Photograph of round tower at Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland, remains of early monastic site
Finnian Lobhar, Abbot
(AC)
(also known as Finan the Leper)
Born at Bregia, Leinster, Ireland; died February 2, c. 560. Little is
authentically known about Saint Finnian because the records of his life are
conflicting. He is said to have been the son of Conail and descendent of Alild,
king of Munster. He may have been a disciple of Saint Columba (or perhaps he
was trained at one of Columba's foundations); others, that he was a disciple of
Saint Brendan. He was ordained by Bishop Fathlad, and may have been consecrated
by him.
Finnian built a
church that is believed to have been at Innisfallen in County Kerry and so is
considered by some scholars to have been the founder of that monastery. Later
he lived at Clonmore Abbey in Leinster and then went to Swords near Dublin,
where he was made abbot by Columba when he left. Another account has him abbot
of Clonmore Monastery, where he was buried, for the last thirty years of his
life.
Lobhar means
"the Leper," a name he acquired when he reputedly assumed the disease
of a leper to cure a young boy of an illness. As is evident, much of the
information about Finnian is uncertain and conflicting, and it is not even
certain what century he lived in (Attwater2, Benedictines, Delaney,
Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill, Husenbeth).
St. Finian, surnamed Lobhar, or the Leper
HE was son of Conail, descended from Kian, the son of
Alild, king of Munster. He was a disciple of St. Brendan, and flourished about
the middle of the sixth century. He imitated the patience of Job under a
loathsome and tedious distemper, from which his surname was given him. The
famous abbey of Innisfallen, which stood in an island of that name, in the
great and beautiful lake of Lough-Lane in the county of Kerry, was founded by
our saint. 1 A second, called from him Ardfinnan, he built in
Tipperary; and a third at Cluain-more Madoc, in Leinster, where he was buried.
He died on the 2nd of February; but, says Colgan, his festival is kept on the
16th of March, at all the above-mentioned places. Sir James Ware speaks of two
MS. histories of his life. See also Usher, (Antiq. c. 17.) Colgan, 17 Martii.
Mr. Smith, in his natural and civil history of the county of Kerry, in 1755, p.
127.
Note 1. In the monastery
of Innis-fallen was formerly kept a chronicle called the Annals of
Innis-fallen. They contain a sketch of universal history, from the creation to
the year 430. From that time the annalist amply enough prosecutes the affairs
of Ireland down to the year 1215, when he wrote. They were continued by another
hand to 1320. They are often quoted by Bishop Usher and Sir James Ware. An
imperfect transcript is kept among the MSS. of the library of Trinity college,
Dublin. Bishop Nicholson, in his Irish Historical Library, informs us, that the
late duke of Chandos had a complete copy of them. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume III: March. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
Saint Finian Lobhar
Also known as
- Finian the Leper
- Finnian….
Profile
Disciple of Saint Columba.
Founded a church and monastery
at Innisfallen, Ireland. Monk
at Clonmore, Ireland. Abbot of
Swords abbey
near Dublin, Ireland. In his later years he retired to Clonmore to spend his last
days as a prayerful monk.
He was called Lobhar (the Leper) because he
briefly contracted leprosy when he miraculously
cured a young boy
of the disease.
Born
Saint Finnian
Lobhair, March 16
On March 16 we
commemorate the memory of Saint Finnian, 'the leprous one', who is associated
with the County Dublin locality of Sord Cholum Cille, anglicized as Swords. I
have already written about a famous vision attributed to this saint at my other
blog here. Although Canon O'Hanlon begins his account by
lamenting the lack of hagiographical material relating to Saint Finnian
Lobhair, it doesn't stop him from bringing us a full account of this holy man.
One source of confusion, however, is that our saint shares his feastday with a
namesake, Finnian Cam 'the bent or squint-eyed' and it is this saint who is the
patron of Inisfallen rather than the 'luminous leper', as the Martyrology of
Oengus styles the abbot of Swords:
ST. FINIAN LOBHAIR, OR THE LEPER, ABBOT OF SWORDS, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
[SIXTH OR
SEVENTH CENTURY.]
The Acts of St.
Finian, the Leper, which have come down to us, are exceeding meagre and
unsatisfactory, especially in presenting dates and names to elucidate the
phases of his biography. The places where he dwelt are disguised, by
misspelling, or by a want of particularity; while, comments on our Martyrologists
are liable to be inaccurate, and are hardly verified, by reference to the
legendary biographical accounts. Much, therefore, is left for conjecture; and,
hence the difficulty of collecting and combining matter, to place the order of
asserted narrative, in its true form, or in its best points of view.
It is stated,
that there had been two different Manuscript copies of this saint's life, in
the time of Sir James Ware. They are quite different accounts, however, as
would appear from their introductory sentences. They even refer to Saints,
called Finian, yet to persons wholly distinct. Still, one of these Lives seems
to have been a Tract, which the Bollandists obtained from Father Henry
Fitzsimons, and which they published at this day. Although somewhat qualifiedly
praised by the Bollandists, it has been justly condemned by Dr. Lanigan, as a
wretched compilation, and filled with fables. It was probably written by some
Englishman, after the Anglo-Saxon settlement, in Ireland, as may be gleaned
from some of the expressions introduced. Colgan and the Bollandists give the
Acts of St. Finian Lobhair, at the 16th of March. The former writer justly
infers the existence of an ancient Life, from circumstances related about our
saint, in the Martyrology of Salisbury, which calls him a bishop, and which
mentions his having raised three persons to life, matters not alluded to by the
Irish Calendarists. This old Life, however, did not come into Colgan's hands.
Notices of St. Finian, the Leper, are to be met with in the works of Bishop
Challenor and of Rev. Alban Butler, as also, in the ''Memorial of Ancient
British Piety."
St. Finian was
born of an illustrious family, for he belonged to the race of Cian, son to
Oilioll Oluim, according to the O'Clerys, and our genealogists. Thus, he was a
son to Conell, or Conald, son to Eochad, son of Thadeus, son of Kien, son of
Alild or Olild Oliem, King of Munster. The published Acts state, that his
mother belonged to the southern part of Ireland. According to Dr. Jeoffry Keating,
however, he is said to have descended from the posterity of Fiachadh Muillethan
; but, he seems to have had in view another saint, yet bearing a like name. The Acts of our
saint, as published by the Bollandists, are silent as to the place of his nativity.
If we are to believe some accounts, this saint was a native of Ely O'Carroll,
then a part of Munster; yet, such was not the case, for he seems rather to have
been born in that part of Leinster, known as Bregia, on its eastern coast. He
received the surname of Lobhar, or "the Leper," from the circumstance
of his being afflicted with the leprosy, or with some similar scrofulous
disorder, during many years of his life. Although the word Lobhar means
literally "a Leper," yet, it has been used, by the Irish, to
denominate a person, suffering from a chronic infirmity of body, especially of
any ulcerous or scrofulous kind. From our saint's infancy, Divine Grace seemed
to surround him, and even to have been communicated to that place, in which he
was born; for, its inhabitants bore witness, that no animals went into it, nor
appeared there. In the Bollandists' Acts, it is stated, in one passage, that
Finian went to the place of his nativity, which is designated Sord, or Swords;
and, the territory around this spot is called Ard-Ceannachte, by Adamnan, owing
to the circumstance of Tadhy or Thadeus—the reputed great-grandfather of our
saint—having defeated the Ultonians in the battle of Crinna, and having received for his services a grant
of that part of Bregia, extending from Glasnera, near Druim-Inesclann or
Dromisken, on the north, to Cnoc Maoildoid, by the River Liffey, on the south.
His father being called Cian, and his descendants having occupied this
territory, it was called the Cantred of Cianacht.
In the Acts of
our saint, as published by the Bollandists, it is stated, that Finian had
been a disciple to St. Columkille, that great Apostle of the Picts. But, Dr.
Lanigan conjectures, that our saint had only been educated in some house of the
Columbian Order. We are told, indeed, that St. Columba, having built Swords
Monastery, placed, it has been said, Finian over it as abbot. But, according to
Dr. Lanigan, our saint, in all probability, was not born, until after St.
Columkille's death. Hence, he adopts an opinion, that Swords Monastery had been
founded by St. Finian himself, and not by St. Columba, who is said by O'Donnell
to have erected it, before he left Ireland in 563. Were it otherwise, Finian must have
discharged abbatial duties before or during this year. In opposition to this
story, he contends, that it is sufficient to observe, St. Finian did not die,
until between the years 674 and 693. However, such a date is not to be inferred
from this saint's Acts; and, it evidently has reference to a different Finian. The foundation of Swords most probably took
place, as Dr. Lanigan supposes, after the death of Columba, to whose
institution, however, it seems to have belonged. It is thought, this monastery
must have been founded, at some time, in the seventh century. Notwithstanding,
Dr. Lanigan's opinion, although apparently plausible, is founded on the
assumption, that the death of our saint should be referred to the close of that
age.
When grown to be
a boy, Finian was educated by a senior, named Brendan, to whom he had been
brought. By him, the child was instructed in the Christian doctrine, and in a
knowledge of literature. Having received his course of training, with the
master's permission, Finian set out for the south of Ireland, to which part his
mother belonged. There, he found the bishop, called Fathlad, who honourably
received him, and finding that Finian was remarkable for his sanctity and
gravity of demeanour, it was deemed right to promote our saint to Holy Orders.
We are even told, he attained to the Episcopal rank. He was consecrated by
Bishop Fathlad, and soon his virtues and miracles rendered him very renowned.
He had frequent angelic visions, and colloquies with the heavenly messenger, so
that he was thus consoled and comforted. One day, St. Finian heard certain
Angels singing, "These are they who are come out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb," when he conceived a great desire for the
martyr's crown. A certain woman came to him, and brought with her a small boy,
who was blind, mute, and a leper, from the time of his birth. For this
afflicted creature, Finian prayed to the Almighty, but received for answer,
that he must bear the leprosy himself, if he willed the child to be healed.
Finian cheerfully accepted that condition, when, like holy Job, he was covered
with ulcers from the sole of his foot even to the top of his head. At the same
time, the boy was healed, and the saint bore his infirmity, not only with
patience, but even with joy.
A woman came to him,
and brought a boy, at the point of death; but, our saint prayed, and health was
restored to the patient. Next we are informed, that Finian sat reading one day
by the margin of a lake, into which his book fell, by an accident, and it sank
to the bottom. The water was so deep, no one could recover it; however, after
an hour's immersion, it came to the surface, in the presence of many persons
there assembled. What was even more wonderful, on being restored to the saint,
it seemed to have undergone no damage. There he built a basilica, and he
established a cemetery, where miracles were wrought, in favour of some sick
persons, during his life, and even at the time his Acts were written. If any
person slept in the church, even although its doors were closed, he was found
without the building, and on the banks of the lake; because Finian had founded
God's house for prayer, and not for sleeping. We are not told, in the old Acts
of our saint, where this church and lake were to be found. However, it seems to
have been in the south of Ireland, and it may have been that monastery, said to
have been built by St, Finian, on Inisfaithlen—now- usually written
Innisfallen—a most romantically-situated island in the Lower Lake of Killarney.
Several Irish writers ascribe its foundation to the sixth century, assuming
that the founder had been the disciple of St. Columkille… How long St. Finian dwelt in his island
retreat of Inisfallen—if this were his home—we are unable to determine. … Some
very legendary accounts, regarding Finian, while he dwelt beside the lake, are
related in his Acts; but, these are hardly worthy of insertion, in the present
account of our saint.
In our saint's
published Acts, it is stated, that some differences arose, where he dwelt,
regarding the erection of a mill; and, then it is related, that Finian departed
from the lake habitation, he had at first selected, and went to a place, called
Olnaimar. In thus printing it, we suspect some error, probably attributable to
the original writer himself; and to us, it seems likely, that Cluain-mor, or
Clonraore, was intended, since there, it is thought, St. Finian closed the
latest years of his life. However, he lived in the former place, and suffered
greatly from his infirmity. It seems, that a penitent desired to share this
suffering with him, and he even asked, to become a leper, so that with an
afflicted body, his soul might be assured of salvation. However, Finian sought
to disuade him from such a purpose, by telling him, he could not endure the
pain. The penitent next prayed to God, that his request might be granted, and
immediately his whole frame was seized with an intolerable itching and agony,
caused by leprosy. He soon repaired to St. Finian, and besought him, that it
might be removed. Our saint sent him to some water that was near, in which he
washed, as directed, and again the man was restored to his former sound state.
Next have we an account, regarding a neighbouring king, to whom the clerics of
that church owed an annual entertainment, and they requested Finian to
intercede for them, that such an expense might be removed. He sent a maid
servant, to represent this desire to the king. At first, the ruler was
inexorable, but St. Finian having threatened the Divine displeasure, a
wonderful miracle was wrought, which convinced the king of his error, and which
caused him to fall on his knees, to ask pardon from the holy man.
Afterwards, as
we are told, wishing to visit his own country, he came to a place, named Sord,
where he found St. Columba. Finian expressed the desire he had to visit Rome,
when Columba said, "You shall not go, but rather shall you remain
here." Then replied the man of God, " I have vowed to do so, and I
cannot fail to fulfil my vow." Desiring Finian to place his head on the
knees of Columba, the former slept awhile, and afterwards awaking, he was asked
by the latter what he had seen. Finian related, how he had been to Rome, and
how he had visited all its holy places. Then said Columba, “Just now, you shall
remain here, and you shall not go to Rome." Then, St. Columba, taking his
own departure therefrom, gave that place, and all its immediate bounds, to
Finian. There, too, our saint healed the sick, and exercised the duties of
hospitality ; he gave no rest to his limbs, but for a fourth part of the night,
he sat in cold water, to sing his psalms. The other three parts of it, he lay
on the cold ground, having four stones around him, and on these in regular
succession his head was reclined, whenever he wished to have a little sleep.
Such was the rigorous life our saint led, and for his asceticism he was
renowned.
The legendary
Acts relate, that one night, while he wrote, a certain rustic looked into the
place of his retirement, and saw that light was given the saint, from the
fingers of his left hand. This curiosity displeased the holy man, and on that
instant, the rustic lost the sight of one eye, and a similar punishment fell
upon his posterity, as was believed in a prevailing popular tradition. While
here, too, St. Finian frequently passed to a certain island, and visited
brothers who were there. During one of those voyages, an immense whale
threatened his destruction; yet, making a sign of the cross, the man of God put
this huge monster to flight. Again, a great number of mice overran the island,
but our saint prayed, and afterwards, not even a mouse appeared. Once when he
arrived, the brothers had not a single fish taken; notwithstanding, Finian
ordered them to let down their nets, and immediately thirty salmon were
secured. One of the brothers, going round the island somewhat incautiously,
fell from a great precipice, and he was instantly killed. His other brothers
came in great grief to Finian, and bewailing his death; the man of God prayed,
when, at once, he was restored to life. At length, it was intimated to him,
that his sojourn on the island was not agreeable to the brethren; and, then, he
proceeded to disembark, but the winds were unfavourable. However, he raised the
sails, and buffeting against the breeze, he touched at a wished-for port. When
he arrived at Swords, the doors were all closed; yet, without the knowledge of
any among the inmates, those were miraculously unlocked. While there, he
blessed a tree, and caused it to bear sweet fruit, although previously this was
bitter. Other miracles he wrought, in favour of the poor, of lepers, of the
mute, deaf, and cripples. One Sunday, wine was wanting for the Holy Sacrifice;
water was brought to him, and he miraculously changed it into wine. Frequently,
while he celebrated Mass, all who assisted saw a globe of fire over his head. A
certain man, being obliged to set out on a warlike expedition, came to the
saint, to ask his prayers, and to receive his blessing. In the course of that
war, he fell among the slain, and kindred coming to search for his corpse, they
called his name aloud, when the man arose to life, through the merits of St.
Finian. A rustic, whose son died, bore the body to the holy man, and vowed in
tears he would not leave, until the youth was revivified. Finian replied, “God
is merciful, he will bring your son to life," and so it immediately
happened. Certain guests arrived at his monastery, in the winter season, when a
vessel to warm water had been wanting. Finian prayed, and a patella descended
from Heaven, which for a long time was to be seen at that place. A quarrel
arose between two persons; one of these fled to seek the protection of St.
Finian; while the other pursued, with an intent to do his opponent some
grievous injury. Refusing to accept the proferred mediation of our saint, the
man obdurate of heart became blind on the instant, and his adversary escaped.
Among the other miracles, related in his Acts, it is mentioned, that once
coming from the island, to which allusion has been made, and at the Paschal
season, Finian left his Missal behind; but, the next morning on arising, he
felt sorrowful. Nevertheless, when he entered the church, there was found that
Missal, restored to him, by the hands of Angels, Finian extinguished a fire,
which broke out in the monastery, by making a sign of the cross. He restored an
insane woman, to the use of her reason ; he caused a barren tree, by his
blessing, to bear fruit ; he restored to life, by his prayers, a disciple,
called Bcecan, who had been drowned. This was a subject of great admiration to
many. Then, without any mention, as to the place of his death, yet leaving it
to be inferred from the context, it must have been at Swords; the writer of his
Acts states, that after performing the foregoing, and many other miracles,
Finian slept in peace, and frequent miracles continued to be wrought through
his relics, or before his tomb.
Now according to
some other accounts, St. Finian presided over Clonmore Monastery, which was
founded by St. Maidoc, son of Ainmire, first Bishop of Ferns, and which was
called after him. But, it has been supposed, that when Finian came to this
place, another St. Maidoc, the son of Setna, had succeeded there. This latter
holy man died, A.D. 656, and so it is thought to be not unlikely, that Finian
spent some six years under his spiritual jurisdiction. Now, if Finian presided
there at all, it had been—so state some—subsequently to this date. It is said,
indeed, that he passed the last thirty years of his life at Cluain-mor-Maedoc,
and, according to conjectural accounts, his last end came, about A.D. 680.
Taking these matters into consideration, it is no wonder, that his Patron, St.
Maedoc, should have appeared, as the legend states, to his subordinate at
Clonmore, when about to announce the approaching dissolution of Christ's happy
servant.
On the eve of
St. Maidoc's feast, Finian saw in a vision a chariot descending from Heaven,
towards the city of Ferns, in which was placed a venerable old man, with a
clerical habit, having a very beautiful countenance, and a virgin, covered with
a cloak. Finian asked who they were, when the old man answered, "This is
the most holy virgin Brigid, the Patroness of Ireland, and, I am Maidoc, the
servant of Christ. On to-morrow, my festival shall be celebrated, and on the
following day, the feast of this most holy virgin; and, now have we come, that
we may bless our places, and those, who by their gifts and oblations, honour
the days of our departure. But, be you joyful and prepared, for, on the next
day, you shall ascend to Heaven." Arising in ecstasy, Finian ascended his
chariot, and then went to Kildare, the city of Brigid, relating his vision to
all. As had been predicted regarding him, on the third day after this vision,
he obtained relief from his infirmity, having been translated to the felicity
of Heaven.
From this
relation—which does not occur in St. Finian's proper Acts— but, given by the
author of St. Maidoc's Life, it would appear, if he were the person designated,
that our saint departed, either on the 1st or 2nd day of February—most likely
on the latter. Hence, one or other day should represent his Natalis. However,
all our Martyrologies, as well native as foreign, place his festival, at the
16th day of March. This, as some think, commemorated a Translation of his relics;
but, there are no strong grounds, for not deeming it to be the actual day of
his demise.
According to Dr.
Jeoffry Keating, in the reign of Finnacta, Monarch of Ireland, died
Colman, the pious Bishop of Inis Bo Finne; and, about the same time, Fionnan,
who pronounced his benediction over Ardfionan, left the world. This latter,
however, may have been a person, altogether different from St. Finian the
Leper. Some writers are of opinion, that the death of St. Finian the Leper
occurred at Ardfinnian. That our saint probably died at Swords, is Dr.
Lanigan's contention; but, holding to a theory, that Finian lived in the
seventh century, he assumes, that doubts may be cast on the genuineness of a
composition, ascribed to St. Moling, and, which states, that St. Finian died,
and was buried, at Clonmore, incorrectly supposed to have been in the county of
Wexford. Were that Poem really the composition of St. Moling, Dr. Lanigan
allows, there should be no question, regarding his death and burial, at the
latter place ; for, had he died either at Swords, or at Ardfinnian, the monks
would hardly consent to allow his entire body to be removed to Clonmore. But,
he questions the attributed authorship of this poem, which he is inclined to
refer rather to some monk of Clonmore, who lived at a later period. He
supposes, that Onchuo, appearing to have been later than Finian, or Moling, and
who therefore could not have been mentioned in a poem, written by the latter,
had a portion of the relics belonging to St. Finian the Leper in his
collection, and that these might have been deposited in Clonmore church. Now,
Colgan states, that our saint was buried, neither at Swords, nor at Ardfinnian,
as some suppose, but at Clonmore, and this is deemed, as being altogether the
most probable statement, by those who follow his account. To prove this, Colgan
cites a passage from a Poem, written in the Irish language, and which he
attributes to St. Moling, Bishop of Ferns. Here, it is said, our saint was
buried near the cross, and towards the southern part of the cemetery, with
Saints Maidoc and Onchuo. The latter is thought to have flourished, three or
four generations before Finan Lobhar, and to have been born in the latter end
of the fifth, or in the commencement of the sixth century. Still, the exact
year of St. Finian's death is not known; although very incorrect and even
contradictory statements have been hazarded, in reference to the date.
In Ireland, the
feast of St. Finan or Finian, the Leper, Bishop and Confessor, was formerly
celebrated with an Office, consisting of Nine Lessons. In the "Feilire" of St. Aengus,
"St. Finan, the luminous Leper," is commemorated, at the 16th of
March. The Martyrology of Tallagh registers him, at the 16th of March, as Finan
(i Lobhar) Suird. Marianus O'Gorman, and his Scholiast, at this date, place him
at Swords, at Ciuainmor, in Lagenia, and at Inisfallen, in Lough Lene. In
addition to these places, the Calendar of Cashel adds, that he belonged to
Ardfinain. Whitford, in the Martyrology of Salisbury, and the Carthusian
Martyrology, commemorate him. He is also entered, in the Martyrology of
Christ's Church Cathedral, Dublin. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal, as
having a festival celebrated on this day, Fionan, the Leper, of Sord, and of
Cluainmór, in Leinster; and of Ard Fionain, in Munster. This is likely to be
the St. Finianus, mentioned at the 16th of March, in the anonymous list of
Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare. Henry Fitzsimon also commemorates
him, on the authority of the Carthusian Martyrology. In the “Memorial of British Piety," and
in the "Circle of the Seasons," he is commemorated, at the 16th of
March.
This saint's
festival seems to have been celebrated, even in Scotland. Thus, he had
churches at Killinan, otherwise Kilfynan, at Elan Finan, at Mochrum, at
Abersnetheck, in Monymusk, and at Migvie. Here, too, a fair had been held,
under the name of St. Finzean's fair. There is a Finzean's fair, also, at
Perth. The name of the church of Lumphanan, where Macbeth is believed to have
been killed, is probably dedicated to St. Finian. In the Dunkeld Litany, he is
addressed as Finnanach. St. Finian, was venerated, especially at four
different places, in Ireland, viz., Swords, Ardfinnan, Inisfallen, and
Clonmore, according to a generally received opinion. However, it does not
appear so certain, that all of these, and other places named, must be regarded,
as under his particular patronage; for, possibly, at some early period of our
ecclesiastical history, popular tradition got into confusion, regarding him and
some other Finian, who may have been more immediately connected with localities
designated. It has been stated, that a house, established by our saint, stood
at Ardfinnan, which signifies, "the high place of Finian," within the
baronies of Iffa and Offa West, in the South Riding of the county of Tipperary,
and in the diocese of Lismore. According to Dr. Jeoffry Keating, a St. Finian
blessed Ardfinnin, during the reign of Finachta Fleadhach, King of Ireland. The
town of Lismore was constituted the Deanery of this diocese, in after time;
and, the feast of its patron and founder was kept, we are told, on this day. It
was a solemn festival, as tablets belonging to the church bear record. Besides
the monastery of Innis-Faithlenn, which was the home of learned men until
destroyed, the Cathedral Church of Aghadoe, as we are told, was also dedicated
to St. Finnian Lobhar. He is considered
to be the patron of South Kerry, likewise; but, we are not quite
assured—although present local traditions seem to confirm this opinion—that he
was that chief patron there venerated. On June 1st, St. Finnan's Tower,
Ship-street, Dublin, fell, and, by exertions of the parish Beadle (F. Durham),
a number of lives were saved. Most probably, that tower had been dedicated to
the present saint.
The truly pious
man feels happiness under affliction, when patient and submissive to the
decrees of Providence. Confidence in God, and love towards him, inspire the
soul, and create a great peace within, even when the body is wasted with
suffering and disease. Those gifts of mind and of grace are the great sources
of fortitude. With manly courage and firmness should we bear our occasional
crosses, since our Divine Redeemer showed us how to suffer, and to triumph over
suffering.
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