed an arrow at the deer but hit Giles instead. The king himself sent
a doctor to care for him but the leg wound crippled him. As the king paid him frequent visits, his fame as a sage and miracle worker spread. The king built
him a monastery in what is now known as St. Gilles du Gard and he became the first abbot, establishing his own rule. A small town grew up around the
monastery, and after his death, it became a major place of pilgrimage, especially for the faithful making their way to Compostela along the Road of St.
James. Later it became a Benedictine monastery. His cult became widespread in Europe in the Middle Ages with countless churches and institutions
named after him, and numerous writings dedicated to his life and miracles. His remains were secretly transferred to Toulouse to safeguard them during
the French Revolution but were returned to St Gilles du Gard in 1852. He is the patron saint of Edinburgh whose cathedral is named for him. He is the
patron saint of cripples and of beggars.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/090110.shtml
*It strikes me almost everyday that parishes and institutions named for the saints generally do not even carry an image of their patron
saint on their website. Not even the worldwide and well-funded Sant'Egidio community carries an image of the saint on their site!
Today's OR has three 'small' inside-page stories on the Pope: the text of his greeting to the Schuelerkreis before Mass on Sunday; an interview with Mons. Kurt Koch about the lectures he gave to the Schuelerkreis on Vatican II; and the announcement of the new interview book with Peter Seewald to come out later this year. (All three items were translated and posted on this page earlier.) Also, the Italian translation of the homily given by Cardinal Schoenborn at the Schuelerkreis Mass. Page 1 items are 'non-news' general updates on the European and US economic recoveries compared; Israeli-Palestinian talks which are supposed to resume this week under US auspices; the daily violence in Mogadishu from Somalia's ongoing civil war; and the Mexican government's war against the drug cartels.
THE POPE'S DAY
General Audience today - For the first time, the Pope held court from the main doorway of the Apostolic Palace
facing the main square of Castel Gandolfo. He resumed his catecheses on great figures and Christian culture
in the Middle Ages by speaking on the great German mystic Hildegarde von Bingen.
The Vatican released the text of the Holy Father's message to the Congress of Lay Catholics in Asia
taking place in Seoul, South Korea, from August 31-Sept. 5.
THE POPE'S PRAYER INTENTIONS
FOR SEPTEMBER 2010
General Intention:
That the proclamation of the Word of God may renew people’s hearts,
encouraging them to work toward authentic social progress.
Mission Intention:
That by opening our hearts to love we may put an end to the wars
and conflicts which continue to bloody our world.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 01/09/2010 18:15]