Archbishop. Good Shepherd Sunday

COMMENT: Vocations

 

Good Shepherd Sunday, 11 May 2014

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Every day I pray for priests who may be reading his letter to you at Mass. I pray that he will be the priest that he wished to be, and that he promised to be on the day of his ordination.

The priests of this Archdiocese are some of the hardest-working and most courageous priests I have met in my years of priesthood. While abroad, I personally knew an archbishop, two priests, a brother and a sister who were murdered as they lived and worked quietly among their people for the love of Jesus Christ. They had a certain kind of courage, and one which I hope may not be needed in our country. But our own priests, here today, also need a certain kind of courage, to proclaim the beauty of the Gospel with a pure heart, in a world that is inclined to consider most of 'what we do in a negative and even hostile light.

That is why I am writing to you today, on Good Shepherd Sunday, to ask you to join me in praying for the priest you see before you, for the priests you don't see working in the other parishes around you, and for the priests who have yet to come.

Our Lord says that the "fields are white" with the harvest of those who could believe and be saved. There is so much to be done, here and now, to proclaim the Good News of salvation to each other and to those around us. But it can only be achieved if the Lord sends us priests. They don't need to be very many, but they need to be good.

And so I ask you today to 'join me and my priests in praying tor priests. Every day I set aside a short time to pray to Our Lady for them, and I invite you to do the same, even the simplest prayer said once a clay, every day. Pray for them and pray that the Lord will send us good priests to help them.

1 also invite you to pray that the Lord will send us good and holy religious men and women from our families, not from elsewhere; and that he will foster in the hearts of more mature men the calling to become permanent deacons in our diocese.

Thirdly, I ask for your ongoing financial support for those training for the priesthood in our seminaries. The training of seminarians incurs a significant cost to the diocese, which is why we have the second collection today, but it is a cost that is worth it. Your generosity today is essential to the quality of the preparation they receive.

Above all, the Church is nothing without the Eucharist, and we have far too few priests for our present needs. Very shortly it will become necessary to amalgamate parishes throughout Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, partly for lack of priests, and we all know it will not be easy. However, if we keep our gaze fixed upon the Eucharist, and upon the necessity of gathering around it to celebrate the risen Lord in our midst, then we will pray more earnestly for our present and future priests, and we will surely encourage our priests in their important task.

With the heartfelt good wishes to you for Easter, I willingly impart to you and your loved

ones my Blessing.

+ Leo Cushley

Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh 

National Vocations Commission. PASTORAL LETTER FOR GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, 11th May 2014

Christ has no body but yours,

no hands, no feet on earth but yours,

yours are the eyes with which he looks

 compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good:

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the

world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

yours are the eyes with which he looks

 compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Sr. Teresa of Avila

We are aJl members of the Body of Christ.

Are you being caJled by our Lord to service in his Church?

Call your Diocesan Director of Priestly Vocations, or visit www.priestsforscotland.org.uk

  

Bishop President of the National Vocations Commission.

PASTORAL LETTER FOR GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, 11th May 2014

My Dear People

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, named after the fact that traditionally today we have proclaimed to us the Gospel of the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd theme is a rich one throughout the Sacred Scriptures and none more so than when Jesus himself is spoken of as the Pastor. The adjective used in the Bible is 'kalon in Greek, which can mean good, faithful or beautiful. Personally I love the description of Jesus as the beautiful shepherd because beauty denotes attractiveness and perhaps that best sums up Jesus success in gathering together the 12. All the Gospel texts tell us that the fisher­disciples left their nets (some even say immediately) and follow him. Their call was a response to the Jesus whose personality had attracted them and they in turn were faithful in responding to him. True, often they would fail Jesus and not understand what he was trying to teach them. But their encounters with the Lord deepened their friendship with him and from being called in the fullness of time they were also sent. Having known him, having witnessed his deeds and his love-in-action he gradually formed them into Apostles, sent out to proclaim the Good Shepherd's truth and love to the world.

Today is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope Francis has this to say to us:

A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well-cultivated field of mutual love that becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life. No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love. Did not Jesus say:

''By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (In 13:35)?

In other words the Call of Jesus requires a response. Also, the call is not for me alone, but so that I may be sent by the Lord. The call to be a priest, for example, is not for the individual who is called but so that this man, chosen by Christ can be sent to his brothers and sisters in the Church to love and serve them: to 'wash their feet', as the Lord has taught us.

Christ, the Good Shepherd, never ceases to call. But the filters and barriers and attractions and life-styles that young hearts sometimes experience can drown out the call of Jesus. So listening is necessary and listening, not just with the ears, but also with the heart. Listening with our heart is what we call prayer. And it is prayer that brings us to encounter Jesus again and again; it is prayer that enables us to show our fidelity and love for the Lord.

The call to priesthood and religious life is one call among many. But it is never a call to selfishness and self-indulgence. If service and self-offering love are not at the heart of it, then it will not be a genuine vocation. To answer a genuine vocation also needs courage and generosity and perseverance.

Do you have the capacity to love and serve others? Do you have the courage to try to follow Jesus in this dedicated way? Could Jesus the Good Shepherd possibly be calling you to follow him? You won't know the possibility is there until you consider it.

Yours devotedly in Christ

+ Stephen Robson

+ Bishop Stephen Robson

Bishop President of the National Vocations Commission.

 

Easter 4th Sunday. Jn 10:10. ...have life and have it more abundantly

Nunraw liturgy

Sunday, 11 May 2014

Fourth Sunday of Easter - Year A

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10:1-10.

Jesus said: «Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 
...

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. 

Commentary of the day :   
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church 

Sermon 46, On the shepherds; CCL 41, 529 

" I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly"

“Thus says the Lord: 'I myself will come'”... This is what he has undoubtedly done and what he will yet do: “I myself am coming: I will seek out my sheep, I will tend them as a shepherd tends his flock.” The wicked shepherds took no care of them because they did not redeem their sheep with their blood... “My sheep hear my voice. I will seek out my sheep from the midst of the scattered sheep and will bring them out from all the places they were scattered on the day of clouds and darkness. No matter how hard it is to find them, I will find them... I will rescue my sheep from foreign lands, I will gather them and lead them back to their own homes; I will lead them to pasture on the mountains of Israel.” 

These “mountains of Israel” are the writers of holy Scripture. They are the pastures where you are to feed if you wish to do so safely. Savor everything you learn from them and reject everything outside. Don't go astray in the mists, listen to the shepherd's voice. Gather on the mountains of holy Scripture. There you will find true delight for your heart. There is nothing poisonous there, nothing dangerous; they are rich pastures... “I will lead them beside rivers, in the best places.” From those mountains we were just talking about, rivers of Gospel preaching pour down since “the voice [of the apostles] resounds to the ends of the earth” and all the ends of the earth provide pleasant and fertile pastures for the sheep. 

“I will cause them to feed in good pasture..., and their sheepfold will be there”, that is to say, there they will rest, there they will be able to say: “It is good to be here; true enough, it is perfectly clear, we have found the truth.” They will take their rest in the glory of God as in a sheepfold. 

(Biblical references : Ez 34,10-14; Ps 79[80],2-3; Jn 10,27; Ps 18[19],5)

Missale Cisterciciense reformatum

Eucharistic Rosary Hour

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

 The quarterly NEWSLETTER OF THE ROSARY containing inspirational reading for meditation has been pleased to to send by THE ROSARY APOSTOLATE.

Once again, the pamphlet of the 'Eucharistic Rosary Hour' comes to hand, inspiring.

The Month of May, Mary accompanies us in Paschal mystery of Easter-tide.

OUR LADY OF THE EUCHARIST

Our cover picture is of a Monstrance; that is one of those beautiful stands used in Catholic Churches to hold the Sacred Host for public veneration at the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

This particular design might be entitled: 

Mary, Handmaid of the Eucharist, 

as it shows Our Lady holding the golden circle 

in which the consecrated Host is to be enthroned. Over Our Lady hovers the dove-symbol 

of the Holy Spirit. 

The wings of the dove encircle the hands of Mary, 

as if to renew and extend to our time, 

the wonder of her original role in the mystery of the Incarnation.

Most certainly Our Lady at no stage exercises the priestly ministry of consecrating the bread and wine of the Holy Sacrifice. But Catholic tradition remembers with reverence how once she stood beneath the Cross of Calvary and entered in a unique manner into the saving death of Jesus, her Son.

Padre Pio remarked that at every Mass, he saw this blessed event renewed. "Mary" he says accompanied me to the Altar and stood beside me."

St. Louis Marie de Montfort and that great disciple of his, in modern times, --- Frank Duff -- tell us, that in every celebration of the Mass and in every Holy Communion, we should give a loving attention to the Blessed Mother. We should invite her to prepare us and lead us to the Altar. Likewise we should allow her to help us make fitting thanks­giving to Jesus for the gift of Himself,

THE ROSARY AFTER MASS OR BEFORE

One of the most fruitful ways of making this preparation and thanksgiving, is by the devout recitation of the Rosary; --- for properly understood, the Rosary is a method of communing with the mysteries of Jesus. Each mystery is a "well-spring of salvation" from which we drink of the Precious Blood of the Saviour. Each mystery, as we enter into it, with faith, hope and love is nothing less than a spiritual communion, preparing us to receive the Blessed Sacrament of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

.....

Our Lady's

Gold Rose

The Golden Rose is the official emblem of the Rosary Society. It was chosen because Mary herself wore a Golden Rose on her brow in Knock. At the Grotto of Lourdes she had a rose of the same colour on each of her two feet. Members are enrolled at any church where the Confratemity is established, and are bestowed with the Rose. 

Emmaus disciples Cliophas & Simeon

Below: William's attached pictures.

South Cloister sunset Silhouette

Leon Augustin Lhermitte - Supper at Emmaus

Emmaus disciples Cliophas & Simeon.

Dear William,

Thank you for reviewing  the 'research' of the Emmaus Sunday Blogspot. We are learning more of the Disciples walking to Emmaus.

I felt belonging at the Emmaus next door to Latroun Abbey when on Sabbatical months there. I recall the Chapel of Sts Cliophas & Simeon but did not have a photo for it. A friend, Peter, will again be at Latroun and hope he will bring  pictures. In the Refectory also, an Israeli artist made a special painting or etching, and again hoping for photo. 

The friend's suggestion to do Blogging makes, as always, the incisive COMMENT and very humorous. "That is my joy. I am a sea snail, living in my shell on the shores of time, emerging excitedly when a wave of thought sweeps over me!"  - beautiful!

Eastertide blessing.

fr. Donald 

Email from: William ...

Emmaus Sunday (2)

Dear Father Donald,

I love the sanctuary at Emmaus El Qubeibeh that you depict! A beautiful Eucharistic sculpture presiding over the Tabernacle and the Altar; and also the windows of the side Chapel in Latroun monastery, edit: El Qubeibeh. What wonderful memories you will treasure from your sabbatical!

Happy discovery in a little second hand bookshop, 'In search of the Holy Land', extracts from H V Morton's text 1937 with photographs 1963 by Rene Burri - the old classic that I love so much replete with glorious illustrations! (Hard back £4 - perhaps cheaper hard backed copies on Amazon, but when Providence places a treasure before you...)

Your research has been wide reaching on the two companions on the Emmaus road, intriguing! I am delighting in the family connections to St Joseph and of the family's apostles, which makes one feel that one can identify more directly with them. How enriching,  I shall note these down in the margin of my annotated study bible to 'picture' the relationships as I read the Scriptures.

I found a 'modern'-ish painting of the Emmaus encounter which, although I didn't use it, keeps returning to my mind's eye (attached).

... The photo collection that I have saved from your blog is such a joy for me to browse, 162 of the Brethren, 340 of the New Abbey  - my screen-saver is the second photo attached - it greets me whenever I return to my desk = return to Nunraw on retreat, the door / my heart opening to this view!

... Andy's suggestion of a blog for me... no, no! my delight is of receiving your blog posts and of responding, sharing and commenting to you in my delight! That is my joy. I am a sea snail, living in my shell on the shores of time, emerging excitedly when a wave of thought sweeps over me!

Thank you for the happiness you share with me.

With my love in the Risen Lord,

William

 Emmaus El Qubeibeh windows, disciples Cliophas & Simeon

Mane nobiscum

Latroun Abbey, St Cleophas
& companion (Simeon?), side Chapel

Chronicle and Blog

http://nunraw.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/emmaus-easter-monday.html

 Incidentally, St. Cleophas’s companion is not left anonymous in the Liturgy of the Holy Land, - The name of St. Simeon appears on the stage at this point in the prayers. When it is said to be apocryphal I begin to see that the word is not entirely negative. Taken in the technical sense of an Apocryphal source it can be understood among other respected traditions.   

http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/sbf/escurs/wwc/s.html

Simeon, the son of Cleopas, as the 'unnamed' disciple of Emmaus. Origen tells that Simeon was the youngest of the four sons of Cleopas, who was the uncle of Jesus. This Simeon succeeded his brother James the Less, after his death about 62. This 'unnamed' disciple of Emmaus (the companion of Cleopas) is represented as a bishop with stola in the right nave of the Franciscan shrine at Emmaus. His father, Cleopas, has his statue in the left nave. The Melkite liturgy mentions Simeon, relative of the Lord, on April 27. The Roman Martyrology has his feast on Feb 18.

http://taylormarshall.com/2012/04/st-cleophas-christs-uncle-and-also.html

St Cleophas: Christ’s Uncle and also the Father and Grandfather of 4 Apostles

by Dr Taylor Marshall

Christ, St Cleophas, and an Unnamed Disciple, Lk 24. Saint Luke records that there were two men on the road to Emmaus on that first Easter Sunday when Christ appeared to them and made Himself known in the “breaking of the bread.” One of them is identified as “Cleophas.” Here’s the Scripture from Luke 24:

13. And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus.

14. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15. And it came to pass that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also, drawing near, went with them.

16. But their eyes were held, that they should not know him.

17. And he said to them: What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk and are sad?

18. And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days? 

Who was this Cleophas? Cornelius a Lapide, drawing on St Jerome, reports that Cleophas was “the brother of S. Joseph the husband of the Blessed Virgin, the father of S. James the less, and S. Jude, and the grandfather of S. James the greater and S. John, who were the sons of Salome the daughter of Cleophas.”

Let’s break that down:

Cleophas was the brother of St Joseph and the brother-in-law of the Holy Mother of God (so says St Jerome).

Cleophas was the father of St James the Less, St Jude, and Mary Salome (one of the three Marys at the empty tomb).

Cleophas was the grandfather of St James the Greater and St John since Cleophas’ daughter Mary Salome was the mother of St James the Greater and St John.

This would make Cleophas the father of two Apostles and the grandfather of two Apostles. This would also entail that James the Less and Jude were the uncles of James the Greater and John.

The martyrology of the Catholic Church identifies the date of the martyrdom of Cleophas as September 25th. He was martyred at the hands of Jewish authorities in Judea.

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The other Emmaus..........

http://www.biblestudytools.com/classics/andrews-the-life-of-our-lord-upon-the-earth/part-vii/two-disciples-at-emmaus.html

The name of one of the disciples going to Emmaus was Cleopas, (Luke xxiv. 18.) Many identify him with Cleophas, Clopas, or Alphaeus, the husband of Mary. It is most probable that he was a different person. The name of the other disciple is not given. Lightfoot supposes him to have been Peter himself; and it was early a very common opinion that he was Luke, and that the Evangelist through modesty did not mention his own name. Wieseler, (431,) who makes Cleopas to have been Alphaeus, makes the other the apostle James, his son.

Emmaus El Qubeibeh - Custody of the Holy Land

www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=1889‎

The tradition accepted and followed by the Franciscans of the Holy Land ... It should be noted that the name of the site corresponds, but not the type and the ...

Emmaus El Qubeibeh-church-inside

The tradition accepted and followed by the Franciscans of the Holy Land identifies this sanctuary with the memory of the appearance of the Resurrected Lord to the two disciples of Emmaus, Cleopas and Simeon.



"Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" 
Luke 24:13-35