Comment: Precious photo of the monks of Tibhirine in 1996

Dear William,
As with much toil searching in hidden copies of the ATLAS MARTYRS Volumes 1 & 2 they have come to the surface and saved them securly.
It should be easily available in Word Documents and may be attached at request (presently). 


Thank you for your great interest of the Atlas monks.


The kind Birthday greetings are a happy marker of the perfect number, 77 years, as the Psalmist, "Our span is seventy years
or eighty for those who are strong". Ps.89.  
Yours ...
Donald

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: WILLIAM ...
To: Fr Donald ...
Sent: Thu, 11 August, 2011 9:30:02
Subject: Re: [Blog] Precious to remember the monks of Tibhirine

Dear Father Donald,

 

What a deep delight to 'possess' this photograph of the monks of Tibhirine which I will place in your Vol 2 at p.16 beside the one you obtained and scanned (which I like now to imagine was taken moments earlier before Br. Michel responded to the photographer's request to 'bunch up' by moving down to the front row!).

 

There is always something special to hold one's thoughts and inspire one to reflect and to pray whenever your volumes are opened. The article you reproduce in your Blog contain words that so inspired me 'all those years ago' and which I have always remembered:

 

From experience we know that little things often cost a lot, particularly when we have to go on doing them day after day. It's all right to have to wash one's brothers' feet on Maundy Thursday ... but howabout doing it everyday?...

 

We have given our heart to God once and for all, and we find it hard when he takes it piecemeal.

Taking up an apron, as Jesus did, can be as serious and solemn an act as to lay down one's life ...What is so wonderful about your Blog is that we can all together share in the wonder of these things.

 

With sincere thanks,

...  in Our Lord,

William

 

[Dom Donald's Blog] Precious photo of the monks of Tibhirine in 1996

A Heritage Too Big For Us Vol II : article pp 6-8 : The "martyrdom" of charity Christian de Cherge

 

From experience we know that little things often cost a lot, particularly when we have to go on doing them day after day. It's all right to have to wash one's brothers' feet on Maundy Thursday ... but how about doing it everyday? or washing the feet of anyone who turns up? When Fr.Bernardo (Abbot General) told us that the Order has more need of monks than martyrs, he was not, of course, referring to this type of martyrdom, which is in fact what shapes the monk through so many little things. We have given our heart to God once and for all, and we find it hard when he takes it piecemeal. Taking up an apron, as Jesus did, can be as serious and solemn an act as to lay down one's life ... and conversely, laying down ones life may be as simple as taking up an apron. We should tell ourselves this when the everyday tasks or deeds of love weigh on us with this threat which also has to be shared with all.