Saint Bridget (2)

See previous Post: MONDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2010

Lumen Christi - Roscrea Abbey www msjroscrea ie light from the monastery html Your February 2010 Light from the Monastery Window of St Bridget. The window shows Bridget as founder, holding her Church (Cill) in her hand. Growing beside her is the famed oak (dara) with its acorns, from which we have the name Cilldara, Kildare. Fable tells us that the king assented to her request for ground for her monastery, just as far as her mantle would cover. When the mantle was spread it covered the entire Curragh! In the window we see beside her foot the perpetual fire – of our faith, lit by Saint Patrick on the hill of Slane, and still burning away in each of our hearts. The sanctuary lamp in our Churches keeps it alive today, perpetually glowing to the honour of God. Fr. Laurence

Saint Agatha

Saint Agatha of Sicily Martyr Memorial 5 February We have little reliable information about this martyr, who has been honoured since ancient times, and whose name is included in the canon of the Mass. Young, beautiful and rich, Agatha lived a life consecrated to God. When Decius announced the edicts against Christians, the magistrate Quinctianus tried to profit by Agatha’s sanctity; he planned to blackmail her into sex in exchange for not charging her. Handed over to a brothel, she refused to accept customers. After rejecting Quinctianus’s advances, she was beaten, imprisoned, tortured, her breasts were crushed and cut off. She told the judge, “Cruel man, have you forgotten your mother and the breast that nourished you, that you dare to mutilate me this way?” One version has it that Saint Peter healed her. She was then imprisoned again, then rolled on live coals; when she was near death, an earthquake stuck. In the destruction that followed, a friend of the magistrate was crushed, and the magistrate fled. Agatha thanked God for an end to her pain, and died. Legend says that carrying her veil, taken from her tomb in Catania, in procession has averted eruptions of Mount Etna. Her intercession is reported to have saved Malta from Turkish invasion in 1551. (Saints SQPN com)

Jacob limps on

“The angel, when he could not prevail over Jacob, touched the sciatic muscle of Jacob’s hip.” The Second Reading of the Night Office this morning was both amusing and touching. While it reminds of so many undergoing hip replacement operations, it is the account of Jacob’s great experience of the divine presence. FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME THURSDAY First Reading Genesis 32:4-31 Responsory Gn 32, 26.27.29 The angel said to Jacob: Let me go for it is daybreak. Jacob responded: I will not let you go until you bless me, + and the angel blessed him. V. I bless you, and will increase you. + And the angel blessed him Second Reading From a homily by Saint Gregory the Great (Horn. in Ez. 1, 12: PL 76, 955) The stronger we grow in our love for God alone, the weaker becomes our love for the world The pursuit of the contemplative life is something for which a great and sustained effort on the part of the powers of the soul is required, an effort to rise from earthly to heavenly things, an effort to keep one's attention fixed on spiritual things, an effort to pass beyond and above the sphere of things visible to the eyes of flesh, an effort finally to hem oneself in, so to speak, in order to gain access to spaces that are broad and open. There are times indeed when one succeeds, overcoming the opposing obscurity of one's blindness and catching at least a glimpse, be it ever so fleeting and superficial, of boundless light. Hut the experience is momentary only, so that all too quickly the soul must again return to itself. From that light which is ap­proached with bated breath, it must now, sighing and mournful, go I back once more to the obscurity of its blindness. We have a beautiful illustration of all this in the sacred history of he scriptures where the story is told of Jacob's encounter with the angel, while on his return journey to the home of his parents. On the way he met an angel with whom he engaged in a great struggle and, like anyone involved in such a contest, Jacob found his opponent, now stronger, now weaker than himself. Let us understand the angel of this story as representing the Lord and Jacob who contended with the angel as representing the soul of the perfect individual who in contemplation has come face to face with God. This soul, as it exerts every effort to behold God as he is himself, is like one engaged with another in a contest of strength. At one moment it prevails so to speak, as it gains access to that boundless light and briefly experiences in mind and heart the sweet savor of the divine presence. The next moment, however, it succumbs, overcome and drained of its strength by the very sweetness of the taste it has experienced. The angel, therefore, is, as it were, overcome when in the innermost recesses of the intellect the divine presence is directly experienced and seen. Here, however, it is to be noted that the angel, when he could not prevail over Jacob, touched the sciatic muscle of Jacob’s hip, so that it forthwith withered and shrank. From that time on Jacob became lame in one leg and walked with a limp. Thus also does the all-powerful God cause all carnal affections to dry up and wither away in us, once we have come to experience in our mind and hear the knowledge of him as he is in himself. Previously we walked about on two feet as it were, when we thought, so it seemed, that we could seek after God, while remain ing at the same time attached to the world. But having once come to the know ledge and experience of the sweetness of God, only one of these two feet retains its life and vigor, the other becoming lame and useless. For it necessarily follows that the stronger we grow in our love for God alone, the weaker becomes our love for the world. If therefore like Jacob we hold fast to the angel and do not let him go, we will then like him be stricken with lameness in one foot. For, as our love for God grows in strength, our carnal appetites decrease in strength. Everyone who is lame in one foot leans for support on the foot that is healthy and strong. In the same way he, in whom the desire and love of earthly allurements have dried up as it were and withered away, will lean for support and with all his strength on the one foot of the love of God.

Presentation of the Lord, 2010

Homily after the Gospel Presentation of the Lord, 2010

Abbot Mark

Simeon and Anna are very much integral to today’s celebration of the liturgy of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.

Simeon and Anna were well on in years, and so are some of us. The fact that so many of us have been or are still suffering from the winter viruses emphasises the vulnerability of our lives.

Living in community is a great support for young and old but in circumstances like the present even the young will feel the frailty and uncertainty of good health. That is not a bad thing in itself. For we become more open in these circumstances to the reality of God. When we are weak or under par then our need of God is all the more evident.

Sickness and old age are God-given times to refresh our understanding of the fragility of all of life. They are opportunities for us to renew ourselves yet again in the mystery that is God’s love in us. The one who is holy is the one who keeps rising up from their sin and from their forgetfulness of God.

Abraham and Sarah received new life when they were old, against all odds, when a promised son was born to them. Simeon and Anna lived in hope of seeing the One who was to come. Their vibrant lives can only have hastened the advent of the One they were looking for. Their love of God and their trust that their dream would be fulfilled in God’s good time made their lives all the more fruitful and full of meaning. They didn’t know when it would happen only that it would. Their old lives were renewed and fulfilled when they recognised the new life of God in Mary’s child.

It is not any different for us. The Lord asks for faith, for trust in him and that we believe in the daily reality of his presence. We are not now waiting for the coming of the messiah. He has come. But we have to let that happen again in our own lives. Like Simeon and Anna we have to be mindful of God, to remain attentive and ready to receive the Lord in his word whenever he comes to us.. This word is brought to life again each time we hear and respond to it.

The celebration of the liturgy is the lifeblood of the Church. It is in our liturgy that we re-invigorate the life of each other every time we celebrate it, and by extension, renew the life of the whole Church.

So today, even in our weakened state - conditioned as we are by the winter viruses – we should be all the more aware of our need of God. We can’t do it on our own. But what we can’t do, God can!

St Paul says, ‘When we are weak then it is that we are strong.’ When we realise that we are weak and allow God’s strength into our frail lives, then it is that our weakness becomes our strength. It is God who is upholding us as he did Peter when he walked on the water. When Peter’s confidence failed him it was only then that he began to sink. We become true disciples when we allow God’s word into our hearts and believe it and live it.

Prayer is always answered. We need to ask for the eyes to see where and how God answers us when we pray. Then we must confidently take that answer in both of our hands and move forward, sure that God is indeed leading the way. The hopes of our daily lives and of our future are always bright when we look to see where God is leading us. So today let us offer the light of our faith and our hope to the Lord who himself lights up our life and our world.

St Blaise

Feb 3, 2009

St. Blaise Day – Get yer Throats Blessed

Today is one of my favorite feast days of the Church. St. Blaise, an Armenian Bishop was martyred for the faith by order of the Emperor Licinius, who wanted all Christians killed.

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Presentation Nunraw 64th Anniv.

Today is the 64th Anniverary of foundation of Sancta Maria Abbey, Nunraw.
This morning there was fresh falling of snow. At lunch time there was a request to take photos of the hill scenery.
There followed a striking comment:
Your photographs are fantastic. The light is very delicate- quite different from your other photos when the snow was heavier. Well done good and faithful servant. (Anne Marie)

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Checking out St Thomas Aquinas' Commentery on the Four Gospels - the Catena Aurea, Golden Chain. The only English translation was by Cardinal Henry Newman 1821. Freshly re-typeset. This is the first time in more than 150 years that the English translation of the Catena Aurea has been entirely re-typeset, meaning that the text is crisp, clear and easy to read, unlike many facsimile editions. It costs! To good fortune the Catena Aurea is Online - Catechetics Online
With this Internet amenity we can browse St. Thomas' commentary on, e.g., the Preasentation of the Lord, Lk 2: 22-40

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple Canticle of Simon (Luke 2:29-32) Canticle of Simeon Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel Lord, now let you servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Catena Aurea – Thomas Aquinas http://catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea-Luke2.php Luke 2: 28-32 Simeon 28. - and blessed God, and said, 29. Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word: 30. For mine eyes have seen your salvation, 31. Which you have prepared before the face of all people; 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. ORIGEN; If we marvel to hear that a woman was healed by touching the hem of a garment, what must we think of Simeon, who received an Infant in his arms, and rejoiced seeing that the little one he carried was He who had come to let loose the captive! Knowing that no one could release him from the chains of the body with the hope of future life, but He whom he held in his arms. Therefore it is said, And he blessed God, saying, Lord, now let you your servant depart. THEOPHYL. When he says Lord, he confesses that He is the very Lord of both life and death, and so acknowledges the Child whom he held in his arms to be God. ORIGEN; As it he said, "As long as I held not Christ, I was in prison, and could not escape from my bonds." BASIL; If you examine the words of the righteous, you will find that they all sorrow over this world and its mournful delay. Alas me! says David, that my habitation is prolonged. AMBROSE; Observe then that this just man, confined as it were in the prison house of his earthly frame, is longing to be loosed, that he may again be with Christ. But whoso would be cleansed, let him come into the temple; - into Jerusalem: let him wait for the Lord's Christ, let him receive in his hands the word of God, and embrace it as it were with the arms of his faith. Then let him depart that he might not see death who has seen life. GREEK EX. Simeon blessed God also, because the promises made to him had received their true fulfillment. For He was reckoned worthy to see with his eyes, and to carry in his arms the consolation of Israel. And therefore he says, According to your word, i.e. since I have obtained the completion of your promises. And now that I have seen with my eyes what was my desire to see, now let you your servant depart, neither dismayed at the taste of death, nor harassed with doubting thoughts: as he adds, in peace. GREG. NYSS. For since Christ has destroyed the enemy, which is sin, and has reconciled us to the Father, the removal of saints has been in peace. ORIGEN; But who departs from this world in peace, but he who is persuaded that was Christ reconciling the world to Himself; who has nothing hostile to God, having derived to himself all peace by good works in himself? GREEK EX. But it had been twice promised to him that he should not see death before ho should see the Lord's Christ, and therefore he adds, to show that this promise was fulfilled, For mine eyes have seen your salvation. GREG. NYSS. Blessed are the eyes, both of your soul and your body. For the one visibly embrace God, but the others not considering those things which are seen, but enlightened by the brightness of the Spirit of the Lord, acknowledge the Word made flesh. For the salvation which you have perceived with your eyes is Jesus Himself, by which name salvation is declared. CYRIL; But Christ was the mystery which has been revealed in the last times of the world, having been prepared before the foundation of the world. Hence it follows, which you have prepared before the face of all men. ATHAN. That is to say, the salvation wrought by Christ for the whole world. How then was it said above that he was watching for the consolation of Israel, but because he truly perceived in the spirit that consolation would be to Israel at that time when salvation was prepared for all people. GREEK EX. Mark the wisdom of the good and venerable old man, who before that he was thought worthy of the blessed vision, was waiting for the consolation of Israel, but when he obtained that which he was looking for, exclaims that he saw the salvation of all people. So enlightened was he by the unspeakable radiance of the Child, that the perceived at a glance things that were to happen a long time after. THEOPHYL. By these words, Before the face, he signifies that our Lord's incarnation would be visible to all men. And this salvation he says is to be the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel, as it follows, A light to lighten the Gentiles. ATHAN. For the Gentiles before the coming of Christ were lying in the deepest darkness, being without the knowledge of God. CYRIL; But Christ coming was made a light to them that sat in darkness, being sore oppressed by the power of the devil but they were called by God the Father to the knowledge of His Son, Who is the true light. GREG. NYSS. Israel was enlightened though dimly by the law, so he says not that light came to them, but his words are, to be the glory of your people Israel. Calling to mind the ancient history that as of old Moses after speaking with God returned with his face glorious, so they also coming to the divine light of His human nature, casting away their old veil, might be transformed into the same image from glory to glory. For although some of them were disobedient, yet a remnant were saved and came through Christ to glory, of which the Apostles were first-fruits, whose brightness illumines the whole world. For Christ was in a peculiar manner the glory of Israel, because according to the flesh He came forth from Israel, although as God He was over all blessed for ever. GREG. NYSS, He said therefore, of your people, signifying that not only was He adored by them, but moreover of them was He born according to the flesh. THEOPHYL; And well is the enlightening of the Gentiles put before the glory of Israel, because when the fullness of the Gentiles shall have come in, then shall Israel be safe.

St Brigid of the Gael - Faughart Shrine

First of February - Feast of St. Brigid in Ireland.
Monday of week 4 of the year, Gospel Mark 5: 1-20.

The Gadarene Swine For the Community Mass this morning has a long Gospel. It is easily remembered by the ‘Gadarene Swine’ drama. The words have become idiomatic in the language. Among journalists and politicians they bandy the abuse on opposition parties as the “Gadarene swine on the Gadarene slide”. The best Catechesis on the text Mark 5: 1-20 is found from Pope Benedict xvi in one of his Audiences. He says that, “the existence of the power of evil . . . is an undeniable fact”. See below . . . """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""". Every thing is connected.Today, the 1st February, is the popular Saint, Brigid of the Gaels. In many homes, the St. Brigid RUSH-CROSS is kept prominent in the house and in the places of animals. In the late Fr. Felim’s room, the Rush-Cross still hangs. The tradition continues in so many homes as the visual memorial of St. Brigid, and a kind of sacramental of exorcism of evil in the home, protection for the family. [St. Brigid Faughart near Dundalk. In 2005 I had the happy occasion at the Retreat of the Order of St. Clare - Poor Clares at the birthplace of St. Bridgid at the neardy shrine of Faughart. On the Webside, www.poorclaresireland.org/ we learn more of the history and the vocation. According to tradition, Brigid was born at Faughart near Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. Faughart is a town in County Louth, Ireland, situated between Forkill and Dundalk. It was the birthplace of St. Brigid (450 A.D.), and Edward Bruce is buried in the graveyard on the hill above the town. Bruce, who had taken the title King of Ireland, was defeated and killed at the Battle of Faughart in 1318. Landmarks include St. Bridget's stone and pillar, her shrine and well, and modern religious sites devoted to the saint that attract pilgrims and tourists]. Celtic Tradition St. Brigid (c. 451-525), the foundress of women’s religious life in Ireland, was born in Faughart, a mile down the road from our monastery. Brigid’s form of life was Celtic monasticism. Her contemporary, St. Moninna (432-518), continued this tradition and established the first women’s monastic settlement on Faughart Hill, in the foothills of the Cooley Mountains. The ruins of this monastery overlook our own monastery. “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””” Pope Benedict XVI General Audience of 03/12/08 Mark 5:1-20."Unclean spirit, come out of the man!" Thus, the existence of the power of evil in the human heart and in human history is an undeniable fact. The question is: how can this evil be explained?... Faith tells us: there exist two mysteries, one of light and one of night, that is, however, enveloped by the mysteries of light. The first mystery of light is this: faith tells us that there are not two principles, one good and one evil, but there is only one single principle, God the Creator, and this principle is good, only good, without a shadow of evil. And therefore, being too is not a mixture of good and evil; being as such is good and therefore it is good to be, it is good to live. This is the good news of the faith: only one good source exists, the Creator... Then follows a mystery of darkness, or night. Evil does not come from the source of being itself, it is not equally primal. Evil comes from a freedom created, from a freedom abused. How was it possible, how did it happen? This remains obscure. Evil is not logical. Only God and good are logical, are light. Evil remains mysterious... We may guess, not explain; nor may we recount it as one fact beside another, because it is a deeper reality. It remains a mystery of darkness, of night. But a mystery of light is immediately added. Evil comes from a subordinate source. God with his light is stronger. And therefore evil can be overcome. Thus the creature, man, can be healed... And finally, the last point: man is not only healable, but is healed de facto. God introduced healing. He entered into history in person. He set a source of pure good against the permanent source of evil. The Crucified and Risen Christ, the new Adam, counters the murky river of evil with a river of light. And this river is present in history: we see the Saints, the great Saints but also the humble saints, the simple faithful. We see that the stream of light which flows from Christ is present, is strong.

Following visiting Kursi on two occasions, I was sorely tempted to accept the invitation to join the Volunteers in the Kursi archaeology dig at the site. There are excellent pictures of Kursi in this Website (biblewalks.com).