Tuesday 18 August 2009

Mark Caira Blessing 6


Few Words from the Abbot


These are the few words that every abbot is called to give at his Blessing.

Oops! I have just been informed that the caterers have asked to keep you here as long as possible….

Well,

Sometime ago Fr Raymond and I were talking about the Abbatial Blessing. He said I’d have to say something near the end. ‘But’, he said,’ that’s easy: all you have to say is h-e-l-p!!’ — I wonder was he talking from experience?


At the time of his Blessing, six years ago, Mgr Grady the former VG of the archdiocese was getting more and more frail. He came all the same and took part in the concelebration. But he had to sit all the time and was seated away from the other priests. He received the consecrated host like everyone else but he couldn’t come forward for the chalice and, between the coming and going, he was overlooked. Someone sitting next to him came up and told me he hadn’t received the chalice. So I went to the altar where there were three chalices. All of them were empty. I believe that day I witnessed a small miracle. I was at a loss to know what to do. In a kind of desperation I took up one chalice and turned it upside down over the second and waited a little. Then I did the same with the third chalice. When I looked into the first chalice there was just about enough wine to give the Mgr a sip. With some relief I went over and presented the chalice to him. He took it thankfully. But before he drank it he looked up at me and asked, ‘Is there anyone else to receive? I’ve never forgotten that remark.


Others have told me that Mgr Grady was a man of some learning, consideration and refinement. That day I saw he was truly an educated man. The goodness that had grown in him was drawn out by the thought that there might be others beside him.

He just didn’t ‘dive in’ and think only of himself. That, to me, says a lot about real living, whether you are a priest, a single or married person, a monk or nun, and certainly about an abbot living in his community. Life is not just about me. Each of us must take pains to be what we should be if we are to be any use to others and most importantly to of use to God.


But there are other lessons in that experience I had six years ago. For the Mgr there was no wine, or so I thought at first. I did try to do something not really thinking it would come to anything, but it did. It seemed almost a waste of time but it did produce something. Much of our lives can be like that. What’s the point? When we try something, a new interest, a new job, a new friendship, a new way of life, it may come to nothing. But it may give us an added enrichment, even a complete change of life.


In the monastery we don’t really do an awful lot that is different from most of what you do, who are gathered here to celebrate another stage in the life of Nunraw. Much of our daily lives is taken up with supplying our daily needs of body and soul which is common to everyone. Obviously a fair part of our day is devoted to prayer and the life of the spirit, which of course is why we came here in the first place. We try to create an environment that is conducive to the development of the inner life, our own, and, to some extent, that of those who come to us.


A new abbot is bound to make a difference in the life of a monastery. We hope that his influence will be a very good one, sometimes it may not be. But we all, always, hope that it will be for a better and fruitful life for each of the community and for all the many friends and kind people who want to be associated with us. Today we thank God for this new opportunity to make a new beginning. Jean Vanier, the founder of the L’Arche communities said that we should always take the opportunity to celebrate something in our lives. Today we give you a reason to join us in doing just that, here in this marquee and later in the community refectory. Thank you very much for coming.


Mark Caira Blessing 5


The Community

at

Nunraw

welcomes you to

The Abbatial Blessing


of

Dom Mark Caira

their new abbot

by

Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien

of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh

On this Feast of the Assumption

15 August 2009













































Music Corner. Organist and Dom Daniel singing

Litany: Words and music by Bernadette Farrell
































Video. Words of the Invocation of Blessing by the Cardinal



Mark Caira Blessing 4

Abbatial Blessing

Outline of the Ceremony

M.C. Mgr. A. T. Chambers

Introductory Rites

Liturgy of the Word

Blessing of an Abbot

Presentation of the new abbot

Homily

Examination

Invitation to Prayer

Litany of the Saints

Prayer of Blessing

Presentation of the Rule of St Benedict

Presentation of the Ring and Staff

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Communion Rite












































































Mark Caira Blessing 3

Nunraw Abbey Abbatial Blessing
The gathering -
Sunshine, tent pews (chairs) dried out, parking filling, photographers are to the ready, Cardinal ushers the procession to enter.






























Mark Caira Blessing 2

Abbatial Blessing
of
Dom Mark Caira OCSO
Assumption of Our Lady
15 August 2009
Nunraw Abbey

Rite of Abbatial Blessing

performed by

Cardinal K. P. O’Brien

Presentation of the Rule

After the prayer of blessing the new abbot comes before the cardinal. The cardinal gives him the Rule of St Benedict, saying:

Take this Rule

which contains the tradition of holiness

received from our spiritual fathers.

As God gives you strength

and human frailty allows

use it to guide and sustain your brothers

whom God has placed in your care.

Presentation of the Ring

The cardinal places the ring on the ring finger of the new abbot’s right hand saying:

Take this ring, the seal of fidelity.

Wear it as a symbol of constancy

and maintain this monastic family

in the bond of brotherly love.

Presentation of the Crosier

Then the cardinal hands him the pastoral staff, saying:

Take this shepherd’s staff

and show loving care for the brothers

whom the Lord has entrusted to you;

for he will demand an account of your stewardship.

Lastly Fr Mark puts aside his staff and receives the sign of peace from the cardinal, all the abbots, abbesses and member of his monastic community.


Monday 17 August 2009

Mark Caira Blessing



Abbatial Blessing
of
Dom Mark Caira

Assumption of Our Lady
15 August 2009



What story of the anticipation of the marquee, (Tent of the Meeting)?

The count-down from previous Nunraw Blog of the singing of the ‘Libera Eternal’ boys from London, Roof Top View, and House Martin under the eves, continues through the fears of disaster.

The sequel to the anticipation and preparing contained increasing worry about the weather of growing rains and winds. Greater concern for the visiting guests lead to fear of the conditions. Night and early morning heavy rains caused local floods making traffic detours through Haddington and Garvald.

At the regular time of the Office of Terce on Saturday, singing the familiar verses of Psalm 18, the prospects still looked the worst. The voices of the choir were reinforced by the presence of the monks gathered for the Abbatial Blessing. The breathing of the Chant blended with the pouring sound of showers falling and the sight of the bending branches bowed before the winds.

Then, as if, the sound of silence was felt in hearts grasping the significance of the verses of
Ps. 18: 4-6

o There he has placed a tent for the sun/
It comes forth like a bridegroom
coming from his tent
rejoices like a champion to run its course.

o At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun
to the furthest end of the sky is its course.

o There is nothing concealed from the burning heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect. (Grail).

Unchanging conditions continued. It was then time to have some sustenance, about 11.30, to prepare for the long ceremonies

At mid-day, the showers ceased. By half twelve the sun showed through. The signs were at last set for course to clear the way and lifted the hearts of the welcoming the guest crowding in.

Those words from Terce, “There he has placed a tent for the sun/, coming from his tent
rejoices like a champion”, set the spirit and the Cardinal tool up the cue to lead the celebration throughout the prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and joy of the Abbatial Blessing.


Friday 14 August 2009

Maximilian Kolbe


St Maximilian Kolbe (1894 - 1941)

We celebrated Mass today as memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest and martyr. He was born in Poland and was a Franciscan of the Capuchin Order.

He is named among Martyrs of the Church. He died in the evil forces of Nazism. His life immediately makes us aware of the millions of Jews who died in the Shoah (the genocide of approximately six million).

The Vigil Reading concludes sensitively and embracing all those so ‘martyred’ and all those who are faithful.

“Maximilian Kolbe’s martyrdom is the least important thing about him. We are none of us likely to find ourselves in a position to emulate his sacrifice, and speculation as to the heroic way in which we would have behaved in his place is a pernicious waste of time. What is important is that he acted the way he did because of who he was – or, rather, because of who he had become. It is because of who he had become that we revere him as a saint: he would have been a saint (though perhaps not canonised) even if he had not been martyred. And that process of becoming is something we can all emulate. We can all become people for whom doing the right thing is obvious, natural, and easy. It requires no heroism, no special gifts: just perseverance, and prayer”. (From www.universal.com).


Count Down to Abbatial Blessing





Hi, Andy,

Count Down.

It would more than enough to complete the Chronicle for this busy week.

The last evening, Thursday, was to receive delivery of the abbatical (as you dub it) booklet – “Abbatial Blessing of Dom Mark Caira ocso, Assumption of Our Lady, 15th August 2009”. .

Marquee (tent of meeting)

On the morning of Tuesday, the construction of a large marquee, (the Tent of Meeting), began, making sure to have it secure for Saturday. The men worked like ship-riggers putting up the rib cage of ropes. However the wind was too blustery to get any further for the first day.

Then early Wednesday morning the TENT seemed to appear from nowhere. It was suggested that I get photographs of the sight of the ship/ark wrapped in its outside rigging.












Libera Eternal

On the same evening, Wednesday, we had a very surprising diversion. In the Guest House, during the week, an unusual singing group stayed, rehearsed, and actually had professional recital at the Cathedral for Sunday Mass. Before Compline, for the farewell gift, the boys sang to us with the best of their repertory during the Refectory. The Conductor said the acoustics in the Refectory was excellent.

The monks had not learned about the group. It did not take long to find out more. From the Net. “LIBERA ETERNAL” is a Website as at http://www.libera.org.uk/index.htm.

The boys come from several schools in South London.

"The singers of Libera who are aged seven to sixteen attend many different local schools in South London and come from a variety of backgrounds. Although they are boys and they sing, they do not think of themselves as choirboys, but rather as an alternative kind of boy band."

The boys enjoyed their monastic holiday in Scotland, so strange to the young Londoners.

A last twist to the excitement. On the same evening (Wed), a coach arrived from Latvia previously booked in the Guest House. Unfortunately the two groups overlapped for the accommodation. As can happen the required beds had to be found.

Roof-top Viewing

Come Thursday, more volunteers were to the fore in a major spring cleaning operation. For the rare occasion our helpers were welcome to the freedom of the cloister.

For some roof top viewing, it was the opportunity to photograph the spectacle of the Ark

At that level a glance finds a different view of the cemetery.


Along the roof eves House Martins have their own homes. It is not easy to get close-ups but for the first time this House Martin was caught in focus.

While on the roof top dander it was a place to find a more unusual view of the cemetery.

The forecasts of weather are not encouraging.

Regardless, this monastic "Tent Meeting" will make it all the more memorable.

Yours Aye,

Donald