SAINT MILBURGA - MY FIFTH COUSIN

 

Saint Milburgh (Milburga) 

Abbess of Wenlock

my 5th cousin 37 times removed

February 23rd is the feast day for this ancient cousin of mine. She was one of the three sainted daughters of King Merewalh (Merewald) of Mercia and Saint Domne Eafe, aka Ermenburga (Abbess of Minster-in-Thanet, in Kent, England.) 

Milburga, today's saint, became the object of a certain Prince's desire, and he was adamant he would marry her, no matter the cost. He tried to force her to acquiesce to his intentions so that she ran from him and escaped across a swollen river that, when he tried to ford it, suddenly became so much more engorged that it was no longer passable, obviously an intervention of the Lord, as He had other plans for her.

There is an alternate story that he chased her for two days and that, finally, she collapsed against a stone and was found by some local villagers who attempted to revive her but were unable to do so without providing her with some water. There is some idea of bathing her also, and I don't know why. Perhaps her fall had cut her skin and the blood needed to be washed off.

In any case, the princess's horse pawed the stone and a spring miraculously sprung up in response. It still may be seen today, in Shropshire, "the Holy Well of St. Milburgh."

Milburga's parents were part of a famously devout family of nobles. Her father Merewahl and her uncle Wulfhere had endowed a Benedictine monastery "Much Wenlock") and it was there to which she fled, establishing a Benedictine community in Wenlock, Shropshire, England. She began her novitiate training under a French nun, and as she had been educated in France, the language difference was not a problem, and she herself became the Abbess before long.

When reading about these ancient saints whose families were part of the nobility, to one degree or another, and especially the saints whose parents were actually kings and queens, I find it of note that these saints are often said to have been modest and humble, and Milburga was one of these.

It seems to me that, in order for the power of The Lord to flow through them, these saints had to have been humble and open to that power, rather than imagining that the power originated within themselves. Arrogance blocks the power of God within a person    .

In addition to her humble character, Milburga was also gifted with the ability to heal, and especially to restore sight to the blind, which is helpful to me, as I am blind in one eye and going blind in the other, and today I am going to meditate on my good cousin and ask her if she would intercede for me so that I retain what vision I have, AT LEAST, and even have the vision restored in the one blind eye also, if it be the will of God. I hope you will join me in that prayer.

Also among Milbuga's spiritual gifts was a mystical communion with and influence over the natural world in her orbit. She is particularly associated with birds, as she got them to do her bidding when it came to the protection of the crops, in particular, and also with an unexpected growth of barley, which amazed them all.

At least one writer assumes that this saint has taken the place of a former grain goddess, but I am not sure about that. It seems to be very popular these days to take the shine off the saints by discounting their individuality and claiming they are merely stand-ins or replacements for a previously worshipped goddess of some particular place.

Stories of this saint have a magical and gracious quality. Of course the most dramatic miracle is that she was known to levitate. She is not the only saint I've read about who levitates and I used to wonder what is the benefit of such a thing, but then I realized I was being too mundane and practical. Sometimes holy people have characteristics that are a side effect of their holiness. They live on a different plane than you and I, and not everything they do can be comprehended fully.

It is told that one morning she overslept and when she startled awake, the sun was shining upon her, and her veil slipped, but it remained suspended in mid-air, shining in the morning sunbeam, until she roused herself well enough to take it in hand and affix it back on her hair properly. It was as if the natural world waited on her needs.

She is credited with the design of gardens and the treatment of the locals with herbal remedies, going out frequently about the countryside. She was not one of those cloistered nuns who remained enrapt in prayer all day, but instead was an active and vigorous part of her world, which was a countryside teeming with life. The country folk were lucky to have her attention and ministrations. If only we had such people among us now, it would be grand, wouldn't it?

The year of her death is reported variously. I have it notated as 727 in my genealogy file. 

Milburga's tomb at Much Wenlock attracted devotees until about 874 when the Great Heathen Army of the Danes invaded Mercia.

Ruins of Wenlock Priory

The location of her tomb was forgotten and lost in time, after the Danish invasion, but when the Cluniac monks re-founded the monastery in 1079, her tomb was discovered. When opened once more, it is said that it emitted a beautiful floral fragrance, reminiscent of Milburga's enchanted gardens.

Church of St. Mary and Milburga

There is a new church built at Much Wenlock, and Milburga's holy well welcomes visitors to this day.

The Holy Well of Saint Milburgh

In one of the articles I read about this magical cousin of mine, one of the authors reminds me of something I have talked about before, which is that it was common for women of the nobility to retire to religious life after their turn as regal wives and mothers. When their children are grown and have left the nest, it was an ordinary turn of the life path for these women to dedicate themselves to God. This was the venue in which Milburga was born and it was what she saw. She herself did not marry, and this is also common among women who had no desire for family and were able to escape it. I think it is too bad that this habit has fallen by the wayside, for the most part.

These days, women often find themselves alone in their later years. We outlive our husbands by at least a decade. Some folks are alone because they are disabled, such as I am. Doing as I did and embracing the limitations of circumstances in order to devote oneself to God is a wonderful vocation. I hope some day The Church realizes how valuable a path this can be for the laity. Some day I foresee an organization of lay contemplatives composed of such people.

Silver Rose 

Silver Cottage Hermitage

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SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO

Saint Joseph of Cupertino, levitating during prayer

(1603-1663)

Feast day: September 18

Patron saint of aviators, flying, students and 

those with mental disabilities

Here we have another saint with a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  He was a simple man, treated harshly by his parents, and suffered some mental problems as a result of it.  I can relate to this saint, as I had a brutal childhood. It occurs to me that most saints had difficult lives, so I find myself in good company, thanks be to God.

Evidently, Joseph was socially impaired to the extent that he just wandered around town with his mouth hanging open like a poor demented thing.  He was saddled with a bad temper, on top of everything else.  I wouldn't be surprised if Saint Joseph of Cupertino had post traumatic stress disorder!

Joseph tried to learn how to make shoes as a trade, but was unable to do it.  I don't know why.  It just didn't work out for him.  He attempted to join the Franciscans, but they would not have him.  The Capuchins took a chance on him, but booted him out less than a year later because he couldn't seem to do anything right.  He had broken things through gracelessness, such as the kitchen crockery, which the monastery could ill afford, and he wasn't good at following direction.

He was only 18 years old at this time, but his mother did not want him in her home, so she somehow convinced the Franciscans to take him in, and he was put in charge of the horses.  As anyone who has had horses can tell you, they are capable of being great healers through simple solid presence and ordinary companionship.  Joseph's intellect would never rise to great heights, but he began to be more careful and patient.  His anger lessened.  I think the horses had gentled him.  That is my guess, anyway.

Eventually, the Franciscans noted the change in St. Joseph and tutored him toward the priesthood. Study was not one of his strengths, and he struggled through his lessons as best he could.  From everything I have read about him, it sounds as if the monks were kind to him in a way he'd never experienced before, and it helped him greatly.  First, he became a deacon and, eventually, a priest.

Jesus loves the meek, the downtrodden, the least among us, and for this reason, I suppose, He gave Saint Joseph many spiritual consolations, granting him an ease in his prayer life that he did not possess in any other area.  Astonishing miracles began to occur through this simple soul.  More than 70 times, it was reported that he was seen to levitate or fly while saying mass or praying.

So close was he to the Lord, so fixed in his love, that the mere mention of God would be enough to send Joseph into a rapture that sometimes caused one of these episodes of levitation.  During one Christmas mass, he soared into the air and knelt in rapturous prayer before the high altar.

I am not a terribly gullible person, and not of the type to go running after so-called "seers" like the Medjugorje people or "Maria Divine Mercy."  I try to stay grounded and authentic and not become distracted by the fantastical, but there is something about St. Joseph of Cupertino that rings True for me.  I am very fond of him and have decided to install him in my "committee," the rather large group of saints and sainted ancestors to whom I turn when life gets ugly and I really need some intercession.

Life has been a bit ugly the last week or so, and I feel happy to be able to ask for the prayers and intercession of a Saint with whom I feel such empathy and simpatico! I would like to be like Saint Joseph of Cupertino, with my mind so occupied with the Lord that i cannot even HEAR the mocking of Satan's minions.  I pray for God to accomplish this in me today, because I am as damaged and broken as Saint Joseph of Cupertino was before the Lord began to work in him.

Today I pray for the intercession of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.  I ask him to pray for me to the Lord, as a fellow sufferer.  I pray that the Lord gift me with the consolation of being able to let my whole being reside Him, just as he did with Saint Joseph of Cupertino.

God bless us all.

Silver Rose Parnell
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