yourself with an increase which becomes my
liberality and greatness.' It is the divine grace," goes on this holy
doctor, "which first excites a man to praise God, and he only returns to
God his own gift: yet by his continually blessing God, the Lord pours
forth his divine blessings upon him, which are so many new increases of
charity in his soul."

Footnotes:
1. This denomination was given to the valley from the territory where
it was situated, which was called Ross. Frequent mention is made of
this monastery in the acts of several Irish saints, under the name
of Rosnat or Rosnant.
2. See Wilkins, Conc. t. 1.
3. Maximes de S. Etienne de Grandmort, ch. 105, p. 228. Item {}
Sententuarum S. Stephani Grand. c. {}05, p. 103.

ST. SWIDBERT, OR SWIBERT, THE ANCIENT, B.C.

He was an English monk, educated near the borders of Scotland, and lived
some time under the direction of the holy priest and monk, St. Egbert,
whom he accompanied into Ireland. St. Egbert was hindered himself from
passing into Lower Germany, according to his zealous desire, to preach
the gospel to the infidels: and Wigbert, who first went into Friesland
upon that errand, was thwarted in all his undertakings by Radbod, prince
of that country, and returned home without success. St. Egbert, burning
with an insatiable zeal for the conversion of those souls, which he
ceased not with many tears to commend to God, stirred up others to
undertake that mission. St. Swidbert was one of the twelve missionaries,
who, having St. Willibrord at their head, sailed into Friesland, in 690,
according to the direction of St. Egbert. They landed at the mouth of
the Rhine, as Alcuin assures us, and travelled as high as Utrecht, where
they began to announce to the people the great truths of eternal life.
Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the French palace, had conquered part of
Friesland, eighteen months before, and compelled Radbod, who remained
sovereign in the northern part, to pay an annual tribute. The former was
a great protector and benefactor to these missionaries, nor did the
latter oppose their preaching. St. Swidbert labored chiefly in Hither
Friesland, which comprised the southern part of Holland, the northern
part of Brabant, and the countries of Gueldres and Cleves: for in the
middle age, Friesland was extended from the mouths of the Meuse and the
Rhine, as far as Denmark and ancient Saxony. An incredible number of
souls was drawn out of the sink of id