Bible Verse
- Philippians 1:6 -
...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will
carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making progress in your spiritual
life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians,
God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your
life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you. He
promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete,
unfinished or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promise and
provision. Don't let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing
Christ or keep you from growing closer to him.
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June 8th - St. William Fitzherbert B (RM)
(Also known as William of York or William of Thwayt)
Died at York, June 8, 1154; canonized 1226 or 1227 by Pope Honorius III.
William Fitz Herbert-son of Count Herbert, treasurer to Henry I, and Emma,
half sister of King Stephen-had impressed many as canon and treasurer of
York Minster. In 1140, after the death of Archbishop Thurstand, he was
elected archbishop in turn by a majority of the cathedral chapter. At this
point the smooth running of William's life ended. Archdeacon Walter of York
and the diocese's Cistercian monks claimed that he had paid to be elevated
to the archbishopric and that he was sexually incontinent. Others, including
the Augustinian priors, said that his friendship with his uncle, King
Stephen, gave him an improper influence in securing election to the see.
The archbishop of Canterbury was reluctant to consecrate William under such
a cloud of accusation. For a time even Pope Innocent III hesitated, before
finally agreeing to support William. Henry of Blois, who was both bishop of
Winchester and King Stephen's brother accordingly consecrated William and he
took up his duties as archbishop in 1143.
But the dispute did not end; matters soon became difficult again. William
failed to receive the official 'pallium,' symbol of the pope's authority,
before the pope who sent it had died. The papal legate took the pallium back
to Rome.
The new pope, Eugenius III, was a Cistercian and sided with the archbishop's
opponents, including Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. William visited Rome to
persuade the pope of his credentials. But the pope suspended him. To make
things worse, a group of his followers now violently attacked some of the
monks of Fountains Abbey, itself a Cistercian foundation, and set fire to
the monastery farms. The abbot of Fountains, Henry Murdac, had been
William's rival for the see of York in the first place.
A council held at Rheims in 1147 now deposed William. He went to stay with
Henry of Blois, and spent six chastened years living as a monk at
Winchester. Only when both the pope and the abbot of Fountains were dead was
he able to make a successful appeal to Pope Anastasius IV and return in
triumph to York. Enormous crowds gathered on a bridge over the River Ouse as
William arrived. The bridge collapsed. Fortunately no one was injured, and
this was taken as a sign of good things to come. William, however, had
reached the end of his life.
William was mild and conciliatory towards his enemies, but within a few
months he was dead, perhaps, it was rumored, from poison at the hands of
Osbert, the new archdeacon of York. He was well liked by the people, and the
rumored murder doubtless contributed to a popular demand for his
canonization (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia).
Saint William is depicted in the episcopal insignia on many windows in York,
England. He might be shown (1) on a shield with eight lozenges near him; (2)
crossing the Ouse Bridge; (3) on horseback, received by the Mayor at
Mickelgate Bar; (4) kneeling to kiss the cross at the entrance to York
Minster; or (5) as a tonsured monk praying in the wilderness with a holy
dove nearby (Roeder).
Saint Quote:
Anxiety proceeds from an ill-regulated desire to be delivered from the evil
we experience, or to acquire the good to which we aspire; nevertheless,
nothing aggravates evil and hinders good so much as anxiety and worry.
-St Francis de Sales
Bible quote:
The children of this world are more prudent among themselves than the
children of the light. St. Luke 16:8
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Canticle 1 Chronicles 29
To God alone be honour and glory
Blessed are you, Lord, God of our father Israel, through all the ages.
All power and greatness are yours, O God; glory, splendour, and majesty.
All things are yours, in the heavens and on the earth; you rule over them,
Lord, you are high above them all.
All riches and glory come from you, you rule over all things.
In your hand lie strength and power, your hand raises all things and sets
them firm.
So now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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