Sr. Denise Memorial

Late Advent Day 23^rd Dec. O Emmanuel.

Mass Community Memorial of Sr. Denise OCSO Clarté-Dieu is the name of the Abbey where Sr Denise has been assassinated by bandits/robbers Clarté-Dieu; the Clear God (if it may be called) is a lovely title, ‘Clear God’. And the words addressed by the Abbess at the Cathedral are in fact simple and clear; just taking some of her lines: v She died on 7 December, 2009. v It was also she who woke us up in the morning. v living each day as if she knew it was her last. v It is a ripe fruit that she harvested. v The month of December was very dear to Sr. Denise and she said that she would die in December. v it was thanks to her cries and to the noise of the shots that the rest of the community reached safety. Otherwise, more would have died. v Let us pray to the Lord that the blood that has been shed may enrich the Church and help it to bear good fruit. v May Our Lady of Peace and Our Lady of la Clarté-Dieu, Virgin most pure, guard us with her protection. As we celebrate this Mass we pray for her soul and thank God for her life sacrifice and we are inspired by her life to sacrifice and offer our lives.

La Clarté-Dieu Abbey

December 7, 2009 : Sister Denise Kahambu Muhayirwa was born in 1964 in Kiluvu (D.R. Congo). She entered La Clarté-Dieu in 1991 and made her solemn profession in 1999. Sister was 44 years old and had been in monastic vows for 15 years when the Lord called her. She deceased victim of the violence. (ocso.org).

Assassination Cistercian Sister Congo

Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance
(Trappists) ocso org

La Clarté-Dieu (Congo

17 December. On 13 December a second attack on La Clarté-Dieu (Murhesa, Dem.Rep.CONGO), was stopped by the police.

7 December, 2009. After dark three armed men entered the compound of La Clarté-Dieu. Sr. Denise Kahambu Muhayirwa (44), the guestmistress, attempted to flee and was shot dead. The attackers escaped. Two nights earlier in a nearby parish a priest was killed in similar circumstances. Please pray for Sr Denise, for the community of la Clarté-Dieu, for her bereaved family and for the troubled and strife-ridden region.

THE LIFE OF OUR SISTER DENISE KAHAMBU December 9, 2009 MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL OF BUKAVU Your Excellency Monsignor Francis Xavier Maroy, Archbishop of Bukavu, Dear priests and religious consecrated to the Lord, Dear parents and family of Sr. Denise, Dear brothers and sisters who have come to support us and to accompany our Sister, On behalf of the entire community of the monastery of Our Lady of Clarté-Dieu, I express my profound gratitude for the sympathy you have shown on this mysterious day of the Pasch of our sister. The death of Sr. Denise KAHAMBU falls in the same category as that of Fr. Daniel whom we just buried, and of all the other victims of human wickedness in our region, known or unknown. Our Sister was called Denise KAHAMBU MUHAYIRWA. She was born 12 December, 1964, in Kiluvu, in the diocese of Butembo-Beni. She entered the monastery on 15 December 1991. She made her temporary profession on 8 December, 1994, and solemn profession on 23 December, 1999. She died on 7 December, 2009. She excercised successively the following jobs in our community: The service of assistance in the guest house, gardiner, portress responsible for the reception of the destitute), sub-mistress, responsibility for the farm, chantress, and the job of welcoming people as portress. It was in this last service that she died. It was also she who woke us up in the morning. She exercised her responsibilities with energy and courage, and we saw in her a great gift of discretion. Recently she was quite busy cooking quantities of food for the poor, living each day as if she knew it was her last. It is a ripe fruit that she harvested. The month of December was very dear to Sr. Denise and she said that she would die in December. She died around 8 PM, after celebrating with the community the First Vespers of the Immaculate Conception, and after singing the Salve Regina at the evening service, Compline. It was after this chanting of the Salve that she headed to her work of clearing the tables where she had served our guests who had arrived from Goma to participate in the Clothing of their daughters, two postulants who were to begin their novitiate on 8 December. It was around 7:30 PM, on leaving Compline, that we became aware of the presence of undesirable guests in the courtyard. Those who shot her did not speak to her, they did not ask any questions nor demand money. They pursued her as she ran, crying out, trying to escape them, and they fired a shot that went through her thigh. She fell to the ground. They also fired at the visitors, but did not hit them. The noise alerted the whole community: each one fled as she could, and we all found ourselves in the dormitory. The assailants immediately came to the doors of the dormitory, but we did not open them, and we had no way to get out to help our sister who continued to bleed. After a few minutes she died. The death of Sr. Denise first of all allowed our visitors to save their lives. Second, it was thanks to her cries and to the noise of the shots that the rest of the community reached safety. Otherwise, more would have died. So it is with sorrow but also with this awareness that we celebrate this event. In this, we thank our sister who gave her life for all the community, and I invite the Trappist sisters to rise and chant the Te Deum. It would be good for the choir to accompany us as well. And afterward I will continue. Finally, this death is in solidarity with many other persons, known and unknown, innocent victims of the massacres in our midst. We thank again each and every one for the eloquent witness of your concern and your love for our sister and our community. Let us pray to the Lord that the blood that has been shed may enrich the Church and help it to bear good fruit. May Our Lady of Peace and Our Lady of la Clarté-Dieu, Virgin most pure, guard us with her protection. Bukavu, 9 December 2009 Sr Jeanne Lubingo, superior

Adam of Perseigne Cistercian

Tuesday 22^nd Mass

Fr. Thomas introduced the community Mass and said the Gospel yesterday was the whole of the words of Elizabeth to Mary (Lk 1: 39-45). This morning Gospel is the whole of the response of Mary to Elizabeth (1: 46-56), the Magnificat.

The Footnote of the Jerusalem Bible Mary’s canticle is reminiscent of Hannah’s, 1S 2:1-10, and of many other OT passages.

Magnificat Missalette Tues 22^nd selected another Cistercian writer is used; Adam of Perseigne

TUESDAY 22nd

MEDITATION OF THE DAY

Mary's Magnificat

by Adam of Perseigne

The soul of Mary magnifies the Lord because she herself is magnified by the Lord. For unless she were first magnified by the Lord, Mary's soul could not magnify the Lord. Therefore she magnifies him by whom she is magnified, magnifies him not only by the speech of her lips, not only by the holiness of her body, but by the unequaled quality of her love ...

How do you magnify him? Do you make greater him whose magnificence has no end? Great is the Lord, says the Psalmist, and greatly to be praised. Great he is, and so great that his greatness has neither comparison nor measure. How then do you magnify one whom you cannot from small make great nor from great greater? But you magnify because you praise, you magnify because amid the darkness of the world, being brighter than the sun, lovelier than the moon, more fragrant than the rose, whiter than snow, you spread abroad the splendor of the knowledge of God. You magnify him therefore not by increasing his surpassing greatness but by bringing the unknown radiance of the true deity to the world's darkness ...

What does your ‘soul magnifies the Lord’ says mean but this: that you are so magnified by him that you gain magnificently the fullness of grace and, by your virtues glorious and surpassing all others, you reach out to the magnificence of a unique glory. You reach out, I say, because you are drenched with all the dew of the Holy Spirit, you are inundated wholly with heavenly unction, so that after the fashion of a skin that is anointed your soul stretches so far through its longing for love that it reaches the very word of God.

For you are Moses' basket, you are the vessel containing the Word, you are the storehouse of the new wine by which the soberness of believers becomes inebriated. You are the Mother of God, the limit set to sin, by whom men rise from the depths of vice and reach the delights of angels. (The Letters of Adam of Perseigne, Letter II;13-15)

Adam of Perseigne (+ c. 1221) Abbot of the Cistercian monastery at Perseigne, Adam was a 'director of souls' in the late twelfth century. His final choice of the Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny may have been guided in large part by his great personal devotion to the infant Jesus and to His Mother, the patroness of the Cistercian Order. Marian devotion had grown rapidly in the twelfth century and was echoed in secular life by the increasing chivalric regard for ladies which found its greatest expression at the court of Champagne. In several of his letters Adam speaks tenderly of the virtues and graces of Saint Mary, giving eloquent voice to the popular love and admiration which swept across western Europe in the twelfth century.

John of Ford Cistercian

Magnificat Missalette ( Canada ) Monday 21 December

I like to use Readings from Cistercian writers on occasion. The Reading from the Missalette this morning seemed incomprehensible. No wonder, the prose is difficult. It is very crowded on the page as one it appeared in the manuscript of ‘The Song of Songs’ by John of Ford.

In fact it was composed in song or poetry and makes more sense in computer type setting.

A clue also is in the margins of the book, (On Song of Songs , Kalamazoo Michigan 1977, Sermon 7:2), inserting the Scripture references.

The powerful significance of the Sermons as the Lectio Divina of the monks and listening to the Scriptural knit-work by John of Ford.

“In spite of a certain amplitude or even prolixity, many of these sermons are surely equal to anything written by Guerric of Igny or Gilbert of Hoyland. …It would be difficult to find its match anything written by, say, Richard Rolle among the English Mystics”. (Fr. Hillary Costello, Introduction, John of Ford).

Even so the short passage takes some long pondering and it was helpful to find the following commentary.

“The Song of Songs is a collection of love poems, for the most part in the form of songs addressed by a man to a woman, and by a woman to a man. In some translations, the book is called The song of Solomon, because it is attributed to Solomon in the Hebrew. These songs have often been interpreted as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. (The holy Bible on introduction of the book of song of songs) Perhaps the most important outcome for readers of this book would be to draw them into their own meditation on the song of songs.

In fact, in his welcome, I suggests that the reading allow himself or herself to be transported beyond the words, into an experience with God. I keep my text short so as not to lead you too far away from the more enticing and expressive drawings. Do not hesitate to record your own feelings, thoughts and inspirations. But do not get caught up in words. They are products of our very limited minds. Rather, let the drawings draw and the sacred text invite you to realms beyond words, "what is the song of songs, this greatest song of all songs is about, spiritual commentary on the song of songs is meant not so much to be an academic commentary as it is an aid to contemplation.”

Br. Damian Junior. (Blog: In Persona Christi Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam)

The visual perspective of John of Ford suggests that modern presentation of verse, colour, graphics, could transform the text, as educators now using the persuasive technology of PowerPoint, PPT.

Magnificat Missalette (Canada) Monday 21 December MEDITATION OF THE DAY John of Ford The Compassion of the Visitation Whoever is a bride of the Lord, whoever is a mother of Jesus, groans in sympathy with anyone groaning, and gives birth with her, and stands by her in her delivery. And when at last she has given birth, she ardently rejoices with her because a child is born into the world. It seems to her that she herself brought forth the child, and she cries out: 'To us a child is born, to us a son is given!" (Is 9:6) Surely, in days gone by, Mary was deeply moved by feelings like this when she went up with haste into the hills and from the sanctuary of God, her own heart, greeted Elizabeth, who was pregnant by God's grace. (Cf. Lk 1:39) Day uttered speech to day. (Ps 19:2 She met her with blessings of sweetness, (Cf. Ps 21:4) she took on the duty of a midwife and she turned the pangs of labor to a fruitful joy. For from that utterance of hers, fragrant beyond telling, it came about that John as well as Elizabeth drew in the inestimable sweetness of the perfume. What a good and careful midwife, who forestalled with such inexpressible happiness the approaching birth pangs of the mother and in addition the tears of the expectant baby as well! It was not only the womb of Elizabeth that she satisfied, but also the fruit of her womb. It was surely Jesus who opened her hand and filled everything with goodness, (Cf. Ps 104:28) baptizing mother and son in the Holy Spirit. JOHN OF FORD John of Ford+ 1214) was the abbot of a Cistercian

Venerable Mary Ward

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: father patrick . . .

Sent: Sat, December 19, 2009 5:40:14 PM

Subject: Venerable (Sister) Mary Ward

Greetings and Peace in the Lord:

I rejoice today with the church in the UK.

Today it has been announced by the Holy See

that Mary Ward has been given the title "Venerable"

and may be beatified with the approval of a miracle.

Thanks be to God.

God Bless her followers and their wonderful works for the Lord.

Sincerely in the Lord

Father Patrick

Venerable Mary Ward

12/19/2009 - 7:14 AM PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Catholic PRWire

Joint statement from the Congregation of Jesus and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Cause for the Canonization of Mary Ward

THE VENERABLE MARY WARD

LONDON, GB (December 19, 2009) - On 19th December 2009 His Holiness Benedict XVI formally promulgated the Decree recognising the ‘heroic virtue’ demonstrated by Mary Ward and thereby conferring on her the title ‘Venerable’. Her cause will now go forward to the next stage in the process towards beatification and eventual canonization.

Mary Ward (1585-1645) was an Englishwoman from Yorkshire who felt called by God to found a congregation of apostolic, non-enclosed religious women along the model of the Society of Jesus. She spent many years in Rome petitioning the Pope to recognise her new congregation, but in 1631 her order was suppressed and Mary Ward herself accused of heresy. No charges were ever brought but she remained under the shadow of the Inquisition in Rome and her congregation was disbanded. Mary Ward’s ideal of an active congregation of religious women serving the needs of the Church was too advanced for her time. She suffered at the hands of authorities who in different circumstances might have recognised the need for such a congregation. Only in 1877 was her congregation recognised by the Church and only in 1909 was Mary Ward allowed to be named as foundress.

The cause for Mary Ward’s canonization was opened in 1929. The historical research was begun by Fr Grisar SJ and completed by Sr Immolata Wetter CJ accompanied by the Postulator Fr Paul Molinari SJ and the Relator Fr Peter Gumpel SJ. This was accepted by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 1995. The theologians completed their investigation in May 2009 and recommended unanimously that Mary Ward demonstrated ‘heroic virtue’ and that her cause should go forward. This was confirmed by the commission of Cardinals and Bishops in November 2009 and subsequently by the Pope.

Mary Ward’s foundation exists today worldwide under the names Congregation of Jesus (Congregatio Jesu) and Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loretos) with about 3,000 members. The sisters are in forty-four countries across five continents.

Holy Spirit above Gabriel

The Annuciation
by Zanobi Strozzi (1412-1468)
Among the cards sent as Christmas Greetings is the National Gallery, London, reproduction. The Online version is closer-up. It is significant to see more clearly "the dove of the Holy Spirit above Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38).

COMMENT:
Sent: Sun, December 20, 2009 9:22:07 AM
Subject: Holy Spirit above Gabriel

I didn't plan to start the day with St Leo, and that is what I love about your blog and the e:mail.
Out of the blue there comes a wee reminder that God is ever present and waiting on our listening hearts.
Thanks.
A-M

Leo on “the genealogy of Jesus”

The genealogy of Jesus” ADVENT - 18 December First Reading From the book of the prophet Isaiah (40:12-18.21-31) Romans 11:34; Isaiah 40:14 Second Reading From a letter by Saint Leo the Great (Ep. 31, 2-3: PL 54, 791-793) In this passage Leo shows the importance of the genealogy of Jesus. It assures us that our Lord had a true human nature, without which his victory over Satan would have been of no profit to us. Because of the union in Christ of the divine and human natures, we too may now be born again through the same Spirit by whom he was conceived. To speak of our Lord, the son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as true and perfect man is of no value to us if we do not believe that he is descended from the line of ancestors set out in the Gospel. Matthew's gospel begins by setting out the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham, and then traces his human descent by bringing his ancestral line down to his mother's husband, Joseph. On the other hand, Luke traces his parentage backward step by step to the actual father of the human race, to show that both the first and last Adam share the same nature. No doubt the Son of God in his omnipotence could have taught and sanctified men and women by appearing to them in a semblance of human form as he did to the patriarchs and prophets, when for instance he engaged in a wrestling contest or entered into conversation with them, or when he accepted their hospitality and even ate the food they set before him. But these appearances were only types, signs that mysteriously foretold the coming of the one who would take a true human nature from the stock of the patriarchs who had gone before him. No mere figure, then, fulfilled the mystery of our reconciliation with God, ordained from all eternity. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon the Virgin nor had the power of the Most High overshadowed her, so that within her spotless womb Wisdom might build itself a house and the Word become flesh. The divine nature and the nature of a servant were to be united in one person so that the Creator of time might be born in time, and he through whom all things were made might be brought forth in their midst. For if the new man, by being made in the likeness of sinful humanity, had not taken on himself our fallen nature, if he who was one in substance with the Father had not stooped to share the substance of his mother, and being alone free from sin, united our nature to his, the whole human race would still have been held captive under the dominion of Satan. The conqueror's victory would have profited us nothing if the battle had been fought outside our human condition. But through this wonderful blending the mystery of new birth shone upon us, so that through the same Spirit by whom Christ was conceived and brought forth we too might be born again by a spiritual birth; and in consequence the evangelist declares believers to have been born not of blood, nor of the desire of the flesh, nor of the will of human beings, but of God.

Magnificat O Antiphons (Divine Office)

----- Forwarded Message ---- From: William . . . Sent: Wed, December 16, 2009 Subject: O Antiphons! Dear Father Donald, Thank you for the superb explanation of the tradition of the "O Antiphons". Quite enthralling to consider that since c.500 they have been recorded, and in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome since the 8th century. What a heritage for us! I am quite intrigued by the ero cras formation, that is magnificent! Inspired by the tradition that unfold, I have typed them out in their modern idiom from the Divine Office so that I can delight in them across each day, to be able to relish them all the more (oh! how little we see as we walk with eyes that hasten before our racing minds!), for even as I typed them out, meanings that lay hidden at a single reading opened up for me. I show them below. Thank you sevenfold! In Our Lord, William. Magnificat O Antiphons (Divine Office) 17 December - O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth. 18 December - O Adonai (an ancient name of God) and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power. 19 December - O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay. 20 December - O key of David and sceptre of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. 21 December - O Rising Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. 22 December - O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay. 23 December - O Immanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Saviour. O come and save us, Lord, our God. ... leading to: Christmas Eve - When the sun rises in the heavens you will see the king of kings. He comes forth from the Father like a bridegroom coming in splendour from his wedding chamber. Christmas Day - Today Christ is born, today the Saviour has appeared; today the angels sing on earth, the archangels rejoice; today upright men shout out for joy: Glory be to God on high, alleluia.

Late Advent Day 17th O Wisdom

Of active interest - the Advent Workshop

Catholic Culture : Advent : Workshop : Advent - O Antiphons ...

Click on symbols to see the day. O WISDOM. December 17. Symbols: All-Seeing Eye and the Lamp ... During the late Renaissance, the eye was pictured in a triangle ...

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/seasons/advent/O_1.cfm

Click on symbols to see the day.

O WISDOM December 17 Symbols: All-Seeing Eye and the Lamp Come, and teach us the way of prudence. O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly, Come, and teach us the way of prudence. O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. The "all-seeing eye" represents the all-knowing and ever-present God. During the late Renaissance, the eye was pictured in a triangle with rays of light to represent the infinite holiness of the Trinity. The lamp is a symbol of wisdom taken from the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25. Recommended Readings: Proverbs 8:1-12