Lent 2nd Week Life of Moses by St Gregory of Nyssa

   Patristic Lectionary,    
   Midday
We enjoy Bright sunshine and windy nights.

Beautiful views in all directions.

The Japanese Lilac tree is radiant in full bloom, especially from my refectory window.             

Friday of the Second Week in Lent Year II

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF EXODUS

(Promise of the covenant and appearance of the Lord on Sinai: Exodus 19:1-19; 20:1 2nd Week 8-21)

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. And when they set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” ...........

                Responsory        Ex 19:5-6; 1 Pt 2:9

If you do what I tell you and keep my covenant, out of all the nations you will be my own possession, dearer to me than any other people. + You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation.

V. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people God has claimed as his own. + You shall be ...

A reading from the Life of Moses by St Gregory of Nyssa
2.162-66 (SC 1, 80-82)

At first God appeared to Moses in light but later, on Mount Sinai,
he appeared in darkness

 The Life of Moses was written sometime between 890 and 392. Gregory teaches that the divine essence is unviable. The true knowledge and the true vision of God consists in realizing this. At first God appeared to Moses in light but later, on Mount Sinai, he appeared in darkness.

Moses entered into the darkness and there he saw God. What does this signify? This present account seems in a way to contradict that of the first theophany. Then God appeared in light, but now he appears in darkness. Yet we must not imagine this to be at variance with our normal experience of spiritual contemplation. By this statement the text teaches us that religious knowledge is first experienced as light. All that is seen to be opposed to religion is darkness, and darkness vanishes when we receive the light. But the more the mind advances and by ever increasing and more perfect application attains an intellectual comprehension of realities and approaches contemplation, the more clearly it sees that the divine nature is invisible. Having left behind all appearances, not only those perceived by the senses but also those the intellect seems to see, it plunges ever deeper within itself, until by spiritual effort it penetrates to the invisible and the unknowable, and there it sees God.

This is the true knowledge of what is sought; this is the seeing that consists in not seeing, because that which is sought transcends all knowledge, being separated on all sides by incomprehensibility as by a kind of darkness. This is why John the contemplative, who had penetrated this luminous darkness, said that no one had ever seen God, declaring by this negation that the divine essence is beyond the reach not only of men but of every rational nature as well.

And so, when Moses had advanced in knowledge he declared that he saw God in the darkness, or in other words that he recognized that the Divinity is essentially that which transcends all knowledge and which no mind can apprehend. The text says: Moses entered into the darkness where God was. What God? He who has made the darkness his covering, as David declared, who had himself been initiated into the divine mysteries in that same sanctuary.

When Moses arrived there, he was taught by word what he had formerly learned from darkness, so that, I think, the doctrine on this matter may be made more firm for us by the witness of the divine voice. The divine word at the beginning forbade that the Divine be likened to any of the things known by men, since every concept which comes from some comprehensible image constitutes an idol of God and does not proclaim God.

Responsory        In 4:23-24

Those who worship the Father must worship him in spirit and in truth. +The Father seeks such worshipers as these.

V. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit

and truth. + The Father seeks ...

St Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses, 2.162-66 (SC 1, 80-82); from Word in Season II, 1^st ed.

Saint Augustine 'I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart' (Jer:11)

Mass Readings
Thursday, 20 March 2014

Wild Geese on flight - over Lammermuirs, March 2014Thursday of the Second week of Lent  

Book of Jeremiah 17:5-10.

Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, But stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.
More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?
I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds. 

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 16:19-31.Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. Commentary of the day : 

Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church 
Discourses on the psalms, Ps 85 [86]; CCL 39, 1178 

« God sees the heart » (1Sm 16,7)

Was that poor man welcomed by the angels solely on account of his poverty? And the rich man, was he delivered up to torment by fault of his wealth alone? No. Let us clearly understand that it was humility that was honored in the poor man and pride condemned in the rich.


This is the proof, briefly, that it was not his wealth but his pride for which the rich man deserved his punishment. So then, the poor man was carried into the bosom of Abraham; yet Scripture says of Abraham that he had much gold and silver and was rich on earth (Gn 13,2). If every rich man is sent into torment, how is it that Abraham could precede the poor man so as to welcome him into his bosom? It was because, in the midst of his wealth, Abraham was poor, humble, respectful and obedient to all God's commands. He held his riches in so little esteem that, when God asked it of him, he consented to offer in sacrifice the son to whom these riches were destined (Gn 22,4).


Learn to be poor and needy, then, whether you possess something in this world or whether you don't possess anything. Because we find beggars full of pride and rich people who confess their sins. “God resists the proud” whether they are covered with silk or with rags, but “he gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4,6) whether or not they have possessions in this world. God looks at what is within; it is there he assesses, there he examines.

Saint Joseph Solemnity Feast in Scotland 19th. March.

The carpentry shop in the monastery, Nunraw Abbey'

Inscribed picture of St. Joseph's Church in Nazareth.

http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/StJosephChurch.html

A painting of Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and the young Jesus in the carpenter's workshop. Early traditions identified the site of the church as the place of the carpenter workshop of the Holy family.

Magnificat com, with thanks.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY

By FATHER MAURICE ZUNDEL. Father Zundel (+ 1975) was a Swiss mystic, poet, philosopher. liturgist, and author.

Joseph

There is not a word too many or too few. In one movement we are brought to the heart of the Mystery: just so it had suddenly confronted Joseph. But we know what the issue was, and Joseph at that time did not.

He loved Mary. From the first moment of their first meeting he had felt that she was unique and that God was entrusting her to him. Was he now called upon to sacrifice her as Abraham had had to steel himself to the immolation of Isaac?

The wound in his heart was immeasurable. The plain fact was there. No denial, no tenderness could alter it. Her very innocence made his anguish more poignant. Another must be guilty, who should take the responsibility for what he had done.

Joseph could not speak of it to her, since she had chosen to be silent. Any word would have been an outrage. Silence, his silence, should give him back his liberty, for it attested his utter confidence in her.

Thus he came to his decision. And he slept the sleep that relaxes the body but not the soul's pain.

Only if we could concentrate in one heart all the admiration, devotion, fervour that Christian souls were to feel through all generations towards Mary could we form any idea of the love she must have inspired in Joseph, could we divine the immensity of the drama being acted in that hour.

What Dante sang of Beatrice, Joseph could have said in the richest fullness of meaning:

     He sees perfectly all salvation

     Who sees my Lady among women.

More than any other he felt that human nature was ennobled by her. If he had dared to enter into the espousal, it was to guard the treasure-the treasure which now seemed irremediably lost. ...

Meanwhile Mary watched in prayer, suffering in his suffering, living all the agony that her sealed lips could not abate in him.

The yes that bound her soul to Joseph's was all the more irrevocable in that it engaged her fidelity to God, who was the strong foundation of their union.

Father Zundel (+ 1975) was a Swiss mystic, poet, philosopher. liturgist, and author.

St Patricks Day Poem - Greetings of Donegal friends

                                                                                                                                           

St Patricks Day Poem - Ballybofey and Stranorlar

www.ballybofeystranorlar.com/?p=8041‎

St Patricks Day Poem

 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

The theme for this year’s poem came from a relative in Co. Donegal, Tony Gallinagh who resides in the Twin Towns area. Stranorlar and Ballybofey have joined hands to break  The Guinness Book of World Records for the most people with the same first name gathered together at the same time and in the same place and the name they have chosen appropriately enough is Patrick.

This is their contribution to The Gathering a year long initiative sponsored by the National Tourism Development Authority aimed at reconnecting decedents of the Irish Diaspora with their roots while at the same time helping Ireland’s economy.

 

A Gathering of Patrick’s

By Pat Gallinagh

 The Irish Diaspora was fueled by famine, poverty and fear

Of a tyrannical overlord that made immigration grounds for cheer

They left Ireland by the millions and scattered to the four corners of the earth

They settled, multiplied and prospered and kept their heritage for all its worth

After many generations they now numbered over seventy million strong

Yet many had never set foot in Ireland, and to the government this indeed seemed wrong

To address this anomaly an initiative called The Gathering was born

To help reconnect their descendants with the roots from which their ancestors had been torn

It’s a year long celebration from New Year’s Day until December fades from light

Featuring fairs, festivals and reunions that will be running both day and night

But there’s one day that stands above all others in the Irish calendar

Tis the day they honor Ireland’s patron saint and celebrated near and far

In county Donegal there are Twin Towns separated by the river Finn

The intersection of The Gathering and St. Patrick’s Day presented them a chance to win

“What if we could gather on this day in one place at one time more Patrick’s than ever before.

We’d make the Guinness Book of World Records and get compliments by the score”

Their first name can be Patrick, Paddy, Patricia or any derived from it thereof

From the saint who converted Ireland from paganism into a Christian Hub

They must be there in person and with them proof of birth

Tho they needn’t necessarily be Irish and this could cause some mirth

This endeavor will not be easy but then no one said it would

But it’ll be well worth the effort to break the record if we should

So the call has gone out far and wide for all Patrick’s to set their sights

To converge on the Emerald Isle and help the Irish celebrate their rites.

So if you are in County Donegal on St. Patrick’s Day and Patrick is your name

Make your way to Stranorlar and Ballybofey and stake your claim to fame

And your presence there to no one will be a great mystery

For if the Twin Towns are successful, you’ll be going down in history

Lent - Second Sunday - Today's Gospel St. Matthew 17

Second Sunday Of Lent

Mosaic of the Transfiguration, in the basilica of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai   "Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,  and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him." -- From Today's Gospel St. Matthew 17

On February 24, 2013, thousands turned out at the Vatican to attend the final Angelus blessing bestowed by Pope Benedict XVI as pontiff. Huge monitors were placed near St. Peter's Square so that those pilgrims, of the approximately 200,000, who could not enter the square would be able to see the Pope at the window of his study shortly before noon.

The Pope was greeted with applause as thousands cried 'Long live the Pope!' in various languages. Before beginning his short meditation, he responded saying, “Thank you, thank you very much.” He then commented on the Gospel reading for this second Sunday of Lent, which recounts the Transfiguration of the Lord.

 

“Luke the Evangelist,” he said, “places particular attention on the fact that Jesus was transfigured as He prayed. His is a profound experience of relationship with the Father during a type of spiritual retreat that Jesus undergoes on a high mountain in the company of Peter, James, and John, the three disciples who are always present at the moments of the Master's divine manifestation. The Lord, who had foretold His death and

St. Peter - mosaic

  resurrection shortly before, offers His disciples an anticipation of His glory. Again at the Transfiguration, as at His Baptism, we hear the voice of the Heavenly Father: 'This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.' The presence of Moses and Elijah, who represent the Law and the Prophets of the Old Covenant, is very important."

 

The entire history of the Covenant is directed toward Him, the Christ, who brings about a new 'exodus', not to the promised land, as in the time of Moses, but to heaven. Peter's exclamation, 'Master, it is good that we are here', represents the impossible attempt to stop this mystical experience. St. Augustine comments: “Peter … on the mountain ... had Christ as the Bread of his soul. Should he then depart from there to return to struggles and sorrows, while up above he was full of the holy love for God that inspired him to saintly behaviour?”

 

“Meditating on this Gospel passage, we can draw a very important teaching from it. First of all, the primacy of prayer, without which the entire commitment of ministry and charity is reduced to activism. During Lent we learn to give the proper time to the prayer, both personal and

Prophet Moses

  communal, which gives breath to our spiritual life. In addition, prayer is not an isolation from the world and its contradictions, as Peter would have wanted on Mount Tabor. Instead, prayer leads to a path of action. 'The Christian life—I wrote in this year's Lenten Message—consists in continuously scaling the mountain to meet God and then coming back down, bearing the love and strength drawn from Him, so as to serve our brothers and sisters with God’s own love.'”

 

“I hear this Word of God addressed to me in a special way at this moment of my life. The Lord has called me to 'scale the mountain', to dedicate myself still more to prayer and meditation. But this does not mean abandoning the Church. If God asks me this it is precisely so that I might continue to serve her with the same dedication and the same love with which I have tried to give up to now, but in a way more suitable to my age and my strength. Let us call upon the intercession of the Virgin Mary: May she help all of us to always follow the Lord Jesus, in prayer and in works of charity.”

 Pope Benedict XVI

Detail of an apse mosaic: The central figure of Christ symbolizing
the twin nature of Christ: divine and yet man.

The Conservation of the Mosaic of theTransfiguration in the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai

http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/public_programs/sinai1_text.html

COMMENT: ‘Stations of the Cross’

'Stations of the Cross'
in Roscrea College

9^th March 2014-03-12        

Note from William and enclosed little pocket ‘Stations of the Cross’.

Hi, William,

Returned from the Eye Pavilion, (all well in Fr. Thomas' result),  your great surprise letter was delivered. The envelope was not franked, written on Sunday, and arrived on Tuesday.

Thank you for the Roscrea College pocket ‘Stations of the Cross’.

Yesterday, I stepped across to the Jesuit Church of Sacred Heart and I made The Way of the Cross. There hanging in glory are the large paintings, originally executed by Peter Rauth, a Bavarian artist around 1870, restored 1999. I did not have a camera to hand. In fact we have a set of the printed post-card size copies. See the Attachments.    

'The Stations of the Cross' in Church of Sacred Heart, Edinburgh

        

Spring lovely days - praise the Lord.

Yours ..

Donald

He and I, 'Reading about My passion is not enough. Make it part of your very self.' COMMENTS:

On Tuesday, 11 March 2014, 16:48, 

William  wrote:

Dear Father Donald,

What a telling sign to see the avenue Stations of the Cross so uprooted... I knew that this was inevitable, but never imagined that I would experience it.... thank you, for sharing it with me.

But how well they will look on 5th Sunday of Lent around the parameter of the Abbey lawns - whichever route is chosen, it will be later appreciated by the Brethren who maybe couldn't attempt the long avenue, and by one pilgrim who hopes, DV, to come on retreat in May.  

I have often pondered before Fr Gabriel's etchings of the Passion which hang in the Church.... as prayerful for him I am sure as icon 'writing'. Such a blessing for them to there remain, undisturbed.

"He and I" .... such evocative expressions of love and desire stir our hearts as we encounter her prayer journal:

<<  If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart.

<<  You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it.

<<  Over and above all that you ask or think.

<<  If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence.

There are indeed times when explicit prayer fails me, desire in my mind 'refuses' to conceive or express itself, and thought vaporizes, and I just want to 'gaze' in silence... before the Blessed Sacrament... which is perhaps why iconography draws me so deeply.

I hope that you experienced the glorious Spring sunshine today as you drove Fr Thomas into Edinburgh for his eye appointment; may it have been too lovely for you not to have taken a circuitous route home through the countryside!

My vigil continues for the Community as the 25th March approaches. My thoughts rise each morning with you.

With my love in Our Lord,

William

+++++++

Dear William,

An extract from HE AND i below, ‘Reading about My passion is not enough ...’ seems more eloquent than the Parish Church Notice, ‘A pleanary is available who devotedly make the Way of the Cross’.

The English translation is the usual prosaic type layout. The original French language has the creative punctuation, using the LEFT POINTING DOUBLE ANGLE QUOTATION MARK.

The tables contrast the styles – the difference of the paragraphs compressed into tin-can spaghetti prose and the poetic free flow.

At the background, the Stations of the Cross (Fr. Gabriel) hang in the Church. The external Stations of the avenue have been uprooted and will be re-located in time for the 5^th Sunday of Lent for the pilgrimage from the parishioners.

God bless.

Donald.

P.S.

Tomorrow, to drive Fr. T. to the Eye Pavilion.

Presently commence the Lent Reading and the Novena of St. Joseph.

1943 HE AND i, Garielle Bossis

Holy Saturday -  Le Fresne church. <<Rise from the dead. Rise with Me to a new life, a better one, to a life nearer to Me. Always nearer to Me.  Beg Me to help you, and be sure that I shall.>> Easter -  Le Fresne church.  -  During the Benediction I said, <<My poor Love, risen from the dead>>. <<My love has never died. At every moment I have loved you.>> May - 20 -  Ingrandes church. <<  Fan the flames of your love. <<  Fan the flame <<  Don't stand still. <<  Never cease to go forward. <<  Enter ever deeper and deeper into My heart. <<  Reading about My passion is not enough. <<  Make it part of your very self. <<  Wherever you are, take My sufferings. <<  Sufferings desired, willed, expected... <<  They are My love for My children  -  for you. <<  When one has suffered so, what can one refuse? <<  Ask Me to give you the grace to respond to this love of your God and I'll light new fires in you that will amaze you. <<  You will realize that it is not of your doing. <<  'It is from Him', you will say, and this will be the truth. <<  You know how utterly weak you are. <<  Tell Me about it so that I can help you. <<  If you saw an invalid content to be ill, you wouldn't try to heal him, would you? But if he cried out to you to help him, you would do your best for him. <<  And if he thanked you, you would hold him to your heart. <<  Open the secret tabernacle of your heart to Me so that we may speak together of our new love. <<  The words may be the same, but what an added weight of love! You will wonder how a single moment could ever pass by without Me. <<  Where your treasure is, there is your heart. <<  How long My desire has kept watch for you! Ask that I be all in all to you... <<  and that you be wholly Mine. <<  You remember  how at Corte you told Me that you wanted it to be like that? Now is the time to translate your wish into your daily living for Me. <<  If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart. <<  You will never have to wait, for I shall already be there. <<  You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it. <<  Over and above all that you ask or think. <<  If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence. <<  I'm keeping such sweet joys for you, so be waiting in your secret shrine. <<  I haven't many shrines like this on earth." (...)

Holy Saturday -  Le Fresne church.  "Rise from the dead. Rise with Me to a new life, a better one, to a life nearer to Me. Always nearer to Me. Beg Me to help you, and be sure that I shall." Easter -  Le Fresne church. -  During the Benediction I said, ' 'My poor Love, risen from the dead".  "My love has never died. At every moment I have loved you." May - 20 -  Ingrandes church.  "Fan the flames of your love. Fan the flames. Don't stand still. Never cease to go forward. Enter ever deeper and deeper into My heart. Reading about My passion is not enough. Make it part of your very self. Wherever you are, take My sufferings. Sufferings desired, willed, expected... They are My love for My children  -  for you. When one has suffered so, what can one refuse? Ask Me to give you the grace to respond to this love of your God and I'll light new fires in you that will amaze you. You will realize that it is not of your doing. 'It is from Him', you will say, and this will be the truth. You know how utterly weak you are. Tell Me about it so that I can help you. If you saw an in valid content to be ill, you wouldn't try to heal him, would you? But if he cried out to you to help him, you would do your best for him. And if he thanked you, you would hold him to your heart. Open the secret tabernacle of your heart to Me so that we may speak together of our new love. The words may be the same, but what an added weight of love! You will wonder how a single moment could ever pass by without Me. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. How long My desire has kept watch for you! Ask that I be all in all to you... and that you be wholly Mine. You remember  how at Corte you told Me that you wanted it to be like that? Now is the time to translate your wish into your daily living for Me. If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart. You will never have to wait, for I shall already be there. You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it. Over and above all that you ask or think. If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence. I'm keeping such sweet joys for you, so be waiting in your secret shrine. I haven't many shrines like this on earth." (...)

The Way of the Cross in the Church

Holy Saturday -  Le Fresne church.

<<Rise from the dead. Rise with Me to a new life, a better one, to a life nearer to Me.

Always nearer to Me.  Beg Me to help you, and be sure that I shall.>>

Easter -  Le Fresne church.  -  During the Benediction I said, <<My poor Love, risen from the dead>>.

<<My love has never died. At every moment I have loved you.>>

May - 20 -  Ingrandes church.

<<  Fan the flames of your love.

<<  Fan the flame

<<  Don't stand still.

<<  Never cease to go forward.

<<  Enter ever deeper and deeper into My heart.

<<  Reading about My passion is not enough.

<<  Make it part of your very self.

<<  Wherever you are, take My sufferings.

<<  Sufferings desired, willed, expected...

<<  They are My love for My children  -  for you.

<<  When one has suffered so, what can one refuse?

<<  Ask Me to give you the grace to respond to this love of your God and I'll light new fires in you that will amaze you.

<<  You will realize that it is not of your doing.

<<  'It is from Him', you will say, and this will be the truth.

<<  You know how utterly weak you are.

<<  Tell Me about it so that I can help you.

<<  If you saw an invalid content to be ill, you wouldn't try to heal him, would you? But if he cried out to you to help him, you would do your best for him.

<<  And if he thanked you, you would hold him to your heart.

<<  Open the secret tabernacle of your heart to Me so that we may speak together of our new love.

<<  The words may be the same, but what an added weight of love! You will wonder how a single moment could ever pass by without Me.

<<  Where your treasure is, there is your heart.

<<  How long My desire has kept watch for you! Ask that I be all in all to you...

<<  and that you be wholly Mine.

<<  You remember  how at Corte you told Me that you wanted it to be like that? Now is the time to translate your wish into your daily living for Me.

<<  If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart.

<<  You will never have to wait, for I shall already be there.

<<  You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it.

<<  Over and above all that you ask or think.

<<  If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence.

<<  I'm keeping such sweet joys for you, so be waiting in your secret shrine.

<<  I haven't many shrines like this on earth." (...)