St Columba 1450th Anniversary Iona pictures

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The Nunnery

Cnoc a' Chalmain: Oratory east window

Prayer House - entrance to oratory

St Oran's Chapel

Street of The Dead

St Columba’s arrival on Iona

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini
presided over the Mass on Sunday

Picture of Nuncio with Crozier.   Oban and Iona: Abbot Mark and four other monks from Nunraw shared in the pilgrimage to St Columba, to mark the 1450th anniversary.  The photos were taken by Br. Seamus.

Pending other photos ..... 
Quote from Bishop Joseph Toal, "Never forget, every saint has a past… and every sinner has a future!"

Disappointing; we do not have the Homily by the Nuncio at the Mass on Iona.

‘Saints’ preserve us still

1450th anniversary of St Columba’s arrival on Iona
marked by national Year of Faith Mass in Oban

 http://www.sconews.co.uk/latest-edition/29160/saints-preserve-us-still/ 

THE Catholic Church in Scotland needs the prayers and support of those in monastic life now as much as it did when St Columba arrived in 563, the Bishop of Argyll and Isles told those gathered for the national Year of Faith Mass in Oban.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini presided over the Mass on Sunday, the solemnity of St Columba, to mark the 1450th anniversary of the arrival of 6th century Irish abbot and missionary on Iona. Sunday’s Mass was celebrated by local Bishop Joseph Toal along with fellow members of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland—including Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, president, and his predecessor Archbishop Mario Conti, diocesan clergy and priests from around Scotland and beyond. 

Nuntraw to Oban - pilgrim monks, at place of former Carmel

During his homily Bishop Toal, vice president of the Bishops’ Conference, said it was fitting to honour St Columba, one of the early evangelisers of Scotland, during this Year of

Iona - monks off ferry

Faith and the New Evangelisation of originally Christian countries that was initiated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI when he was Pontiff.

“It was St Columba and other missionaries that brought the Gospel to our shores,” Bishop Toal said in his homily.  

“The Church in Scotland today in the midst of the noise of modern life and the crises which come

Pluscarden monk from Kenya

upon us continues to need more than ever that support of the communal prayer and reflective living of those who have literally ‘left everything’ and followed him,” he said. “We thank our monastic communities and our hermits for their prayerful support especially in difficult times.”

Iona - way to the Abbey/Cathedral

‘Never forget, every saint has a past… and every sinner has a future!’

The bishops thanked the religious present, including those from Nunraw, Pluscarden and Kinnoull. He offered a special vote of thanks to the delegation from Kells, County Meath, Ireland including Bishop Michael Smith of Meath. The delegation brought with them their copy of the Book of Kells, which will remain on display in Oban and the surrounding district throughout the summer.  It includes the Cathach of St Columba, the copy made by Columba of a book loaned to him by St Finnian.

Sunday’s celebrations in Oban began with the blessing and reactivation of the cathedral bells followed by the entrance into the cathedral of young Catholics from Argyll and the Isles Diocese carrying with them the Scottish Youth Cross. The young people were returning from an overnight pilgrimage to Iona.

Young Catholics from South Uist and Barra also took part in the Liturgy, bringing haunting Gaelic melody and voices to the responsorial psalm and hymns. The Gospel was read in both English and Gaelic.

The bishop of Argyll and the Isles also used his homily as an opportunity to praise the active role Christians play in Scottish society.

He said we have ‘a distinctive voice’ but warned of those who would have us silenced.   

The Mass on Sunday preceded Monday’s pilgrimage to Iona. The Apostolic Nuncio, who did not address the congregation at the Sunday Mass, was the main celebrant and preacher at the Mass on Iona.

 

“St Columba faced many challenges in living the Faith and bringing it to others and, recently in Scotland we have faced challenges too, which may well have saddened us and made us all reflect on how we can bring the Gospel and the person of Christ to all those persons we encounter and to a society which is searching, often unawares, for God,” Archbishop Mennini said. “One source, I should like to quote a word or two of, which I believe appropriate, is taken from Oscar Wilde, who said: ‘Never forget, every saint has a past… and every sinner has a future!’

Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem

House Martins - nesting

Dear Edward,

Thank you

We look forward to your preview of the first Encyclical of Pope Francis.

In spite of his very full tireless weeks it seems he has been hatching inspiring Papal chick.

I have been contemplating the House Martins, the daily hours from the window above my breakfast. In the nest, all is still while the birds are  sitting on the eggs. Then they awake and as ‘swallows’ they make their swift exercise, and hurry back with feeding for the hatching mother.

Maybe it is in perfect May/June timing  for Francis too.

We will enjoy your “Quelques lines”; Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem

In Dno.

Donald

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  

Our very best wishes with thanksgiving for all your blessed days.
With prayer and offering Mass.
D.

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----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Fr. Edward ...
To: Donald ...
Sent: Friday, 14 June 2013, 22:46
Subject: Fwd: Quelques lignes Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem

Dear Donald,

I thought you might like this poem.

It is late because, having written it I feared I had landed on the wrong Piazza,..............

.....

I hope that it arrives in good order Let me know about any problems.

Blessings in Domino,

fr Edward O.P.

Iceland.

Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi

Those enormous crowds his Wednesday General Audience have evoked:

they hear much shorter discourses than before,

yet their depth is greater

as is their personal touch.

His presence has the characteristic of self-withdrawal:

all a display of essential priestliness,

The charism has adjusted him to all displacements,

his presence must be defining itself at the promptings

of a sensitive spirit.

After his Holy Communion at the Mass

he retired to his throne-space in Saint John Lateran's porch:

virtually motionless, his body inclined in contemplation

till the distribution of Sacred Hosts was complete

and the procession of lay and clerics

formed a double roadside line, both three abreast, through via Merulana.

Those bound to the leading part of the procession itself  hurried to their places:

the sodalities with their wind-blown banners,

held with strong arms and coloured ropes

holding  firm the billowing pictures raised above,

and the innumerable flashes of spiritual growth

of so many young Sisters.

The ordering came to its proper place,

but Francis was not in the perspexed display box

on the motor-driven dray:

two deacons knelt before the Monstranced Sacrament

as it took central place,

phalanxed to left and to  right by Cardinals new crimson tailored and millinered.

It moved off with Pope Francis walking behind

cappa'ed in undecorated cream-white:

no identifying white zucchetto and mitre-less

until his final salutation to

"Mary, Salvation of the People of Rome":

he touched its frame after long gazing, received the mitre,

and disappeared into the Basilica.

The procession began  with the setting sun,

passing into the streets

the bars, shop-fronts and apartment windows

diffusing a furtive light,

refracted by the ample street lights in tasteful concentration -

an original juxtaposing of tree-crowns protectingly

and shieldingly, homely-wise bringing comfort-giving greenery

as a continual awning over the procession,

in itself massive more in the

concentration of recollected piety

and ecclesial liturgy:

with incense rising, and

myriad candles some in acolytes' holders,

thousands more held in pious hands,

extensive more than intensive,

and appropriately so.

Blessed John Paul revived this procession,

carrying the Monstrance himself

accompanied by sodalities living on,

some centuries long after founding,

yet not quite welded into the intensity of the following years.

Christ's Body is carried through Rome.

Eucharistic Joy subdued by intensest recollection

accompanies the pouring out of praising

from outpoured souls in public:

supporting each other

around the illumined dray and monstrance

with the paired deacons,

followed briskly on foot by Pope Francis

continuing a contemplation begin at Saint John Lateran

and ending in the Piazza San Maria Maggiore

before Saint Mary Major's.

The column bearing the Immaculate Conception

pointing heavenward as Mary disappears into shadows

whilst Francis walks unostentatiously,

authoritatively none the less,

leading mediatingly and with quiet intensity

the recollected, variegated crowd by

the presence together in Jesus Christ of Blessed Sacrament and Pope,¶

and carried as Bread from Heaven.

__________

¶  With a conscious recollection of a pregnant insight of Pope Blessed John XXIII, who, still as Cardinal Roncalli and Nuncio in Paris, was (incredibly!) asked to write among a collection of articles in a new French Catholic periodical with the theme of "Présences", on "La présence du Pape dans le Monde". He did not refer to theologians, but to the Bible (with a strong reference to the precedent of "the seat of Moses") and the poets - Dante and Claudel. In the midst of which  we find this gemstone: "Christ is in the world through the Blessed Sacrament and through the Pope."

Fr. Edward OP

Stykkishólmur

2 June 2013

Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem

News Mount Saint Bernard Abbey

Thanks to the OCSO grapevine, and confirmed by Facebook, we are thrilled  by Mount Saint Bernard news.
In this community Saturday Lady Mass, our heartfelt prayer accompanies each and everyone of the brethren at Mount Saint Bernard. In mind, we remember especially Dom Joseph and Fr. Erik knowing  new fires of the Holy Spirit.

  

      

Mount St Bernard

Friday, 14 June 2013 16:49

On June 11, 2013 Dom Joseph Delargy completed a second six year term as abbot of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey.  On that same day an election was held which was inconclusive.  After following the required procedures the Father Immediate, Dom Brendan Freeman, appointed Fr. Erik Varden as Superior ad nutum. 

Dom Erik, born in Norway in 1974, entered the monastery in 2002, made solemn profession in 2007 and was ordained priest in 2011.  At the time of his appointment he was Prior.

MSB Facebook

Mount St. Bernard Abbey

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The community after the election of Fr Erik as superior ad nutum. The abbatial election on Tuesday did not result in the choice of an abbot because the votes were inconclusive. Fr Erik is now our superior for a temporary term of about 18 months, after which we hope to hold another election. Please pray for him.

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G van der Weegen As we thank Dom Joseph for his 12-year abbacy, so we pray for Fr Erik as he begins the next chapter in the life of the community at MStB.

Gabrielle Bossis HE AND i 1944

Nunraw - South Cloister Sunset Silhouettes

1944 March 6 -  After Communion.

 (...) "Your body belongs to Me. 

Take care of it because it is Mine. 

Do your work because it is My work. 

Rest, to rest Me. 

And when you speak to your neighbour, 

that is My public life."

                                                      Gabrielle Bossis. HE AND i

Henri Nouwen, The Last Supper insignificant encounter with Rembrandt's, 'The Return of the Prodigal Son' set in motion a long spiritual adventure

COMMENT: 

 

Nouwen wrote a short book 'The Return of the Prodigal Son'
based on his contemplation of Rembrandt's painting...

Henri Nouwen opens his book, The Return of the Prodigal, by placing before his readers the full text of the story as recorded in Luke's Gospel. He then proceeds to tell the reader how he came to his decision to write a book about it:

A seemingly insignificant encounter with a poster presenting a detail of Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son set in motion a long spiritual adventure that brought me to a new understanding of my vocation and offered me new strength to live it. At the heart of this adventure is a seventeenth-century painting and its artist, a first-century parable and its author, and a twentieth-century person in search of life's meaning.

('A Retreat With Henri Nouwen, edited by R. Durbeck).

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Novice photos, returned from the Iona 1450th Annivesray of St. Columba landing at Iona;   

  

Nunraw sign - roadside 'last upper'