St. Antony Mass Memorial

Friday 17 January 2014

SAINT ANTONY
Patriarch of Monks
(251-356)

        St. Antony was born in the year 251, in Upper Egypt. Hearing at Mass the words, "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor," he gave away all his vast possessions. He then begged an aged hermit to teach him the spiritual life. He also visited various solitaries, copying in himself the principal virtue of each.

        To serve God more perfectly, Antony entered the desert and immured himself in a ruin, building up the door so that none could enter. Here the devils assaulted him most furiously, appearing as various monsters, and even wounding him severely; but his courage never failed, and he overcame them all by confidence in God and by the sign of the cross.

        One night, whilst Antony was in his solitude, many devils scourged him so terribly that he lay as if dead. A friend found him thus, and believing him dead carried him home. But when Antony came to himself he persuaded his friend to carry him, in spite of his wounds, back to his solitude. Here, prostrate from weakness, he defied the devils, saying, "I fear you not; you cannot separate me from the love of Christ." After more vain assaults the devils fled, and Christ appeared to Antony in glory.

        His only food was bread and water, which he never tasted before sunset, and sometimes only once in two, three, or four days. He wore sackcloth and sheepskin, and he often knelt in prayer from sunset to sunrise.

        Many souls flocked to him for advice, and after twenty years of solitude he consented to guide them in holiness-thus founding the first monastery. His numerous miracles attracted such multitudes that he fled again into solitude, where he lived by manual labor.

        He expired peacefully at a very advanced age. St. Athanasius, his biographer, says that the mere knowledge of how St. Antony lived is a good guide to virtue.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

January 3, Most Holy Name of Jesus

  

 
January 3, Most Holy Name of Jesus

The name of Jesus is a name of gladness, a name of hope and a name of love. A name of gladness, because if the remembrance of past transgressions afflicts us, this name comforts us, reminding us that the Son of God became man for this purpose, to make himself our Savior.

A name of hope, because he that prays to the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus may hope for every grace he asks for: If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it you.

A name of love. For the name of Jesus brings to our remembrance all the sufferings which Jesus has endured for us in his life and at his death. — Excerpted from St. Alphonsus de Liguori, The Incarnation Birth and Infancy of Jesus Christ.   

Prayer to the Most Holy Name of Jesus

by St. Bernard of Clairvaux

 Jesus, the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills the breast! Yet sweeter far Thy face to see And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame, Nor can the memory find, A sweeter sound than Jesus' name, The Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart! 0 joy of all the meek! To those who fall, how kind Thou art! How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah! this Nor tongue nor pen can show The love of Jesus, what it is, None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou, As Thou our prize shalt be; In Thee be all our glory now, And through eternity.

Amen.

Catholic Online

Monthly Commemoration of the Dead. Night Office on Viaticum

Tuesday, 21 May 2013, Seventh Week of Ordinary Time

The Community Mass to morning  was celebrating the Mass for monthly commemoration of the recently deceased. * Comm. of the Dead, (Lk. 8:23-33, 38-43).

The prayer of the Faithful.

1. For the repentance of past sins

- that, with the good thief, we may receive from Christ the promise of entry into the kingdom of heaven,

2. ....

A Reading about Holy Viaticum,

from a Book by Fr. Jean Mouroux (Mystery of Time, NY 1964, p.317)

The Christian who is about to die is in the time-for-hope, cradled in the hands of the Christ-God. He insures our passage to the Father. And the most appropriate sign of this passage into the hands of God is Viaticum, the last communion on the tongue of the dying. Christ becomes the food for our journey, the remedy of life, the source of immortality, the living bread from heaven which leads us to Paradise. The Church takes the words of Jesus seriously: "He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day" (In 6,55). To receive Viaticum is "to die in the Lord" in the strictest sense of the word. It is to be led by the Way to the last cross road; by the Truth, to the last deceitful temptation; by the Life to apparent annihilation.

Thus we see that at the final lonely hour the Christian is surrounded by the Trinity and the family of God's children. This is the wondrous meaning of the prayer Profiscere: "Depart from the world, Christian soul, in the name of God the Father who created you; in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you; in the name of the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on you." All the saints are there to protect and receive their brother; the Virgin Mary is there so that "he will no longer fear the terrors of death," but "go joyously to his Father's house in heaven"; the angels are present "to conduct him to paradise" and to push back "Satan and his devilish hordes" into "the abyss of eternal night"; SI. Joseph, the Patriarchs, the Martyrs and the other saints are there too. Because the King is there, the whole celestial army is there. The priest gives Viaticum and commends the soul to God. Through the invisible presence of these people, death in Christ and the Church proves to be a deeply sacred act filled with joy, sorrow, and peace. It is the last act of holy abandon by man's free will. Truly, "Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord" (Ap 14- 13).

Sept 27 Memorial of St. Vincent dePaul. Quote 1945 from Gabrielle Bossis

HE AND I by Gabrielle B.

1945 September 27 - "Do you understand the appalling ingratitude of flying from Him who loves you so dearly?

Find your happiness in serving Me, even in the very smallest details. Nothing that is for love is little. "

"Lord, how can You be touched by such weak things from Your weak creatures?" 

 "Haven't I been your Brother? Don't I know human nature and the life of man on earth? You are so used to picturing Me as the God in heaven that you forget how I toiled, suffered from cold, heat, hunger, just as you do. But I was always more afflicted than you.

When the last day comes and you look for Him who on earth was the poorest and most tortured of men you will recognize the Son of Man and you will understand why He received the greatest weight of glory."

Daily Gospel and Reflection, Thursday, September 27, 2012

Abel at Gospel Today, 365 Days with the Lord Jesus - 1 day ago

Saint Vincent de Paul, priest Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, 1st Reading Psalm 90 Luke 9:7-9 Call to Worship Song Here I Am, Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGZ9j3OD88 Entrance Antiphon The Spirit of God is upon me; he has anointed me. He sent me to bring good news to the poor, and to heal the broken hearted. (Luke 4:18) Opening Prayer God our Father, you gave Vincent de Paul

Grace Watkins' memorial.

Friday, 7 September 2012

Community Monthly Memorial of the Dead

Nunraw overview Garvald Village.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011 

Month Memorial.

Fr. H. introduced the Mass for the Memorial of the recent deceased brethren, relatives and benefactors. 

Among the prayers we thought of the late Grace Watkins of Garvald and at the last years in the nursing home of Nazareth House.  

Mass Intercession:

For Grace Watkins and yesterday found her writing saying, "I find myself, and love Nunraw above other places on earth..."

DIARY 2000 September Monday 11th. "... I could never see how it could apply in the circumstances in which I find myself, yet the idea has always been a part of me.

Just how this will work out in practical terms remains to be seen but for the moment I exist where I  find myself, and love Nunraw above any other place on earth, although the Eucharistic Presence wherever it may be as exception. In none of this do I have any human proprietorship."

Remembrance Day November 2011

Remembrance Day
Paying their respects Employees of Lloyds gather
in the companys Underwriting Room for a service

Sunday, 13 November 2011.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Intro;
For today, is Remembrance Sunday,
- whether Armistice Day
- or Remenbrance Day
- or Poppy Day.

The country remembers all the men and women who were killed during two Worl Wars and other conflicts.

In practice, the POPPY tradition is the charity for  War Veterans.

And in faith we pray for all souls,

- already, for Catholics, in November praying is a special way in the month of Holy Souls.

The Media massive coverage of Remembrance Day reminds of our part.

All that is small compared to the Mass.

As we offer Mass we pray for all souls.

. . .

[The Mail Online illustrates Remembrance Day with the pictorial of striking photos.

Marshall McLuhan coined phrase ‘medium is the message’ and his theme on publicity making the ‘event’, - the digital real.

In the Mass, the divine presence transcends the ethereal/virtual media].

Packed: The service at Lloyd's is observed with the ringing of the Lutine Bell, the laying of wreaths before the Book of Remembrance and a two-minute silence

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060237/Remembrance-Day-2011-Britain-comes-standstill-Armistice-Day-observe-2-minute-silence.html#ixzz1dbYemt4w  

+ + +    

Bidding Prayer:

Heavenly Father, hear our prayer,

and Mary, conceived immaculate, prayer for us,

who have recourse to you,

pray for us, 

ESPECIALLY  for all of Remembrance Sunday,

Through ...

Community Monthly Memorial of the Dead

Nunraw - Six-month Mind Memorial
Br. Aidan R.I.P. 30 March 2011

Mass

---

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14LUKE 12:1-7(Romans 4:1-8; Psalm 32)
KEY VERSE: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and can do no more" (v 4). 

Month Memorial.

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Fr. Nivard ... @yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, 13 October 2011, 17:08
Subject: Fear him who has power to destroy body and soul 

Do not fear those who kill the body Scripture:  Luke 12:1-7 

At the Funeral of Henry W. Wilberforce

From the letter of one who was present at the funeral of Mr. Henry Wilberforce at the Dominican Monastery at Woodchester, in 1873:

Extract: Newman drew an outline of his friend’s comfortable life and prospect of advancement. Then the word of the Lord came to him, as it did to Abraham of old, to go forth from that pleasant home, and from his friends, and all he held dear, and to become a fool for Christ's sake."

Newman then committed him to the hands of his Saviour. He then reminded us of the last hour, and dreadful judgment, which awaited us all, but which his dear brother had safely passed through. Finally he earnestly and sweetly prayed that every one present might have a holy and happy death.

Father, may the light of your word free our hearts from the deception of sin and consume them with a burning love for your truth. Through Christ our Lord.

Original: DURING the office a venerable figure came quietly up the aisle, and was going meekly to take a place on the chairs at the side; but H—— saw and took him into the sacristy, whence he soon made his appearance in cassock and cotta in the choir, and was conducted to the Prior's stall, which was vacated for him. This was dear Dr. Newman. He followed the office with them, but after awhile could contain his tears no longer, and buried his face in his handkerchief. At the end of Mass, Father Bertrand said something to Dr. Newman, and, after a little whispering, the venerable man was conducted to the pulpit. For some minutes, however, he was utterly incapable of speaking, and {17} stood, his face covered with his hands, making vain efforts to master his emotion. I was quite afraid he would have to give it up. At last, however, after two or three attempts, he managed to steady his voice, and to tell us "that he knew him so intimately and loved him so much, that it was almost impossible for him to command himself sufficiently to do what he had been so unexpectedly asked to do, viz., to bid his dear friend farewell. He had known him for fifty years, and though, no doubt, there were some there who knew his goodness better than he did, yet it seemed to him that no one could mourn him more." Then he drew a little outline of his life—of the position of comfort and all "that this world calls good," in which he found himself, and of the prospect of advancement, "if he had been an ambitious man." "Then the word of the Lord came to him, as it did to Abraham of old, to go forth from that pleasant home, and from his friends, and all he held dear, and to become——" here he fairly broke down again, but at last, lifting up his head, finished his sentence—"a fool for Christ's sake." Then he said that he now "committed him to the hands of his Saviour," and he reminded us of "the last hour, and dreadful judgment, which awaited us all, but which his dear brother had safely passed through," and earnestly and sweetly prayed "that every one there present might have a holy and happy death."

Lord Jesus, may the light of your word free my heart from the deception of sin and consume me with a burning love for your truth and righteousness.

Padre Pio "Who do you say I am"

----- Forwarded Message ----- 
From: Nivard ..   
Sent: Friday, 23 September 2011, 10:56 
Subject: Padre Pio  

"Who do you say I am?"

Luke 9:18-22 
Today we have the Memorial of St Padre Pio. The following words, from his diary, were meant only for his confessor.  
He writes:   
Jesus tells me that, in love, it is he who delights me, but in suffering, on the other hand, it is I who give pleasure to him.

Ah, dear Father, pardon me for using this sort of language; Jesus alone can understand what I suffer when the painful scene of Calvary is enacted before my eyes.

Who could resist Jesus? I realise that I have made him suffer exceedingly, by my failings, that I have made him weep too much by my ingratitude, that I have offended him too grievously.


Extract: ‘Magnificat’ September 2011 Vol. 1, No. 12.   
www.magnificat.com

Today we have the Memorial of St Padre Pio. The following words, from his diary, were meant only for his confessor. They were not meant for publication.
FULL TEXT:

He writes: Jesus tells me that in love it is he who delights me, while in suffering, on the other hand, it is I who give pleasure to him. Now, to desire good health would mean seeking happiness for myself instead of trying to comfort Jesus. Yes, I love the cross, the cross alone; I love it because I see it always on Jesus' shoulders. By this time Jesus is well aware that my entire life, my whole heart is consecrated to him and to his sufferings.


Ah, dear Father, pardon me for using this sort of language; Jesus alone can understand what I suffer when the painful scene of Calvary is enacted before my eyes. It is equally incomprehensible how Jesus can be consoled not merely by those who sympathise with his torments, but when he finds a soul who for love of him asks no consolations and only wants to be allowed to share in his sufferings.


When Jesus wants to make me under-stand that he loves me, he permits me to relish the wounds, the thorns, the anguish of his Passion. When he wants me to rejoice, he fills my heart with that spirit which is all fire and he speaks to me of his delights. But when he wants to be delighted, he speaks to me of his suffer­ings, he invites me in a tone which is both a request and a command to offer my body that his sufferings may be alleviated. .


Who could resist him? I realise that I have made him suffer exceedingly by my failings, that I have made him weep too much by my ingratitude, that I have offended him too grievously. I want nobody but Jesus, I desire nothing else (which is Jesus' own desire) than his sufferings. Allow me to say it, since no one can hear us, I am ready even to be deprived for' ever of the tendernesses which Jesus lavishes on me, I am prepared to bear his hiding his beautiful eyes from me as long as he does not hide from me his love, for this would cause my death.

SAINT: PIO OF PIETRELClNA († 1968) was an Italian Capuchin priest who during his lifetime enjoyed a vast reputation for sanctity.

‘Magnificat’ September 2011 Vol. 1, No. 12.
Pio of Pietrelcina (Saint)  
From Letters, Vol. I. Correspondence with his Spiritual Directors, Father Gerardo Di Plumeri, OFM.Cap., Ed. 1984, Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary, San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia), Italy. Used with permission-

padrepioinscotland.org.uk 

FUNERAL MASS OF JOSEPH REDDINGTON

FUNERAL MASS OF JOSEPH REDDINGTON

CHURCH OF SS JOHN CANTIUS AND NICHOLAS, BROXBURN

HOMILY PREACHED BY CARDINAL KEITH PATRICK O’BRIEN

MONDAY 18^TH APRIL 2011

INTRODUCTION:

Just one week ago today Monday 11^th April 2011 Joseph Reddington passed peacefully from this life into eternal life to be caught up in the mystery of the beatific vision of God in Heaven.

One might say a very ordinary and humble man – but a man of deep spirituality who had prepared for his death aided by his wife Ellen and his family in a very beautiful way.

JOE – THE MAN:

Joe Reddington was born on 13^th December 1936 in West Lothian itself and literally spent all his life there. He never moved far within a limited circle – but was very well known not only in Bathgate and Broxburn but also in both Livingston Station and laterally Uphall Station.

He worked locally, had his close family and friends locally – but a high proportion of his time was spent working in the parishes in which he lived for a succession of difference parish priests but always working with and for the needs of his local community.

Of great concern to him was the beauty of the Church and invariably the Parish hall – and I was delighted when he offered his services in a voluntary capacity to me when I was appointed Archbishop some 25 years ago to help with the very considerable extent of land which was my garden, ably assisted by his dedicated wife Ellen.

Joe got to know the then Ellen Flannigan on a pilgrimage which they were both making for the Holy Year of 1975 to Rome. Their friendship developed into love and they had a wonderfully happy life together, both actively engaged in the service of others especially in their parish communities for the 33 years of their married life together.

Perhaps it was his memory of getting to know Ellen on that pilgrimage to Rome that inspired Joe to ensure that many other people who might not otherwise have been able to go on pilgrimage to join in one of Joe’s famous “holiday/pilgrimages” to one or other of the many shrines in Europe combining those pilgrimages with a happy and relaxed holiday. 

How many of us here have enjoyed his pilgrimages to Fatima, Knock, Rocamadour, Ars, Hungary Lithuania and, of course to Lourdes – with a beginning of these holiday pilgrimages coinciding with my own appointment as Archbishop and concluding with our pilgrimage to Lourdes last year this being followed by my own silver jubilee pilgrimage to Rome. 

One might say that Joe led a simple uncomplicated life – but a life dedicated to the service of others in his various parishes but especially within our own Archdiocese.

SPIRITUALITY OF JOE:

One might ask just what inspired Joe to give so much of his time and so much of his life to the service of others – quite simply through his love of gardening or through using his organisational skills with many, many hours of his free time in arranging these pilgrimages to which I have referred.

I think Joe’s spirituality can be summed up by the quotations in the Order of Service which we have with us today.

In the first reading from St John’s Gospel we are reminded of that simple statement from Jesus as to who he was. We are told that Jesus said to the crowd “I am the living bread which has come down from Heaven”. And going from that statement as to who he was, Jesus indicated what was to happen – those who ate that bread which was himself would live forever, for the bread which he was giving “is my flesh for the life of the world”.

Joe believed that statement of Jesus Christ; and Joe followed the instruction of Jesus to “eat this bread of life” whenever he could.

I know that whenever possible especially during his years of retirement he was a dedicated attendee at daily Mass in his parishes. Daily Mass on the various pilgrimage journeys which he led was not an option but a necessity – and along with my brother priests I remember celebrating Mass and distributing Holy Communion in a great variety of what we might say “unusual” places!  I do not think any of us will forget those wonderful celebrations which we enjoyed in the major pilgrimage centres of the world including St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the vast underground Basilica in Lourdes – but also intimate homely Masses celebrated quite literally in wayside shrines and small parish churches – but even on the bus in which we were travelling as well as on one occasion in the centre of a motorway roundabout!

The other instruction which Joe followed quite literally to the letter was that of the Mother of Jesus namely Our Blessed Lady herself – following the instruction which Our Lady gave to St Bernadette on 23^rd February 1858 when Our Blessed Lady indicated to Bernadette that a shrine was to be erected in Lourdes and as she said:”People should come here in procession”.

Again Joe took those words quite literally and with increasing experience and great expertise he ensured that a steady supply of pilgrims was available to go to Lourdes itself year by year involving also a pilgrimage to other shrines such as Rocamadour, Lisieux, Nevers – to name but a few.

Joe loved the processions and to ensure that the processions were more than adequately led Ellen and Joe commissioned the most beautiful Archdiocesan banner ever seen in Lourdes namely that of our own Archdiocese which banner bravely led our pilgrimage groups year by year. And of course no procession would be complete without a candle and I can say without any fear of contradiction that “Joe’s candles” were among the largest ever seen at Lourdes and perhaps led to the permanent back injury of those men delegated to carry the candle especially to the candle shrine near the Grotto on the final day of every pilgrimage.

CONCLUSION:

There is an old saying that “God cannot be outdone in generosity!”

Joe along with Ellen was more than generous to God with his life, with his time, with his energy and with his expertise. But whatever Joe did for God we know that God can do even greater things.

Joe very humbly accepted the presentation of the Bene Merenti Medal and Scroll (literally ‘well done!’) in the presence of Ellen by myself, as a representative of Pope Benedict XVI on 30 March 2008.  It is this medal which now lies on his coffin and will remain in the proud possession of Ellen.

However, Joe was not really too concerned about earthly awards – rather was he concerned with his spiritual growth and indeed what God could do for him through his prayer and the Sacraments and through the intercession of Our Blessed Lady.

It is indeed almost a minor miracle that with our shortage of priests and sisters at this present time whenever Joe was latterly ill in hospitals or at home invariably he managed to receive that same bread of life almost day by day – even up to the day before he died.   I believe that again he received Our Lord in Holy Communion on three separate occasions with the final occasion being accompanied once more by the Sacrament of the Sick. What a great privilege was his!

On thinking again of those words of Our Blessed Lady to St Bernadette and of the processions which Joe organised in honour of Our Blessed Lady especially Our Lady of Lourdes we can fondly imagine now Joe in procession with the angels and saints before the throne of God Our Father in Heaven to hear those words from Jesus himself: “Well done good and faithful servant enter in to the joy of your Lord!”

However on this occasion Joe would not ask us to be in any way presumptuous but being the man he was he would simply ask us to pray for the happy repose of his soul. This we now do in this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass but realising that like St Joseph his Patron Saint Joe Reddington followed the example of St Joseph and quite simply throughout his life “did what the Lord asked him to do”!  

May God indeed grant him eternal rest and comfort and strengthen Ellen, his family near and far who loved him so much and all those who have benefited from knowing him and sharing in his pilgrimages on earth.      

Monthly Memorial - Office of the Dead

18^th February Friday of the Sixth week in Ordinary Time

Office of the Dead

Community Mass was offered for the Monthly Memorial of deceased Brethren, Relatives, Associates and friends.

It was appropriate to mark the Month Mind of Franciscan Missionary of Mary, Sr. Mary Hynland. R.I.P.

   

Acknowledgement  to Vincent Toal, Editor  

Night Office Reading A Commentary on Death in the Psalms  by Fr Charles Callan.   All must finally die, rich and poor; high and low; strong and weak. At its best the longest earthly life is but a breath, and to people, worldly in the wrong sense, death can be a palling and chilling thought. Unless it is banished from the mind, it can cloud every bright prospect, sadden every joy, weigh down the strongest heart with gloomy foreboding. It is the certainty and finality of death that make it awful. Life is soon over, and the dead return no more. (p. 205 edit)    To righteous and godly people, however, the state of the case is different.                                                                                                     From the sleep of death, they wake up to everlasting enjoyment. From the darkness of the grave they come forth into eternal morning light. There is a streaming glory ahead, waiting upon the incident of temporal death, which the psalms only glimpse partially and dimly, but really, growing out of the felt certainty that communion and fellowship with God in this life, cannot be interrupted hereafter. (p. 206 edit)    Note therefore the advantage of the good Christian who knows, that for him, death is the gateway to life; to real abundant, overflowing eternal life. He is willing, to stay, but, only as long as God wants him to stay, as long as he can add to the glory of his heavenly Father, the sanctification of his own soul, and the good of his neighbour. … Apart from such motives and purposes, the present life and world have no strong hold on the true Christian who knows that he was made for, and even yearns for, better things. (p. 119 edit) The Psalms, Charles Callan OP, 1944