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| Fr. Stephen (88) Monk of Nunraw died 6/2/2013 |
Thursday
of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
MASS on the death of Father Stephen
This
morning it was the occasion of offering Mass for our Father Stephen who died
yesterday.
We
celebrated chasuble and stoles in white in favour of the monk who dedicated his
68 years of Monastic Profession.
In
the Communion Hymn, seeing the dawn of the colourful skies, we sang the phrase,
“I trace the rainbow through the rain”, reminding again that 2dawn shall
tearless be.”
Words
of Saint Catherine of Siena, ‘it is
time for harvesting and sowing’ applied to the climax of the life of Fr. Stephen, as
his powerful prayer for vocations to the community.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA
'They cast out many devils"
I Caterina, servant
and slave of God's servants, am writing
to encourage you in the precious blood of God's Son.
I long to see you so
strong and filled to overflowing with that Holy Spirit
who came upon the holy disciples, that
God's gentle Word will be able to grow and bear fruit in
you and in your neighbours as well.
After the fire of the Holy
Spirit had descended on them they mounted the pulpit of the
blazing cross, where they felt and tasted the hunger of God's
Son, his love for humankind.
Then their words came
forth as does a red-hot knife from a furnace, and with its heat they pierced
their listeners to the heart and cast out
the devils.
Since they had lost
themselves, they saw not themselves
but only God's glory and honour and our salvation."
So...I beg you-it is my
will in Christ Jesus-make your home in the pulpit of the cross.
There be engulfed,
lose yourself completely, with
insatiable desire.
Draw the red-hot knife and
strike the devils, seen and unseen, who want continually to disturb
your conscience by nipping people's
fruit in the bud.
Don't
give in to this wicked devil-especially now, when it is
time for harvesting and sowing.
Tell the devil to deal with
me instead of with you! Forward then, courageously!
Saint Catherine of
Siena (+ 1380), Doctor
of the Church was a Dominican, stigmatist,
and papal counselor.
