Friday 23 October 2015

Jan van Ruysbroeck Seven Steps in the Ladder of Spiritual Love

Night Office 
Monastic Lectionary of the Divine Office,
Jan_Van_Ruysbroeck
We behold that which we are,
and we are that which we behold.

The Blessed John of Ruysbroeck (1293 or 1294 – 2 December 1381), "the Admirable" also known as John Ruusbroec, Jan van Ruusbroec or Jan van Ruysbroeck, was one of the Flemish mystics of the medieval Catholic Church.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Ruysbroeck  


TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FRIDAY 23rd. October 2015


First Reading
Jeremiah 22:10-30
          Responsory       Lam 2:1
How the Lord in his anger has brought darkness on the daughter
of Zion! + From heaven to earth he has cast down the honour of Israel.
V. On the day of his anger he has remembered his footstool no
more. + From heaven ...

Second Reading
From The Seven Steps in the Ladder of Spiritual Love by Jan van Ruysbroeck

The first fruit which springs from good will is voluntary poverty. Those who are poor of their own will live free and without care for all earthly goods that are not needful. For like a wise merchant, they have traded earth for heaven, and followed the saying of the Lord, that one cannot serve God and the kingdom of the world. They have left all that can be possessed with earthly love, and purchased voluntary poverty. This is the field in which they have found the kingdom of God; for blessed are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God is love and charity, and the practice of all good works; whence comes it that those who are thus poor in spirit are generous, pitiful, kind, mild, truthful and honest toward all who are in need of them, so that they may bear witness before the tribunal of God that with the bounty bestowed on them by God, they wrought works of mercy. For among earthly things they have nothing of their own, but all that they have is common to God and to his household.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, who possess nothing transi­tory; for they have followed Christ. They shall be rewarded in virtues a hundredfold, and shall look forward to the glory of God and life everlasting.

But rash and foolish are the covetous, for they give heaven for earth, which earth they know that they must shortly lose. The poor in spirit scale the skies; the covetous are plunged into hell; and when the camel shall pass through the needle's eye, then shall the covetous enter into heaven. And even though they live poor in earthly things, if they choose not God before all and die in their avarice, doubtless they shall perish.

The covetous prefer the husk to the kernel, the shell to the yolk. Those who cleave to gold and love earthly goods eat poison that brings death, and drink the water of eternal sorrow. The more they drink, the more they thirst; the more they own, the more they long for. Though they have much, they are not satisfied; they want everything they see that is another's; and all they have seems to them as nothing. Scarce anyone loves them, for the covetous deserve no love. They are much like the devil's claws; for what they grasp they cannot let go, and they guard what they have won by fraud until they die. Then indeed they lose all and straightway the pangs of hell take hold on them; for they are the image of hell which is not sated by what it seizes, and though it possesses many, is none the better. All that it seizes it holds fast and yet ever gapes for its hellish guests.

Wherefore beware of avarice, which is the root of all sin and evil.  

Responsory       1 Tm 6:9-10.8
People who long to be rich fall into temptations and snares, and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. + The love of money is the root of all evil.
V. As long as we have food and clothing, let us rest content. + The love of ...


 COMMENT:
Encountered the SEVEN Steps of Ladder Spiritual raised my eyes to the passing association, The TEN Mystic Ladder. 
No surprise then to the Link:    http://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/dark_night.viii.xix.html?highlight=seven,steps#fnf_viii.xix-p1.1   
Saint John of the Cross
10 steps 0f the mystic ladder of Divine  love
Dark Night of the Soul
CHAPTER XIX

Begins to explain the ten steps231 of the mystic ladder of Divine love, according to Saint Bernard and Saint Thomas. The first five are here treated.
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Thursday 22 October 2015

Father Ciaràn Savage OCSO (1926 - October 16, 2015) Roscrea

 
 
  Roscrea
Monday, 19 October 2015


October 16, 2015: Father Ciaràn Savage was born in 1926 in Killeary, Co. Armagh (Ireland). He entered Roscrea in 1948, made his solemn profession in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1955. Father was 90 years old, had been in monastic vows for 65 years and 60 years a priest when the Lord called him.


Homily for Funeral Mass of Fr Ciaran
19th. October 2015  

                                        Painting by Sara Kyne  


Yesterday, Mission Sunday, had us thinking missionary, that when one of your family dies, you realise that she/he has their mission accomplished. Fr Ciaran has been very much a central figure in our family of Mount St Joseph for the last 67 years. St Therese of the Child Jesus discovered to her delight that being love in the heart of the Church was her mission. And she is now recognised as Patroness of the Missions - though she never left her convent in Lisieux.

Fr Ciaran has been love in the heart of the Church of Mount St Joseph all these 67 years. Way beyond any of us, he has been, in the Cistercian tradition, the lover of the place, this place of Mount Saint Joseph, a lover of the Rule - the Rule of St Benedict as applied in an Order, a lover of the brethren, of everyone of us, no matter how insignificant we were. And in that love - his heart extended to the entire Church. He has been for us the exemplar of how a monk and indeed every Christian can and must be a missionary.

It was this love, first learned and nurtured in the O'Sabhaois home in Lower Killeavy, South Armagh, by his parents Patrick and Elizabeth, that set him on his way in life. This love was of a multi-faceted nature, one of the most outstanding sides of which was his love for his Country, its language, its culture, its history, its faith. He was a gaelgoir of the highest order, and yet without an ounce of bigotry. He prayed in Irish, he thought in Irish, he kept his notes and diaries in Irish, he preferred to speak in Irish, but he never embarrassed anyone else who might not be at ease with Irish.
     
Francis K as he was then, did his primary education at Lissummon
School and Secondary at CBS Newry from which he got first place in the 1942-3 University Scholarship. He picked U.C.D. rather-than Queens, Belfast, as he would have had to sign his name in English if he chose the latter! Agricultural Science was his subject. At this period he joined the Legion of Mary, an Irish speaking praesidiurn and then another love appeared, this time for his girlfriend! But part they had to - the greater love was for Christ - so all the way on his bike from Dublin to Roscrea and back in the same day to fix his vocation.

This morning Dom Richard phoned me, recalling a visit two years ago from Cardinal Brady during which he told us how disgusted Ciaran's father was at his decision - if he wanted to be a priest couldn't he be a right one like his brother Fr Tomas, only to be told: "If you gave me a present of £1,000 I couldn't be a priest like Tommy!"

So in September 1948, Francis entered Mount Saint Joseph, becoming Claran, professed in 1950 and ordained in 1955. While totally faithful to his monastic life he was on the teaching staff in our College 1954-91, having been Dean of Studies for the last decade of that period.

Ciaran was much involved in the local praesidia of the Legion of Mary, in groups for Mass Readers and Eucharistic Ministers, as well as in his Masses and homilies for the people of our locality and also as a Confessor in our Public Church.

All down his years we saw how "the love of God was poured into
his heart by the Holy Spirit" and he shared this love with so many through his publications in various magazines, thus in early 1960s Muniteor no Tire year book - "Aoibhill Beatha and Feirrneona" in Cistercian Studies, An Fiolar, CCR Review and of course Hallel, which he edited and which was never the same without him.

It was George Cunningham, our local historian, who reminded us of the above adding: If He truly lived the Cistercian ideals all his life, a life fruitful and joyous, always first a monk and then a scholar of the highest integrity, bringing new meaning and personal insights to our Christian heritage, while always reticent and humble about himself."

Some years ago Ciaran, feeling that he should no longer be lecturing at the Roscrea Conferences: "George, I must prepare for my death." Prepare he did - with a long decline involving some hospital stays, but especially in our monastery infirmary, where our nursing and caring staff showered care and love upon him, while he responded with a smile of appreciation. We were all round his bed on Friday night as he slipped away - the wheat grain that died, and will yield a rich harvest for all of us - slipped away to a cead mile fai1te from the good Lord and his Blessed Mother.
Fr. Laurence, Prior, Roscrea
  laurence.walsh@msjroscrea.ie





 'Fail Bhrat Mhuire'    


Mount Saint Joseph has three Lourdes Grottoes. An tAth Ciaran picks the quietest and indeed the sunniest one for his lectio divina. But he is not the only one to choose well. So does the little red squirrel who wants to be part of the scene, won't disturb the monk in his engagement with the Word of God, or be disturbed by him, who is absorbed in his listening to the Word. That's what lectio divina consists of.    

Listen carefully, my child, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.
This is advice from a father who loves you;
welcome it, and faithful0' put it into practice.
- (RULE OF ST BENEDlCT, PROL. 1)



In the monastery garden
Lectio
In the monastery garden
a dog rose scrambles over
the stone shrine. Arching stems
lean to inspire
the old monk's
meditations.
Meditatio
Absorbed in the Word of God
he doesn't see
the red squirrel flick his tail
as he forages for berries,
his beady eye
unblinking.
Oratio
Angelus bells
call the monk to prayer.
The squirrel scurries
up the ash tree
carrying the Word
to the tree tops.
Contemplatio

Tea in the field
An overcast afternoon
in the low meadow,
my aunt rests on drying hay.
The cutting bar hums
through a crop of pale gold
scattering seeds to the wind.

                Marian Brannigan
Notes
Lectio Divina has 4 stages: Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, Contemplatio.
In Norse mythology, Ratatoske is a squirrel who runs up and down the world tree carrying messages.






PLEASE PRAY FOR


ATH CIARAN O SABHAOIS OCSO


OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO

DIED YESTERDAY FRIDAY, 16TH OCTOBER 2015

IN HIS 90TH YEAR AND

THE 65TH YEAR OF HIS MONASTIC PROFESSION


R.l.P.



FUNERAL MASS ON MONDAY, 19TH OCTOBER 2015 2:00 PM



__________________________________________________________
MOlJNT SAINT JOSEPH ABBIY. ROSCR£A, Co TIPPERARY. IRELAND
T: +353 (0) 5O5 25600 I F: +353 (0) 505 25610 I info@msjrasc:rea.ie I vww.msjroscrea.ie 

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YOU AND I. Plunge into the infinite ocean of peace


 Dublin Airport arriving 23 Oct 2015         
YOU AND i, Gabrielle Bossis
1941
June – 5   -   "Plunge into the infinite ocean of peace, calm as a beautiful sunrise. You remember the tints in the sky at Naples just before the sun rose, when the whole firmament and the whole sea were bathed in multicoloured serenity. Think what the infinite perfections of My heart must be like. Can you realize all their varied beauty? Adore without seeing it. And because you have adored in blind faith, you will be rewarded. 
Put your forehead against My forehead. Enter into my thoughts."


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Wednesday 21 October 2015

Denis the Carthusian (1408-1471) And I will watch, ...what God will command me in the scriptures

Patristic Lectionary, Night Office, 

Habakkuk 1:1-2:4 - Bible Gateway

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk%201:1-2:4
The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. Habakkuk'sComplaint - How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to.
 
fire, flame
  Here is my heart, dear Lord;
please set it ablaze with the fire of your love!

TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
WEDNESDAY

First Reading
Habakkuk 1:1 - 2:4
Responsory     Rom 1:16-17; 5:1
I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God saving all who have faith, Jews first, but also Greeks. + As scripture says: The righteous find life through faith.
V. Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. + As scripture ...

Second Reading
From a commentary by Denis the Carthusian (1408-1471)

Whoever is truly Christian has to say: I will stand on my guard, that is, I will stand guard over my heart with my mind fully alert, so as to keep it pure and offer it as a worthy dwelling-place for God, following the example of him who says: I said, "l will keep watch over my ways." Solomon says: Guard your heart with great vigilance, for it is the source of all life; and Ecclesiasticus: Unless you keep yourself constantly in the fear of the Lord, your house will soon be overthrown. Moses therefore urges in Deuteronomy:

Keep a careful watch over yourself so as not to forget the words of the Lord your God, or let them pass out of your mind all the days of your life. For purity of heart, which is nothing but unmixed contemplative delight or delightful and innocent contemplation of God, is the aim of all our asceticism: it is for this that we curb our outward senses, our tongues, and our appetites. We ought therefore to be continually intent on obtaining, preserving and perfecting our purity of heart, mindful of the Saviour’s words:

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Remembrance of the presence of God undoubtedly contributes more than anything else toward this watchfulness; hence the Psalmist says: I have kept your commandments and your precepts, for my whole life lies open before you. Let us, then, follow in his footsteps and do as the Apostle taught the Philippians: Work for your salvation with fear and trembling.

And I will station myself, that is, I will control the motions or impulses of my heart, and stand firmly on the ramparts, that is, the fortifications, strengthening the defenses of my soul, always making sure that it is armed, so that it may never be conquered by the enemies of its salvation, never overcome by sin or passion. Accordingly, the Apostle warns the Ephesians to put on the whole armour of God, so as to be able to withstand the wiles of the devil.

And I will watch, that is, concentrate my mind, in order to see, which means to understand, what he will say to me, that is, what God will command me in the scriptures, what encouragement he will give me, what counsel, and also what his deputies, such as prelates and doctors, will order and preach. I will also listen to what the Lord God says in my heart with his own voice, or through the angelic spirit. Thus it is said in Proverbs: Listen to instruction, my son; for by listening the wise will grow wiser, and the intelligent receive guidance.

Responsory     Ps 119:97.105.135; 19:11

Lord, how I love your law! Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. t Let your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees.
V. By them your servant is instructed; in keeping them there is great reward. t Let your face ...


    
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day 
Denis the Carthusian (1402 - 1471), monk 
Commentary on St Luke's Gospel; Opera omnia 12, 72 (©Friends of Henry Ashworth)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (Jn 14,27)
Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? In other words: “Do not imagine that I have come to offer people a sensual, worldly, and unruly peace that will enable them to be united in their vices and achieve earthly prosperity. No, I tell you, I have not come to offer that kind of peace, but rather division - a good, healthy kind of division, physical as well as spiritual. Love for God and desire for inner peace will set those who believe in me at odds with wicked men and women, and make them part company with those who would turn them from their course of spiritual progress and from the purity of divine love, or who attempt to hinder them.”

Good, interior, spiritual peace consists in the repose of the mind in God, and in a rightly ordered harmony. To bestow this peace was the chief reason for Christ's coming. This inner peace flows from love. It is an unassailable joy of the mind in God, and it is called peace of heart. It is the beginning and a kind of foretaste of the peace of the saints in heaven - the peace of eternity.
  http://dailygospel.org/main.php?language=AM&module=commentary&localdate=20151022&id=1410 

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