Thursday 11 August 2011

Precious photo of the monks of Tibhirine in 1996

Dear Alex,
Thank you for the precious photo of the monks of Tibhirine in 1996.
You thought it not easy to identify the names on the picture.
Before checking yours, my selection came to match the names.
I am very pleased to know the picture came from Abbot Armand.
The photo will be interesting and article in the Blog, thank you.
Yours ...
Donald

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Alex ...
To: Donald ...
Sent: Tue, 9 August, 2011 18:07:58
Subject: Atlas Martyrs Vol 2

Dear Fr. Donald.
....
I am so inspired by the monks of Tibhirine...and so glad to have the booklet you sent me. Thank you.
I’ve been trying to identify the faces using the scanned photo in the booklet...not very easy.
How close am I ???
Back row: Jean-Pierre ; Christian; Amedee; Armand; Christophe; Luc
Front row: Michel; Paul; Celestin.
Godbless, 
Alex









From: Alex . . .
To: Donald. .
Sent: Thu, 4 August, 2011 10:45:12
Subject: RE: "A Heritage Too For Us - Atlas Martyrs" article


For the moment I sent you the Article you after a quick Scan.
See Body Text and also Attatchment.  D.


Heritage Too BiFor Us Vol II
article pp 6-8
1Th"martyrdomof charitChristian de Cherge
MaundThursday 31 March 1994
The washinothe feet, thshared cup and shared breadthe cross ...a single commandment olovea single TESTIMONYThis is the testimony of Jesushis "testmentumor, in Greek, his "marturion", the"martyrdom" of Jesus.
There are many martyrs in our country at presentOn both sides, the dead are honoured undethe glorioutitle of "martyrs" or, iArabic"shouhada(plural of shahid), which comes from the same root as"shahdda" or the Muslim profession of faith.
Wourselvehavlong heard the word "martyrdomin this single senseoa direcrelationshiwith faithof a testimony to faith in Chrisand in Christian dogma. Some of th"actsof the martyrs astound us by this confidence of faith.
We live aa time when faith does noexclude doubt and questioning.Often there is somethinin these "actswhich disconcerts and worriesus todaythharshness of theswitnesses of the faith towards their judgestheir certainty of bein"pure", theistated certainty that their persecutor will go straight to hellOnis tempteto think thatfundamentalism is already abroad.
Here when thhouhacomfor him to pass in faith to the Father, Jesus was indeed "purified" .... but blove. To the one who was not"pure"he still said"Friend!".          .
We had to waifor the closing years of the 20th century to see the Church attribute the title of "martyr" tsomeone who was a witness to supreme love rathethan to faithMaximilian Kolbe, martyr of charity.And yet it is written, and whave just heard the words, "Having loved his own, hloved them all to the end ..", to the very end of himself, to the end of the other, the end of humanityof any human being, even ofthe one who wilsoon go out into the night after takinhis piece ofbread, his feet freshly washedfeverses after this account, Johnrecalls Psalm 40/41:9, ''Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate omy breadhalifted the heel against me", the heel has just beenwashed and now, see it is liftedLove has washed the feet of the future missionariesand nowwith one heart, these feet wilnow walk the reverse path of treacherand complicity in murder.
The testimony oJesus, faithful unto deathhi"martyrdom", is a martyrdom of love, love for mankindfor all peopleeven for thieves, for murderers and torturers, those who act in the shadowsready to treatyou "like a beast for the slaughter" [Psal48/49or to torture you to death because one of "you" has deserted t"them". YeHe haalready warnethem"If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners (even the pagans (the Kouffar) do as much" [Luke6:32]For Him, botfriends and enemies receivtheir beinfrom the Father "You are all brothers!".
The martyrdom of lovincludeforgiveness. This is the perfect gift, the gift God gives without reserveWashinfeetsharing breadgiving his death and forgiving; for Him these are all onand thsamand are donefor all, "for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins[Mat 26:28]. And this is the placof the ultimate freedom, because it is here that thedecisioothe Son coincides exactly with the lovindecision of theFatherYesindeed, He can now say of his life, "No ontakes it from mebut I lay it down omown accord" [John 10:18]Iis given once and for all, for Judas as iifor Peterfothe two thieves besidhim as for Mary-Magdalene and Johat the foot of the Cross, and as for his owMother. This is HilaswordHis last instructions, "making love of man the test, the criterionthe gold standard of the love of God" [Maurice Zundel].
To give ones liffor lovof God, iadvancewithout conditionsthat is what we have don..or aleaswhat we thought we werdoing. Wdid not ask how or why. We leavit to God to decidhow this gift will beuseditdestination day aftedayright tthend.
Alaswhavall lived lonenough to know that it is impossiblto doeverythinout olove, and so to bable to claim that our life is awitness to love, a "martyrdomof love"What takegenius is to love", writes Jean d'Ormesson, "and Christianity is thing of genius"This isabsolutely true, but I am no genius!
From experience we know that littlthings often coslotparticularlywhen we have to go odointhem daafter dayIt's all right to have towasones brothersfeet on Maundy Thursday ... buhow about doing iteveryday? or washinthe feet of anyone who turns upWheFr.Bernardo (Abbot General) told us that thOrder has more need of monks than martyrs, hwas not, ocoursereferrinto thitype of martyrdomwhich is in fact what shapes the monk through so manlittle things. We have given our hearto God once and for all, and we find it hard when htakes it piecemealTaking up an apron, as Jesus did, can be as serious and solemn an acas tlay down ones life ..and converselylayindown ones lifmabe asimple as taking up anapronWe should telourselves thiwhethe everydatasks odeedof lovweigh on uwitthis threawhich also has to bshared with all.
Wknow from our own experience that iis easieto give to one person than to another, to love one brother osister morthan another, even in community. Yet thprofessional conscience othe doctor, thoath he or she has taken, oblige him or her to treat all patients, "even the devil", Brother Luke would add. And doenot our "professional oath" as religious (indeed as baptised persons to begin withl), oblige us tloveall"even the devilif God asks this of us? What do we do about it? Thiis what we were tryinto say when wrefused to take sides We were not trying to take refuge in neutrality, washing our hands -- this is impossibl-- but tryinto remain free to lovthem allbecause that is our
option, in the name of Jesus and with His grace, If I have given my life to all Algerians, thehave alsgive ito the"EmirS.AIt inot hwho takeit from me, even if hdecidetmeeout the same treatment to me ato our Croatian friendsYet I hope that hwill respect it in the name of thlove which God has also inscribein his human vocation. Jesus could not wish that Judas would betray himStill calling him "friend", he spoke to the love buried within him. He soughhis Father in this man,and I actually believe that He found Him.
From our experience we also knothat this martyrdom of charity inot a Christian prerogativeWe can receive it from anyone as a gift othe SpiritBehind the many victims whhave alreadmounteuin the tragedy oAlgeriawho knows how many genuine "martyrsof simple,gratuitoulove there may already be? We think of the man who, thother day, saved an injured policeman near to the basilica of NotrDamed'AfriqueA fedays later, he had to pay for thiact with hiown life. And the Bosnian Muslim who saved his fellow workershe too was riskinhis own lifeFurthebackI cannot forget Mohammed, who protected mlife one daby exposinhiown .... anwho was murdereby hibrothers because he refuseto betray his friendto them. He refused to take sides. Ubcaritas ...Deus ibest!
This brings us back to Jesus, to His martyrdom," No onhas greaterlove than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are myfriends" [Joh15:13- 14]. We accept thitestimony, but we are awarethat "the spirit indeeis willingbuthe flesh is weak" [Mark 14:38] this is whHe leaves us his flesh to eattassimilate, as thbreaoour testimony ....


Tuesday 9 August 2011

Edith Stein - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Crioss, Patron of Europe

Tuesday August 9th.

Sun Flowers 9th August


It is the feast day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
A PostIt for Introduction to the Mass missed the fact that the celebration of Edith Stein is of one of the Patrons of Europe.
The last paragraph of the Reading of the Night Office puts to well the elements of her life.  

The elements in her life that formed her - Jewish, German, a philosopher, a woman, a Christian, a Carmelite - make her stand out. She was one of millions, but she was also outstanding, an exemplar, a witness, a martyr. Each one of us is a mystery. We respect mysteries not by solving them, but by contemplating them. The mystery of Edith Stein should prompt in us neither triumphal ism nor resentment. We cannot smooth all the rough edges, but we can ponder with humility. 


The Prayers of the Sacramentary. 

St. TERESA BENFDICTA OF THE CROSS - 9th Aug.

Edith Stein was born of Jewish parents in 1891, becoming an influential philosopher following her extensive studies at major German universities. Following her conversion to Catholicism she became a major force in German intellectual life, entering the Discalced Carmelites in 1933. Sister Teresa Benedicta was arrested by the Nazi regime on August 2, 1942, along with all Catholics of Jewish extraction, and transported by cattle train to the death camp: of Auschwitz: where she died in the gas chambers that same year .•

Collect 
God our Father,
you give us joy each year in honouring
the memory of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
May her prayers be a source of help for us,
and may her example of courage and chastity be our inspiration.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFIS
Lord, receive our gifts
as you accepted the suffering and death
of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
in whose honour we celebrate this Eucharist.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after COMMUNION
Lord God, may the mysteries we receive
give us the spiritual courage which made
your martyr Saint Teresa benedicta of the Cross
faithful in your service and victorious in her suffering.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.