Thursday 19 December 2013

The Christmas Crib at the Nunraw Guest House party of village community.




Christmas Season from fr. Donald ocso Nunraw Abbey

 

The Christmas Crib at the Nunraw Guest House party of village community.
Wishing you Peace and Blessings at Christmas  
Greetings from Donald 


This may be a more unusual messsage. 
I am happy to sent the verses of the friend during his retreat days in the community.
He says, "... My card includes a copy of a seasonal reflection which I have denoted as "conceived before the Blessed Sacrament at the Night Office of the Cistercian Abbey, Sancta Maria Abbey", my Christmas reflection - I attach an e-copy for you - it came to mind during the wonderful stillness before the Blessed Sacrament that follows after Vigils, the sanctuary light revealing hidden expressions of adoration".

Hidden in The Heart 'Blessed Sacrament at the Night Office of the Cistercian Abbey'
by William J. Wardle

Hidden in The Heart
 Hidden in the Heart
Lk 17:21 for behold, the kingdom of God is within you

I love to dwell in the darkness before the glow of the sanctuary lamp
As one who keeps vigil beneath the Star that rises over Bethlehem
To behold the coming of the Son of Man in the visions of the night [1]
A shepherd boy watching for the Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord [2]


I gaze upon the tabernacle that hosts the presence of the Lord Jesus
Once cradled in a stable, Child of love divine dwelling in our midst [3]
For while gentle silence envelopes all things and night is half gone [4]
You come all-powerful Word, Son of God, from the realms of heaven


The flickering candle casts a golden halo around the heavenly Host
As the Star beams forth the radiance of eternal light upon the stable [5]
Shining out of darkness to announce the majesty and glory of God [6]
Revealed in the infant and manifest in the Person Jesus the Messiah


May the rays spread their illumination within the temple of my soul
That I may come to the knowledge of the secrets and mysteries [7]
The treasures of the darkness of faith and the riches concealed [8]
Within the sanctuary of Your indwelling, hidden in my heart


[1]Dan 7:13 I was gazing into the visions of the night, when I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, as it were a Son of Man
[2]Lk 2:11 To you is born this day… a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord
[3] Zec 2:10 for behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you
[4] Wis 18:14 for while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, your all-powerful word leaped from heaven
[5]Wis 7:26 Wisdom is the glow that radiates from eternal light
[6]2 Cor 4:6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as to beam forth the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ the Messiah
[7]Mt 13:11 To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven
[8]Is 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places  

    
conceived before the Blessed Sacrament
at the Night Office of the Cistercian monastery,
Sancta Maria Abbey, Nunraw, Edinburgh

William




No comments: