DGO restored. Thank you.

Sacristan goes for chalices

Daily Gospel - there was a breakdown of  the DGO Website for a few days. It was quickly remedied.
Appreciated and thanks for the Mass Readings and daily Commentary.
The restoration is marked by a Saint Benedict commentary for the day. 
From: DGO 

To: Donald...
Sent: Monday, 25 June 2012, 21:03
Subject: The Daily Gospel

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 7:6.12-14.

Tuesday, 26 June 2012.

On the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time. 

  . 

Commentary of the day :   
Saint Benedict (480-547), monk 
The Rule, Prologue 



“ Enter through the narrow gate ”

The Lord, seeking his laborer in the multitude to whom he thus cries out, says again, "Who would have life and desires to see good days?" (Ps. 34:13) And if, hearing him, you answer, "I am the one," God says to you, "If you will have true and everlasting life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips that they speak no guile. Turn away from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14-15)... What can be sweeter to us, dear brothers, than this voice of the Lord inviting us? In his loving kindness the Lord shows us the way of life. Having our loins girded, therefore, with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14), let us walk in his paths by the guidance of the Gospel, that we may deserve to see him who has called us to his Kingdom (1 Th 2:12). For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom, we must run to it by good deeds or we shall never reach it. Let us ask the Lord, with the prophet, "Lord, who shall dwell in your tent, or who shall rest upon your holy mountain?" (Ps. 15:1) After this question, brothers, let us listen to the Lord as he answers and shows us the way...

      And so we are going to establish a school for the service of the Lord. In founding it we hope to introduce nothing harsh or burdensome. But if a certain strictness results from the dictates of equity for the amendment of vices or the preservation of charity, do not be at once dismayed and fly from the way of salvation, whose entrance cannot but be narrow. For as we advance in life and in faith, our hearts expand and we run the way of God's commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love (Ps. 119:32). Thus, never departing from his schooling but persevering in the monastery according to his teaching until death, we may by patience share in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13) and deserve to have a share also in his Kingdom.

Birth John Baptist - Homily

'His name is John'. Cistercian Breviary

 Homily - Abbot Mark.   

Birth of John the Baptist,. (24 August,2012)

            Homily  11.00 am

John the Baptist is the only person outside the Holy Family to have two days set aside for him in the Church’s universal calendar.  He is obviously an important person in the life of the Church.  John links the two Testaments.  He is born in the Old to prepare the way for the New.  In later life John comes over in the gospels as rather a fierce character.  Films, plays, and even opera have portrayed him as a wild man, even a fanatic.  It makes for good theatre.

There are people who preach religion but for all their fine words reveal only themselves.  There are others who never get in the way of their message  but point beyond themselves.  John was caught up by his love for God and the desire he had to bring the hearts of people back to God.  However blunt his words, he did not claim anything for himself.  John was humble.  When he recognised Jesus, John knew his work was nearly over.  “He must grow greater”, he said and, “I must grow less.”  John knew when to let go.

As an only child born to elderly parents who had long ago given up hope of having a family, John the Baptist must have been a much-loved child.  At the same time it is very likely that he was a spoiled one as well.  .  Elizabeth and Zechariah knew that their son was even more special than other children.  The meaning of his name is “God’s gracious gift”.  The name, John, broke with the tradition of his family and yet both father and mother had independently picked it.  They were of course inspired by the Holy Spirit

The people throughout the area were speaking about the unusual circumstances of his birth.  He was quite a little celebrity.  And it was the same when he began his ministry.  Crowds flocked to him and, for a while, he was again a celebrity.  This time the whole of Jerusalem were talking about him.  Some were saying openly that he was the Messiah.  Talk like this could go easily to a man’s head.

And yet, somehow John was aware, deep within himself, that he was not the one the people thought he was.  He knew that there was one coming after him who was more important than he was and that his job was to step aside and make way for him...This labour without reward or recognition must have been hard at times.   As he lay in prison hearing about the crowds now following Jesus, he must have wondered if he had toiled in vain and had exhausted himself for nothing.  Surely there must have been times in that prison when he hankered again for his younger days when people were over-awed by him and he was both popular and successful.

John’s experience is a kind of model for all those whose best days are behind them.  Men and women who were once well-known and had succeeded in their lives, inevitably have to give way to others younger than themselves.

We should remember such people as they try to cope with the changed circumstances in their lives.  They are not now useless, simply that their circumstances have changed.  They do need to adapt to a changed reality where their usefulness is not ended but different.  They can always do something else.  And, if that becomes too difficult, they can certainly be themselves. 

John himself remains a model for us in that he shows that we can and should step aside so that Christ is the one who stands first in our lives.  We find Christ when the time comes for us to step back and let the other people in our lives and our work move into a more central role.

John let go when the time came, and - with his help - so can we!

Birth John Baptist Homily

'His name is John'. Cistercian Breviary

 Homily - Abbot Mark.   

Birth of John the Baptist,. (24 August,2012)

            Homily  11.00 am

John the Baptist is the only person outside the Holy Family to have two days set aside for him in the Church’s universal calendar.  He is obviously an important person in the life of the Church.  John links the two Testaments.  He is born in the Old to prepare the way for the New.  In later life John comes over in the gospels as rather a fierce character.  Films, plays, and even opera have portrayed him as a wild man, even a fanatic.  It makes for good theatre.

There are people who preach religion but for all their fine words reveal only themselves.  There are others who never get in the way of their message  but point beyond themselves.  John was caught up by his love for God and the desire he had to bring the hearts of people back to God.  However blunt his words, he did not claim anything for himself.  John was humble.  When he recognised Jesus, John knew his work was nearly over.  “He must grow greater”, he said and, “I must grow less.”  John knew when to let go.

As an only child born to elderly parents who had long ago given up hope of having a family, John the Baptist must have been a much-loved child.  At the same time it is very likely that he was a spoiled one as well.  .  Elizabeth and Zechariah knew that their son was even more special than other children.  The meaning of his name is “God’s gracious gift”.  The name, John, broke with the tradition of his family and yet both father and mother had independently picked it.  They were of course inspired by the Holy Spirit

The people throughout the area were speaking about the unusual circumstances of his birth.  He was quite a little celebrity.  And it was the same when he began his ministry.  Crowds flocked to him and, for a while, he was again a celebrity.  This time the whole of Jerusalem were talking about him.  Some were saying openly that he was the Messiah.  Talk like this could go easily to a man’s head.

And yet, somehow John was aware, deep within himself, that he was not the one the people thought he was.  He knew that there was one coming after him who was more important than he was and that his job was to step aside and make way for him...This labour without reward or recognition must have been hard at times.   As he lay in prison hearing about the crowds now following Jesus, he must have wondered if he had toiled in vain and had exhausted himself for nothing.  Surely there must have been times in that prison when he hankered again for his younger days when people were over-awed by him and he was both popular and successful.

John’s experience is a kind of model for all those whose best days are behind them.  Men and women who were once well-known and had succeeded in their lives, inevitably have to give way to others younger than themselves.

We should remember such people as they try to cope with the changed circumstances in their lives.  They are not now useless, simply that their circumstances have changed.  They do need to adapt to a changed reality where their usefulness is not ended but different.  They can always do something else.  And, if that becomes too difficult, they can certainly be themselves. 

John himself remains a model for us in that he shows that we can and should step aside so that Christ is the one who stands first in our lives.  We find Christ when the time comes for us to step back and let the other people in our lives and our work move into a more central role.

John let go when the time came, and - with his help - so can we!

Gabrielle Bossis 24 June 1948

It is an anniversary of Ordination, 24 June of Birth of John Baptist, the thought prompted a search in "YOU AND i" of Gabrielle Bossis.
Gabrielle wrote an entry of 24 June 1948 and, always, it is timely.
Her Holy Hour is 'At home, looking at a bust of Christ' this time and it so happens that there is a bust of  Christ is out of my room in the offices cloister.
Attached is the illustration with this prayer.

HE AND i 

1948. p.297

June 24 - Holy hour.

At home, looking at a bust of Christ.

"I am the Head. You are My arms raised toward the Father. Let us glorify Him together My child. Put your whole heart into it; I mean your will. And you will be exalted. And your union with Me, the Head of the Body, will give you power undreamed of. All that is good in you is I Myself. So make room for Me.

Long for My consciousness to take over yours. Let yours go as you assume Mine. I don't make, as it were, official use of My instruments in you at every moment. But at every moment it should be your joyous privilege to have them in readiness for Me.

You remember the story of the little maid whom the King condescended to employ and who charmed him so much by her faithful service that he raised her to the rank of his most intimate friends? So united did they become that her one and only desire was to remain with him forever.

Gabrielle, what name does your love invent for Me?" "Lord, I find no name worthy of You."

"Then just love Me without giving Me a name."  

John the Baptist Nativity

In Nativitate S. Joannis BaptistaeBreviariun Cistercienseor click original size

Sunday, 24 June 2012

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist 

Solemnity

The birth of St. John was foretold by an angel of the Lord to his father, Zachary, who was offering incense in the Temple. It was the office of St. John to prepare the way for Christ, and before he was born into the world he began to live for the Incarnate God. Even in the womb he knew the presence of Jesus and of Mary, and he leaped with joy at the glad coming of the son of man. In his youth he remained hidden, because he for whom he waited was hidden also.

But before Christ's public life began, a divine impulse led St. John into the desert; there, with locusts for his food and haircloth on his skin, in silence and in prayer, he chastened his own soul. Then, as crowds broke in upon his solitude, he warned them to flee from the wrath to come, and gave them the baptism of penance, while they confessed their sins. At last there stood in the crowd One whom St. John did not know, till a voice within told him that it was his Lord. With the baptism of St. John, Christ began his penance for the sins of his people, and St. John saw the Holy Spirit descend in bodily form upon Him. Then the Saint's work was done. He had but to point his own disciples to the Lamb, he had but to decrease as Christ increased. He saw all men leave him and go after Christ. "I told you," he said, "that I am not the Christ. The friend of the Bridegroom rejoiceth because of the Bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled."

St. John had been cast into the fortress of Machærus by a worthless tyrant whose crimes be had rebuked, and he was to remain there till he was beheaded, at the will of a girl who danced before this wretched king. In this time of despair, if St. John could have known despair, some of his old disciples visited him. St. John did not speak to them of himself, but he sent them to Christ, that they might see the proofs of his mission.

Then the Eternal Truth pronounced the panegyric of the Saint who had lived and breathed for Him alone: "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist"

Barbieri Giovanni Francesco Saint John The Baptist

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Daily Gospel

http://dailygospel.org/main.php? language=AM&module=saintfeast&localdate=20120624&id=138&fd=1

Barbieri_Giovanni_Francesco_Saint_John_The_Baptist

Raphael Arnaiz Baron - DGO extract -

      Raphael  to know how now to WAIT                                      

Thank you,
William.     

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William J. W...
To: Donald...
Sent: Saturday, 23 June 2012, 20:30
Subject: DGO extract - Raphael Arnaiz Baron

Dear Father Donald,

There is a deeply personal prayer on DGO illustrating today's Gospel that I find very moving.

Following the examples of personal prayer of Blossis, this holds the same spiritual beauty....

William

  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Saturday, 23 June 2012

Saturday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6:24-34.

Jesus said to his disciples: «No one can serve two masters.

Commentary of the day : 

Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938), a Spanish Trappist monk 

To know how to wait, 04/03/1938, (trans. Mairin Mitchell) 

"If God so clothes the grass of the field... will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?"

Today I take up my pen in the name of God, so that my words, imprinting themselves on the white paper, may give service in perpetual praise of God, the blessed author of my life, my soul, my heart. I would like the whole Universe, with all the planets, stars, and the countless sidereal systems, to be a vast smooth surface on which could be written the name of God. I would like my voice to be stronger than a thousand thunders, more powerful than the surge of the sea, more fearful than the eruption of volcanoes, only to say the name of God. I would like my heart to be as great as Heaven, pure as that of the angels, guileless as that of the dove (Mt 10,16), so that it could possess God. But as none of these grandiose dreams can be realized, satisfy yourself, Brother Rafael, with little, and you who are nothing, that very nothing must suffice...

Why keep silent about it? Why hide it? Why not cry out to the whole world, and proclaim to the four winds the wonders of God? Why not say to everyone what they would like to hear: “You see what I am? You see what I was? You see my wretchedness dragged through the mire? No matter – marvel at it – in spite of everything, I have God. God is my friend!” God loves me so deeply that if the whole world understood this everyone would go mad and shout in sheer amazement. Still more, all that is but a little. God loves me so much that the angels themselves don't understand it! (cf. 1Pt 1,12) How great is the mercy of God! To love me, to be my friend, my brother, my father, my master. To be God! And I to be what I am!

Oh Jesus! I don't have paper or pen. What can I say? How am I not to go mad!

NEW New Testament COMMENT

Fr. Nivard pointed out this comment from the Nicholas King's translation of the New Testament, quoting from Desmond Tutu.
It obviously challenges us to take to heart, "The translation hits you betweeen the eyes."  

THE NEW TESTAMENT

Freshly translated with a cutting-edge commentary

Nicholas King's translation of the New Testament has been greeted with huge acclaim by readers, Church leaders, critics and scholars who agreed unanimously with the reviewer who described it as 'dynamite'. Typically Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: 'The translation hits you between the eyes.'

Nicholas King is now translating the Old Testament which will appear in four volumes:

Trinity COMMENT

Dear William,
Thank you for Trinity heaven searching.
For the moment the PDF is not attachable in Blogspot, only as graphic..
It is good of you to revise it to Word format.
Your COMMENT keeps us up 'to awaken clarity of thought!'
Donald

Reflection on Conceptual Knowledge and Contemplation OF GOD
KNOWLEDGE (taken from the world, developed by sense, imagination)
Quiddity (of nature)	I AM A HUMAN BEING	GOD IS THE ETERNAL BEING
the inherent nature of someone or something.
REASON (progression of conceptual knowledge)
Essential (of essence)	I AM HUMAN	GOD IS ETERNAL
fundamental to the nature of something or someone
CONTEMPLATION (end of discursive reason)
Existential (of existence	.    I AM   .	GOD IS    .
affirming or implying the existence of a thing
	[# limited #]	< no limit >
	the essence limits	the essence of God
	the existence of	is identical to
	the creature	His existence
Exodus 3:14	↓
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM	↓	GOD IS
and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children	↓	EXISTENCE ITSELF
of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.	↓	"I AM THAT I AM”
	by creation >                originating from >    whence I came
	by divinisation >              absorbed into >      hence I AM

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William Wardle
To: Dom Donald.Nunraw
Sent: Monday, 18 June 2012, 12:18
Subject: [Blog] Breviary illustration - Exodus 3:14 (diagram)

Dear Father Donald,

Your Trinity Breviary etchings fascinate me, and I ponder the attached most lovingly for it represents the greatest mystery of all, and has me mesmerized! It sent me back into my RCIA folder for another diagram to awaken clarity of thought! I wonder if I might attach it to share with you. In it I tried to order my thoughts from reading an inspiring book on the Mysticism of the Cloud of Unknowing by William Johnston, in order to express the Existence of God alongside that of humanity, and in conclusion - by arriving at who we are, to consider Who God is.

From a gentle meander across a horizontal plain I ended up at a virtual cliff face!

Still wandering around the cloisters in the silent hours before dawn...

With my love in Our Lord,

William

PS. The breviary psalm at Lauds this morning set me before your burnished tabernacle, with the words "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord God of hosts".

When I go for the shopping today, a little bit of the housekeeping will be spent in Boots Photoshop on prints of the Exposition I witnessed!

Month Commemoration of the Dead

 Mass 20 June 2012-06-20

Month - Commemoration of the Dead

The Night Office for this day of Commemoration of the Dead, the Reading was from St. Bernard. Thoughts wandered back to the Reading from the Refectory. It was about St. John Fisher. Vincent Nichols Introduction ended with these words,
“We are told that on the morning of his execution 22^nd July 1539, he was awakened by the prison officer at 5.00am and told that his execution was to be at 10.00am. He promptly asked to be allowed to sleep a few more hours!

Herein lies his true greatness: peace before God and witin himself. May his example continue to inspire us today.” (+ Vincent Nichols November 2011)

His mother stood by the Cross

Sermons of St Bernard

The martyrdom of the Virgin Mary, implicit in Simeon's prophecy, is put before us in the story of our Lord's passion. That venerable old man, Simeon, said of the infant Jesus: 'This child is set for a sign that will be contradicted' ; and to Mary: ‘A sword will pierce your soul.' Blessed Mother, a sword did pierce your soul. For no sword could penetrate your Son's flesh without piercing your soul. After your own son Jesus gave up his life–he was yours in a special sense though he belongs to all–the cruel lance, which opened his side and would not spare him in death though it could do him no injury, could not touch his soul. But it pierced your soul. His soul was no longer there, but yours could not be set free, and it was pierced by a sword of sorrow. We rightly speak of you as more than a martyr, for the anguish of mind you suffered exceeded all bodily pain.

'Mother, behold your son.' These words were more painful than a sword thrust for they pierced your soul and touched the quick where soul is divided from spirit.

What an exchange! John was given to you in place of Jesus, a disciple in place of the Master, a son of Zebedee in place of the Son of God, a mere man in place of the true God. These words must have pierced your loving soul, since just to recall them breaks our hearts, hard and stony though they be.

Do not marvel, brethren, that Mary is said to have endured martyrdom in her soul. Only he will marvel who forgets what Paul said of the Gentiles, that among their worst vices was that they were without compassion. Not so with Mary! May it never be so with those who venerate her .

Someone may say: 'Did she not know in advance that her Son would die?' Without a doubt. 'Did she not have sure hope in his immediate resurrection?' Full confidence indeed. 'Did she then grieve when he was crucified?' Intensely. Who are you, brother, and what sort of judgment is yours that you marvel at the grief of Mary any more than that the Son of Mary should suffer? Could he die bodily and she not share his death in her heart? Charity it was that moved him to suffer death, charity greater than that of any man before or since: charity too moved Mary, the like of which no mother has ever known.

Novice Habit - Reception COMMENTS

Novice Habit - Abbot's talk on the Reception Br. Seamus


From: Robert S. . .
To: Donald . . .
Sent: Saturday, 16 June 2012, 
Subject: Travelling to Edinburgh

Dear Father Donald,
I was travelling to Edinburgh yesterday when I logged on to your blog, and saw the photographs of Brother Seamus.
Whilst passing the zoo the driver commented on the new Pandas that are causing excitement in Edinburgh.
I felt like shouting never mind the Pandas.
Nunraw has a new brother!
Hope u get some fun from this.


Robert
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---- Forwarded Message -----
From: Anne Marie Milwain . .
To: Fr Donald . . .
Sent: Monday, 11 June 2012,
Subject: Re: [Dom Donald's Blog] Novice Habit - Abbot's talk on the Reception Br. Seamus
Dear Anne Marie
That is wonderful that you have a new novice.
Great news  
Anne Marie

Sent from my iPhone