The Meditation The Fourth Sunday After Easter May 14 th 2017 A.D.

Transcription

1 The Meditation The Fourth Sunday After Easter May 14 th 2017 A.D. Jesus and the Miraculous Drought of Fishes 1515 Raphael Sanzio da Urbino ( ) Italian Renaissance Painter

2 2. The Collect for the Fourth Sunday After Easter - A.D O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou doest promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God. Throughout all ages of Ages. World without end Amen. Empty Vessels All Brethren, you believe that all glory belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ; do not combine this faith of yours with flattery of human greatness. (St. James; Chap 2, Vs. 1) * Good Saint James is gifted in his writing, with the ability to put two sharply contrasting ideas into one sentence, so that we easily see the value of one and reject the other. The Apostle s love for truth is so great that it immediately becomes evident to all who read his epistle. Whoever believes in (abandons themselves to) our glorified Lord, ceases to be impressed by human standing, status, and wealth. They know that they must clothe themselves with the merits of Christ, without which we all stand naked before God, entirely dependent upon His mercy and goodness. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right Hand of God. (Colossians: Chap. 3, Vs. 1) Nothing should please us more than that which is heavenly. The person who has tasted and known the sweetness of the Lord, also knows how mighty, and how faithful He is. They will no longer find their pleasures in the things of the earth. Those who have risen with Christ from death and the hold of the grave and lives with Christ will not fall under the sway of material things, status and position, and earthly riches. True and lasting treasure lies elsewhere, and Christ s standards are not the standards of the world. Our Collect for today implores Almighty God for His divine assistance in fixing our hearts where they ought to be, lifting them up from the world and into Jesus Christ. Jesus read from the Book of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. ( St. Luke; Chap. 4, Vss ). We are those poor whom the Father loves so dearly that He sent His Son to bid us prisoners to go free, to give sight to those of us who were blind, to set those of us at liberty who were oppressed, and to proclaim a year when mankind may find acceptance with the Lord, a day of retribution. Yes, that s us!

3 3. The sun of God s mercy rises and sets over both good and bad people, and all are welcome into His House; blind and lame and beggars from the streets He compels them all to come in. How then, in God s Name, do we dare make distinctions between those who are all one in His merciful love? A person who dares to look down upon another, whom they may consider inferior in any way, forgets their own origin. We begin as nothing, and are in life, still unspeakably poor. We possess nothing but our inability to possess. It s only by God s grace and mercy that we are able to possess anything at all... everything that comprises our lives is merely on loan and for a very short period of time St. Paul the Apostle writes: For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for our edification, and not for your destruction. ( II Corinthians; chap. 10, Vs. 8). We certainly can t say as much... even the clergy, for we don t possess the balance between grace and nature that was his. We can only boast of our weaknesses, that the power of Christ may be glorified in us, or of our poverty, that God may pour upon us His riches and grace. Only God can bring any semblance of order to our unruly wills and affections, and by so ordering, our sinful natures can be changed into acceptable vessels into which He can pour His Love. We commend our poverty to our loving Jesus, our bottomless emptiness is His! We ask Him to fill us, His empty vessels. If He should find us full of vanity and pride, let us beseech Him to use the power of His love and like St. Paul, give us a thorn in our flesh; then His grace will be all-sufficient so that we may bear the pain. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father. ( St. James; Chap 1, Vs. 17). We ought to desire one thing only: that the force of Christ appear in our weakness. Then we can boast of His riches in us! *From the Latin Vulgate translation for clarity. Jesus said unto His disciples, Now I go my way to him that sent me. St. John; Chap 15, Vs.5 From the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday After Easter

4 4. Priory Kalendar For the week of: May 14 th to May 21 st A.D In Eastertide Sunday, May 14 th......fourth Sunday after Easter Comm. Sts. Pachomius, Abt. ( Note 1) & Boniface; Bp. & Myr. O.S.B - 4 th & 6 th cent. Monday, May 15 th......st. Jean Baptiste de la Salle; Conf. & founder (Note 2) Tuesday, May 16 th..... St. Simon Stock; Conf. P. O.Car. - England & France 13 th cent. Comm. St. Ubald: Bp. & Conf th cent. Italy Wednesday, May 17 th... St. Pascal Baylon; Conf. O.F.M th cent. Spain & France Thursday, May 18 th.... feria in Eastertide Friday, May 19 th St. Dunstan; ABp. of Canterbury, Conf. O.S.B th cent. England Comm. St Peter Celestine: Po. O.S.B. 13 th cent. Italy Saturday, May 20 th..... St. Bernardine of Sienna; Conf. O.F.M th cent Italy Sunday, May 21 st..... Fifth Sunday After Easter - Rogation Sunday NOTES: Note 1: St. Pachomius is recognized as the Father of Cenobites : monastic brethren who live in community, not as individual hermits. Note 2: Jean Baptiste de la Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a teaching order. Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things By Br. A. Chip Munk, O.S.B. Little-Known Saints St. Ubald of Gubbio There is indeed a devil, and the Church knows how to meet and deal with him

5 5. St Ubaldus Baldassini (c ) St. Ubald + was born in Gubbio, Italy, where he grew up. He studied for the Sacred Priesthood at the seminary of Sts. Marian and James where his simple holiness was recognized more than his academic abilities, and after his ordination he was made prior of the Cathedral at Gubbio where he initiated many reforms. Ubald was chosen in 1126, to serve as Bishop of Perugia, and upon learning of this, Ubald headed for the country where he hid out hoping the decision would be reversed! He was granted exemption by Pope Honorius II, but in 1128, he was unanimously chosen as bishop of Gubbio, and this time at the Pope s urging, he was consecrated bishop of his native city. He devoted all his energies to this position, and was regarded as a model of apostolic simplicity, pastoral zeal, and personal holiness. He exercised himself in great fastings and mortifications and lived more like a monk than a bishop. His mildness and patience, which made him nearly insensible to injuries and afronts, was perhaps the brightest part of his personality. One day, workers were repairing a section of wall in the city. The wall encroached on his garden and stones were seen falling on his plants as the rough workmen slung both them and the mortar about with impunity. The bishop mildly reminded them to be careful near his garden to which the foreman replied by pushing the bishop into a big tray filled with mortar! The good bishop picked himself up, all covered with the pasty mixture without making the least comment. On-lookers became incensed by this mistreatment of their holy-man and demanded that the foreman be soundly punished. The bishop seeing that the gathering crowd meant to do harm to the foreman, began to chuckle and corrected them by

6 saying that it was merely an accident and he wasn t watching where he was going and the foreman was trying to keep him from falling into the mire! The foreman, overcome with remorse fell at the bishop s feet and in tears begged forgiveness, which was cheerfully given followed by a hug from the soggy mortar-covered bishop. 6. Ubald s favorite duty was spending hours hearing the confessions of his people, his clergy, and strangers who learned of his great holiness and wisdom. As often happens to good confessors, he developed a great reputation as an exorcist who drove out all kinds of evil spirits, and he was sought out by many laity and clergy. His holiness gave him the power to successfully fight and defeat the devil and his minions. The Church moves in a spirit world; with good angels all around, but constant vigilance must be exercised against inroads made by Satan and his devils. The liturgy contains a considerable number of exorcisms and adjurations. The Church also provides what are called sacramentals which can be used against the power and invasion of evil spirits. Holy Water, blessed salt, blessed candles and palms are used often by clergy in exorcisms. The Mass from The Common of a Confessor Bishop++, contains a proper Collect to be said on this saint s day: through the intercession of St. Ubald may Almighty God stretch forth the right hand of His mercy against all the snares of the devil. +++ Ubald s abilities in combating evil went beyond the spiritual realm. He faced it down when the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa invaded Italy with his army and threatened to plunder and burn down cities like Spoleto and Gubbio. Barbarossa destroyed Spoleto, but Ubald met him on the road to Gubio and acting more like a stern father, moved the Emperor to compassion and the city was spared as were many others. Ubald worked tirelessly in his duties to the point that he wore himself out which initiated a quick decline in his health. He died on May 16 th, He was canonized by Pope Celestine II in His is buried in Gubbio where his remains are said to be uncorrupted. His life serves as a lovely example that one doesn t have to leave their home town in order to accomplish great things for God. +St. Ubald is also known also as St. Ubaldus, St. Ubaldo, & Ubald of Gubbio ++ Mass 11 Mass for a Confessor Bishop Pages F22 F26 in the People s Anglican Missal. +++Page S36 in the People s Anglican Missal. Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things from: The Chipmunk s Nutshell Library is presented by Br. A.Chip Monk, O.S.B. a munk of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, USA\ Br. Chip

7 KALENDAR KEY 7. Abt. = Abbot, Abs. = Abbess, Abp = Archbishop, Anc. = Anchorite, Ancs. = Anchoress, Ap. = Apostle, Bl. = Blessed, Br. = Brother, Bp. = Bishop, Card. = Cardinal, C. or Conf. = Confessor, Comm. = Commemoration/Commemorate, Dcn. = Deacon, Doct. = Doctor of the Church, Ev. = Evangelist, H. = Hermit, LBr. = Lay Brother, LSr. = Lay Sister, K. = King, Mat. = Matron, M. = Monk, M.M. = Month s Mind ( Requiem for the recently departed on the 30 th day after death or burial). Myr. = Martyr, N. = Nun, Obl. = Oblate, P. = Priest, Po. = Pope, Pr. = Prior, Prs. = Prioress, R. = Recluse, RM = Requien Mortuorum, ( Mass and Offices for the departed once a month as designated on Kalendar). SDcn. = Sub Deacon, Q. = Queen, Ven. = Venerable, Vir. = Virgin, W. = Widow. FASTING KEY: A = Abstinence, F = Fast, F & A = Fast and Abstinence RELIGIOUS ORDER ABBREVIATIONS: C.O = Congregation of the Oratory (Oratorians), C.P. = Congregation of the Passion (Passionists), C.S.J. = Congregation of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Er. Cam. = Camaldolese Hermits, F.P. O. = Franciscans of the Primitive Observance, O. Car. = Carmelite Order, O. Cart. Carthusian Order, O.C.D. = Order of Discalced Friars (Carmelites), O.F.A. = Augustinian Order, O.F.M = Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), O.F.M. Cap = Capuchin Order, O.P. = Order of Preachers (Dominicans also called Blackfriars ), O. Praem. = Order of Cannons Regular (Norbertines), O.S.B. = Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines), O.Ss. S. = Bridgettines, O.S.U = Ursulines, O.C.O. = Order of the Cistercian Observance (Trappists/Trappistines), O.C.S.O. = Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists/ Trappistines). Tert. = Tertiary (Third Order religious). About the Meditation and About Us The Meditation is an online apostolate of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, USA. We are an Anglican-Catholic Benedictine contemplative community that follows the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, the 5 th century Father of Western Monasticism. We are resident within the Diocese of the Northeast (DNE), of the Anglican Church in America (ACA), a member of the worldwide Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC). The Meditation is a weekly online offering that is sent out free of charge to anyone who desires to receive it. Subscribers may copy and pass along The Meditation to their families and friends, or send us their e-address (with their permission) to add to our subscription list so they may receive it directly from us. Each issue is sent out as a BCC (Blank Copy) in respect to subscriber privacy and online security. To subscribe, contact us at: klamarre@maine.rr.com To read past issues of the Meditation, please go to our website at: and you can find them in the section marked Meditations on the homepage. PLEASE NOTE: In respect to our contemplative vocation and the animals in our rescue and rehab center, we do not have guest or bathroom facilities and do not regularly receive visitors. Fr. Kevin is available to hear confessions and give spiritual direction by appointment only. Please contact via to make an appointment.

8 8. Priory News By Br. Raymond A. Crowe, O.S.B. Busy Br. Sylvester Now that Spring is here to stay, Br. Sylvester has been busy getting things out and ready for the good weather. He s sharpened up and repaired all the garden tools, dragged all the deadfall out of the way of the lawn mower, and even started cutting into it which will provide some dandy fire wood for our outdoor cooking area designed and built by Sr. Mary Francis a couple years ago. This week, our wily little water wizard even put on all the outside water. Here s a shot of him in action! There s much more for him to do, and he ll get to all of it by and by, but even a busy little squirrel needs to stop and smell the smells of the re-awakening earth and the beauty of a sunny day in May. Just Hangin!

9 9. Animal News Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. Today we welcomed Appy who will most likely be called Abbey now. She was brought here, down the interstate in an open cage tied with rope to a wooden utility trailer. She rode for 2.5 hours from Holden, Maine. When she arrived, the woman said, This was full of straw when we left! Sister was thinking that they were lucky the sheep was still in the cage with that kind of ride! She is a 6 year old Katahdin ewe who has had triplets each season and was this woman s favorite. She was told to cull her(kill) due to the sheep s tired uterus (the original picture sent to us had her stomach touching the ground) which could no longer contract to push out lambs so these last lambs had to be pulled. She also only has a half working udder. The woman couldn t bear to sell her for meat so she was so grateful for what we do here. She will be introduced to Willow and Mocha in a day or two and can show off her collar and bell to her new friends. She is very friendly we discovered! PAX

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