Dear Mary,
Thanks for the celebrations of your Birth Day.
Being so observant, you remind me of the new Cistercian, St. Raphael, writing in DGO.
and the association with the Martyrs.
and the association with the Martyrs.
It was the day of the English Martyrs and so Br. Raphael's reference to the English.
After the excepts is the picture of 1964 book "To Know How toWait", and I will add the description on the back cover.
Reviews of reviews thanks.
Yours ...
Yours ...
Donald,
***********************
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Mary . . ,
To: Donald . . .
Sent: Wednesday, 30 May 2012, 4:44
Subject: Thanks
From: Mary . . ,
To: Donald . . .
Sent: Wednesday, 30 May 2012, 4:44
Subject: Thanks
Dear Donald ...,
Many thanks for the birthday greetings and prayers and for Fr. Raymond's lovely homilyfor Pentecost.
- - -
I read some excerpts from the writings of St. Br. Raphael, your Spanish brother In the DGO commentary for May 3rd. His beautiful soul shone through and what an inspiration for all, especially our Youth
The interest in the monks of Tibhirine and an appreciation of their heroic love of God and love of neighbour, it seems, continues to grow, as their lives touch hearts and inspire us to greater fidelity , renewed faith, increased gratitude and love to our God who can truly bring us to be that person He dreamed we could become in following Jesus and giving our all.
Happy and blessed feast of the Visitation (one of my favourite feasts) to you and all the dear monks.
Kindest regards also to .. .
And now dinner gong is about to go,so I will come to a close.
Lots of love and prayers,
Mary fmm
Friday of the Fourth week of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : The English Martyrs
See commentary below or click here
Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron : "So that where I am you also may be"
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according
to Saint John 14:1-6.
Jesus said to his disciples: «Do not let
your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where (I) am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where (I) am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Commentary
of the day :
Saint
Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938), a Spanish Trappist monk
Spiritual writings, 12/04/1938
Spiritual writings, 12/04/1938
"So
that where I am you also may be"
If the world only knew what it means to
love God, even just a little, it would love its brothers and sisters too. When
we love Jesus, when we love Christ, we necessarily love what he loves. Didn't
he die for love of us?
For, by transforming our hearts into the
heart of Christ, we feel and perceive its effects, and the greatest of these is
love: love of the Father's will, love towards all who suffer, who are weary,
the brother who is far away, whether he be English, Japanese or a monk, love for Mary.
In any case, who can understand the love
of Christ? No one. Yet there are some people who possess a few little sparks,
very hidden, very silently, and without the world knowing it.
Oh my Jesus, how good you are! You do
everything so wonderfully well. You show me the way and you show me the end.
The way is your sweet cross, sacrifice, self-renunciation, sometimes the bloody battle that ends up in tears on Calvary or in the Garden of Olives. The way, Lord, is to be the last, the sick one, the poor one... But never mind! To the contrary!... These renunciations are a pleasure when they stir up charity, faith, hope in the soul. This is how you transform thorns into roses.
The way is your sweet cross, sacrifice, self-renunciation, sometimes the bloody battle that ends up in tears on Calvary or in the Garden of Olives. The way, Lord, is to be the last, the sick one, the poor one... But never mind! To the contrary!... These renunciations are a pleasure when they stir up charity, faith, hope in the soul. This is how you transform thorns into roses.
And the end? You are the end, and nothing
else but you. The end is to have eternal possession of you in heaven, together
with Mary, with all the angels and saints. But this will be up above, in
heaven. And to encourage people who are wretched, weak, fearful like me, you
sometimes make yourself known in the heart and say: «What are you
looking for? What do you want? Who are you calling? Look, see what I am. I am
the Truth and the Life»...
Then, Lord, you fill the souls of your
servants with inexpressible sweetness that we ponder in silence and hardly
venture to explain. O my Jesus, how much I love you in spite of what I am. And
the more poor and miserable I am, the more I love you. I will always love you;
I will hold you tight and never let you go: I don't know how else to say it.
************************
TO KNOW HOW TO WAIT
By FRAY MA.
RAFAEL ARNAIZ BARON
 |
| Saint (Fray) Raphael ocso Spain |
Translated
by :MARTIN MITCHELL.
SANDS &
CO Glasgow1964
RAFAEL ARNAIZ Y BARON was born in Burgos on 9th April, 1911. After
taking his degree in Oviedo he entered the School of Architecture in Madrid. On
15th January, 1934 he was
admitted into the Trappist Monastery of San Isidro de Duenas, Venta de Banos
(Palencia), which owing to ill health, he several times left and re-entered, dying
there in the spring of 1938.
His writing presents
something unique in piety and in mysticism, bringing a beneficial disquiet to
every kind of soul. Those who read this selection of Brother Rafael's thoughts
compiled by a Cistercian, cannot fail to doubt the truth of these words.
Today when the trend of
religious thought among enquiring laymen is towards the Contemplative Orders,
and is becoming increasingly influenced by the Cistercians, this book, with its
emphasis on self-abnegation as an antidote to the prevalent world unrest, and "waiting on God" as necessary
for the attainment of peace of soul, will bring a salutary feeling of divine
discontent. Here is revealed, and with the utmost humility and simplicity, the
intimate meditations of a young Spanish Trappist.
By
those
who know nothing of the Spanish soul, the todo
o nada of its mystics, To
Know How to Wait may not be understood fully. Cynical critics
may dismiss as masochistic the author's insistence on suffering for the love of
God, or may describe his writing as indicative of some other pathological
condition. But by the reader. who humbles himself as Brother Rafael did, this little
book will be recognized for what it is, the work of an enlightened man Whose
one desire is ultimate union with Christ. His sanctity was such that the Cause
for his Beatification is proceeding.
*************************
Edit:
Brother Rapheal Arnaiz Baron
was cononized as Saint Rahael
at the St. Peter Piaza, Vatican
on Sunday October 11, 2009
was cononized as Saint Rahael
at the St. Peter Piaza, Vatican
on Sunday October 11, 2009
+ + +
