The Community
at
Nunraw
welcomes you to
The Abbatial Blessing
of
Dom Mark Caira
their new abbot
by
Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien
of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and
On this Feast of the Assumption
15 August 2009
Litany: Words and music by Bernadette Farrell
Abbatial Blessing
Outline of the Ceremony
M.C. Mgr. A. T. Chambers
Introductory Rites
Liturgy of the Word
Blessing of an Abbot
Presentation of the new abbot
Homily
Examination
Invitation to Prayer
Litany of the Saints
Prayer of Blessing
Presentation of the Rule of St Benedict
Presentation of the Ring and Staff
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Communion Rite
| Abbatial Blessing
Rite of Abbatial Blessing performed by Cardinal K. P. O’Brien Presentation of the Rule After the prayer of blessing the new abbot comes before the cardinal. The cardinal gives him the Rule of St Benedict, saying: Take this Rule which contains the tradition of holiness received from our spiritual fathers. As God gives you strength and human frailty allows use it to guide and sustain your brothers whom God has placed in your care. Presentation of the Ring The cardinal places the ring on the ring finger of the new abbot’s right hand saying: Take this ring, the seal of fidelity. Wear it as a symbol of constancy and maintain this monastic family in the bond of brotherly love. Presentation of the Crosier Then the cardinal hands him the pastoral staff, saying: Take this shepherd’s staff and show loving care for the brothers whom the Lord has entrusted to you; for he will demand an account of your stewardship. Lastly Fr Mark puts aside his staff and receives the sign of peace from the cardinal, all the abbots, abbesses and member of his monastic community. |
Abbatial Blessing
of
Dom Mark Caira
Assumption of Our Lady
15 August 2009
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What story of the anticipation of the marquee, (Tent of the Meeting)? The count-down from previous Nunraw Blog of the singing of the ‘Libera Eternal’ boys from The sequel to the anticipation and preparing contained increasing worry about the weather of growing rains and winds. Greater concern for the visiting guests lead to fear of the conditions. Night and early morning heavy rains caused local floods making traffic detours through Haddington and Garvald. At the regular time of the Office of Terce on Saturday, singing the familiar verses of Psalm 18, the prospects still looked the worst. The voices of the choir were reinforced by the presence of the monks gathered for the Abbatial Blessing. The breathing of the Chant blended with the pouring sound of showers falling and the sight of the bending branches bowed before the winds. Then, as if, the sound of silence was felt in hearts grasping the significance of the verses of
o There he has placed a tent for the sun/
o At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun
o There is nothing concealed from the burning heat.
Unchanging conditions continued. It was then time to have some sustenance, about 11.30, to prepare for the long ceremonies At mid-day, the showers ceased. By half twelve the sun showed through. The signs were at last set for course to clear the way and lifted the hearts of the welcoming the guest crowding in. Those words from Terce, “There he has placed a tent for the sun/, coming from his tent
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| St Maximilian Kolbe (1894 - 1941) We celebrated He is named among Martyrs of the Church. He died in the evil forces of Nazism. His life immediately makes us aware of the millions of Jews who died in the Shoah (the genocide of approximately six million). The Vigil Reading concludes sensitively and embracing all those so ‘martyred’ and all those who are faithful. “Maximilian Kolbe’s martyrdom is the least important thing about him. We are none of us likely to find ourselves in a position to emulate his sacrifice, and speculation as to the heroic way in which we would have behaved in his place is a pernicious waste of time. What is important is that he acted the way he did because of who he was – or, rather, because of who he had become. It is because of who he had become that we revere him as a saint: he would have been a saint (though perhaps not canonised) even if he had not been martyred. And that process of becoming is something we can all emulate. We can all become people for whom doing the right thing is obvious, natural, and easy. It requires no heroism, no special gifts: just perseverance, and prayer”. (From www.universal.com). |
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Hi, Andy, Count Down. It would more than enough to complete the Chronicle for this busy week The last evening, Thursday, was to receive delivery of the abbatical (as you dub it) booklet – “Abbatial Blessing of Dom Mark Caira ocso, Assumption of Our Lady, 15th August 2009”. . Marquee (tent of meeting) On the morning of Tuesday, the construction of a large marquee, (the Tent of Meeting), began, making sure to have it secure for Saturday. The men worked like ship-riggers putting up the rib cage of ropes. Then early Wednesday morning the TENT seemed to appear from nowhere. It was suggested that I get photographs of the sight of the ship/ark wrapped in its outside rigging.
Libera Eternal On the same evening, Wednesday, we had a very surprising diversion. In the Guest House, during the week, an unusual singing group stayed, rehearsed, and actually had professional recital at the Cathedral for Sunday The monks had not learned about the group. It did not take long to find out more. The boys come from several schools in "The singers of Libera who are aged seven to sixteen attend many different local schools in The boys enjoyed their monastic holiday in A last twist to the excitement. On the same evening (Wed), a coach arrived from Roof-top Viewing Come Thursday, more volunteers were to the fore in a major spring cleaning operation. For the rare occasion our helpers were welcome to the freedom of the cloister. For some roof top viewing, it was the opportunity to photograph the spectacle of the At that level a glance finds a different view of the cemetery.
Along the roof eves House Martins have their own homes. It is not easy to get close-ups but for the first time this House Martin was caught in focus. While on the roof top dander it was a place to find a more unusual view of the cemetery. The forecasts of weather are not encouraging. Regardless, this monastic "Tent Meeting" will make it all the more memorable. Yours Aye, Donald
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Rainbow at two levels
Nunraw Abbey - Rainbow Tuesday 4th August 2009.
4.30 P.M., weather of sunshine, showers and scudding clouds, front of the Abbey, at 160 metres and as soon as a camera to hand, it was a wondrous sight. The points of the bow of the Rainbow touched the ground in view of the trees. Adding to the unusual sight, above the trees belt, the parallel bow also completed the Rainbow.
Viewed from Abbey front.
I suggest the title of “MOTIVATIONS” for the little homily below.
After they had been miraculously fed by Jesus the crowd noticed that he had gone away and they went looking for him in
We might consider a lesson for us all in the fact that they noticed that Jesus wasn’t with them any longer. What a wonderful description that is of that moment of grace when we realise that Jesus is no longer in our lives the way he used to be; whether it be because of sin or because of negligence or indifference, we suddenly wake up to the fact that there is something wrong with our relationship with Jesus; a certain distance has come about between us and him, and that distance is very much our own fault. Such a moment is a moment of great grace. To realise the absence of Jesus is, in its own way, as real a grace as to realise his presence.
The Jews set off for his home town of
But when the Jews find him he is hardly welcoming! “You are seeking me for the wrong reasons”, he tells them. “You are seeking me because you got free bread to fill your bellies.” Again the same can so often be said of us. We seek out Jesus when we need something: a job; a healing; an exam; a thousand and one other things of our own personal earthly needs. Certainly it is good to pray for our earthly needs, our “daily bread”, but Jesus wants us above all to seek him for his own sake; for who he is to us; for what we are to him. This is the kind of seeking that Jesus wishes to stir up in our hearts.
Now Jesus has built into the life of his people a wonderful means of ensuring that his people seek him in this very best of ways. This wonderful means is, of course, the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Not only does this wonderful Sacrament ensure that our motives are of the very best when we approach him but it also deepens and strengthens and purifies these motives; the motives of faith, of love, and of wonder.
