An English precursor of Teresa

We take such delight in the wonderful story our St Teresa’s courageous and visionary reform of the Carmelites, but it is good to remember others whose reforming work in the Church and in the Orders was the equal of hers.  'Today is the feast of an English monk whose mission was similar to hers, St Stephen Harding (d.1134).  Stephen was born in south-west England and became a pupil of or a monk with the Benedictines of Sherborne Abbey, near Yeovil in Dorset. He seems to have left the monastery and returned to lay life. He then went to study first in Scotland and then in France where he had a conversion experience. He went on pilgrimage to Rome and on his way back joined the Benedictine monastic community of Molesme in Burgundy, France, which had been founded by Robert of Molesme in 1075.  In 1098, feeling along with Robert and another monk Alberic that life had become too easy at Molesme, Stephen went with them to Citeaux (Latin, Cistercium), near Dijon. It was then a vast wilderness. With land given by the lord of nearby Beaune, the three made the new monastic foundation of the Cistercians. Robert was first abbot, Alberic the prior and Stephen the sub-prior. In 1109 Stephen took over as the third abbot. It was under his leadership that in the next four years the first cell- or daughter- abbeys of Citeaux were established at La Ferté, Pontigny, Morimond and Clairvaux. In 1113 Bernard arrived at the age of twenty-two with thirty-one companions.' The rest, as they say, is history - St Bernard was to be a glory of the Church, a bright star in the firmament of the saints.

Intercessions:

Brian Davis - cancer

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela) - cancer

Agnes Rees RIP.  Agnes died last Thursday.  A great prolife worker who died before she could be taken into formation

Siena, Elara – sick children

Rosemarie – seriously ill

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David - housebound

Sophia – blind infant