Mystery Cross

Wednesday, 1 August 2007

1. Mystery Cross.
This evening1st August a very large carved wood Crucifix was hung in the apex of our Refectory at Nunraw.

We are wondering where this un-mounted corpus, a fine carving, came from. Was it left at the proverbial doorstep anonymously? For some years it has been moved from room to room. Kieran, one of the aspirants, constructed the untreated wooden cross. He and Br. Charles, Novice, placed it high in the pine panelling above the Reader’s Desk. At last it has found a suitable place in full view during the meals.
Kieran is skilled in woodwork, Br. Charles is a metal worker and made the special nails.

. . . The Abbot remarked, "We don't know the talents we have in community". Fr. H. recalled the words of Fr. Felim preaching in the Guesthouse, "I don't have any talents, so I don't have to show any of them". A Guest replied, "But, Father, you have one talent. You make people love you". And Fr. John said, "Then that will make him feel proud!"

2. The Liturgy of July featured some favourite Saints.
Saint Peter Chrysologus (Greek for golden word) (406–450) was the Archbishop of Ravenna from 433 to his death.

He is quoted as saying: “If you do not close your ears to others, you open God’s ears to yourself”. English translation of Chrysologus’ rhetoric? Is this not a roundabout way of saying, “If you listen to others, God listens to you”.

3. And St. Alphonsus Liguori. He made a vow; we are told, never to waste a moment. He lived to be 90. That makes a fair tally of moments not wasted.

4. A very special interview.
In an Interview from “Inside the Vatican”, 31 July 2007, the Pope’s Secretary said, “Someone very familiar with the goings-on in Rome said during the Bavaria trip last fall, "John Paul II opened the hearts of the people. Benedict XVI fills them." There is a lot of truth in that. The Pope reaches the hearts of the people, he speaks to them, but he doesn't speak of himself, he speaks of Jesus Christ, of God, and that in a descriptive, understandable and convincing manner. That is what people are looking for. Benedict XVI gives them spiritual nourishment.