Outstanding funerals of Br. Aidan and Fr. Roland Walls

AD CLERUM Cardinal Keith

DEATHS:

Brother Aidan OCSO.  I ask you to pray for the happy repose of the soul of Brother Aidan OCSO, who died at Nunraw Abbey on Wednesday 30 March 2011. Brother Aidan was in his 77^th year and the 48^th year of Monastic Profession at Sancta Maria Cistercian Abbey. He had been Sub-Prior for 15 years and was renowned for his apostolate on the farm, having been the Farm Manger for 32 years. Brother Aidan had been working as usual the day before he died and then was found dead when the monks were rising at 3.45 am for their night vigil of prayer. His funeral was held at Nunraw on Thursday 14 April 2011 at 1.00 pm.

Father Roland Walls, a member of the Franciscan Hermits of the Transfiguration (Ecumenical) at Roslin and a priest of our own Archdiocese, died peacefully with the Little Sisters of the Poor on Thursday 7 April 2011. Having lived out his priestly life and his membership of the Franciscan Hermits of the Transfiguration in an exemplary way and being a mentor and guide to very many, including a considerable number of our brother priests, Father Roland died peacefully with the Little Sisters of the Poor on 7 April 2011. His remains will be received into our Cathedral on Thursday 14 April 2011 at 5.00 pm, with the funeral Mass being celebrated on Friday 15 April 2011 in our Cathedral at 11.00 am.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Cardinal O'Brien
To: Donald Nunraw
Sent: Thu, 21 April, 2011 18:32:03
Subject: RE: [Dom Donald's Blog] Brother Aidan Homily of Mark

Dear Donald

Many thanks for your email of 20 April 2011 – and your appreciation of my celebrating the funerals of Brother Aidan and Father Roland.

Did you also notice that I had to bury another friend on the Monday, namely Joe Reddington, who had also been an old camper.  Joe faithfully helped in my garden here at St Bennet’s for the last 25 years – granted that I do not have the skills of either the Cardinal or Sister Cyril in a garden!  And, in addition, organised the various pilgrim journeys which I undertook, usually with a busload of people in tow!

Consequently, I am sorry that I did not have anything formally worked out to say about Aidan at the end of Mass – the words basically came from my heart and were probably all the better because of that!

This does not help with your blog, Donald, but I will send on a copy of the homily which I preached at Joe Reddington’s funeral just as an indication of the ‘spirituality of the laity’, which I always deeply appreciate.

With my kindest regards and prayers for you all at Nunraw.

Keith

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh is a Charity registered in Scotland – number SC008540

From: Donald Nunraw [mailto:nunrawdonald@yahoo.com]
Sent: 20 April 2011 19:22
To: Keith Patrick O'Brien
Subject: Fw: [Dom Donald's Blog] Brother Aidan Homily of Mark

Request for possible text of Br. Aidan's last words

Your Eminence,

Thank you for the latest AD CLERUM
and especially on the outstanding funerals of Br. Aidan and Fr. Roland Walls.

Your words on the occasions are moving and inspiring.

Your were the first to send a Letter of Condolence  regarding Br. Aidan.

You attended the Nunraw Mass, and without repeating anything, your address before the Final Commendation touched the heart of everyone, especially the family. 

We must not burden you, but only if you had a text of the words, we would appreciate greatly any copy.

As you know I make use of the Web Log, (Blog).

The Funeral Homily of Abbot Mark and pictures of the ceremonies have been Emailed copies of Blog to people interested.

It is seen below; http://www.domdonald.org.uk/ Saturday 16 April 2011  

Again my sincere thanks for your kindness on all counts.

In Dno.

Donald

Holy Thursday "ends with Eucharistic adoration"

Pope Benedict on the Triduum

Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 Independent Catholic News

Pope Benedict  In this morning's general audience, celebrated in St Peter's Square, the Pope spoke on the Easter Triduum, "the three holy days in which the Church commemorates the mystery of Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection". Benedict XVI explained that "Holy Thursday is the day that commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and ministerial priesthood. In the morning, each diocesan community, with their bishop, meets at their cathedral church to celebrate the Chrism Mass. ... Priestly vows are also renewed." (In some countries this service takes placeon the Tuesday of Holy Week). "In the afternoon of Holy Thursday, the Easter Triduum truly begins, with the remembrance of the Last Supper at which Jesus instituted the commemoration of his Passion, fulfilling the Jewish paschal ritual. ... Jesus washes the feet of his apostles, inviting them to love one another as He loved them, giving His life for them. Repeating this gesture in the liturgy, we are also called to actively bear witness to our Redeemer's love". The Holy Father recalled that Holy Thursday "ends with Eucharistic adoration, in memory of the Lord's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. ... Aware of his imminent death on the cross, he felt a great sorrow". Referring to the somnolence of the apostles who accompanied Jesus to the Mount of Olives, the Pope noted that "it was the insensibility for God that makes us insensitive to evil". With his death(the chalice that he had to drink from)., the Lord "felt all the suffering of humanity". His will was subordinated to the will of the Father, his natural will transformed into a 'yes' to God's will". Entering into the will of God, he added, "is not slavery but an entering into truth, love, and the good. It is directing our will toward God". The act at Gethsemane is that "Jesus, with his anguish, charged with the drama of humanity, with our suffering and our poverty, transforms it into the will of God and thus opens the gate of heaven". Later, referring to Good Friday, the Pope said that this day commemorates "the Lord's passion and death. We adore the crucified Christ, participating in his suffering with our penitence and fasting". "Finally, on the night of Holy Saturday, we celebrate the solemn Easter Vigil at which is announced Christ's resurrection, his definitive victory over death, which challenges us to be new persons in Him". The Holy Father highlighted that "the standard that guided each of Jesus' decisions during his entire life was his firm desire to love the Father and be faithful to Him. ... On reliving the Holy Triduum", he concluded, "we make ourselves available to welcome God's will into our lives, aware that our true good, the path of our lives, is found in His will. May the Virgin Mother guide us along this path and grant us her divine Son's grace to be able to dedicate our lives, in the love of Jesus, to the service of others". During his greetings to the groups present at today's audience, the Pope addressed the 3,000 students participating in the International UNIV Congress sponsored by the Opus Dei prelature. He said: "I hope that these Roman day will be the occasion for you to rediscover the person of Christ and a strong ecclesial experience, so that you may return home inspired by the desire to witness to the mercy of the heavenly Father. May your lives thus realize what St. Josemaria Escriva described: "Your bearing and conversation were such that, on seeing or hearing you, people would say: This man reads the life of Jesus Christ". Source: VIS

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Tags: Pope Benedict, Triduum

Holy Thursday "ends with Eucharistic adoration"

Pope Benedict on the Triduum

Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 2:38 pm

Pope Benedict  In this morning's general audience, celebrated in St Peter's Square, the Pope spoke on the Easter Triduum, "the three holy days in which the Church commemorates the mystery of Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection". Benedict XVI explained that "Holy Thursday is the day that commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and ministerial priesthood. In the morning, each diocesan community, with their bishop, meets at their cathedral church to celebrate the Chrism Mass. ... Priestly vows are also renewed." (In some countries this service takes placeon the Tuesday of Holy Week). "In the afternoon of Holy Thursday, the Easter Triduum truly begins, with the remembrance of the Last Supper at which Jesus instituted the commemoration of his Passion, fulfilling the Jewish paschal ritual. ... Jesus washes the feet of his apostles, inviting them to love one another as He loved them, giving His life for them. Repeating this gesture in the liturgy, we are also called to actively bear witness to our Redeemer's love". The Holy Father recalled that Holy Thursday "ends with Eucharistic adoration, in memory of the Lord's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. ... Aware of his imminent death on the cross, he felt a great sorrow". Referring to the somnolence of the apostles who accompanied Jesus to the Mount of Olives, the Pope noted that "it was the insensibility for God that makes us insensitive to evil". With his death(the chalice that he had to drink from)., the Lord "felt all the suffering of humanity". His will was subordinated to the will of the Father, his natural will transformed into a 'yes' to God's will". Entering into the will of God, he added, "is not slavery but an entering into truth, love, and the good. It is directing our will toward God". The act at Gethsemane is that "Jesus, with his anguish, charged with the drama of humanity, with our suffering and our poverty, transforms it into the will of God and thus opens the gate of heaven". Later, referring to Good Friday, the Pope said that this day commemorates "the Lord's passion and death. We adore the crucified Christ, participating in his suffering with our penitence and fasting". "Finally, on the night of Holy Saturday, we celebrate the solemn Easter Vigil at which is announced Christ's resurrection, his definitive victory over death, which challenges us to be new persons in Him". The Holy Father highlighted that "the standard that guided each of Jesus' decisions during his entire life was his firm desire to love the Father and be faithful to Him. ... On reliving the Holy Triduum", he concluded, "we make ourselves available to welcome God's will into our lives, aware that our true good, the path of our lives, is found in His will. May the Virgin Mother guide us along this path and grant us her divine Son's grace to be able to dedicate our lives, in the love of Jesus, to the service of others". During his greetings to the groups present at today's audience, the Pope addressed the 3,000 students participating in the International UNIV Congress sponsored by the Opus Dei prelature. He said: "I hope that these Roman day will be the occasion for you to rediscover the person of Christ and a strong ecclesial experience, so that you may return home inspired by the desire to witness to the mercy of the heavenly Father. May your lives thus realize what St. Josemaria Escriva described: "Your bearing and conversation were such that, on seeing or hearing you, people would say: This man reads the life of Jesus Christ". Source: VIS

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Tags: Pope Benedict, Triduum

BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL Liverpool

Among Postcards from a friend, there followed discussion on the illustration of the special Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the Liverpool Cathedral.

The print of the Postcard obscured the painting or structure above the Tabernacle. The lower section is a mural painting, abstract colours. The upper section suggested line drawing of a canopy on the wall.

Closer examination of pictures from the Website makes it is perfectly clear..

The Visitors’ Tour gives better commentary.

See before.

On the main axis, the BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL, the largest of the peripheral chapels, contains the tabernacle by Ceri Richards in which the Sacrament 

is reserved.   Richly ornamented in gilt metal, glass and enamels, the centre door symbolises the glory of God, depicted by the heavens and constellations, with the side doors showing the chalice and host.   The great triangular windows and the reredos, also by Richards, are together with the tabernacle part of a triptych of colours.   

The bronze figure of the Risen Christ is by Liverpool born Arthur Dooley

Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool

         

One of Links
http://news.architecture.sk/2010/02/christ-the-king-ceri-richards.php 

From the Website

http://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/

On the main axis, the BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL, the largest of the peripheral chapels, contains the tabernacle by Ceri Richards in which the Sacrament
is reserved.   Richly ornamented in gilt metal, glass and enamels, the centre door symbolises the glory of God, depicted by the heavens and constellations, with the side doors showing the chalice and host.   The great triangular windows and the reredos, also by Richards, are together with the tabernacle part of a triptych of colours.
The bronze figure of the Risen Christ is by Liverpool born Arthur Dooley. 

The Historic Churches Commission has refused to authorise the reordering of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. The change would have involved siting a new, smaller altar at a lower level.It is difficult to say whether Frederick Gibberd had an underlying geometrical plan for the Blessed Sacrament Chapel that might explain the proportions and position of individual elements. Unity is provided by the combination of colour, line, light and relief in Ceri Richards’ great painted reredos, tabernacle doors and stained-glass windows. The original intention was that Richards would produce an altar frontal as part of the scheme. This was never executed.

Palm Sunday 'fountain of devotion' Catherine of Siena

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA 

Graces of Palm Sunday

I Caterina, a useless servant, am in agony with desire as I search the depths of my soul; I grieve and weep when I see and really understand our foolish apathy, our failure to give our love to God after he has given us such great graces with so much love.

So, dearest brothers, don't be thankless and unappreciative, because this could easily dry up the fountain of piety within us.

Oh heedless indifferent people! Rouse yourselves from this evil sleep! Let's go out to receive our King, who comes to us humble and meek.

Oh let us who are proud behold the Master of humility coming to us seated on an ass! For our Saviour has told us that one of his reasons for com­ing on that beast was to show us what our humanity had become by sin, and to show us how we should treat this ass, our humanity.

Really, there is no difference between us and that good-far-nothing beast! Because of sin, our reason has become an animal! Oh ancient Truth, you have taught us how we should treat this beast! I want you …to get on top of this ass; master yourselves; be humble and meek.

And on what feet shall we get up there, sweetest love? On hatred of apathy and love of virtue.

But let's do this … the channel is open and flowing; so, since we need to provision the ship of our soul, let's proceed to provision it there, at that sweetest of channels, the heart and soul and body of Jesus Christ.

We will find that this channel flows with so great a love that we will easily be able to fill our souls

So I say to you: don't be slow to put your eye to this open window

For I assure you that supreme Goodness has prepared the times and the ways for us to do great deeds for him

This is why I told you to be eager to increase your holy desire, and not to be satisfied with little things, because he wants great things!

From The Letters of St

Catherine of Sienna
Holy Week 2011 

Palm Sunday Art

The Entry into Jerusalem

www.catholictradition.org/Passion/passion-gallery.htm 

Blessed Is the King Who Come

Attributed to the Master of Moulins, this painting is a veiled celebration of the annexation of Brittany to the kingdom of France. The death of King Louis XI was followed by a period of regency, for the heir Charles VIII was but a boy. Taking advantage of this interreg­num, a coalition of princes in alliance with the duke of Brittany rose in rebellion. The ensuing conflict, known as the "Mad War", came to an end with the defeat of the rebels in 1488 at the battle of Saint-Aubin-de­Cormier, the stronghold of the dukes of Brittany. Its fortress serves here to represent the city of jerusalem. In the foreground, King Charles VIII and his wife Anne of Brittany are portrayed as they were at the time of these events, aged thirteen and eleven.

Christ's triumphal entry into jerusalem is depicted at the centre, with the raising of Lazarus in the back­ground. Seated majestically upon a nobly drawn donkey, jesus is clothed in a long violet robe, symbol of the baptism he is about to undergo: his passion and death. Behind him, a cortege of disciples is led by Peter, followed by John and james, the only apostles present at the resurrection of Lazarus. The people wave olive branches in apparent jubilation. Upon closer scrutiny, however, one detects the latent violence that will break out the next day in cries of "Crucify him!" Focused on the royal person of jesus, Son of David, Prince of Peace, this painting reminds us that we have no other King and Lord but Christ. Beyond every legitimate national loyalty, all that will count in the end is our ultimate alle­giance to the heavenly kingdom .

• Pierre-Marie Dumont
MAGNIFICAT Missalette
Holy Week 2011

Palm Sunday in Jerusalem

Palm Sunday - Jerusalem April 17, 2011

Members of the Catholic clergy take part in a Palm Sunday procession on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem April 17, 2011. The Dome of the Rock, on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City is seen in the background.

Catholic nuns hold palm fronds during a Palm Sunday procession on the Mount of Olives

Pope Benedict XVI is framed through incense smoke as he leads the Palm Sunday mass at the Vatican April 17, 2011.

COMMENT

---- Forwarded Message ----
From: Anne Marie ...
To: Fr Donald ...
Sent: Sat, 16 April, 2011 22:50:38
Subject: Re: [Dom Donald's Blog] Ephraim TAYBEH Jn11:54 Jesus' Last Retreat

Thanks for this,  as we walk into the last days of  Lent it seems right to be looking at images from the holy land.
I was listening to music called the seven lasts words yesterday and I thought it would be lovely accompanied by images from the holy land.  I might do that as my offering for holy week.

Sent from my iPad
Anne Marie