Rafael Arnaiz Baron

Raised to the Dignity of the Altar

RAFAEL ARNAIZ Y BARON writing

Publication: To Know How to Wait Outside End Cover. RAFAEL ARNAIZ Y BARON was born in Burgos on 9th April, 1911. After taking his degree in Oviedo he entered the School of Architecture in Madrid. On 15th January, 1934 he was admitted into the Trappist Monastery of San Isidro de Duefias, Venta de Baiios (Palencia), which owing to ill-health, he several times left and re-entered, dying therein the spring of 1938. His writing presents something unique in piety and in mysticism, bringing a beneficial disquiet to every kind of soul, Those who read this selection of Brother Rafael's thoughts compiled by a Cistercian, cannot fail to doubt the truth of these words. Today when the trend of religious thought among enquiring laymen is towards the Contemplative Orders, and is becoming increasingly influenced by the Cistercians, this book, with its emphasis on self-abnegation as an anti­dote to the prevalent world unrest, and "waiting on God" as necessary for the attainment of peace of soul, will bring a salutary feeling of divine discontent. Here is revealed, and with the utmost humility and simplicity, the intimate meditations of a young Spanish Trappist. By those who know nothing of the Spanish soul, the todo o nada of its mystics, To Know How to Wait may not be understood fully. Cynical critics may dismiss as masochistic the author's insistence on suffering for the love of God, or may describe his writing as indicative of some other pathological condition. But by the reader who humbles himself as Brother Rafael did, this little book will be recognized for what it is, the work of an enlightened man whose one desire is ultimate union with Christ. His sanctity was such that the Cause for his Beatification is proceeding. TO KNOW HOW TO WAIT by FRAY MA. RAFAEL ARNAIZ BARON Translated by MAIRIN MITCHELL SANDS & CO (PUBLISHERS) LTD LONDON 1964 TO KNOW HOW TO WAIT Selected thoughts some unpublished, of Fray Ma. Rafael Arnaiz Baron, Trappist Monk, chosen by a Cistercian Religious of the Abbey of San Isidro de Duefias, Venta de Bafios (Palencia). The cover design, and also the drawings in the book are the original work of Brother Rafael. CUM PERMISSU SUPERIORUM San Isidro de Duefias June 14, 1962. NIHIL OBSTAT: Joannes M. T. Barton, S.T.D., L.S.S. Censor deputatus. IMPRIMATUR: Patrieius Carey, Vie. Gen. Westmonasterii, die 11 Maii 1964 The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be tree from doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed. © Copyright by EDITORIAL EL PERPETUO SOCORRO Covarrubias '9. MADRID. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION PUBLISHED 1964 By SANDS & co (PUBLISHERS) LTD 15 KING ST., LONDON, W.C.2. 76 CAMBRIDGE ST., GLASGOW MADE AND PRINTED IN GREAT BRlTAIN BY NORTHUMBERLAND PRESS LIMITED GATESHEAD ON TYNE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS On various points concerning life in the Cistercian Order I have consulted the Rev. Fr. Adrian, O.C.R., Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, Coalville, Leicester, to whom my grateful acknowledgments are made. For his kindness in reading the proofs of this book I am much indebted to Rvdo. P. Mafia Patricio Cuerin, O.C.S.O., Abadia Cisterciense de Viaceli, Cobreces, Prov. Santander. Translator. CONTENTS Page Prologue IX Note XVI Translator's Note xvii I.God: Only God Suffices Il. Love of God Ill. Holy Abandonment IV. The Will of God V. Longing for the Beloved VI. Love of Jesus VII. The Eucharistic Life VIII. The Cross IX. To Partake of the Cross X. Mary XI. Apostleship XII. Virtues XIII. Sanctity XIV. Peace XV. The World XVI. Freedom XVII.Renunciation XVIII. Sickness XIX. Death xx Temptation XXI.Solitude XXII. Silence XXIII. Hope For Nothing From Men XXIV. Mortification XXV. Asceticism XXVI. Difficulties XXVII. Eternal Life XXVIII. The Brevity of All Things XXIX. Spain at War XXX. Intentions XXXI. La Trapa XXXII. Matins XXXIII. Vespers XXXIV. Christmas XXXV. New Year XXXVI. Epiphany XXXVII. Palm Sunday XXXVIII. Holy ThurSday XXXIX. Forgive Us, Lord Index PROLOGUE Rafael Arnaiz Baron was born in Burgos, on Palm Sunday, April 9th, 1911. His parents were devoutly catholic, and his early spiritual life was nurtured by his mother, later by the Jesuit Fathers. He reached adolescence without loss of virtue, and in his expres­sion reflected the purity of his life. On starting to study for his degree, a dangerous illness obliged him to keep to his bed for a long time. Soon after his recovery his parents took him to Zaragoza to give thanks to the Virgin del Pilar. "The Virgin". His mother writes, "engraved herself on his innocent soul with singular predilection, for, if it were so before, now, from the time of that visit to the Pilar, he showed himself ardently devoted to Mary:' Having taken his baccalaureate in I929, he com­menced his studies at the School of Architecture in Madrid, but neither the rather free life in the capital nor the frequent journeys to distant parts of the Peninsula, nor the meetings with students little given to reticence, affected his moral virtue. Nor did his life in . . .

MISSIO - Mission Sunday

Mass 29th Sunday Oct 18th 2009

Holy Gospel according to Mark 10: 42-45

"The Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve,"

Matthew

Mark

Matthew 20:24-28. 24 The ten others were angry with the two 25 brethren when they heard it; but Jesus called them to him, and said, You know that, among the Gentiles, those who bear rule lord it over them, and great men vaunt their 26 power over them; with you it must be otherwise; whoever would be a great man 27 among you, must be your servant, and whoever has a mind to be first among you, 28 must be your slave. So it is that the Son of Man did not come to have service done him; he came to serve others, and to give his life as a ransom for the lives of many.

Mark 10:41-45 41 The ten others grew indignant with James 42 and John when they heard of it. But Jesus called them to him, and said to them, You know that, among the Gentiles, those who claim to bear rule lord it over them, and those who are great among them make the 43 most of the power they have. With you it must be otherwise; whoever has a mind to 44 be great among you, must be your servant, and whoever has a mind to be first among 45 you, must be your slave. So it is that the Son of Man did not come to have service done him; he came to serve others, and to give his life as a ransom for the lives of many.

(R. Knox Harmony C. “Our Lord Outside of Galilee”).

MISSIO - Mission Sunday

Excerpt from Homily: Fr. Pat. McGuire SMA

National Director for the Propagation of the Faith

"The Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve".

Mission Sunday for me has become a time to "take stock" not just of what I do within Missio, but more importantly to re-examine my response to the Gospel as a priest and missionary. I confess that I am seldom happy with my reflection. There is always so very much more needing to be done. Thankfully the Good Lord sometimes gives us a glimpse of what He can achieve when we follow His lead.

One such blessed moment came in West Africa at Easter while visiting a leprosy settlement. The community leaders happily led me through their new school, rice mill, clinic and on to their pride and joy - the new church which had been funded mainly through help from Scotland. I had the honour of celebrating Holy Mass attended by the whole village. When I had almost completed the distribution of Holy Communion I was led to the backbenches of the Church where the most profoundly sick waited patiently for me.

One elderly lady held out her hand to receive the Lord. Wearing an old and dusty dress, clearly she had come straight from working on her farm. Her face was lined with the pain of her illness and of her efforts to feed herself and her grandchildren. Placing the precious host into her calloused hands where only stumps of fingers remained, I was moved to look into her face. As she held the Lord, I saw the lines on her face disappear. She radiated a smile that somehow reflected the purity of the bread, the very body of the Lord. She seemed to be transformed and, for the briefest moment, I felt what Jesus must have felt so often in his life and his words in today's Gospel took on a whole new reality for me - he came to serve.

Mission is His gift, we are but His instruments.

In the message to us for Mission Sunday the Holy Father says, "I wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelising all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church". Without a word one elderly lady reminded me of the value of that Mission. We feed the hungry, heal the sick, we uphold human dignity, but even more importantly we offer the supreme gift of Jesus himself, the servant and the "Throne of Grace".

. . .

Please remember the Mission of the Church in your daily prayer . . . In your name, Missio Scotland will continue to give glory to God through your service to His people,

Sincerely . . .

Rafael Arnaiz Baron Comment

Posted by ocd sister at 3:54 AM 2 comments: Anonymous said... I never heard of him, prior to today. He seemed to have been a very holy man. It seems he also had a great impact on many lives, both before and after his death. It goes to show how God can use a man who had such a short earthly life, to impact so many people. I pray that I could impact only one person in as positive a way, as St Rafael had. His life is an inspiration. Raphael October 12, 2009 3:28 PM ocd sister said... Welcome, Raphael. Brother Rafael is extremely popular in Spain. I wish his complete works were available in English. They are wonderful, full of love for Our Lady, so simple and at the same time so rich! Rafael loved holy mother St Teresa and St Therese. At times when I read him it's like reading any of our Carmelite Saints. So I claim him as "one of ours" that the Trappists were lucky to get. *grin* To any Cistercian reading this, I love Cistercian writings (not just St Bernard!). In case you're interested, I'm aware of one biography, in English, with a small selection of excerpts from his writing, but I don't have it. I'm also aware that his complete works are available in German. I shall try to translate more from his diary and letters (Spanish critical edition, MEC collection, Editorial Monte Carmelo). May your namesake, Br Rafael, intercede for you and grant you many graces and blessings! October 12, 2009 6:09 PM God Alone: A Spiritual Biography of Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron (Monastic Wisdom Series) by Gonzalo Maria Fernandez (English: try Amazon supply). Blog Salesians http://salesianity.blogspot.com/2008/11/trappist-monk-nears-canonization.html Sunday, October 11, 2009 Trappist Monk canonized today: St. Rafael Arnaiz Baron

http://louangedesagloire.blogspot.com/2009/10/canonization-of-br-rafael-arnaiz-ocso.html

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Canonization of Br Rafael Arnaiz, ocso

Rafael Arnáiz Barón was born on April 9, 1911, in Burgos (Spain), where he was also baptized and received confirmation. He began his studies in the Jesuit Fathers' college, receiving the Eucharist for the first time in 1919.

Gifted with a precocious intelligence, since the beginnings of his infancy he gave clear indications of his inclination towards the things of God. In these years he received the first visit of what would be his companion: the illness that would force him to interrupt his studies.

Once recovered from it, his father, in thanksgiving for what he considered the special intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, took him to Zaragoza towards the end of the summer of 1922, where he consecrated him to the Virgin of the Pilar.

His family moved to Oviedo, and there Rafael continued his studies, enrolling himself in the Architecture School in Madrid.

With a brilliant intelligence, Rafael was gifted with profound qualities for friendship. As he grew in age and developed his personality, his spiritual experience of christian life also grew.

In his well disposed heart, God wanted to inspire the invitation to a special consecration in the monastic life. Having made contact with the cistercian monastery of St Isidro de Dueñas, he felt stronly attracted by what he saw was the place that matched his intimate desires. He entered there on January 15, 1934.

God wanted to mysteriously try him with a difficult illness - insulin resistant diabetes - which forced him to abandon the monastery three times, where he would then return with a generous and faithful disposition to what he felt was the call of God.

Sanctified in the joyful fidelity to the monastic life and the loving acceptance of God's plans, his life was consumed early in the morning of April 26, 1938, after having just turned 27 years old. He was buried in the monastery's cemetery.

His fame of sanctity soon spread beyond the monastic walls. With the fragance of his life, his numerous writings continue to be diffused with great acceptance and for the benefit of all who have come in contact with him.

On August 20, 1989, His Holiness John Paul II, on occasion of the World Youth Day, proposed him as a model for all youth in Santiago de Compostela [Spain], declaring him Blessed on September 27, 1992, for the joy of the holy Church and as a pledge of graces for the entire people of God.

-- Adapted from Boletín Informativo del Beato Rafael and translated by ocdsister

-o-

"Today was a happy day for me. In holy communion I have promised the Lord not to abandon him in these days of his sacred Passion. Always with me, deep inside my heart, very close to the sufferings of your Corss. Jesus, do not let me withdraw myself from you. Sweet Jesus, how I love you!

As I approached to receive communion, I remembered the apostle John, whom you let rest on your chest during the Last Supper. Do I have to envy him? His virtues, yes, but not your love...

My Jesus, I am not worthy, you know that, and yet you let me rest beside your divine heart as the beloved disciple. I promise to love you much, like no one in the community, more than all together, and not abandon you in your pains and most sacred Passion.

Virgin Mary, help me to be faithful to my good Jesus."

-- From the writings of Brother Rafael, translated by ocd sister

Pope Benedict XVI canonized Bl Rafael today at St Peter's Square in the Vatican. Saint Brother Rafael, pray for us!