Eliza Vaughan

Vaughn en A.P.I. : [voːn]

morte en 1853

Le Maître de la Moisson

« 37 Alors il dit à ses disciples : La moisson est grande, mais il y a peu d'ouvriers.

38 Priez donc le maître de la moisson d'envoyer des ouvriers dans sa moisson. »

(Matthieu 9 : 37-38, Louis Segond).

“37Then said He unto His disciples, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.

38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.”

(Matthew 9:37-38, 21st Century King James Version).

Eliza Vaughan

Eliza Vaughan, mère de famille galloise et protestante, convertie au catholicisme, est morte en 1853. Dans un élan surnaturel, elle a appelé toute sa vie durant, par ses prières ferventes et ses sacrifices, de nombreuses vocations sacerdotales, en particulier pour ses propres enfants. En effet, sur 13 enfants, 6 fils deviendront prêtres et 4 filles religieuses.

C’est une vérité évangélique que les vocations sacerdotales doivent être demandées dans la prière. Jésus le souligne dans l’évangile :

« La moisson est abondante, mais les ouvriers peu nombreux ; priez donc le Maître de la moisson d’envoyer des ouvriers à sa moisson. » (Mt 9, 37-38).

Eliza Vaughan, une mère de famille anglaise, est un exemple très probant d’une femme, qui remplie d’un esprit sacerdotal, priait beaucoup pour les vocations.

Eliza vient d’une famille protestante, la famille Rolls, qui par la suite fonda l’industrie automobile réputée Rolls-Royce. Jeune fille, alors qu’elle vivait et étudiait en France, elle fut très impressionnée par le soutien exemplaire que l’Eglise Catholique apportait aux pauvres.

Pendant l’été 1830, après son mariage avec le colonel John Francis Vaughan, Eliza, malgré la forte résistance de ses parents, se convertit au catholicisme. Elle n’avait pas pris cette décision parce qu’elle appartenait désormais à une famille anglaise connue, de tradition catholique, mais bien motivée par une ferme conviction personnelle. La famille Vaughan, lors de la persécution des catholiques anglais sous le règne d’Elisabeth I (1558-1603), avait accepté l’expropriation de tous ses biens et l’emprisonnement plutôt que de renier sa foi. Courtfield, la résidence familiale de son mari, était devenue pendant les décennies de la terreur, un centre de refuge pour les prêtres persécutés, un lieu où la Sainte Messe était célébrée en secret. Trois siècles s’étaient écoulés dès lors, mais rien n’avait changé dans l’esprit catholique de la famille.

Convaincue de la puissance d’une fidèle prière silencieuse, Eliza Vaughan consacrait chaque jour une heure à l’adoration dans la chapelle de la maison. Elle priait Dieu de lui accorder des vocations dans sa famille. Devenue mère de six prêtres et quatre religieuses, elle fut largement exaucée. Morte en 1853, Maman Vaughan fut enterrée à Courtfield, dans la propriété familiale qu’elle aimant tant.

Aujourd’hui Courtfield est un centre d’exercices spirituels dans le diocèse anglais de Cardiff. En prenant considération de la sainte vie d’Eliza, l’évêque du lieu consacra en 1954 la chapelle de la maison comme “Sanctuaire de Notre Dame des Vocations”, titre qui fut confirmé en l’an 2000.

DONNONS NOS ENFANTS À DIEU

Convertie du plus profond de son cœur et remplie de zèle, Eliza proposa à son mari de donner leurs enfants à Dieu. Cette femme de grande vertu priait chaque jour une heure devant le Saint Sacrement dans la chapelle de la résidence de Courtfield. Elle demandait à Dieu une famille nombreuse et beaucoup de vocations religieuses parmi ses enfants. Elle fut exaucée ! Elle eut 14 enfants et mourut peu après la naissance du dernier en 1853. Des 13 enfants (un mourut en bas âge), dont 8 garçons, 6 devinrent prêtres : 2 religieux, un prêtre diocésain, un évêque, un archevêque et un cardinal. Des 5 filles, quatre entrèrent dans la vie religieuse. Quelle bénédiction pour la famille et quels effets pour toute l’Angleterre !

Tous les enfants de la famille Vaughan eurent une enfance heureuse. En effet, pour leur éducation, cette sainte mère sut unir de façon naturelle, la vie spirituelle et les obligations religieuses avec les divertissements et la gaieté. Selon les désirs maternels, la prière et la Sainte Messe dans la chapelle de la maison faisaient partie de la vie quotidienne, tout comme la musique, le sport, le théâtre, l’équitation et les jeux. Les enfants ne s’ennuyaient pas lorsque leur mère leur racontait la vie des saints qui devinrent au contraire peu à peu leurs amis intimes. Eliza se faisait aussi accompagner de ses enfants pour les visites et les soins aux malades et aux personnes souffrantes du voisinage. C’était pour eux l’occasion d’apprendre à être généreux, à faire des sacrifices et à donner aux pauvres leurs économies ou leurs jouets.

Elle mourut peu après la naissance du quatorzième enfant, John. Deux mois après sa mort, le colonel Vaughan, convaincu que son épouse avait été un don de la providence, écrivait dans une lettre : « Aujourd’hui, pendant l’adoration, je remerciais le Seigneur d’avoir pu Lui redonner mon épouse bien aimée. Je Le remerciais de tout mon cœur de m’avoir donné Eliza comme modèle et guide ; je suis encore uni à elle par un lien spirituel indestructible. Quelle merveilleuse consolation et quelle grâce ne me donne-t-elle pas ! Je la vois encore, comme je l’ai toujours vue devant le Saint Sacrement avec cette pure et humaine gentillesse qui illuminait son visage pendant la prière. »

OUVRIERS DANS LA VIGNE DU SEIGNEUR

Les nombreuses vocations dans le mariage Vaughan sont vraiment un héritage rare dans l’histoire de la Grande Bretagne et une bénédiction qui venait surtout de leur mère Eliza.

Quand Herbert, le fils aîné, à 16 ans, annonça à ses parents vouloir devenir prêtre, les réactions furent contrastées. Sa mère, qui avait beaucoup prié pour cela, sourit et dit : « Mon fils, je le savais depuis bien longtemps. » Son père eut besoin d’un peu plus de temps. Il avait fondé de grandes espérances sur son fils aîné, l’héritier de la maison, et avait pensé pour lui à une brillante carrière militaire. Comment pouvait-il imaginer qu’Herbert, un jour, deviendrait l’archevêque de Westminster, fondateur des Missionnaires de Millhill et plus tard Cardinal ? Il se laissa convaincre et écrivit à un ami : « Si Dieu veut Herbert pour Lui, Il peut avoir aussi tous les autres. » Reginald se maria, et après lui Francis Baynham, celui qui héritera plus tard de la propriété familiale. Dieu appela encore neuf autres enfants des Vaughan. Roger, le deuxième, devint prieur bénédictin et plus tard, l’archevêque bien aimé de Sydney (Australie), où il fit construire la cathédrale. Kenelm après un passage chez les cisterciens devint prêtre diocésain. Joseph, le quatrième fils des Vaughan, fut lui bénédictin comme son frère Roger et fonda une nouvelle abbaye.

Bernard, sans doute le plus vif de tous, aimait beaucoup la danse et le sport ; il prenait part à tous les divertissements. Il devint néanmoins jésuite. On raconte que la veille d’entrer dans l’ordre, il participa à un bal et dit à sa partenaire : « Cette danse est la dernière, parce que je vais entrer chez les jésuites. » Surprise, la jeune fille rétorqua : « Mais je vous en prie, vous qui aimez tant le monde et qui dansez merveilleusement, voulez-vous devenir jésuite ? » La réponse, même si elle peut être interprétée de différentes manières, est très belle : « Justement, c’est bien pour cela que je me donne à Dieu ! »

John, le plus jeune, fut ordonné prêtre par son frère Herbert et devint par la suite évêque de Salford en Angleterre.

Des cinq filles de la famille, quatre entrèrent au couvent : Gladis, dans l’ordre de la Visitation ; Teresa fut sœur de la Miséricorde ; Claire, sœur clarisse et Mary, prieure chez les augustiniennes. Marguerite, la dernière fille, aurait bien voulu aussi se consacrer à Dieu, mais, à cause d’une santé fragile, la porte du couvent lui resta fermée. Elle vécut néanmoins à la maison comme une personne consacrée et passa ses dernières années dans un monastère.

Herbert Vaughan avait seize ans lorsqu’il se décida, pendant une retraite spirituelle d’été, à devenir prêtre. Il fut ordonné à Rome à l’âge de 22 ans et devint plus tard évêque de Salford (Angleterre) et fondateur des Missionnaires de Millhill ; ceux-ci œuvrent aujourd’hui encore dans le monde entier. Pour finir il devint Cardinal et troisième évêque de Westminster. Dans ses armoiries il fit écrire : « Aimer et servir ! » Le Cardinal Vaughan expliqua : « Ces deux mots expriment mon programme de vie : l’amour doit être la racine de laquelle prend vie tout mon service. »

Eliza Vaughan

It is a fact that vocations to the priesthood must be prayed for; Jesus speaks about it himself in the Gospel:

“The harvest is abundant, but the labourers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers for his harvest” (Mt. 9:37-38).

Eliza Vaughan, an English family mother, is a particularly encouraging example of a woman with a priestly spirit who prayed very much for vocations.

The mother of six priests and four religious sisters, her prayer was bountifully heard. Mother Vaughan died in 1853 and was buried in the grounds of her beloved family property, Courtfield.

Today, Courtfield is a retreat center for different groups in the Welsh diocese of Cardiff. In consideration of Eliza’s holy life, the family chapel was consecrated as the shrine of “Our Lady of Vocations” by the bishop in 1954 and confirmed as such in the year 2000.

Let us give our children to God

Eliza came from a strong Protestant family, that of Rolls-Royce. Yet even during her childhood education in France, she was deeply impressed by the exemplary efforts the Catholic Church made for the poor. After she married Colonel John Francis Vaughan in the summer of 1830, Eliza converted to the Catholic Faith, despite the objection of her relatives. During the time of the Catholic persecution in England under Queen Elisabeth I (1558-1603), the Vaughan’s ancestors preferred imprisonment and expropriation to being unfaithful to their beliefs.

Courtfield, the ancestral family home, became a place of refuge for priests during the decades of terror in England, a place where the Holy Mass was often celebrated secretly. Nearly three centuries had now passed, but the Catholic beliefs of the family had not changed. Eliza was someone who converted with all her heart, so much so, that in her religious enthusiasm, she even proposed to her husband that they offer all their children back to God.

This remarkable woman made a habit of praying for an hour each day before the Blessed Sacrament in the house chapel at Courtfield. She prayed to God for a large family and for many religious vocations among her children. And her prayers were heard! She gave life to 14 children and died shortly after the birth of the last child, John, in 1853.

Of the 13 children that lived, six of her eight boys became priests: two priests in religious orders, one diocesan priest, a bishop, an archbishop and a cardinal. From the five daughters, four became nuns in religious orders.

What a blessing for the family and what an impact on all of England! The Vaughan children enjoyed a pleasant childhood because their virtuous mother knew how to educate them in a very natural way by uniting spiritual and religious obligationds with amusement and cheerfulness.

Thanks to their mother, prayer and daily Mass in the house chapel were just as much a part of everyday life as music, athletics, amateur theatre, horse riding and playing.

It was never boring for the children when their mother told them stories from the lives of the saints, who little by little became their dearest friends. Mother Vaughan happily let her children accompany her on visits to the sick and needy of the area.

On such occasions, they learned how to be generous, to make sacrifices and to give away their savings or their toys. Shortly after the birth of her 14th child, Eliza died.

Two months after her death, Colonel Vaughan wrote in a letter that he was convinced divine providence brought Eliza to him.

“I thanked the Lord in adoration today that I could give back to him my dearly beloved wife. I poured out my heart to him, full of thankfulness that, as an example and a guide, he gave me Eliza with whom I am still now bound by an inseparable, spiritual bond. What wonderful consolation and grace she brought me! I still see her as I always saw her before the Blessed Sacrament: her inner purity and extraordinary human kindness which her beautiful face reflected during prayer.”

Eliza Vaughan

É uma verdade evangélica que as vocações sacerdotais devem ser pedidas com a oração. Evidencia-o Jesus no evangelho quando diz: “A messe é grande, mas os trabalhadores são poucos. Peçam, pois, ao Senhor da messe que envie trabalhadores para a sua messe!” (Mt 9,37-38).

Oferece-nos um exemplo muito significativo a inglesa Eliza Vaughan, mãe de família e mulher dotada de espírito sacerdotal, que rezou muito para as vocações.

Eliza provinha de uma família protestante, a dos Rolls, que sucessivamente fundou a indústria automobilística Rolls-Royce, mas quando jovem, durante sua permanência e educação na França, havia ficado muito impressionada pelo exemplar empenho da Igreja católica para com os pobres.

No verão de 1830, após o casamento com o coronel John Francis Vaughan, Eliza, apesar da forte resistência de seus parentes, converteu-se ao catolicismo. Havia tomado essa decisão com convicção e não somente por ter entrado a ser parte de uma famosa família inglesa de tradição católica. Os antepassados Vaughan, durante a perseguição dos católicos ingleses sob o reinado de Elisabeth I (1558-1603), preferiram sofrer a expropriação dos bens e a prisão antes que renunciar à própria fé.

Courtfield, a residência originária da família de seu marido, tornara-se, durante as décadas de terror, um abrigo para os sacerdotes perseguidos, um lugar onde celebrava-se a S. Missa. Desde então haviam passado três séculos, mas nada mudara no espírito católico da família.

Certa do poder da oração silenciosa e fiel, Eliza Vaughan reservava cada dia uma hora de adoração na capela da casa, rezando pelas vocações na sua família. Tornando-se mãe de seis sacerdotes foi grandemente atendida. Falecida em 1853, Mamãe Vaughan foi enterrada em Courtfield, na propriedade da família que ela tanto amara. Hoje Courtfield é um centro de exercícios espirituais da diocese de Cardiff.

Com o exemplo da santa vida de Eliza, em 1954 a Capela da Casa foi consagrada pelo bispo como “Santuário de Nossa Senhora das Vocações”, título que foi confirmado no ano 2000.

Doemos os nossos filhos a Deus

Convertida no fundo do coração, cheia de zelo, Eliza propôs ao marido de doar os filhos a Deus. Essa mulher de elevadas virtudes rezava cada dia durante uma hora frente ao Santíssimo Sacramento na Capela da residência de Courtfield, pedindo a Deus uma família numerosa e muitas vocações religiosas entre seus filhos. Foi atendida! Teve 14 filhos e morreu pouco depois do nascimento do último filho em 1853. Dos 13 filhos vivos, entre os quais 8 homens, seis se tornaram sacerdotes: dois em ordens religiosas, um sacerdote diocesano, um bispo, um arcebispo e um cardeal. Das cinco filhas, quatro se tornaram religiosas. Que benção para a família e quais efeitos para toda a Inglaterra! Todos os filhos da família Vaughan tiveram uma infância feliz, porque na educação sua santa mãe possuía a capacidade de associar de modo natural a vida espiritual e as obrigações religiosas com as diversões e a alegria. Por vontade da mãe faziam parte da vida quotidiana as orações e a S. Missa na capela da casa, bem como a música, o esporte, o teatro amador, a equitação e as brincadeiras. Os filhos não se entediavam quando a mãe lhes contava as vidas dos santos, que aos poucos se tornaram para eles amigos íntimos. Eliza levava consigo os filhos também nas visitas e nos cuidados aos doentes e aos sofredores das vizinhanças, para que pudessem nestas ocasiões aprender a serem generosos, a fazer sacrifícios, a doar aos pobres suas poupanças e seus brinquedos.

Ela faleceu pouco depois do nascimento do décimo quarto filho, John. Dois meses após a sua morte, o coronel Vaughan, convencido que ela havia sido um dom da Providência, escreveu numa carta: “Hoje, durante a adoração, agradeci o Senhor, por ter podido devolver a Ele minha amada esposa. Abri a Ele o meu coração cheio de gratidão por ter-me doado Eliza como modelo e guia, a ela ainda

me liga um vínculo espiritual inseparável.

Que maravilhosa consolação e que graça me transmite! Ainda a vejo como sempre a vi frente ao Santíssimo com aquela sua pura e humana gentileza que lhe iluminava o rosto durante a oração”.

Trabalhai nas vinhas do Senhor

As numerosas vocações entre os filhos do casal Vaughan são realmente uma extraordinária herança na história do Reino Unido e uma benção que provinha principalmente da mãe Eliza. Quando Herbert, o filho mais velho, aos dezesseis anos anunciou aos pais que queria se tornar sacerdote, as reações foram diferentes. A mãe, que havia rezado muito para que isso acontecesse, sorriu e disse: “Meu filho, eu já sabia há muito tempo”. O pai porém precisou de um pouco de tempo para aceitar o anúncio, pois sobre o filho mais velho, herdeiro da casa, havia colocado muitas esperanças e havia pensado para ele uma brilhante carreira militar. Como teria podido imaginar que Herbert iria se tornar arcebispo de Westminster, fundador de Millhill e sucessivamente cardeal?

Mas o pai também logo persuadiu-se e escreveu para um amigo: “Se Deus quer Herbert para si, pode ter também todos os outros”.

Reginaldo porém casou-se, como Francis Baynham, que herdou a propriedade da família.

Deus chamou ainda outros nove filhos dos Vaughan. Roger, o segundo, tornou-se prior dos beneditinos e mais tarde amado arcebispo de Sydney, na Austrália, onde mandou construir a catedral. Kenelm tornou-se cisterciense e mais tarde sacerdote diocesano.

José, o quarto filho dos Vaughan, foi beneditino como o irmão Roger e fundador de uma nova abadia. Bernardo, talvez o mais animado de todos, que amava muito a dança e o esporte, que não perdia uma diversão, tornou-se jesuíta.

Conta-se que no dia anterior ao seu ingresso na ordem, tenha tomado parte de um baile e tenha dito a sua parceira: “Este que estou fazendo com a senhora é meu último baile porque serei jesuíta!”. Surpresa, a jovem teria exclamado: “Mas por favor! Logo o senhor, que tanto ama o mundo e dança maravilhosamente bem, quer ser jesuíta?”. A resposta, mesmo se pode ser interpretada de várias maneiras, é muito bonita: “Exatamente por isso me entrego a Deus!”.

John, o mais novo, foi ordenado sacerdote pelo irmão Herbert e sucessivamente tornouse bispo de Salford na Inglaterra. Das cinco filhas da família, quatro se tornaram religiosas.

Gladis entrou na ordem da visitação, Teresa foi irmã da misericórdia, Claire irmã clarissa e Mary priora junto às agostinianas. Margareta também, a quinta filha dos Vaughan, queria ser freira, mas não pôde por causa de sua saúde fraca. Viveu, porém, em casa como consagrada e passou os últimos anos de sua vida num mosteiro.

Herbert Vaughan tinha dezesseis anos quando no verão, durante um retiro espiritual, resolveu ser sacerdote. Foi ordenado em Roma aos 22 anos de idade e mais tarde tornou-se bispo de Salford na Inglaterra e fundador dos Missionários de Millhill, que hoje atuam no mundo inteiro. Finalmente tornou-se Cardeal e terceiro arcebispo de Westminster.

No seu brasão está escrito: “Amare et Servire!”. O seu programa estava enunciado na frase “O amor deve ser a raiz da qual brota todo o meu serviço”.

Saint Cóemgen

(Irlandais moderne : Caoimhghin)

Kevin of Glendalough

(Irlandais : Gleann Dá Loch, Comté de Wicklow)

498 - 3 juin 618

Prière à Saint-Kevin

Tu as eu le privilège de vivre à l'Ère des Saints, Ô Père Kevin ; baptisé par un Saint, enseigné par un autre et enterré par un troisième.

Prie Dieu pour qu'Il suscite des saints afin de nous aider, nous soutenir et nous guider sur le chemin du salut.

Tropaire de Saint-Kevin, ton 8, composé par Isaac Lambertson, traduit de l'anglais.

 Hymne à Saint-Kevin

Avec des hymnes de louange, nous bénissons tous le noble Kevin qui, par son amour de Dieu, répand la Grâce divine dans les cœurs de ceux qui l’honorent, car il demeure désormais avec les Saints et les Anges dans le Ciel, où il se tient devant le Trône du Très-Haut, priant sans cesse pour nous tous.

Tropaire, ton 4, composé par Isaac Lambertson, traduit de l’anglais.

Prayer to St. Kevin

Saint Kevin, We celebrate your saintly and holy life.

Help us to grow in our awareness of God’s gifts to us.

You lived a life filled with a wonderful reverence

and awe of the beauties of nature.

You held in high esteem the value of life in all forms.

Create in us an appreciation for the presence of God

in all creation.

We ask this in the name of Jesus,

our Lord and Saviour.

Amen.

Month of June

THE 3RD DAY

Commemoration of Our Venerable Father Kevin,

Abbot of Glendalough,

Wonder-worker of All Ireland

Composed by Reader Isaac Lambertson

At Vespers

At Lord, I have cried, these stichera, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: On the third day

Noble of spirit was the God-bearing Kevin, the namesake of nobility; wherefore, full of love for God and neighbour, he withdrew into the wilderness, where in solitude he prayed earnestly on behalf of the sinful world.

Wondrous was the devotion of the venerable one for the sheep of the flock entrusted to his charge; wherefore, he traversed sea and land to obtain God's blessing upon them, bringing back with him the grace-filled relics of the saints.

The years of man's life are threescore and ten, or mayhap fourscore if he be in strength, but any more is toil and travail; yet our Savior granted sixscore years unto His favored one, wherein to exalt His holy name.

Glory: Idiomelon, in Tone II

Like as the two lakes of Glendalough water their vale, so was the glorious Kevin nourished with the twin springs of Orthodox doctrine and ascetic endeavor. Wherefore, all who honor him become like trees planted by the streams of the grace which dwelt in him, so that, nurtured thereby, their leaf doth not fall, and they prosper exceedingly in the Spirit, bringing forth in due season the goodly fruits of virtue and devotion.

Now & ever: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: When from the Tree

When thou didst behold hanging upon the Tree, the most ripe Cluster, Whom thou didst produce in thy womb without cultivation, O pure one, lamenting, thou didst exclaim and cry out: 'O my Child, let fall a drop of sweetness, whereby all the drunkenness of the passions may be banished! O Benefactor, be Thou entreated in Thy loving-kindness for the sake of me who gave Thee birth!'

Aposticha stichera from the Octoechos; and, Glory: Idiomelon, in Tone IV

Come, all ye who love the saints of God, and with the Christians of Ireland let us offer praise to the venerable Kevin, the precious receptacle of grace divine, the chosen instrument of the Lord's economy; for, as a sign of his favour with the Most High, creation made obeisance before him and willingly served him. Wherefore, let us lift up our voices in thanksgiving unto Christ, Who hath given us so great a mediator before His throne, who ever offereth entreaty to Him on behalf of our souls.

Now & ever: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: Called from on high

'Do not lament Me, O Mother, beholding, hanging upon the Tree, thy Son and God Who suspended the earth unsupported upon the waters and fashioned all creation; for I shall arise and be glorified, and shall crush the realms of hades with strength; I shall destroy its power and deliver those in bondage from its evil activity, for I am compassionate; and I shall bring them to My Father, in that I love mankind'.

Troparion, in Tone IV

With hymns of praise let us all bless the noble Kevin, who by his godly love poureth divine grace into the hearts of those who honor him; for he dwelleth now with the saints and angels in heaven, where he standeth before the throne of the Most High, praying unceasingly for us all.

St. Kevin's Bed

At Matins

At God is the Lord, the troparion of the saint, twice; Glory, Now & ever: Theotokion, or stavrotheotokion.

Canon of the saint, with 4 troparia, the acrostic whereof is Highly praised is the noble-born Kevin, in Tone II

Ode I

Irmos: Of old, Thou didst part the waters of the Red Sea with the staff of the law-giver, O Christ, saving the chosen people dryshod, who sang a hymn of triumph to Thy victorious right hand.

Help me to escape my sins, O Christ, parting the waters of mine iniquities, that, saved, I may sing a fitting hymn of victory to the venerable Kevin, who triumphed gloriously over all the passions.

In spiritual songs let us praise the noble-born Kevin, the fountain of God's mercies and compassions, who poureth forth in abundance the bright waters of divine grace for the New Israel.

Glory and honor let us render unto Kevin of great renown, who, though a scion of royal stock, betook himself to dwell alone in the wilderness, and became like a tree planted by streams of waters.

Theotokion: How can any man magnify thee worthily, O Virgin Theotokos? How can we praise thee as is meet? For thou dost rescue us by the grace of God which overfloweth from thee as thou standest at His right hand.

Ode III

Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the nations, blossomed like a lily at Thine advent, O Lord; and therein hath my heart been established.

Let us honor the holy Cronan, who immersed the infant Kevin in the sacred waters of the font of enlightenment, establishing his heart in the Lord.

Ye pious and holy monastics, be glad in the Lord, for like a lily did the venerable Kevin blossom in your midst, wherein his heart was established.

Preferring to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night, the wondrous Kevin withdrew to the barren wilderness, far from the tumults of life.

Theotokion: Reigning on high, O Mistress of all, thou dost blossom like a lily in the heavenly abodes, and standest as Queen at the right hand of thine almighty Son.

Sessional hymn, in Tone : Spec. Mel.: O Thou Who wast lifted up

Great was the devotion of the venerable Kevin to his Master, for, though of noble birth and lineage, he forsook the world and all its delights, and fled into the wilderness, in solitude seeking to hear the still, small voice of Him Who in His loving-kindness ever forgiveth our iniquities.

Glory, Now & ever: Theotokion

I, the lowly one, have fled to thy divine refuge after God, and, falling down, I pray: Have mercy, O all-pure one, for my sins have passed over my head. O Mistress, I fear torments and tremble. Make supplication to thy Son, O pure one, that He deliver me therefrom.

Stavrotheotokion

She who in latter times gave birth in the flesh to Thee Who wast begotten of the unoriginate Father, O Christ, seeing Thee hanging upon the Cross cried out: 'Woe is me, O Jesus most beloved! How is it that Thou Who art glorified as God by the angels art now of Thine own will crucified by iniquitous men? O my long-suffering Son, I hymn Thee!'

Ode IV

Irmos: Purified by the fire of a mystical vision, the prophet praiseth the restoration of mortal men; and, filled with the inspiration of the Spirit, he lifteth up his voice to reveal the incarnation of the ineffable Word, Who hath broken the dominion of the mighty.

Angelic guidance and mystic vision led thee up into the solitary Vale of Glendalough, O wondrous Kevin, where, clad in skins and partaking only of nettles and sorrel, thou didst receive the inspiration of the Spirit, which filled thee with the sweet psalmody of nature.

In autumn and winter the plants whereon thou didst subsist remained green for thy use, O glorious one, ineffably maintained fresh for thy use by the incarnate Word; and betimes thou didst hear the branches and leaves of the trees sing sweet hymns of praise unto Him, their Creator.

Sleeping nightly by the waterside, and making thy bed upon stones, thou didst strive to purify thyself of the passions in the fiery crucible of ascetic feats, O Kevin; wherefore, to provide ease and consolation for thy soul, the Most High let fall heavenly music upon thine ear.

Theotokion: Even the most eloquent of orators findeth his art inadequate for the praise of Mary, the all-immaculate Maiden, Bride of God, as is meet.. How then can our feeble efforts produce hymnody fit for her praise? Yet spurn not our meagre offerings, O Lady, and accept them.

Ode V

Irmos: Dispelling the gloom of dark ignorance, O Christ God Who art life and light, illumine our thoughts, our spiritual senses, with the never-waning light of Thine understanding.

Dima the drover discovered thee abiding in a gloomy cave, seeking Christ, the true Light of knowledge and understanding, O Kevin; and he besought thee to leave thy fastness.

In Disert-Coemgen didst thou make thy dwelling, O venerable one, and didst attract a company of disciples, whose minds and spiritual senses thou didst illumine with spiritual light.

Salmon did an otter bring every day to thy habitation, O saint, feeding thee and thy disciples by God's will, like as the ravens fed Elijah with meat and bread by the Brook of Cherith.

Theotokion: Thy glory surpasseth that of even the most exalted created beings, O all-holy Lady; for, alone among God's creatures, thou gavest birth unto Him Who is our Life and never-waning Light.

Ode VI

Irmos: The great abyss of sin encompasseth me, and, imitating the prophet, I cry to thee: Lead me up from corruption, O Lord!

Higher in the Valley of the Two Lakes didst thou establish thy sacred community, O Kevin, and higher yet didst thou ascend through all the virtues.

Ever mindful of the well-being of thy flock, O holy one, thou didst make the long and perilous journey to Rome to obtain blessings for them.

Neither the great deep of the sea nor perils on land hindered Kevin from bringing to Ireland a sacred treasure of the relics of the saints.

Theotokion: Over all creatures art thou exalted, O glorious Maiden, for thou gavest birth in the flesh unto Him Who is the Author and Fashioner of all that is.

Kontakion, in Tone V

Forsaking thy noble inheritance, and shunning all the crooked ways of this sin-loving world, thou didst apply thine obedient feet to the straight and narrow path of Christ, eagerly hastening throughout thy life toward the heavenly Sion, where with all the saints and the bodiless hosts thou criest aloud in ecstasy: Let every breath praise the Lord!

Ikos: Ye lofty trees of Ireland, ever move your verdant branches, that with the rustling of your leafs, as with the strings of a multitude of harps, ye may make sweet music for the King of kings; for thus of old did ye delight His faithful servant, the venerable Kevin, with your melodious song, easing the severity of his ascetic life with the beauty of your hymnody, filling his soul with exultation, and causing him to cry aloud: Let every breath praise the Lord!

Ode VII

Irmos: The children from Jerusalem, equal in number to the thrice-radiant Trinity, trampled underfoot the edict of the ungodly king in Babylon; and, cast into the fire, they joined chorus, singing: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Blessed wast thou, O holy one, by thy countrymen who, joining chorus, praised thee as a soldier of Christ in the land of Ireland, a high name over the sea's wave: Kevin the pure, bright warrior in the Glen of the Two Broad Lakes.

Lamentation's tears didst thou shed for the holy Kieran at Clonmacnois, O saint of God, but O the wonder! the holy abbot rose from the dead to engage thee in edifying discourse, and gave thee his sacred bell as a worthy parting gift.

Earnestly desiring to make another pilgrimage to the City of the Holy Apostles, Kevin besought the blessing of a saintly elder, who told him: Birds do not hatch their eggs when they are on the wing; wherefore, he remained with his flock.

Theotokion: Bemired in my sins and stuck fast in the slough of mine iniquities, I cry to thee for aid: O Lady, come quickly and extend to me a helping hand, rescuing me from my manifold offenses, that I may cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Ode VIII

Irmos: God, Who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children and transformed the flame into dew, hymn ye as Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Over and beyond the span allotted to men's life didst thou live, O Kevin, attaining the age of sixscore years, as God was well-pleased to grant, Whom all His works exalt supremely for all ages.

Replete with all the Christian virtues, thou didst depart this vale of tears and hast taken thine allotted place at the right hand of the Most High, exalting Him supremely for all ages.

Now standest thou with boldness before the supernal throne of the Almighty, O wondrous Kevin, and makest intercession before the King of all, that He have mercy upon those who honour thee.

Theotokion: Kneeling down in reverence and devotion, let us exalt the Bride of God, whom the flame of the Godhead in no wise burnt or consumed when the Word became incarnate in her womb.

Ode IX

Irmos: O Theotokos, with hymns do we magnify thee, the spiritual and living ladder whereon our God established Himself, and whereby we have gained ascent to heaven.

Ever battling the passions which assail men's souls, and vanquishing the minions of Satan who lay siege without pity thereto, Kevin hath gloriously gained entry to heaven.

Valor and courage didst thou display in the arena of ascetic endeavor, O glorious Kevin, and the Judge of the contest hath bestowed the wreath of victory upon thee.

Ireland boasteth in thy mighty intercession, O wonder-worker; Dublin boasteth in thee exceedingly as its heavenly protector; and Glendalough magnifieth thee supremely.

Theotokion: Now let us bring an end to our hymns, magnifying the only Mother of God, the pure Ever-virgin Mary, into whose undefiled womb the Lord of all descended from heaven.

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: Heaven with stars

In the fastness of the Vale of the Two Lakes didst thou make thine abode, O wondrous Kevin, heeding the call of Christ, our merciful Redeemer, to dwell in unity with thy faithful disciples.

Theotokion

Thou wast the cause of the good things given by God to the world, O Theotokos. Entreat God, Who is easily reconciled, for the salvation of us all.

Aposticha stichera; and Glory: Idiomelon, in Tone VIII

Singing psalms and spiritual songs, let us lift up our voices in praise of the God-bearing Kevin, the protector of Dublin and defender of all Ireland, the mighty champion of the one Church of Christ, the fervent intercessor for all who honor him with love, the bulwark and refuge of monastics, the insuperable wall of defense for his people, fending off the assaults of the demons, impregnable to their weaponry; for arrayed in the full armor of piety, wielding the sword of the Truth and the spear of righteousness, undaunted by the savage foe, he valiantly fought the good fight and emerged victorious.

Now & ever: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: O all-glorious wonder

'I cannot bear to see Thee, O my Child, Who givest vigilance unto all, asleep upon the Tree, that Thou mayest bestow divine and saving wakefulness upon those who of old fell into the sleep of perdition by eating the fruit of disobedience!', weeping, said the Virgin, whom we magnify.

At the Liturgy

At the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 from Ode III and 4 from Ode VI of the canon of the venerable one.

Prokimenon, in Tone VII

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, § 213

Brethren: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Alleluia, in Tone VI

Stichos: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly delight.

Stichos: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth.

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE, § 24

At that time, Jesus stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all. And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said: Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.

Communion Verse

In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. 

St. Kevin's Church, Glendalough

The Saint Kevin song

The Glendalough Saint

In Glendalough lived an auld saint

Renowned for his learning and piety.

His manners was curious and quaint,

And he looked upon girls with disparity.

Fol-la-de-la-la-de-la-lay, fol-la-de-la-la-de-la-laddy

Fol-la-de-la-la-de-la-laaay ... fol-la-de-la-la-de-la-laddy

He was fond of reading a book

When he could get one to his wishes.

He was fond of casting his hook

In among all the young fishes.

Fol-la, etc.

Well one evening he landed a trout,

He landed a fine big trout, sir,

When Cathleen from over the way

Came to see what the auld monk was about, sir.

Fol-la, etc.

"Well, get out of me way," said the saint,

"For I am a man of great piety,

And me good manners I wouldn't taint

Not by mixing with female society."

Fol-la, etc.

Ah, but Kitty she wouldn't give in,

And when he got home to his rockery,

He found she was seated therein

A-polishing up his auld crockery.

Fol-la, etc.

Well, he gave the poor craythur a shake,

And I wish that a garda had caught him,

For he threw her right into the lake,

And she sank right down to the bottom.

Fol-la, etc.

Here is a ballad, probably from the 19th century, about the incident. This version is sung by Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners.