The Herald of God's Loving-Kindness. Gertrude the Great

Word at  Christmas 

St Gertrude of Helfta. 

The Heralds of God’s Loving-Kindness,

C. 23, 3.

In this same shaken state I offer you as compensation,
most loving Father,
the passion of your most beloved Son in its entirety,
from the time that he lay wailing on hay in the manger,
and suffered from then on through the needs of infancy, 
the weaknesses of childhood,
the trials of adolescence and the sufferings of early manhood,
right up to the moment when on the cross with bowed head, 4,
he yielded up his spirit with a great cry, 5.
To make up for all my acts of negligence I offer you, most loving Father,
that most holy life in its entirety, completely perfect in all its thoughts,
words and deeds from the moment
when your only-begotten Son was sent down
from the pinnacle of his throne and entered our country
through the Virgin's ear, 6,
until the moment that he brought into your Fatherly presence
the glory of his triumphant flesh.

__________
4. Jn 19:30. _

5. Mt 27:50.

6. It was a traditional belief in the Middle Ages that the Word became incarnate through the Virgin's ear.

Mat. 2:13-18In today’s Gospel, "Rachel wept for her children because they were no more".

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Nivard
Sent: Tuesday, 27 December 2011, 11:21
Subject: Holy Innocents 2011

Holy Innocents 2011 
 

http://www.dailyscripture.net/

Daily Reading & Meditation (Adapted)

Wed Dec 28: Scrip. Mat. 2:13-18In today’s Gospel, "Rachel wept for her children because they were no more".

These innocent children and their parents suffered for Christ. Suffering, persecution, and martyrdom are the lot of all who follow Jesus Christ. 

There is no crown without the cross.

Jesus exclaimed that those who weep, who are reviled and persecuted for him are blessed. The word blessed describes a kind of joy which is serene and untouchable. It is self-contained and independent from chance and changing circumstances.  The Lord gives us a supernatural joy. This joy helps us to bear any sorrow or pain. Neither life nor death can take it away. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you".    

Nunraw News

WEDNESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2011

Christmas 2011

Sancta Maria Abbey: http://www.nunraw.com.uk  
Blogspot :http://www.domdonald.org.uk/

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Raymond .....

Sent: Sunday, 25 December 2011, 10:21
Subject: 

CHRISTMAS 2011

When we consider all the characters involved in the Christmas Story we find first, of course, The Divine Infant, Jesus himself, the focal point of it all.  Then there is, Mary his Mother and Joseph, his foster father.  Then, outside of the Holy Family, we find the Shepherds, the first to learn the glad tidings; and then there were the Angels, who first proclaimed these glad tidings. Then, there were the Magi who came from some distant lands to worship the new-born King.  Then unfortunately, we have to a knowledge the presence of the tyrantHerod and his soldiers, and this brings us lastly to the Holy Innocents and their weeping Mothers.  This pretty well sums up, as far as I can remember at the moment, all the characters in the great Christmas drama.

Next, we can consider that this point in time is the culmination of centuries of revelation gradually unfolding the plans and purposes of God; his plans for taking his own place to come and live among us and his plans to bring our human race into a share in his own divine life.   So it follows that all these different characters, as they come into contact with the Divine Child, must represent the different responses of a complete cross section of humanity to God’s unspeakable gift.  There is something universal in time and space about the story of Christ’s birth.  There is something universal in the significance of each of the characters we find involved in it.  The Shepherds are the most easily recognisable.  They representing the poor and the simple; all the have-nots of this world; the weak and the helpless.  In these poor and simple shepherds we see a living commentary on the Bible.  In so many of its stories it reveals that God resists the proud and draws near to the humble.  The Magi represent all those who have not had the fullness of revelation but who come close to God and find him through the uprightness and innocence of their lives.

The Holy innocents are representative of all those who, through no fault of their own, suffer at the hands of the wicked.  But, perhaps, and even especially because of their obvious lack of personal merit, they represent the ultimate nature of God’s grace – it is, in every case, whether in them or in us who have had to fight the good fight – it is ultimately in every case an absolute free gift of God.  The great sorrow and weeping of their Mothers of the innocents  reminds us that all things, no matter how tragic, and painful, are caught up in God’s plans and purposes.  “All things work together unto good for those who fear the Lord”, even the doings of the Herods of this world.

The presence of The angels, who appear so often in the infancy stories,  tells us that Jesus is Lord, not only of men but also of angels and both they and we are called to be one great heavenly kingdom; one great family of  God.  Both our destinies and theirs are inseparably intertwined.

Joseph, in a way, represents all of us, taking our own little part in God’s plans; following blindly the paths his Providence opens up before us.  We all walk in ways that are above us and beyond us to comprehend.  And finally, we come to Maryherself.  She stands, alone and unique, in the greatness of her response to God’s intervention in her life.  We can only guess at the purity of insight she had into the import of the angel’s message.  We can hardly imagine the greatness of her faith, her astounding faith in the reality and truth of God’s promise that was being made to her;  we can only wonder at the depth of her humility before the greatness of what she was being called to.

Fr. Z's Blog 21 Dec 2011

Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

Slavishly accurate liturgical translations & frank commentary on Catholic issues – by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)

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21 December 2011

WDTPRS: Last Days of Advent: 21 December – “majesty which transforms us”

Posted on 21 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is the Collect for 21 December.  Remember, that in the Novus Ordo, the Last Days of Advent, from 17-24 December, shift in focus in the Collects to images of light and glory, moving the listener to attend to the great mystery about to be celebrated.  The prayers are in substance from the ancient Rotulus of Ravenna.
COLLECT:
Preces populi tui, quaesumus, Domine, clementer exaudi,
ut, qui de Unigeniti tui in nostra carne adventu laetantur,
cum venerit in sua maiestate,
aeternae vitae praemium consequantur.

This prayer is similar to a Post Communion in the ancient Gelasian Sacramentary during the “tenth month” (“Decem”-ber). Remember that laetor is deponent.
LITERAL VERSION:
Graciously hear the prayers of Your people, we beseech You, O Lord,
so that those who are rejoicing about the Coming of Your Only-Begotten in our flesh,
may attain the reward of eternal life
when He will have come in His majesty.
As we have seen many times, the prayers of Advent look in two directions, back to the historic moment of the Nativity of the Lord and also forward to the moment when He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead.
The prayer juxtaposes caro (“flesh”) and maiestas (“glory” or “majesty”). The maiestas here refers to the characteristic of God we see at times revealed in Scripture as, for example, when Moses encounters God in the cloud on the mountain or in the tent of the ark. The encounter with God’s majestic glory (Greek doxa, Hebrew kabod) transforms Moses flesh so that it is so bright that he must wear a veil over his face. The Lord, when He comes, will transform everything in His presence and our sight of Him in the bosom of the Trinity in the Beatific Vision will transform our human flesh forever.
The prayer is also careful to link joy with prayer, as if prayer would be a sine qua non for joy.
Rhetorical question alert:
Can someone who does not pray truly be happy?
ANOTHER POSSIBLE RENDERING:
Listen with clemency, we pray, O Lord,
to the prayers of your people,
that those who rejoice at the coming
of your Only-begotten Son in our flesh
may, when he comes in his glory,
receive the reward of eternal life.
NEW CORRECTED ICEL (2011):
Hear in kindness, O Lord,
the prayers of your people,
that those who rejoice
at the coming of your Only Begotten Son in our flesh
may, when at last he comes in glory,
gain the reward of eternal life.
                                                                         With thanks to Fr.Z.

Advent 4

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 The Great O Antiphons: "O Oriens" The Great O Antiphons December 21: "O Oriens" These Great "O Antiphons" at the Magnificat were first used by the Church in the 8th and 9th centuries. They are said in order, based on various titles for the Christ and are scripturally-based short prayers for the 17th to the 23rd of December. In these "O Antiphons" the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah. Christ, the Resurrection and the Life (See Luke 1:78, 79; Malachi 4:2) O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol   justitiae: veni, et   illumina sedentes   in tenebris, et umbra   mortis. O Dawn, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice, come, and shine on those seated in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

 

Advent Wreath 4

   

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: DGO
Sent: Monday, 19 December 2011, 17:02
Subject: The Daily Gospel

Tuesday, 20 December 2011 The Great O Antiphons: "O Clavis David" The Great O Antiphons December 20: "O Clavis David" These Great "O Antiphons" at the Magnificat were first used by the Church in the 8th and 9th centuries. They are said in order, based on various titles for the Christ and are scripturally-based short prayers for the 17th to the 23rd of December. In these "O Antiphons" the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah. Christ, harrower of hell (See Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7) O Clavis   David, et   sceptrum domus Israël, qui   aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis,   et nemo aperuit: veni, et   educ vinctum de domo   carceris, sedentem   in tenebris, et umbra   mortis. O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner from jail, seated in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Catholics and ‘the Rapture’. Thinking Faith Article

  http://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20111215_1.htm

Catholics and ‘the Rapture’ Sr Cathy Jones RA

Photo by Lord Jim at flickr.com

The gift of the Incarnation is the foundation of the hope that nourishes our faith during the season of Advent. But as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we might ask ourselves how we engage with a belief in the Second Coming of Christ, something which is often radicalised and even distorted in popular discourse, and as such may not be a strong tenet of faith for many Catholics. Sr Cathy Jones asks if there is a place for belief in ‘the rapture’ in the Catholic consciousness.

Catholics affirm their belief in Christ’s Second Coming each time they attend Mass or whenever they recite the Creed. The belief that this present world will come to an end and that Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead is an essential part of Christian doctrine, founded on the unambiguous words of Jesus Himself.[1] However, I am sure I am not the only Catholic who would say that this essential aspect of our faith has little impact on my everyday life as a Christian. Faced with such a great ‘mystery’ as the end of the world, or Christ’s Second Coming, it is all too easy to put it to one side and not take the time and effort to reflect upon it.    

Major Days of Advent 17 December

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: DGO
Sent: Friday, 16 December 2011, 17:02
Subject: The Daily Gospel

Saturday, 17 December 2011 The Great O Antiphons: "O Sapientia" The Great O Antiphons December 17: "O Sapientia" These Great "O Antiphons" at the Magnificat were first used by the Church in the 8th and 9th centuries. They are said in order, based on various titles for the Christ and are scripturally-based short prayers for the 17th to the 23rd of December. In these "O Antiphons" the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah. Christ, Wisdom and Creator of the world (See Proverbs 1:20; 8; 9 and I Corinthians 1:30) O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. O Wisdom, who proceeds from the mouth of the Most High, reaching out mightily from end to end, and sweetly arranging all things: come to teach us the way of prudence.

Contemplation Art

Thank you, Kieran,
Fascinating subject and the story.
Yours
Donald

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

From: Kieran . . .
Subject: National Galleries of Scotland - Collection - Artists A-Z
To: . . .
Date: Thursday, 15 December, 2011, 10:51

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/artists-a-z/M/11034/artistName/Tricia%20Malley/recordId/57985#.TunQq1_Mq_M.gmail

I thought you might like this photo.

God Bless

Kieran

• Tricia Malley

ENLARGE

• Tricia Malley

Tremendous Reality1993

• SCOTTISH ART

• Caption
• Artist Biography

This photograph is one from a commission undertaken by Tricia Malley for the first Scottish International Photography Festival, Fotofeis. It addressed the theme of 'family,' from a different angle, and looked at people who chose to be together. Her subject was the community of Cistercian Brothers at Nunraw Abbey, in Garvald, East Lothian. Malley took a combination of individual portraits, addressing both the spiritual and practical life of the isolated community. Here, the simplicity of the monastic dress and of the wooden crosses is emphasised and made strange by the mist and the impression of a chill wind.   

Between the first and second silence ... only one Word was uttered . . . is Jesus Christ.

Third Week of Advent THURSDAY

First Reading  Isaiah 32:15 - 33:6

Responsory                                      See Ps 29:11; Is 40:10

The Lord will come down to us, radiant with glory and power. + He will visit his people in peace and give them everlasting life.

V. Behold, our God is coming. + He will visit ...

Second Reading

From a sermon by an unknown writer (Hom. XLI infra Opera Pauli diaconi: PL 95,1177-1178)

Three periods of silence

When all was wrapped in peaceful silence, and night in its swift course was now half gone, your almighty Word leaped down from heaven, from your royal throne.

There are three periods of silence: the first was when people were unaware of their sickness, the second when they despaired of healing, the third when they are restored to health. The first silence was before the law was given, the second between the time of the law and that of grace, the third will be after this present life.

The first silence, then, was when people were silent because they were unaware of their sickness, and so failed to search for a remedy. But when the law came and showed the sick their wounds, the silence was immediately broken and the sick began to seek healing. However, because they sought to be healed by works of the law, in which there was no salvation, they could not find what they were looking for. And so at last, realizing that no one can be justified by works of the law and almost worn out by their cries of supplication, they despaired and ceased to speak any more, and there followed the second silence.

Then the omnipotent Word of God the Father came in a human body and broke the silence, spoke of peace, gave grace, preached mercy, and promised forgiveness, and the sick began to run to the physician. With a great cry, so to speak, they begged for salvation, their hearts filled with pure faith and their mouths with true confession.

So it is that now, in this present life, we are saved by the grace of God, but when our health is fully restored, and we are brought to the bliss of immortality, there will be nothing more to ask for. Then will follow the third silence that will never end.

Between the first and second silence many words were spoken, but between the middle and the last silence only one Word was uttered. Many were the words, numerous the precepts of the law given through Moses, but the grace of God that comes through Jesus Christ, or rather which is Jesus Christ, is one Word. Moses the servant of God uttered many words, made many speeches; God the Father sent one Word, a single utterance. The words of Moses were not omnipotent, for they could not do what they said. So it was that they at last fell silent since they had not fulfilled their promises. Then came the omnipotent Word of God, who not only said but did whatever he wished. This voice, this Word, still speaks when his promises take effect in believers. And when he has fulfilled the promises he will as it were cease to speak: as there will be nothing more to ask for there will be eternal silence.

Responsory                                       See Is 33:22; Ps 97:1

The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King.

+ The Lord will come to save us.

V. The Lord has reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. + The Lord will ...

Advent 3 Wednesday

From: Nivard . . .
Subject: The blind see
To: nunraw . . .
Date: Wednesday, 14 December, 2011, 8:23

Wed (Dec 14): St John of the Cross

"The blind see. The lame walk. The Good News is preached to the poor."  Luke 7:18-23

     The miracles of Jesus and his preaching of the Good News directly fulfilled what the prophets had foretold. 

     Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus brought freedom to those oppressed by sin and evil. He came to set people free from the worst tyranny possible. That is, the tyranny of slavery to sin, the fear of death, and the destruction of both body and soul.

     Only God's power can save us from emptiness and poverty of spirit; from confusion and the fear of death and hopelessness.

      The gospel of salvation is "good news" for us today. Let us rejoice in the joy and freedom of the gospel?

   

     Father, Fill us with the joy of the gospel: inflame our hearts with love  for you and for your holy will"

                                                                                                          (Adapted)

(see Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1). (see Isaiah 61:1-2).

http://www.dailyscripture.net/

Advent Gaudete Sunday Dec 11, 2011

By John Mallon

Catholic Online

  The Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, the 'pink candle' Sunday, the Sunday we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Gaudete is the imperative plural form of the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice). It is a command ordering us to rejoice! In these days of penance and preparation leading up to the feast of our Savior's birth, it reminds us of the joy that is to come, and serves, amid this season of penance, as a kind of 'break' when we recall the hope we have because of the coming of Jesus.

In Advent, we not only celebrate the first coming of our Lord, but eagerly prepare for His Second Coming as well, when the restoration of all things takes place. Too often many of us shudder at the thought of our Lord's coming in glory, as if it were a frightening event—and certainly it will be for those who knowingly rejected Jesus. But for Christians who persevere it will be our great deliverance from the troubles and trials of this world. All the world will bend the knee—some in terror—but as for God's friends, they will bend the knee in joyful adoration as Jesus takes His place as King. The earliest Christians cried 'Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!' expecting Jesus to come at any moment. So should we—we should long for His return with our lamps trimmed and our souls ready. It is indeed something to celebrate—and prepare for. Advent turns our hearts and minds to this reality.

Should commercialism or the evils of the world get us down we need to look at the Advent wreath with its candles burning down patiently, a new one each week in the spiral they create, going down as we light the pink one this week which fills us with joy that we are getting closer and closer to the coming of the Lord. We can place ourselves on the hillsides with the shepherds in the silent chill with patient anticipation of they-knew-not-what until the angel told them. We can imagine the three wise men silhouetted in the brightness of the Christmas star. And then we can meditate on being in that stable with the smell of straw, animals, and a beautiful Newborn Who is our hope. We can let our burdens drop away at the foot of the manger when He smiles at us. We can receive Him into our arms and hearts as Mary holds Him out to us as the gentle Joseph looks on. This Child is our victory. 

REJOICE!

______________________

John Mallon is contributing editor for Inside the Vatican magazine. This article originally appeared in The Sooner Catholic on December 15, 1996.  John can be reached at realitycheck@catholic.org. 

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Pod Cast
http://lifeteen.com/sunday-mass-podcast-121111-3rd-advent-gaudete/

Advent Elijah and John Mt. 17:9-13

Immaculate Advent

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William . . .
To: Donald . . . 
Sent: Saturday, 10 December 2011, 7:54
Subject: Elijah and John

Dear Father Donald,

 

Today's DGO commentary on Mt 17:9-13 draws some delightful parallels between Elijah and John. As people say nowadays, "it's all in the detail"!

 

. . . in Our Lord,

William

DAILY GOSPEL Saturday, 10 December 2011 Saturday of the Second week of Advent Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew17:9a.10-13. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." Then the disciples asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. Commentary of the day : Saint Aphrahat (?-c.345), monk and Bishop near Mosul, saint of the Orthodox churches The Demonstrations, no. 6, 13  "Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist" Our Lord bore witness that John is the greatest of the prophets, yet he received the Spirit according to a certain degree since John received a spirit like that of Elijah. Just as Elijah went to dwell in solitude so God's Spirit led John to dwell in the wilderness, mountains and caves. A raven flew to Elijah's help by feeding him; John ate locusts. Elijah wore a leather belt and John wore a leather loincloth round his hips. Elijah was persecuted by Jezebel; Herodias persecuted John. Elijah rebuked Ahab; John rebuked Herod. Elijah divided the waters of the Jordan; John opened up baptism. Elijah's double measure of spirit came to rest on Elisha; John placed his hands on our Lord, who then received the Spirit without measure (Jn 3,34). Elijah opened heaven and went up; John saw the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descending and resting on our Savior.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Botticelli Virgin

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

---

Thursday, 08 December 2011 -
Fr. Raymond Homily

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Raymond . . .
To: Nivard . . .
Sent: Thursday, 8 December 2011, 9:42
Subject: Immaculate Conception

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 2011

In the beginning God created this world as a beautiful garden. And then, as the climax of his work he created man. Male and female he created them; and he looked and saw that it was good - it was very good.  He took great pleasure in the wonderful work of his hands.

This teaching that comes to us from revelation gives us a picture of the human race as being the very climax of God’s creation – his masterpiece as it were; something in which he delights.­ Now if we want to injure someone in some way we can do it very effectively by harming someone in whom he delights; by spoiling something he holds most precious to himself.  This was the mentality of the jealous Satan when he tempted our first parents.  He was out to spoil God’s masterpiece.  And unfortunately he seemed to succeed in doing just that.  He made of us a fallen race.  From that time on, it would seem, God’s masterpiece, no matter how it might be restored, was always something that had been tarnished.  But God’s plans and purposes are not upset by anyone, not even by the one, who, since then, “has claimed power to sift us as wheat”.

God’s masterpiece was still destined to be found untarnished, pure and perfect and unsullied. And this was to be accomplished as we all know in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Our tainted nature’s solitary boast” as the poet so beautifully put it.  Nor was this perfect creature of God’s fashioning merely a “restoration” of his handiwork.  No, the first Adam and Eve, The Adam and Eve of time, the Adam and Eve of nature, were long preceded in the mind of God by the Adam and Eve of Grace.  Before ever the world began, the Scriptures tell us they were decreed in the great plan of the Incarnation of the Word, the Wisdom of God.  This great plan and purpose of God was untouchable by any created power and it swept, and is still sweeping, down all the centuries of human history, advancing inexorably to it final conclusion.  A conclusion that is still to be consummated in the apocalyptic image of the pregnant woman, still threatened by the eternally-frustrated dragon, but standing eternally on the moon and clothed eternally with the sun.