We are grateful to our friend William for the annual memorial in Red Roses and in writing as we remember the martyrdom of our Seven Brothers of Our Lady of Atlas of Tibhirine.
The meditation and poem of William reflect how deeply he has been influenced by the story and life of the Atlas Martyrs.
The "Martyrdom"of charity
Christian de Chergé
Maundy Thursday 31 March 1994
- - We did not ask how or why. We leave it to God to decide how this gift will be used, its destination day after day, right to the end. Alas, we have all lived long enough to know that it is impossible to do everything out of love, and so to be able to claim that our life is a witness to love, a “martyrdom” of love. “What takes genius is to love”, writes Jean d’Ormesson, “and Christianity is a thing of genius”. This is absolutely true, but I am no genius! From experience we know that little things often cost a lot, particularly when we have to go on doing them day after day. It’s all right to have to wash ones brothers’ feet on Maundy Thursday ... but how about doing it everyday? or washing the feet of anyone who turns up? When Fr. Bernardo (Abbot General) told us that the Order has more need of monks than martyrs, he was not, of course, referring to this type of martyrdom, which is in fact what shapes the monk through so many little things. We have given our heart to God once and for all, and we find it hard when he takes it piecemeal. Taking up an apron, as Jesus did, can be as serious and solemn an act as to lay down ones life ... and conversely, laying down ones life may be as simple as taking up an apron. We should tell ourselves this when the everyday tasks or deeds of love weigh on us with this threat which also has to be shared with all. We know from our own experience that it is easier to give to one person than to another, to love one brother or sister more than another, even in community.
The meditation and poem of William reflect how deeply he has been influenced by the story and life of the Atlas Martyrs.
The "Martyrdom"of charity
Christian de Chergé
Maundy Thursday 31 March 1994
- - We did not ask how or why. We leave it to God to decide how this gift will be used, its destination day after day, right to the end. Alas, we have all lived long enough to know that it is impossible to do everything out of love, and so to be able to claim that our life is a witness to love, a “martyrdom” of love. “What takes genius is to love”, writes Jean d’Ormesson, “and Christianity is a thing of genius”. This is absolutely true, but I am no genius! From experience we know that little things often cost a lot, particularly when we have to go on doing them day after day. It’s all right to have to wash ones brothers’ feet on Maundy Thursday ... but how about doing it everyday? or washing the feet of anyone who turns up? When Fr. Bernardo (Abbot General) told us that the Order has more need of monks than martyrs, he was not, of course, referring to this type of martyrdom, which is in fact what shapes the monk through so many little things. We have given our heart to God once and for all, and we find it hard when he takes it piecemeal. Taking up an apron, as Jesus did, can be as serious and solemn an act as to lay down ones life ... and conversely, laying down ones life may be as simple as taking up an apron. We should tell ourselves this when the everyday tasks or deeds of love weigh on us with this threat which also has to be shared with all. We know from our own experience that it is easier to give to one person than to another, to love one brother or sister more than another, even in community.
Heritage Too Big
Vol ii 1. Maryrdom of charity
Maundy Homily of Christian
Vol ii 1. Maryrdom of charity
Maundy Homily of Christian
A Particle of Love
The apostles and the martyrs, amidst much personal pain and anguish, bore the message of faith in their lives for all to see, and today the apostolic spirit continues to bear witness in the life of the Church. A few are called to heroic service and sacrifice, but many more are chosen to become hidden martyrs of love in their daily lives. We all can offer our ordinary lives to Our Saviour in total selflessness wherever we may be, the faith that we have being our own conviction before God, bearing witness that we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in us; that the life we are living in the body we live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved us and gave Himself for us, and thus become, in evidence to the faith we profess, a particle of love. Rom 14:22 Gal 2:19-20
The apostles and the martyrs, amidst much personal pain and anguish, bore the message of faith in their lives for all to see, and today the apostolic spirit continues to bear witness in the life of the Church. A few are called to heroic service and sacrifice, but many more are chosen to become hidden martyrs of love in their daily lives. We all can offer our ordinary lives to Our Saviour in total selflessness wherever we may be, the faith that we have being our own conviction before God, bearing witness that we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in us; that the life we are living in the body we live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved us and gave Himself for us, and thus become, in evidence to the faith we profess, a particle of love. Rom 14:22 Gal 2:19-20
A Particle of Love
I love to hope that the little that I am
May fall as a grain upon the ocean sands,
Unseen by man as he walks the shore
Hidden evidence of love beneath his feet.
To suffer swirling tides and battering gales,
Amid tossing seas and crashing waves,
Between vast boulders and jagged rocks
To fall and there be finely crushed.
On winter flood-tides to drift unseen
Amidst watery plant and debris torn,
In summer heat to lie baked and dry
There lost with every semblance gone. *
And then within the Hand that strains
Each grain of finely sifted sand,
Freely through the fingers of eternity
To fall in evidence as a particle of love.
* Mat 16:25 Whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for Me will find it
