St. Bernadette's Parish Retreat

St. Bernadette’s, (Erskine)

Parish Retreat

Nunraw Abbey 3^rd September 2011-09-04.

Fr. Byers presides at Mass of St. Gregory the Great

Homily:

St. Gregory the Great.

It is perhaps appropriate that our visit to Nunraw should come on the feast of Pope St. Gregory the Great.

Of noble birth and of strong intellect it was probably presumed that Gregory would follow the family tradition and go into Publish Life. To use modern ideas he became a Local Councillor.

However, Gregory’s upbringing had also given him strong faith, a love of prayer and a closeness to God.

His political career saw him brings charge and great benefit to people. He saw where reform was needed and was not afraid to push and implement reform.

Such was his success that eventually he was made Prefect of Rome – the equivalent of Mayor or Provost, I suppose.

His strength of faith also saw him establish monasteries, not only in Rome but also in Sicily. (Family home).

Despite the supposed success of Gregory’s political career he was not happy.  There was a constant niggle in him that encouraged a change in the direction of his life.

And so Gregory left the Public Office and entered a monastery to devote his life to prayer, reflection on the Word of God and writing his thoughts.

However, the best laid plans do not always follow your own directions. Gregary simply wanted to say his prayers.

Having already proved himself as a diplomat in his public life, the Pope encouraged and really insisted that Gregory take religious orders and become a deacon. This Gregory accepted in obedience. He soon learned that the Pope had further plans.

Gregory was sent as Papal envoy to Constantinople. His faith and prayer, his diplomacy and leadership, his sensibility and compassion worked wonders – especially in places of conflict.

After five years Gregory returned to home to his monastery, to his life of prayer and contemplation. Peace! Best laid plans!

He managed only five years before the Pope died as plague ravaged the city of Rome.
Gregory was elected Pope by acclamation. He bemoaned the burden of Office because it meant the loss of an undisturbed life of prayer.

However, despite that, all his background experience helped him be a great leader on the Church. His teaching, his writing, his pastoral care for the needing.

He worked hard to introduce Liturgical reforms. We even think of singing in the Liturgy, Plainchant of Gregorian chant.

I remember a retreat Father once saying “Never be so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly use.” I like that.

In today’s Gospel, the religious leaders want to be so heavenly minded as to force people to abide by their interpretation of a rule. Jesus speaks differently. St. Paul in the first Reading speaks of the faith that leads people from where they are at, at grace roots level, and builds there at a closer union with God.

Both Readings sum up the life of Pope Gregory the Great. Faith, down to earth pastoral care; building himself and others in faith and prayer, leading them closer to God.

In typical Scottish terminology we might simply say – see Gregory, he was GREAT!

West to East - from St. Bermadette's, Erskine(Paisley), to Nunraw, background Lothian, distant Forth and Fife

Some of the pilgrims

Fr. Jim Byers at Our Lady shrine  Nunraw guest-house

Fr. Jim Byers finds the location of relative, Dan McLaughlin, who for years volunteered at the Abbey construction.

Dan set up the shrine for Our Lady in the sunken garden in the Guest House. Later, after his death, his ashes were interred here.  

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