Thursday 11 June 2020

Saint Barnabas June 11th

June 11th  is Saint Barnabas's Day, this used to be the date of the summer solstice until the adjustment was made in 1752 when calendars changed from Julian to Gregorian.


Barnaby bright, Barnaby bright,
longest day and shortest night.


Barnabas was a cousin of Christ's disciple Mark and in The Acts of the Apostles he is said to be " a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."
He went with John Mark and Paul on the first missionary journey to Cyprus and is known as the founder of the Cypriot church.

Saint Barnabas's Day traditionally marked the start of haymaking and the saint is sometimes pictured holding a hay-rake.

On Saint Barnabas Day mow anyway - grass or none.




Back Tomorrow
Sue

16 comments:

  1. Barnabas was called Joseph at birth, but given the nickname Barnabas because it means "the one who encourages". If you read through the Book of Acts in the Bible, there are loads of stories about him doing that. I am grateful for all the Barnabas-people who spend time helping and encouraging, especially now in the Strange Times. (including people who write bright, uplifting blogs. Thanks Sue)

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    1. Thank you - not sure I've ever been known as doing bright and uplifting things before!

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  2. With the weather we have at the moment, the farmers will wish they'd already made their hay. Interesting attribute, as it's usually the one of a Saint's martyrdom, in this case stoning.

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    1. When I read the bit about haymaking on 11th June I thought -unlikely this year. We used to find that if we didn't do the hay during the last week of May or first week of June we would have to wait until mid July

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  3. Even in the early days there were serious disagreements within the church. Very interesting.
    I've always 'liked' Barnabas because he was known to be an encourager.
    xx

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    1. I'm very ignorant about saints but the book is coming in handy

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  4. Interesting post, I always learn something new on your blog. Definitely not the weather for gathering in hay today! The farmers have been muck spreading so I'm a little pleased it's raining today.

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    1. I'm quite glad that everywhere I've lived the farmers haven't used proper muck - or worse - sewage sludge on their fields.
      Did you get that torrential downpour around 4 this morning? it woke me up with a start but by 7 all the huge puddles had gone.

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  5. Not sure any farmers will be gathering hay today round this way. All I can hear is the wind and raindrops.
    St Barnabus is the name of a city library not far from here!

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    1. Plenty of rain here too and yesterday - too much now!

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  6. Replies
    1. A nice old name - wonder if it's made a come back yet

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    2. It made a come back around here at the time of Sebastian and Dominic, so many years ago.

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  7. It will be awhile before the farmers start haying here.

    Thanks for the explanation of Saint Barnabas.

    God bless.

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  8. Nothing's cut round here - but then we have had it so dry I think farmers are waiting for the growth spurt from the recent heavy rain.

    Don't think I have come across St Barnabas before - in knowing anything about his life, that is.

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  9. Barnabas (“Son of Consolation”) - a nickname given to him by the apostles for generous donations to the Christian community.
    Both Orthodox and Catholics honor him.

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