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.

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.

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

Rainbow at two levels

Rainbow at two levels

Nunraw Abbey - Rainbow Tuesday 4th August 2009.

4.30 P.M., weather of sunshine, showers and scudding clouds, front of the Abbey, at 160 metres and as soon as a camera to hand, it was a wondrous sight. The points of the bow of the Rainbow touched the ground in view of the trees. Adding to the unusual sight, above the trees belt, the parallel bow also completed the Rainbow.

Viewed from Abbey front.

Looking for Jesus

Sunday, 2 August 2009 Homily by Dom Raymond
A reading from
the holy Gospel according to John 6: 24-35
----------------------------- -------------------------------

I suggest the title of “MOTIVATIONS” for the little homily below.

After they had been miraculously fed by Jesus the crowd noticed that he had gone away and they went looking for him in Capernaum.

We might consider a lesson for us all in the fact that they noticed that Jesus wasn’t with them any longer. What a wonderful description that is of that moment of grace when we realise that Jesus is no longer in our lives the way he used to be; whether it be because of sin or because of negligence or indifference, we suddenly wake up to the fact that there is something wrong with our relationship with Jesus; a certain distance has come about between us and him, and that distance is very much our own fault. Such a moment is a moment of great grace. To realise the absence of Jesus is, in its own way, as real a grace as to realise his presence.

The Jews set off for his home town of Capernaum. This was a logical place to look for him; it was where he lived. We too should make our way to our own Capernaum, the Church and its Sacraments. That is where he lives; that is where he is to be found. But note how surprised they were when they actually did find him! So it is with us, once we start to look for Jesus in earnest we will be surprised at how quickly we find him and in what surprising places and persons and situations we find him. It is, of course, he who is seeking us out rather than we who are seeking him.

But when the Jews find him he is hardly welcoming! “You are seeking me for the wrong reasons”, he tells them. “You are seeking me because you got free bread to fill your bellies.” Again the same can so often be said of us. We seek out Jesus when we need something: a job; a healing; an exam; a thousand and one other things of our own personal earthly needs. Certainly it is good to pray for our earthly needs, our “daily bread”, but Jesus wants us above all to seek him for his own sake; for who he is to us; for what we are to him. This is the kind of seeking that Jesus wishes to stir up in our hearts.

Now Jesus has built into the life of his people a wonderful means of ensuring that his people seek him in this very best of ways. This wonderful means is, of course, the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Not only does this wonderful Sacrament ensure that our motives are of the very best when we approach him but it also deepens and strengthens and purifies these motives; the motives of faith, of love, and of wonder.

+ + + + + + + + + +

Nivard Glasgow to Cameroon

below see Video

Nivard Glasgow to Cameroon

Following the anniversary and the feast of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Fr. Nivard was asked write about his story . . .

Nivard’s Story Fr. Nivard (William, Brendan) McGlynn was born 12 November 1930, in Holy Cross Parish, Glasgow, Scotland. He was the first born of seven children born to Irish parents. He was baptised William Brendan after his aunt, a missionary in South Africa. At the age of five he joined the parish choir where he first sang plainchant. At this time his mother introduced him to the piano. World War II In 1939 his mother and seven children, five girls and two boys, were evacuated to Ireland because of World War II. His father remained in Scotland to support the family. In Donegal, Ireland Brendan completed his primary education. Here he again played on a harmonium and two pianos in his grandmother's hotel. However the family soon moved to the parish of Ardara and settled in Ballyjkilduff near Naran Portnoo on the shore of Gweebara Bay. Here there was an off shore holy island with a monastic site, Iniskeel. At certain times of the year it was possible to make a pilgrimage to the island but only for a few hours before the tide returned. He and his brother visited the island quite often in summertime. Here his monastic vocation began to take shape. Scotland 1945 He returned with his family to Scotland in 1945. He worked as shop assistant in Glasgow for six months. In 1946 He applied to enter the Franciscan Order, OFM. He was accepted and sent to their Minor Seminary, St Bernardine's College, Buckingham, England, for his secondary education. In 1948 he entered the Franciscan novitiate, Chilworth, Surrey, England. Then while at the House of Studies at East Bergholt the attraction to the monastic way of life became very strong. So in 1952, when he was due for Solemn Profession he applied to enter Mt St Bernard Abbey, Leicestershire, England, and was accepted. At this time his brother and sisters began to follow him into the religious life when they came of age. Mt St Bernard Abbey On receiving the habit he took the name of Nivard. (He was not allowed to keep the name of Brendan because when his Abbot was novice master in Ireland very many 'Brendans' entered but not one persevered!). He made his Simple Profession, 13 November 1954, and Solemn Profession 13 November 1957. He was ordained priest, 29 July 1959. He worked for seven years in the Pottery, first as assistant to Fr Vincent and then to Fr Luke. Apart from the usual stoneware items he experimented with clay flutes and ocarinas. He also assisted Fr Luke in the repair of harmoniums and in the making of the simple monstrance still used in Bamenda Abbey. When Dom Ambrose asked if he would like to go on the Foundation in Jos, Nigeria he did not have to think twice before giving his 'yes'. He always wanted to be a monk, a priest and a missionary and now the third wish was granted. He was a member of the main group of Founders of eight monks who left Mt St Bernard . . . . On to Bamenda, Cameroon - - - - to be continued Holy Land - - -to be continued Golden Jubilee 29 July 2009 . . . The Bishop of Argyll is present for the celebration of Fr. Nivard's 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Priesthood. Bishop Joseph Toal is on Retreat with us - attending the Choir Offices he may enjoy the quiet views from the Choir Windows, see picture. . . . to be continued.

1 comments:

John said...

A very happy Anniversary to Fr Nivard from John Roberts - Permanent Deacon (Southwark) and Counsellor who has happy memories of visiting Bamenda in 2000 and 2001 with Dom John and on the latter occasion with Dom Donald. I will keep you in my prayers.

John

30 July 2009 13:17