ST EANSWIDE, VIRGIN AND ABBESS

ST EANSWIDE, VIRGIN AND ABBESS - 12 SEPTEMBER

SAINT EANSWIDE, VIRGIN AND ABBESS

(Seventh Age.) Saint Ethelbert, the first Christian king among the English, was succeeded in the kingdom of Kent by his son Eadbald, who, though he was at first an impious and idolatrous prince, became afterwards a zealous Christian, and a fervent penitent, as appears from his religious foundations, and from the letters which were addressed to him by the popes.

THE SANCTITY OF HER LIFE

His daughter Eanswide [Eanswith, Eanswythe] added lustre to her birth by the eminent sanctity of her life. The great truths of our holy religion sunk so deep in her tender heart, that, from her infancy, her whole delight was in prayer and the love of God.

HER WHOLE DELIGHT WAS IN PRAYER AND THE LOVE OF GOD

Hence she despised the world, and all its foolish vanities and amusements. She rejected all proposals that tended to engage her in marriage, fearing the duties of that state, though good and just in themselves, would interrupt her darling exercises of devotion and heavenly contemplation.

SHE FOUNDED A NUNNERY ON THE SEA-COAST

Having, by perseverance and importunity, obtained at length her father’s consent, she founded a monastery of nuns upon the sea-coast, close by Folkstone, in Kent.

Here she sacrificed the affections of her heart to her heavenly Spouse night and day in penance and prayer, till she was called to rest from her labours on the last day of August, in the seventh century.

THE NUNNERY WAS REMOVED TO FOLKSTONE

The sea having afterwards swallowed up part of this priory, the nunnery was removed to Folkstone, and the saint’s relics were deposited in that church which had been built by her father, King Eadbald, in honour of St Peter; but, after this translation of her relics, was often known by her name.

SHE WAS FAMOUS FOR MANY MIRACLES

St Eanswide was famous for many miracles; her chief festival in the English calendar was kept on September 12, probably the day of the translation of her relics, or of the dedication of some church in her honour.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SINCERE HUMILITY

Holy retirement, perfect purity of mind and body and the uninterrupted exercises of heavenly contemplation and prayer, are then only great and excellent virtues, when founded in sincere humility, and improved by divine charity. By neglecting this, many may so quit the world, and embrace a severe course of life, as only to be martyrs of the devil, by seeking themselves even in things they have renounced.

The saints, who made this sacrifice to God, were always solicitous to render it complete, and they showed themselves more perfect as they saw more and more their own spiritual poverty, and continually aspiring with the utmost ardour after greater perfection; for, as St Bernard remarks, no one is perfect but in proportion to the fervour with which he labours to become more so, and to the sincere humility wherewith he sees how far he falls short in every duty, and how much he is a slothful and unprofitable servant.

From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Eanswide may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

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