Tuesday 5 July 2011

The connection between verses 25 and 27 (of Mt 11) now enables us to see their unity of will.


Sunday 3 July 2011 Matthew 11:25-30
The Sunday riveting pericope Matt 11:25-30 resounded in our hearts. Any  commentaries are found lacking. 
Pastoral ruminations serve their purpose. The incisive and scriptural roots search for more. 
To the rescue again is Benedict xvi; as in Jesus of Nazareth, Part 1 'The Son' pp.355-344.

Let us return to the Jubelruf. The equality in being that we saw expressed in verses 25 and 27 (of Mt 11) as oneness in will, and in knowledge is now linked in the first half of verse 27 with Jesus' universal mission and so with the history of the world: "All things have been delivereto mbmy Father.” When we consider the Synoptic Jubelruj in its full depth, what we find is that it actually already contains the entire Johannine theology of the Son. There too, Sonship is presented as mutual knowing and as oneness in willing. There too, the Father is presented as the Giver who has delivered "everything" to the Son, and in so doing has made him the Son, equato himself"All thais minis thine, and all that is thinimine" (Jn 17:10). And there too, this fatherly giving then extends into the creation, into the "world": "Goso loved the world that he gave his only Son"  (Jn 3:16).


POPE BENEDICT XVI   JESUS OF NAZARETH Part I, pp 335-345
THE SON
At the beginning of this chapter, we saw briefly that the two titles “Son of God” and "Son" (without further qualification) need to be distinguished; their origin and significance are quite different, even though the two meanings overlapped and blended together as the Christian faith took shape. Since I have already dealt quite extensively with the whole question in my Introduction to Christianity, I offer only a brief summary here as an analysis of the term "Son of God.”
The term “Son of God” derives from the political theology of the ancient Near East. In both Egypt and Babylon the king was given the title "son of God"; his ritual accession to the throne was considered to be his "begetting" as the Son of God, which the Egyptians may really have understood in the sense of a mysterious origination from God, while the Babylonians apparently viewed it more soberly as a juridical act, a divine adoption. Israel took over these ideas in two
335
ways, even as Israel's faith reshaped them. Moses received from God himself the commission to say to Pharaoh: "Thus says YHWH, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, 'Let my son go that he may serve me'" (Ex 4:22f.). The nations are God's great family, but Israel is the "firstborn son," and as such, belongs to God in a special way, with all that firstborn status means in the ancient Middle East. With the consolidation of the Davidic kingship, the royal ideology of the ancient Near East was transferred to the king on Mount Zion.
The discourse in which Nathan prophesies to David the promise that his house will endure forever includes the following: "I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his king­dom .... I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him ... but I will not take my steadfast love from him" (2 Sam 7:I2ff.; see Ps 89:27f., 37f.). These words then become the basis for the ritual installation of the kings of Israel, a ritual that we encounter in Psalm 2:7f.: "I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, 'You are my son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession:"
Three things are evident here. Israel's privileged status as God's firstborn son is personified in the king; he embodies the dignity of Israel in person. Secondly, this means that the ancient royal ideology, the myth of divine begetting, is discarded and replaced by the theology of election. "Begetting" consists in election; in today's enthronement of the king, we see a summary expression of God's act of election, in which Israel and the king who embodies it become God's "son:'
336
Thirdly, however, it becomes apparent that the promise of dominion over the nations-a promise taken over from the great kings of the East-is out of all proportion to the actual reality of the king on Mount Zion.

Sunday 3 July 2011

COMMENT Of Men and Gods,


July High Summer

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: WILLIAM  ...
To: Fr Donald  ...
Sent: Sun, 3 July, 2011 10:13:09
Subject: Re: [Blog] Cistercian monks in Algeria

Dear Father Donald,
 
Anne Marie has come upon the very best article written on the portrayal of the film, Of Men and Gods, which goes to the heart of the meaning of the sacrifice made by your Brethren in Algeria. This closing passage is memorable:
 
The monks’ willingness to die for their faith, firm in the knowledge that it was not true death, but merely physical death, seems anything but a tragedy. This closely parallels Christ’s death, and our view of Christ’s death informs how we see the monks’ murder. Unjustly executed before his time, his death could easily be seen as a tragedy. However, it is only through his death that the Men of the monks, fallible, imperfect, sinful people that they are, can become like Gods, perfect and no longer tainted by the evil things they once did.

Please thank Anne Marie - this is an article to archive that I may ever reflect upon it.
 
. . . in Our Lord,
William 

You Tube Defending the Eucharist



Browse Search

Defending the Eucharist with Steve Ray- Part 1   

Comments (EhJayJC)  

www.catholic-convert.com   

  • Steve Ray

Saturday 2 July 2011

Cistercian monks in Algeria



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Anne Marie  . . .
To: Donald   . . .
Sent: Fri, 1 July, 2011 22:35:39
Subject: Fwd: CultureWatch Update: 1 July 2011


I thought you would like the article on Of Gods and men.
There are more links in the article.

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:
Culturewatch

CultureWatch Update - 1 July 2011

To: anne marie milwain (Damaris Username: amilwain)
This email is only sent to Damaris members who have opted to receive CultureWatch Update. Login to manage the emails you receive from us.
Has this email been forwarded to you? Access all the latest CultureWatch resources by joining the Damaris internet community for free. It entitles you to future special offers on some of our other resources.

In CultureWatch Update this week:

  1. 127 Hours
  2. Of Gods and Men
  3. John Galliano
  4. Culturewatch Podcasts
For other recent additions to CultureWatch, see the What's New page, or see what's new onother Damaris websites.
Follow us on Twitter

Welcome to this week's Culturewatch update, where we have three new articles for you.
  • The first, written by Richard Blakely before he finished his internship, looks at the Oscar-nominated thriller 127 Hours. Visceral, inventive, and with a gruesome climax that's not easy to sit through, the film explores the human will to survive. What is it that really makes life worth living?
  • New culturewatch intern Hannah Bottom has written about Of Gods and Men, a critically-acclaimed independent film which focuses on a group of Cistercian monks in Algeria. When violence rocks the country, they face a decision: will they stay or leave? Hannah's article looks into questions of community and sacrifice.
  • Finally, we have something a bit different - an article by Stuart Goddard on disgraced fashion designer John Galliano, who was suspended from Dior in February for alleged xenophobic outbursts.

In our usual podcasts, you can hear me and Tony talking about the latest DVD and cinema releases, from tearjerking dramaNever Let Me Go to noisy sci-fi sequel Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Don't forget that The First Grader is still in cinemas, and Damaris' free resources are still available to help you think through the issues it raises. 

Sophie Lister

Of Gods and Men - An article by Hannah Bottom on the drama about Cisterian monks in Algeria.

Death and freedom

Author: Hannah Bottom 
Keywords: Life, death, martyrdom, sacrifice, community, religion, brotherhood
Film title: Des Hommes et des Dieux (Of Gods And Men)
Director: Xavier Beauvois
Screenplay: Etienne Comar, Xavier Beauvois
Starring: Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin, Phillippe Laudenbach
Distributor: Artificial Eye (UK); Sony Pictures Classics (USA)
Cinema Release Date: 3 December 2010 (UK); 25 February 2011 (USA)
Certificate: R (USA); 15 (UK) Contains infrequent strong violence

Click here to buy Of Gods and Men from Amazon.co.uk
Buy Of Gods and Men from Amazon.co.uk or from Amazon.com

Note: This article contains plot spoilers.
Xavier Beauvois’s film Of Gods and Men is, perhaps, embodied by one moment. Having adjusted the handle of the gun on his shoulder, the leader of a group of Islamic extremists thrusts his hand out in front of the prior of a Cistercian monastery. It hangs, solidly, under the electric light. Christian, the prior, looks from the hand to the man’s face, returning his gaze to the hand. And takes it. It is just a handshake, yet that moment of contact between these two worlds demonstrates something of the very core of this captivating film.
  • Set in a beautifully hazy landscape in North Africa, the film weaves its way around the humble lives of Cistercian monks as they enact their daily routine of prayer, meditation, singing and working. Led by Christian (Lambert Wilson), they plough the land, wash-up, make and sell honey. And whilst their religion may distinguish them from the locals, they are, in fact, an integral part of the community. Luc (Michael Lonsdale), the doctor, offers medical treatment, relationship advice and clothing; all the monks are invited to a local boy’s circumcision party, and several attend. It is a quiet, simple existence. The film stunningly amplifies this by silence: the only sound is often the gentle hum of people around the monks, or the bristling and brushing of objects as they work. Encircling them, however, is political turmoil. Loosely based on events in Algeria during the 1990s, radical Islamist groups are fighting to prise power from the government in an increasingly bloody war.[1] When they order all foreigners to leave the country, they make their threat frighteningly clear by killing a group of Catholic Croatian workers. The Cistercian Monks are faced with a decision: to remain or leave. It is the question on which the film hangs, a silent threat that presses in as it overshadows and begins to stifle the monks’ lives. However, whilst this provides the essential crux of the plot, in Of Gods and Men this simple question of physical movement is translated into an eloquent questioning of faith, humanity and community.     

Friday 1 July 2011

Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Memorial



Flower? 2 July 2011
I need to ask Mark to name the flower.  

Dear William,
Thank you.
A week of diversion.
This morning we ferried three of our sisters to airport and bus station after their week of sojourn with Nivard and myself at Nunraw. 
Fr. Nivard will have the Mass tomorrow.
This Vigil Lesson is from Bl. Elizabeth of Trinity.
Fr. Hugh is carrying the 'flu half the community suffers, but Hugh is bravely persevering his pilgrimage to the Medjgorgi (?) Retreart at Dalmalay (Oban). He looks after to Night Office Lessons.
This one from DGO
God bless.
Donald

Saturday, 02 July 2011
The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Memorial
Commentary of the day : 
Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906), Carmelite
Last retreat, 15th day (©Institute of Carmelite Studies) 
« Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart» (Lk 2,19)
       "The Virgin kept all these things in her heart." Her whole history can be summed up in these few words! It was within her heart that she lived, and at such a depth that no human eye can follow her. When I read in the Gospel "that Mary set out in haste to the hill country of Judea" (Lk 1,39) to perform her loving service for her cousin Elizabeth, I imagine her passing by so beautiful, so calm and so majestic, so absorbed in recollection of the Word of God within her. Like Him, her prayer was always this: «...Here I am" Who? ''The handmaid of the Lord," (Lk 1,38) the lowliest of His creatures: she, His Mother! Her humility was so real for she was always forgetful, unaware, freed from self. And she could sing: "The Mighty One has done great things for me, from now on all peoples will call me blessed" (Lk 1,49.48).

This Queen of virgins is also Queen of martyrs; but again it was in her heart that the sword pierced, for with her everything took place withinl ... Oh! How beautiful she is to contemplate during her long martyrdom, so serene, enveloped in a kind of majesty that radiates both strength and gentleness! She learned from the Word Himself how those must suffer whom the Father has chosen as victims, those whom He has decided to associate with Himself in the great work of redemption, those whom He "has foreknown and predestined to be conformed to His Christ," (Rom 8,29) crucified by love. She is there at the foot of the Cross, standing, full of strength and courage.







----- Forwarded Message ----
From: WILLIAM   . . .
To: Donald   . . .
Sent: Fri, 1 July, 2011 11:08:53
Subject: Sacred Heart


Dear Father Donald,
Just to share with you a photo of a little framed painted-print that I treasure.
From sheltering in the wounds of Christ during Pascal time, it is a joy following the Easter celebrations to rest in His Heart.
With my love in Our Lord,
William 



July Menology



09 July 2011

OCSO
Menology
for the
Month
of

July



Nunraw July Memorials


Br. Joseph Woods - Born 30 March 1915, Entered 3 March 1943, Professed 9 September 1948, Died 11th July 1986

Dom Columban Mulcahy - born 1901, entered 1924, priest 1929, abbot 1948, died 15 July 1971.

Br. Oliver McIvor – born 11 July 1899, died at Nunraw 22 July 1975

Dom Malachy Brasil - born 2 February 1883, entered 15 August 1905, professed 28 December 1910, ordained 23 June 1911, Abbot Mount Saint Bernard 1933 –1959, died, Nunraw, 28 July 1965.


JULY 1

Elizabeth De Wans + 1250

During the first year of her marriage, arranged by her parents, she lived in celibacy with the consent of her husband. After this they separated and Elizabeth entered the monastery of St Desiderius in Champagne where she later became abbess. Resigning after three years, she transferred to Aywieres where she lived as a simple nun; her intimacy with the crucified Christ becoming the preoccupation of her life.

JULY 2

Diego Velasquez

A monk of Fitero in Spain, he was instrumental in founding the Order of Calatrava which was formally incorporated into the Cistercian Order in 1187. After many victories and then the loss of the Calatrava stronghold to the Moors in 1195, Diego retired to the monastery of San Pedro where he became abbot. He died a few years later at the beginning of the 13th century
Lekai, p. 56; NCE, Vol. 2, p. 1056
Macarius + 1403
Lay-brother of Valbuena, Spain, he served as porter with great patience and cheerfulness.
Bernadine Dufour + 1859
            A diocesan priest in France, he desired solitude and more time for prayer. At forty-four he entered Port du Salut and ten years later was elected abbot. Awareness of God's will dominated his spiritual life and from this flowed his great charity and peace. He was especially devoted to Our Lady and died on this day while his community was celebrating the feast of the Visitation.
Edmund Mikkers 1911-1993
Born in the Netherlands, he studied at the minor seminary, and entered Achel in 1929. He was ordained priest in 1937; from 1936-1939 he studied in Rome. Returning to his monastery, he             continued to sttudy the Cistercian heritage and to pass it on to his confreres. He and Fr. Roger de Ganck founded the quarterly Citeaux in 1949, and Fr. Mikkers was editor in chief from 1963-
1985. He was also librarian of his monastery. He encouraged monastic formation, lectio and studies by means of study weeks in the Dutch region, publications, and the conferences he gave in Europe and the United States. A special chapter of his life began in 1970 with the foundation of Klaarland. He was its chaplain from the beginning and helped the community with its Cistercian development.
Throughout his 63 years in the Order he combined immense erudition with simplicity, humility and a deep commitment to the monastic life.

JULY 3

Mennas Effleur +1764

Abbot of Orval in Belgium, he encouraged the study of theology among his monks. He was known and loved for his great kindness and gentleness.

JULY 4

Richard Patard + 1895

From Paris, he entered the monastery of Sept-Fons where he made profession as a lay-brother and eventually became assistant cellarer. For forty years he gave himself in service to his community, putting the concerns of his confreres before his own. He died faithful to his vocation to the end.

James Calmettes + 1895

Lay-brother of Bonnecombe. He entered the monastery at the age of forty, suffered a grave fall during his novitiate, and made profession on his death bed.

JULY 5

Everard

Lay-brother of Villers. He set a guard over his tongue and was zealous for silence.

Martha  13th century

Nun of La Cambre, Brussels, she was the faithful servant of Bl Aleydis (June 12).

Mother Anna Maria + 1746

Nun of Valladolid in Spain, she had an intense love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and helped to spread this devotion throughout her country.

JULY 6

Albert + 1239

Lay-brother of the monastery of St Andrew in Liguria, Italy, he worked many years in the kitchen, generously giving to the poor whenever possible. Feeling himself called to a deeper solitude, he obtained his abbot's permission to live as a hermit in the neighboring woods where he spent the last thirty years of his life.
MBS, p. 200

Bl Elias Desgardin 1750-1794

He entered Sept-Fons as a lay brother in 1777. Being skilled in medicine, he served the community as infirmarian. When the monastery was suppressed in 1791, he went with the prior and 20 of the monks to live in Dijon. He was arrested and sentence to deportation. Detained on ship board, he became a dedicated infirmarian to the sick prisoners, until he himself succumbed to illness. He was beatified along with other French religious in 1995.
Two other monks of Sept-Fons, Fr. Macarius and Br. Rene were arrested, condemned and imprisoned with Br. Elias, and died later that summer.

JULY 7

A lay-brother of Clairvaux, whose name is unknown, when dying surprised his abbot, St Bernard, by his calm assurance that he was going to heaven. He said he had always tried to live out St Bernard's counsel that it is only through obedience that we win the kingdom of heaven, and now he had full confidence in the mercy of Christ. St Bernard was delighted with this reply.

JULY 8

Bl Eugene III + 1153

Bernard Paganelli was born of poor parents in Pisa, Italy. He came under St Bernard's influence in 1134 and followed him to Clairvaux. In 1140 Bernard sent him as founding superior of Tre Fontane in Rome. While filling this office, to his surprise and dismay, at the death of Pope Lucius III, the cardinals elected him Pope. His reign of eight years was filled with political and ecclesiastical crises, among them his frequent exiles from Rome, the foment caused by Arnold of Brescia and the failure of the Second Crusade. He held synods and the important Council of Rheims. Profiting from St Bernard's advice, (De Consideratione, CF 37), he remained faithful to his monastic vocation amidst all the viscissitudes of his reign. In 1147 he attended the General Chapter at Citeaux, remarkable for his humility and simplicity. He died six weeks before St Bernard.   
Lekai, p 28; MBS, p. 195; NCE, vol. 5, p. 625

Sebastian Devaulx + 1751

Monk of La Trappe.

JULY 9

St Theobald

The eldest son of Burkhard de Montmorency, he was born in Marley near Paris in 1200. As a young man he went to the court of Philip II, was knighted and became renowned at tournaments. When twenty-five years old, under the influence of Our Lady, he turned his back on the world and entered Vaux-de-Cernay, west of Paris. He was docile to the guidance of his superiors, was made prior and, in 1235, elected abbot. In this office he was determined to grow in humility, serving his brothers. When he had to leave the monastery on business, he longed to return to his community and solitude. He was instrumental in averting the separation of Louis IX and Queen Margaret who both attributed to his prayers their ability to have children.
MBS, p. 193; NCE, vol. 14, p. 12

JULY 10

Ephrem Ferrer + 1839

Fervent in prayer during his childhood, as a teenager he abandoned his Catholic religion while attending school in Toulouse. However, God's grace pursued him and, after many struggles, his conversion was effected and he entered the monastery of Aiguebelle where he gave himself to his monastic life with enthusiasm and joy.
Candidus Villemer + 1905
After his military service, he became a lay-brother at Bricquebec, having been instructed to do so, as he believed, by St Joseph. He possessed great purity of heart and innocence of soul, combining a deep spirit of prayer with a boyish gaiety.

JULY 11

The Solemnity of our Father, St Benedict, lawgiver of our Order.

Bertrand + 1149
Abbot of Grandselve, a few years before his death he was overjoyed when St Bernard agreed to affiliate his community to Clairvaux. He led his monks into the ways of simplicity and purity of heart with gentleness and love.

Angela Frances Losada y Guiroga + 1711

Nun of St Anne's Convent, Valladolid, Spain.
Br. Joseph Woods, Nunraw, - Born 30 March 1915, Entered 3 March 1943, Professed 9 September 1948, Died 11th July 1986

JULY 12

Gabriel

Called by Our Lady to enter the Cistercian Order, he became a novice at the monastery of Nogales in Spain. However, he became ill and died before the end of his year of probation.
JULY 13

Giles de Roye + 1478

After entering Citeaux, he was sent to the College of St Bernard in Paris from where he was chosen as abbot of Royaumont. After six years he resigned and retired to the abbey of the Dunes where he shared his great learning with his fellow monks. The latter came to love him for his humility and patience.

Simon Dupont  1872 -1898

Lay-brother of Our Lady of the Lake, Canada. He had a special love for the common life. Suffering from poor health, he pronounced his solemn vows in the infirmary and died at the age of twenty-six.

JULY 14

Roland + 1200

Fourth abbot of Chezery in Savoy.
Juana Maria de Rojas y Contreras + 1757
Nun of San Quirce, Valladolid, Spain. Throughout her long life she endured many sufferings. She had a special grace for assisting the dying.

JULY 15

Bl Teresa + 1260

In Aragon died the former queen, Teresa Gil de Vidaure. Separated from King James after what she believed to be a lawful marriage, Teresa turned her back on the pomp of the world. She obtained from the king a former Moorish palace at Valencia which she converted into a monastery and at her request twelve Cistercian nuns came from Valbona. She became one of the community and inspired all by her deep humility.  At her death she was acclaimed a saint not only by her sisters but by the people of her realm.
Dom Columban Mulcahy, Nunraw, - born 1901, entered 1924, priest 1929, abbot 1948, died 15 July 1971.