The Morning Offering

Angels Among Us

David Fouty, and his father, Robert Fouty, M.D. (click photo to enlarge)

David Fouty, an Angel in our Midst

Among my counted friends is a man by the name of David Fouty, son of other friends, Robert Fouty, M.D., and Dorothy Fouty. David, who is in his late forties, was born with Downs Syndrome. Sad as it is, when David was born, his parents were told they should consider having him institutionalized, for the average life expectancy for someone with Downs, was twenty. Bob and Dorothy, as pious Catholics, were not about to put their youngest son in some institution, but took him home, and have treasured him as "an angel among us", since that first day.

Had Bob and Dorothy decided to institutionalize David, no one would have judged them, for Downs Syndrome children, commonly referred to at the time as Mongoloids, were thought to have no hope for a quality future. As a congenital condition resulting from an extra 21st chromosome, they were small in stature, had limited verbal abilities, and varying degrees of mental retardation. Bob, a respected physician, and Dorothy, were not about to put this child of theirs, away.

David has been an important part of our lives for many years. Whenever he comes to the monastery, David, who is not verbal, has a certain smile that bespeaks someone who is at peace with life, and his air of serenity brings even the worst day, into perspective. He works for a janitorial service in Seattle, and takes a ferry, and a bus, five days a week. Dock and ferry workers, as well as bus drivers, watch out for David, and we all, to a one, feel blessed to know him.

There are now some 400,000 people with Downs, with a life expectancy of sixty. Yet, tragically, because of prenatal genetic testing, and Roe v. Wade, there is now a high abortion rate for anyone found to have Downs. Consequently, we will now be deprived of these angels among us, these treasures of humanity, who are brave, trusting, and open, and who shame the rest of us, as they embrace life with a godly serenity, that we all would do well to imitate.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Sunday May 6, 2012 / April 23, 2012

Fourth Sunday of Pascha: The Paralyzed Man. Tone three.

Translation of the relics of Martyr Abramius of Bulgaria (1230) (movable holiday on the 4th Sunday of Pascha).
Righteous Tabitha (1st c.) (movable holiday on the 4th Sunday of Pascha).
New Martyr Theodore of Bizantium, who died at Mitilene (1795) (movable holiday on the 4th Sunday of Pascha) (Greek).
All Saints of Euboea (movable holiday on the 4th Sunday of Pascha) (Greek).
Holy Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George (303).
New Hieromartyr Priest Egor (George) of Spas Chekriak village, Russia (1918).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1940).
New Hieromartyr Priest Sergius Zacharczuk of Nabroz (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1943).
Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian (303).
Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St. George.
Martyrs Glycerius, Athanasius the Magician, Valerius, and Donatus at Nicomedia.
Martyr Therinus of Bothrotus in Epirus (250).
New Martyr George of Ptolomais (1752).
New Martyr Lazarus of Bulgaria, who suffered at Pergamus (1802).
Blessed George of Shenkursk, fool-for-Christ (1462).
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.

We are hoping to retire the mortgage debt of $250,000.00. Having this hanging over our heads, and knowing the bank owns the monastery, is not a good thing. Your prayers are most appreciated, as we need a miracle.

Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:

All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA

Acts 9:32-42

Aeneas Healed

³² Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. ³³ There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. ³⁴ And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. ³⁵ So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶ At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. ³⁷ But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. ³⁸ And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. ³⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

John 5:1-15

A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda

5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. ³ In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴ For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. ⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

⁷ The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

¹¹ He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”

¹² Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

¹⁵ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.