CISTERCIAN (ocso) MENOLOGY
MAY 22
MAY 22
Christian de Chergé, Luc Dochier, Christophe Lebvreton, Michel Fleury, Bruno Lemarchand, Célestin Ringeard and Maul Favre-Miville + 1996
Monks of Our Lady of Atlas, Tiburine, Algeria. Having chosen to remain as Christian contemplative witnesses in a Moslem country in spite of increasingly dangerous circumstances, they were kidnapped by terrorists on the night of March 26-27, 1996, held as hostages for 2 months, and then slain.
Sent: Sat, 21 May, 2011 11:30:49
Subject: Fw: Atlas Moinks
Today is the fifteenth anniversary of the deaths of the seven Atlas Cistercian monks who gave themselves to God in the difficult circumstances of their lives, and ultimately in their deaths which they did not shrink from. They died in their bodies but now they live on for us in the Spirit
Last evening Abbot's talk was about the Atlas Monks.
Considering the dedication of the monks to INTERFAITH prayer and dialogue, a very quotation was very timely:
U.S. National Prayer Breakfast,
Considering the dedication of the monks to INTERFAITH prayer and dialogue, a very quotation was very timely:
U.S. National Prayer Breakfast,
Letter of King Abdullah II of Jordan.
On the occasion of the National Prayer Breakfast, King Abdullah II of Jordan wrote a letter stating:
"In all three of the monotheistic faiths, we share the two greatest commandments to love God and to love our neighbor. We are thus bound-each and every one of us - by our own faiths to reach out to each other as neighbors with goodwill and mutual respect; we must all help ease each other's suffering and want, and promote justice, peace and harmony. We are also linked not only by belief but also and more basically by our common humanity.
However, it is only by truly understanding the best in our faiths and in our common humanity that we can serve God and protect our children's future. In this vein, Jordan has a long and proud heritage of tolerance and moderation. Today, Jordanians are working systematically and boldly to expand the zone of understanding and dialogue around the world. We began within our own Islamic community, the world's 1.5 billion Muslims.
Six years ago, we issued the Amman Message, which sets forth Islam's call for tolerance, respect, justice, and mercy. The initiative strikes at the roots of extremism by building consensus on three essential points:
· Who is a Muslim and what constitutes essential Muslim belief?
· Who has the right to give a fatwa, a religious ruling?
· And does anyone have the right to call someone an apostate in Islam?
WESRMINSTER INTERFAITH - First World Interfaith Harmony Week May 2011
THE ATLAS MARTYRS
21ST May 1996
DOM CHRISTIAN DE CHERGÉ
“It is certain that God loves the Algerians and without doubt has chosen to show them this by giving them our lives… For each one it is a moment of truth and heavy responsibility in these times when those we love feel so little loved. Each one learns to integrate, little by little, death in this gift and with death all the other conditions of this ministry of living together which is a demand of total gratuity”
BR. LUC DOCHIER
“What can happen to us? To go towards the Lord and to be immersed in his tenderness. God is all merciful and the great forgiver…There is no true love of God without consenting unreservedly to Death… Death is God”
FR. CHRISTOPHE LEBRETON
“My body is for the earth; but please, no protection between it and me. My heart is for life, but please no way between it and me. My hands for work are crossed, very simply. May my face be absolutely bare so as not to prevent the kiss. And the look, let it see it”
BR. MICHEL FLEURY
“Spirit Holy Creator, deign to bind me as soon as possible – not my will but yours be done – to the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, our Lord, with the means that you would want, sure that You, Lord, will live it in me…”
FR. BRUNO LEMARCHAND
“You lead me, Lord, in silence and in prayer, in work and in joyous service of my brothers, in the example of your hidden life at Nazareth… I am always happy in my monastic life and to live in the land of Islam. Quite simply: here is Nazareth with Jesus, Mary and Joseph…”
FR. CÉLESTIN RINGEARD
“O Jesus, I accept with all my heart that your death is renewed and accomplished in me; I know that with you we ascend from the dizzy descent into the abyss, proclaiming to the demon his defeat”
BR. PAUL FAVRE-MIVILLE
“What will remain in a few months of the Church of Algeria, of its visibility, of its structures, the people who compose it? With all probability little, very little. And yet I believe that the Good News is sown, the grain is germinating. The Spirit is at work, he works in the depths of the heart of people. Let’s be available so that he can act in us through prayer and the loving presence of all our brothers”
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