Jan 19th - Fillan

We do not often talk about it but mental illness has been blamed for so many things throughout history. Recognized but not acknowledged the way we treat it is often the method of sweeping it under the rug. Mental illness, the physical kind, based in imbalances or physical injury embarrasses us, frightens us, causes us to turn our head. We ignore the sick and focus instead on the kind that leads right thinking people to do horrible things to one another, in housing, employment, but especially during war.
Filllan was born in Ireland then moved to Scotland. He became a monk and then abbot of a monastery in Fife. He was purported to have healing powers, especially for those who were mentally disturbed. For centuries after his death, miraculous cures of the mentally ill were reported. It seems somewhat brutal by our standards today but the process was being dipped in a fountain named for the saint then being tied up, and left overnight near his relics.
We are all touched by mental illness in some why, shape, or form and prayers for those affected and for their families are necessary. We can certainly lift them up and ask for Fillan's intercession.

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Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,u and he cried out in a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?* I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

-- Luke 4:31-36