Sunday 23 June 2013

The Mystery of a Name

12th Sunday Ord Time
 
Night Office
First Reading    Judges 13:1-25
Second Reading  From the commentary by Rabanus Maurus
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Judges 13:17, 18And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, What is your name, that when your sayings come to pass we may do you honor?…


Names denote persons and describe characters. The nameless one wraps both his individuality and his nature in mystery. Naturally Manoah, like Jacob, desires to solve such a mystery (Genesis 32:29), and in response to this wish, unlike "the traveller unknown," the angel reveals a name, though one of partial mystery. 

I. MANOAH'S QUESTION (see ver. 17). 

1. Manoah does not know that his visitor is an angel of the Lord (ver. 16). Divine visitations are not always recognised. The true nature of Christ was unknown to most of his contemporaries. We cannot always trace the hand of God in his providential action. Heaven is about us unnoticed; unseen ministries attend our lives; God is nearer to us than we suspect. 
2. Manoah desires to know the name of his mysterious visitor - 
(1) from natural curiosity, 
(2) from a desire to strengthen his faith in the message of the unknown, 
(3) from a wish to give him thanks when his promise should be fulfilled. 
The thirst to solve the strange questions which surround our spiritual life is natural, and not inconsistent with humility nor with faith. It would be better if we were more anxious to inquire for indications of God and of his character in the experience of life. 
II. THE ANGEL'S REPLY (see ver. 18). 
1. He begins his reply with a question. We should not assail heaven with unjustifiable prayers, but should be ready to give a reason for our petitions. Revelation is not intended to quench human thought, but to stimulate it. Every new voice from heaven, while it answers some questions, starts new questions. 
2. The angel implies that Manoah's request was needless, either 
(1) because he ought to have recognised the nature of his visitant from the character of his message and conduct, or 
(2) because it was more important to consider the meaning of the message than to inquire into the nature of the messenger. We sometimes pray for more light when we only need better eyes to use the light we have; not a fresh revelation, but discernment, reflection, spiritual feeling to appreciate the revelation already received. God's truth is more important than the person of the prophet, apostle, or angel who brings it to us. 
3. The angel gives Manoah a name. He is "Wonderful." This was a partial answer to Manoah's question. 
(1) It carried his thought to God, who is the supreme mystery, and suggested the greatness, the wonder, the awe of all that pertained to him. Thus it was a revelation of the Divine. 
(2) Nevertheless the name was but a partial explanation, as its very meaning suggested the unknown. The deepest questions cannot be solved on earth. But it matters little that the rays of revelation seem to melt into the darkness of the Infinite if only they shine bright and clear on our path of duty. - A. 





Parallel Verses
KJV: And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
WEB: Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?"
http://ibiblestudies.com/judges/13-17.htm 

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Rabanus Maurus: Christ, the Fair Glory of the Holy Angels

Saturday, Sep 29 2012 

Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels,
Maker of all things, ruler of all nations,
Grant of thy mercy unto us thy servants
Steps up to heaven.
Send thine archangel Michael to our succour;
Peacemaker blessed, may he banish from us
Striving and hatred, so that for the peaceful
All things may prosper.
Send thine archangel Gabriel, the mighty;
Herald of heaven, may he, from us mortals,
Drive every evil, watching o’er the temples
Where thou art worshiped.
Send from the heavens Raphael thine archangel,
Health-bringer blessed, aiding every sufferer,
That, in thy service, he may wisely guide us,
Healing and blessing.
May the blest mother of our God and Saviour,
May the celestial companies of angels,
May the assembly of the saints in heaven
Hhelp us to praise thee.
Father Almighty, Son, and Holy Spirit,
God ever blessèd, hear our thankful praises;
Thine is the glory which from all creation
Ever ascendeth.
Rabanus Maurus (c.780-856), translated by the compilers of Hymns Ancient and ModernHymnary.org.
Rabanus Maurus: Jesus Enlightens the
Minds of All Believers with Heavenly Light

Tuesday, Jun 21 2011 

Let me summarise briefly everything that is said about Samson.
Samson, who in his day was a Nazirite of the Lord, is allegorically a type of Christ; first, because his birth was foretold by an angel;


secondly, because he was called a Nazirite and delivered Israel from its foes;
and, finally, because he overthrew their Temple, causing many thousands of people who had mocked him to perish.
As the birth of Samson was foretold by an angel, so the Lord’s bodily birth was foretold by the Prophets, as well as by the angel who said to Mary:
Hail, Mary, full of grace; you have conceived in your womb and will bear a son, and you shall call him ‘Emmanuel’, for he shall save his people from their sins.
The name ‘Samson’ means ‘sun’.
But our Redeemer too is called ‘sun’; listen to how the Prophet thus names the Lord Jesus: The sun of righteousness shall rise over you, and there will be healing in its wings.
The Lord Jesus is truly the Sun of Righteousness, for he enlightens the minds of all believers with heavenly light.
He is the true Nazirite and Holy one of God, and it is only by analogy with him that this other man was called a Nazirite.
When Samson was travelling to the wedding he encountered a roaring lion. As he travelled to a foreign people in quest of a wife, a lion came out to meet him and he killed it.
Who should we see foreshadowed by Samson if not Christ who, when about to gather the Church from among the Gentiles, said: Rejoice, for I have overcome the world.
What does it mean that Samson took honey from the mouth of ­the slain lion except that, as we ourselves see, the nations of the earthly kingdom who formerly raged against Christ have lost their ­savagery and, moved by the sweetness of the Gospel preaching make their votive offerings?
Also significant is what we see in ­Samson’s own person: he killed few in his lifetime, but countless ­were the enemies he slew when he died by destroying the Temple.
So too the Lord in his lifetime rescued few from the arrogance of unbelief, but he rescued many when the temple of his body was ­destroyed;
and those Gentiles who were arrogant and whom he bore with in his lifetime, he laid low by his death.
Rabanus Maurus (c.780-856): Commentary on Judges, 2.20 (PL 108:1198); from the Monastic Office of Vigils, Sunday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time, Year1

Saturday 22 June 2013

" Meg, I trust that his tender pity shall keep my poor soul safe and make me commend his mercy."(Thomas More).

A reading from a letter of St. Thomas More [1478-1535],
written in prison, to his daughter
http://achristianpilgrim.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/with-good-hope-i-shall-commit-myself-wholly-to-god/
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, Martyrs 


http://www.universalis.com/index.htm

Saint of the day: 22nd June


Saint John Fisher and Saint Thomas More 
Both saints held high office in England but submitted to martyrdom rather than accept Henry VIII's claim to be head of the Church.
St John Fisher was a learned teacher and chancellor at Cambridge university and a friend of the humanist Erasmus. He became Bishop of Rochester in 1504 at the age of 35. When asked to accept the King as head of the Church he said he could not.
"I do not condemn any other men's consciences," he said. "Their consciences must save them and mine must save me."
He was tried and executed for treason on June 17 1535. He was 66.
St Thomas More was the Lord Chancellor. A younger man than St John Fisher, he had a large family and household to support and said he did not wish to die.
"I am not so holy that I dare rush upon death," he said.
But he could not accept the King as supreme head of the Church or condone his divorce. Rather than make a public pronouncement he resigned from his post and hoped to retire quietly. But the King would not accept his silence. St Thomas was arrested, imprisoned at the Tower of London for 15 months and then declared guilty of treason and condemned to death.
He was executed nine days after St John Fisher. He was 57. From the scaffold he said: "I die the King's good servant, but God's first." 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
Second ReadingFrom a letter written in prison to his daughter,  Margaret, by Saint Thomas More

With good hope I shall commit myself wholly to God
Although I know well, Margaret, that because of my past wickedness I deserve to be abandoned by God, I cannot but trust in his merciful goodness. His grace has strengthened me until now and made me content to lose goods, land, and life as well, rather than to swear against my conscience. God’s grace has given the king a gracious frame of mind toward me, so that as yet he has taken from me nothing but my liberty. In doing this His Majesty has done me such great good with respect to spiritual profit that I trust that among all the great benefits he has heaped so abundantly upon me I count my imprisonment the very greatest. I cannot, therefore, mistrust the grace of God. Either he shall keep the king in that gracious frame of mind to continue to do me no harm, or else, if it be his pleasure that for my other sins I suffer in this case as I shall not deserve, then his grace shall give me the strength to bear it patiently, and perhaps even gladly.
  By the merits of his bitter passion joined to mine and far surpassing in merit for me all that I can suffer myself, his bounteous goodness shall release me from the pains of purgatory and shall increase my reward in heaven besides.
  I will not mistrust him, Meg, though I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember how Saint Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to him for help. And then I trust he shall place his holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning.
  And if he permits me to play Saint Peter further and to fall to the ground and to swear and forswear, may God our Lord in his tender mercy keep me from this, and let me lose if it so happen, and never win thereby! Still, if this should happen, afterward I trust that in his goodness he will look on me with pity as he did upon Saint Peter, and make me stand up again and confess the truth of my conscience afresh and endure here the shame and harm of my own fault.
  And finally, Margaret, I know this well: that without my fault he will not let me be lost. I shall, therefore, with good hope commit myself wholly to him. And if he permits me to perish for my faults, then I shall serve as praise for his justice. But in good faith, Meg, I trust that his tender pity shall keep my poor soul safe and make me commend his mercy.
  And, therefore, my own good daughter, do not let your mind be troubled over anything that shall happen to me in this world. Nothing can come but what God wills. And I am very sure that whatever that be, however bad it may seem, it shall indeed be the best.
Responsory
In the midst of their sufferings, these martyrs of Christ fixed their minds on heavenly things, praying: Lord, help us to bring your work in us to a perfect end, that we may appear blameless in your sight.
Look upon your servants and upon your own handiwork. Lord, help us to bring your work in us to a perfect end, that we may appear blameless in your sight.

Let us pray.
Almighty, ever-living God,
  you set the perfection of true faith in martyrdom.
Strengthen us by the prayers of the martyrs Saint John Fisher and Saint Thomas More,
  so that our lives may bear witness to the faith we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
  who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
  one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Friday 21 June 2013

St.Thérèse – The Artist and poet


Carmenlites Birkenhead
http://www.carmelitesbirkenhead.org.uk/wordpress/2012/09/24/st-therese-the-artist/

The TNT Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, translator by Canon Thomas T. Taylor of Carfin, familiarised whole generations in the Story of a Soul.
Not so many have learned much about St. Therese  the POET and the ARTIST.
An early encounter with the poems raises the interest, and raises more questions.
Follows the compulsion to learn about the artist.
There could be no greater revelation than in the Website of the Carmelites of Birkenhead.
Our appreciation and thanks to the Sisters. We look forward to searhing the unfathomed depths of St. Therese, Doctor of the Church.


St.Thérèse – The Artist


Therese at recreation holding her paint palette and brushes.
Therese at recreation holding her paint palette and brushes.
In 1892 Thérèse, although she still had the responsibility of the Novices, was given the
Saint Therese as St. Joan of Arc. Therese is wearing a black wig over her toque (the white linen cloth Carmelites wear on their heads) and paper fleurs-de-lys sewn on her habit
Saint Therese as St. Joan of Arc. Therese is wearing a black wig over her toque (the white linen cloth Carmelites wear on their heads) and paper fleurs-de-lys sewn on her habit
duty of painting, which was to replace her work in the sacristy.From June of this year right up until her death in 1897, Thérèse’s creativity blossomed,as she began to express herself more and more in her community life, not only through her painting but also through her poetry and the writing of plays, her most famous being the production of ‘Joan of Arc’,
which she performed on January 21, 1895. We thought as a tribute to Saint Thérèse on her Feast day, we would ‘open’ a Gallery to exhibit just a small portion of her work.
A painting Therese finished in 1892 and gave to Celine. It was modelled on a similar painting in her cell.
A painting Therese finished in 1892 and gave to Celine. It was modelled on a similar painting in her cell.
A pall made by St Therese for Father Roulland's Ordination
A pall made by St Therese for Father Roulland’s Ordination
An oil painting done by Therese which she gave to Mother Agnes for her Feast Day 1894
An oil painting done by Therese which she gave to Mother Agnes for her Feast Day 1894
Detail of a picture by Therese a few months after her entrance into Carmel 1888
Detail of a picture by Therese a few months after her entrance into Carmel 1888






Drawing by Therese of the farmhouse at Saint-Ouen
Drawing by Therese of the farmhouse at Saint-Ouen

drawing from Therese's sketchbook
drawing from Therese’s sketchbook
In 1893 Therese painted a fresco on the wall of an Oratory.
In 1893 Therese painted a fresco on the wall of an Oratory.
Oyster shell painted by Saint Therese
Oyster shell painted by Saint Therese
Pages of a Missal illuminated by Therese
Pages of a Missal illuminated by Therese

Painted Chasuble. Made from a dress that belonged to Madame Martin.
Painted Chasuble. Made from a dress that belonged to Madame Martin.

Painted stole
Painted stole
Picture and detail of a card painted by St. Therese in Carmel
Picture and detail of a card painted by St. Therese in Carmel
Picture Therese illumined of St John of the Cross
Picture Therese illumined of St John of the Cross
Taken from Therese's sketchbook
Taken from Therese’s sketchbook

The Church at Ouilly-le-Vicomte sketched by Therese on April 12, 1887
The Church at Ouilly-le-Vicomte sketched by Therese on April 12, 1887

All the images we have used come from the book Therese and Lisieux’
by Pierre Descouvemont and Helmuth Nils Loose  www. Veritas.ie







St. Aloysius Friday 21 June 13 Scripture: Mt 6,19-23





----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Fr. Nivard ....
Sent: Friday, 21 June 2013, 9:58
Subject: Happy name day, Seamus Aloysius



                                Happy name day, Seamus Aloysius

11 Friday 21 June 13 Scripture: Mt 6,19-23
Where your treasure is, your heart will be there also.  
  
Father Arrupe’s words on the Treasure of our heart.
 
Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
 
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
 
It will decide, what,
will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart, and
what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
 
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.
                                                                                     FATHER PEDRO ARRUPE, s.j. Magnificat, adapted
 
Father, our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Make us more conscious of your presence within our hearts, every moment of the day and night, through Christ our Lord.
Love and Blessings
Nivard






Thursday 20 June 2013

Longest Day - Summer's day sunrise

Summer's day sunrise
 
Dear William,
Thank you.
After Compline, 19th, I took the photos of the MOON OVER THE CHIMNEY STACK.
The moon seemed to move as fast as the time to click again. 
This evening is all clouded over.
Look for the moon elsewhere in Scotland summer day.
Saint Aloysius one of my baptismal names.
.... yours,
Donald

The moon is there.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William ...
To: Donald....
Sent: Thursday, 20 June 2013.
Subject: Summer's day sunrise

Dear Father Donald,
 
I will be thinking of you at sunrise 04:24 hrs in the morning on the longest day!
There will be many lost souls seeking sunrays at Stonehenge... but for this lost world, you will be before the Blessed Sacrament, light and Joy.
 
You will be up much before, I have no doubt, and I suspect that you may retire not long before sunset 22:01 hrs!
 
Perhaps there may not be much 'sunshine' (your forecast is for an overcast dayhttp://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/haddington#?tab=fiveDay&fcTime=1371769200), but that does not alter the wonder of it all... so quite beyond man's intuition. 
 
In the wee small hours, I will greet you in Spirit in the stillness before the Blessed Sacrament.
How earnestly I unite with you 'at the rising of the sun and at its setting'.
 
... in Our Lord,
William