Fr. Stephen with the Angelic Host and all the Sainted, named each by the Father

Fr. Stephen (88) Monk of Nunraw died 6/2/2013

Ordinary Time: February 7th

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

MASS on the death of Father Stephen

This morning it was the occasion of offering Mass for our Father Stephen who died yesterday.

We celebrated chasuble and stoles in white in favour of the monk who dedicated his 68 years of Monastic Profession.

In the Communion Hymn, seeing the dawn of the colourful skies, we sang the phrase, “I trace the rainbow through the rain”, reminding again that 2dawn shall tearless be.”

Words of Saint Catherine of Siena, ‘it is time for harvesting and sowing’ applied to the climax of the life of Fr. Stephen, as his powerful prayer for vocations to the community.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA

'They cast out many devils"

I Caterina, servant and slave of God's servants, am writing to encourage you in the precious blood of God's Son.

I long to see you so strong and filled to overflowing with that Holy Spirit who came upon the holy disciples, that God's gentle Word will be able to grow and bear fruit in you and in your neighbours as well.

After the fire of the Holy Spirit had descended on them they mounted the pulpit of the blazing cross, where they felt and tasted the hunger of God's Son, his love for humankind.

Then their words came forth as does a red-hot knife from a furnace, and with its heat they pierced their listeners to the heart and cast out the devils.

Since they had lost themselves, they saw not themselves but only God's glory and honour and our salvation."

So...I beg you-it is my will in Christ Jesus-make your home in the pulpit of the cross.

There be engulfed, lose yourself completely, with insatiable desire.

Draw the red-hot knife and strike the devils, seen and unseen, who want continually to disturb your conscience by nipping people's fruit in the bud.

Don't give in to this wicked devil-especially now, when it is time for harvesting and sowing.

Tell the devil to deal with me instead of with you! Forward then, courageously!

Saint Catherine of Siena (+ 1380), Doctor of the Church was a Dominican, stigmatist, and papal counselor.

Saints Paul Miki and his Companions 6 February

St. Paul Miki and Companions

Today we commemorate St. Paul Miki and Companions. These twenty-six martyrs are sometimes called the martyrs of Nagasaki and the martyrs of Japan. 

Universalis

 http://www.universalis.com

Wednesday 6 February 2013  

Saints Paul Miki and his Companions, Martyrs 

 (Wednesday of week 4 of the year)

Come, let us worship the Lord, the King of martyrs.

Psalm week: 4.

St Paul Miki (1564/6 - 1597)

He was born in Japan between 1564 and 1566. He joined the Society of Jesus and preached the gospel to the Japanese people with great success. When a persecution of the Catholics arose he was arrested together with twenty-five others. Mocked and tortured, they were eventually taken to Nagasaki on 5 February 1597, bound to crosses and speared.

  

A statue of St. Philip of Jesus
at the Museo de Virreinato, Tepotzotlán

  See also the article in the Catholic Encyclopaedia  on St Philip of Jesus, a Mexican Jesuit who was one of those martyred together with St Paul Miki, and an article in Wikipedia  which contains some useful links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_of_Jesus

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Reading

From an account of the martyrdom of Saint Paul Miki and his companions, by a contemporary writer

You shall be my witnesses

The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez took turns encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behaviour was wonderful to see. The Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. Brother Martin gave thanks to God’s goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life.” Brother Francis Branco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary.  

RIDER on BBC Songs of Praise 'I Believe in Angels' after the 7 days broadcast.

 
At the National Gallery 150 paintings of Angels,
with Our Lady, Nativity and Saints.

Rider to the Broadcast I believe in angels ! - YouTube ► 4:42► 4:42 www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuB7cJR3ZiI May 1, 2011 - Uploaded by peoplepassion ABBA Lyrics: I have a dream... a song to sing, to help me cope with anything ... I believe in angels ...  http://angelsandsaintsandus.blogspot.co.uk/  Saturday, September 29, 2012   Feast of the Archangels http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/lorenzo-costa-the-adoration-of-the-shepherds-with-angels The Adoration of the Shepherds with Angels about 1499, Lorenzo Costa    There are nine choirs of music-making angels on each side of the Holy Family and adoring shepherds. Two larger angels, centre, blowing trumpets, herald the arrival of a further group of angels bearing the Instruments of the Passion. HYMNS ·        1. Praise, My Soul, The King Of ·        2. Angel Voices Ever Singing Choir 3 All Through The Night  Sir Willard White      4 At The Name Of Jesus  Choir  ·       5. In Heavenly Love Abiding 6. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, 7. When at night I go to sleep. Evening Prayer BBC Radio 2 Choristers Of The Year 2009: Jacquelyne Hill & Laurence Kilsby ·              ·            Factsheet for Sunday 3rd February 2013 Pam Rhodes meets people who believe they have encountered angels and introduces some popular angelic hymns. ·            Interviewees Here is some background information on the contributors that appeared on this week's programme;  ROY GODWIN  Roy Godwin was travelling with his wife and children on a road through a dense forest one frosty night in December 1981 when he crashed with another vehicle who was travelling on the wrong side of the road. His family were removed from the car and taken off to hospital but Roy was trapped in the damaged vehicle with major injuries. Suddenly a strange figure came through the forest and sat down beside him on the passenger seat. The encounter was unusual, not least because of the unusual words the stranger spoke and Roy believes that the mysterious figure might have been an angel.  DR PAULA GOODER  Dr Paula Gooder is a freelance writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies. She explains the origin of the word “angel” and explores the potential different meanings of the word in both the Old and New Testaments. She also ponders why Christians today often don’t talk about angels despite being surrounded by depictions of them in stained glass windows in many churches. Finally she reveals her own beliefs about what constitutes an angelic encounter.  WALLACE AND MARY BROWN  Wallace Brown felt called by God to leave his leafy parish in Leicestershire and continue his ministry on a council estate in Birmingham. So he became the vicar of St Boniface’s Church in Quinton. But he and his wife Mary soon discovered that a violent gang gathered every day around the walls of the church. After several months, they were finding life there very difficult but Mary felt that God was calling them to pray for guardian angels to protect the walls of the church, so they did – with seemingly miraculous results.  LORNA BYRNE  Lorna Byrne says she has seen angels since she was a tiny child and has written several books about her experiences including “Angels in my Hair”. She describes how angels appear to her and how she believes that everyone, no matter what their religion or what sort of person they are, has their own guardian angel.  www.lornabyrne.com Lorna Byrne   www.lornabyrne.com/ A Message of Hope from the Angels by Lorna Byrne Read more →. someone to watch over you. Someone is watching over you, an inspirational music video ... ·            Locations   ·        The National Gallery  Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

Saint Agatha and Angel with St Peter

Following the stirring the BBC TV presentation of 'I Believe in Angels', 

St Peter Healing St Agatha

tomorrow it brings the Liturgy of St Agatha in prison visited by St Peter and an Angel.

NEWMAN CHAPLETS

A Journey  to God through Prayer

http://www.newmanchaplets.com/chaplets-iii-saints-january-december/saints-february/

ST AGATHA

Virgin & Martyr

Feast Day 5th February

Chaplet of St Agatha

A chaplet for victims of breast cancer – for private use only.

Patroness of: Sicily, bell founders, breast cancer, against fire, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, for rape victims, torture victims, etc

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. Saint Lucy d.c303 visited her shrine and interceded successfully for her mother, to whom Saint Agatha, by the grace of God gave healing.

Commence on the single bead of the pendant saying: O glorious Martyr, Saint Agatha, you endured assaults on your body and spirit with dignity and courage. Strengthen us now in our hour of supplication and be our advocate, that we may receive the healing grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen

On each of the three sets of beads say five times: Ave Maria…

On the small bead following the first set say: Jesus Christ, Lord of all things, You see my heart, You know my desire. Possess alone all that I am. I am Your sheep, Make me worthy to overcome the devil

On the small bead following the second set say: Lord, my Creator, You have ever protected me from the cradle; You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer: receive now my soul.

Conclude on the medal saying: Dearest Saint Agatha, hear and sustain us!

Saint Agatha – The tradition of virgin martyrdom personified

St Agatha in prison visited by St Peter and an angel. Alessandro Turchi (1578-1649)

Agatha is one of the most notable of the early virgin martyrs, put to death probably under the persecution of Decius (250-253). There remains no early or contemporary account of her martyrdom other than the witness of widespread veneration from the earliest of times. In both the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (c.6th cent) and the fifth or sixth century Martyrologium Carthaginiense, a celebration for Saint Agatha is recorded on the 5th February, while, in the sixth century Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600 ) mentions her in a poem on virginity and describes her as one of the celebrated Christian virgins and martyrs. In addition to these sources, and among the poems of Pope Damasus (Pope between 366-384) is a hymn to Saint Agatha which, while not his own composition but by an unknown later author, was most probably composed for a liturgical celebration. Other references include a letter of Pope Gelasius (492-496) to one Bishop Victor which mentions a Basilica of Saint Agatha, while the letters of Gregory I (Pope between 590- 604) make mention of a church dedicated to Saint Agatha at Rome, in the Subura.It had previously been assigned to the Arian Goths for their use and later restored to Catholic worship by Pope Gregory I.

... Further enraged by this evidence of tenacity and faith, the Governor ordered that her breasts be crushed and hacked off. This unusual torture is represented in the iconography associated with the saint. Agatha was returned to prison with neither food nor medical attention, but her Lord, who was indeed her light and her salvation gave her comfort, for, in a vision she saw Saint Peter surrounded by heavenly light. The Apostle comforted and strengthened Agatha while healing her of the wounds. But the cruelties were not over. Four days later, Quintianus had the young girl rolled naked over live coals mixed with broken pottery; she would not survive this agony. As she was returned to the prison Agatha prayed: ‘Lord, my Creator, Thou hast always protected me from the cradle, Thou hast taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive now my soul.’After saying these words Agatha breathed her last.

God can make better saints . Charles de Foucauld

Monday, 04 February 2013 Monday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time

Mark 5:1-20.
.... But he would not permit him but told him instead, "Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you." v.29
Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed. 

Commentary of the day : 

Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916), hermit and missionary in the Sahara - Meditations on the Gospels, no.194 

"Go home to your family and announce to them
all that the Lord in his pity has done for you"

When we want to follow Jesus, don't let us be surprised if he doesn't allow us to do so straight away or even if he never allows us to do so... Indeed, his eyes see further than ours: he doesn't just want our own good but everyone's...

Certainly, to share in his life with and like the apostles is a blessing and a grace and we should always strive to come close to this imitation of his life. But that is no more than an outward grace.

By filling us with grace interiorly God can make better saints of us without this exact imitation... than with it. By increasing faith, hope and charity in us he can make us far more perfect in the world or in a mitigated [religious] Order than we would be in the desert or in a strict Order... 

If God doesn't allow us to follow him we should neither be surprised nor afraid nor saddened about it but say to ourselves that he is treating us like the Gerasene and has very wise and hidden reasons for it. What is needed is that we obey him and throw ourselves into his will. Besides..., maybe Jesus allowed the Gerasene to join the apostles some months or years later. 

Let us always hope, as far as opportunity allows, to lead the life that is most perfect in itself and, for the time being, let us lead perfectly the life Jesus gives us, the one where he wants us to be. Let us live in it as he would live himself if his Father's will placed him there. Let us do everything there as he would do it if his Father had put him in that situation... True perfection is to do the will of God.

I Believe in Angels BBC TV Episode 3 Feb 2013

 Angels come our attention for very practical needs.

And I enjoyed the BBC Programme; a lovely instructive viewing, and backing up to 

interest in Angels is already to the fore of prayer.

The Hymns of the programme fill up to theology, art, music...   

The BBC TV episode from the Songs of Praise  

 I Believe in Angels

Pam Rhodes meets people who believe they have encountered angels.

FIRST BROADCAST: 03 Feb 2013

Songs of Praise-I Believe in Angels

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qm07p/Songs_of_Praise_I_Believe_in_Angels/ 

Related Link: The National Gallery (www.nationalgallery.org.uk)
                          Angels in My Hair (http://www.lornabyrne.com/)
                                   Dr Paula Gooder (www.gooder.me.uk)   

Presentation of the Lord 2013

Sixty seven years ago, the first of the founders arrived at Nunraw from Roscrea, our Mother House.  

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Fr. Mark . . .

Sent: Saturday, 2 February 2013, 8:26
Subject:  Presentation of the Lord

Introduction to the Presentation of the Lord.    Feb 2, 2013

Today’s celebration of the Presentation of the Lord in the temple is not simply a single feast.  It is the conclusion of the Christmas season, during which we celebrated the joy of the coming of the Lord as man into our world.

I had the good fortune to be in Rome two years ago and saw for myself the various cribs still in place in the middle of St Peter’s Square.  They were from various parts of the world and from different cultures and, naturally, attracted crowds of people.

Christ came at Christmas – a light shining in the dark – and today we light candles to celebrate that same light that has been given to us to brighten up our lives and prevent us from stumbling, from falling because of the darkness that can overshadow us..

Sixty seven years ago, the first of the founders arrived at Nunraw from Roscrea, our Mother House.  Those were difficult and hard times settling in. - There are always hard times.  And so we need to continue trusting in the guiding hand of God.

Simeon praised God in the temple because he saw that light - long expected - had finally come into the world.  That same light has been handed on to us.  But he also gave a warning to Mary that there would be sorrow in her life because the power of the darkness had not yet been fully overcome.  We celebrate the joy of Christ’s coming to us in the flesh, therefore, but remain aware of our constant need of his help in our human weakness.

We extinguish our candles now, but they will be relit for the duration of the gospel, creed and Pr of the Faithful.

After the Prayer of the Faithful

This is the point where we take our lighted candles, symbols of God’s light in us, and offer them back to God before the altar.  There they will remain shining throughout our celebration of the Eucharist, our Thanksgiving to God.