St. Columban. FAR EAST, Columban Missionaries

Community Chronicle.

On St. Columban's day we prayed for Fr. Jim McGlynn and Fr. Eddie Sherry and wonderful Columban Missionaries. 

Fr. Jim used to visit the family on breaks from Australia. 

Fr. Eddie was the brother of our Fr. Michael who Edited the FAR EAST magazine in Australia. During his home leave, and in Europe searched for Old Master painting for the Columban Calendar.

Samuel Mulcahy was a Columban Seminarian in Dalgan. He was directed to find his vocation to Roscre Abbey. 

Samuel became, novice Br. Columban. In the end he became the first Abbot of Nunraw Abbey in Scotland.

From the Director - God became one of us The Gospels relate that Jesus was born in a stable, there was no room at the inn. Today we know there is no room in the world for millions of people seeking a better life. Part of our human condition is that we are both merciful and merciless. (more)

Saint Columbanus Abbot November 23 - Optional Memory

Ireland c. 525-530 - Bobbio, Piacenza, November 23 615 Columba is one of the representatives of the monastic world that give rise to the 'pilgrimage pro Domino', which was one of the factors of cultural renewal and evangelization of Europe. From Ireland passed (c. 590) in France, Switzerland and Northern Italy, creating and organizing community church and founded several monasteries, some of which, for example Luxeuil and Bobbio, famous for the liturgical books of the same name. The monastic rule that encodes its spirituality is marked by great precision and intends to associate with the monks in the sacrifice of Christ. His practice has influenced the new monastic penitential discipline of the West. (Message Rom) Etymology: Columban = mild, delicate Emblem: Pastoral Staff Martyrology: St. Columba, Abbot, that of Irish origin, who became a pilgrim for Christ in the Gospel to educate the people of France, he founded along with many other monasteries that of Luxeuil, which he ruled in strict observance of the rule; forced to ' exile, crossed the Alps and founded the monastery of Bobbio in Napa, famous for its discipline and studies, where well-deserving of the Church, he died in peace, and his body was laid on this day.

http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/30200

2014-Columban Art-Calendar

For the Memorial of Saint Columban:

SECOND READING

From an instruction by Saint Columban, abbot
(Instr. 11, 1-2; Opera, Dublin, 1957, 106-107)

Man’s likeness to God, if preserved, imparts high dignity

Moses wrote in the law: God made man in his image and likeness. Consider, I ask you, the dignity of these words. God is all-powerful. We cannot see or understand him, describe or assess him. Yet he fashioned man from clay and endowed him with the nobility of his own image. What has man in common with God? Or earth with spirit?—for God is a spirit. It is a glorious privilege that God should grant men his eternal image and the likeness of his character. Man’s likeness to God, if he preserves it, imparts high dignity.

If man applies the virtues planted in his soul to the right purpose, he will be like God. God’s commands have taught us to give him back the virtues he sowed in us in our first innocence. The first command is to love our Lord with our whole heart because he loved us first from the beginning, before our existence. Loving God renews his image in us. Anyone who loves God keeps his commandments, for he said: If you love me, keep my commandments. His command is that we love each other. In his own words: This is my command, that you love each other as I also have loved you.

True love is shown not merely in word, but in deed and in truth. So we must turn back our image undefiled and holy to our God and Father, for he is holy; in the words of Scripture: Be holy, for I am holy. We must restore his image with love, for he is love; in John’s words: God is love. We must restore it with loyalty and truth, for he is loyal and truthful. The image we depict must not be that of one who is unlike God; for one who is harsh and irascible and proud would display the image of a despot.

Let us not imprint on ourselves the image of a despot, but let Christ paint his image in us with his words: My peace I give you, my peace I leave with you. But the knowledge that peace is good is of no benefit to us if we do not practice it. The most valuable objects are usually the most fragile; costly things require the most careful handling. Particularly fragile is that which is lost by wanton talk and destroyed with the slightest injury of a brother. Men like nothing better than discussing and minding the business of others, passing superfluous comments at random and criticizing people behind their backs. So those who cannot say: The Lord has given me a discerning tongue, that I may with a word support him who is weary should keep silent, or if they do say anything it should promote peace.

RESPONSORY
Luke 6:47, 48; Sirach 25:15

Anyone who comes to me
and listens to my words and acts on them,
I will show you what he is like.
– He is like a man who while building his house
dug deeply and laid his foundation on rock.

Happy is the man who fears the Lord.
Who is his equal?
Who can compare with him?
– He is like a man who while building his house
dug deeply and laid his foundation on rock.

CONCLUDING PRAYER
   
Let us pray. 
O God, who in Saint Columban
wonderfully joined the work of evangelization
to zeal for the monastic life,
grant, we pray,
that through his intercession and example
we may strive to seek you above all things
and to bring increase to your faithful people.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.