THE MEDITATION October 5th A.D The 16th Sunday After Trinity Sunday

Transcription

1 Thus says the Lord: Stand By the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is: and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. - Jeremiah; Chap. 6, Vs. 16 THE MEDITATION October 5th A.D The 16th Sunday After Trinity Sunday The Miracle of the Widow of Nain c Mario Minniti ( ) - Sicilian Baroque Painter Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke; Chapter 7, Verses The 1928 Book of Common Prayer, Pages The People's Anglican Missal, Page C 80 St. Joseph Sunday Missal ( 1958 Ed.), Page 918

2 2. SUMMARY OF THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Jesus, filled with compassion for the widow of the town of Nain, restores her only son back to life. DO NOT WEEP Today's Gospel account is given to us by St. Luke. It almost seems that our Lord manages to always be in just the right place and at the right time. A happy coincidence...? I think not. It's easy to picture the scene our evangelist gives us. There are two crowds, Jesus with His disciples and others who want to know more about this fellow from Nazareth, and then there is the funeral procession, a widow and her only son, now dead, being carried to burial with the accompanying group of mourners. There are two crowds; one of Life and one of Death. One crowd heading into the city and the other leaving it to go to the nearest burial ground. The two crowds meet at one point, and become one group. Jesus stands there face to face with the widow, both looking down at the dead boy. Jesus looks at the widow, too, He knows her life, her many trials and sufferings, and the loss of her husband. Jesus knows of the daily work and worry, and the poverty that surrounds Him. He knows that just to eek out a bare living takes the efforts of a full family. He knows what a difficult task it is to raise any child in His day, the widow's task made twice as bad by having no husband to assist her. Most men have no idea whatsoever what an only child can mean to a mother, but Jesus knows, for He made the human heart and what it contains. We might wonder if this scene doesn't make our Lord look ahead to another scene in a short time to come; His own Mother Mary looking at her only Son, lying dead in Her arms at the foot of the Cross at Calvary. Christ would want mankind to have compassion on His Blessed Mother, now He gives an example. Jesus, filled with compassion for this widow tells her, Do not weep. He then addresses the dead body, Young man, I say unto thee, arise. The young man opens his eyes, he sits up, and he begins to speak. Jesus then gives the son back to the mother. Jesus is capable of doing these things, because life and death are in His hands... He, being God. He gave the boy to the woman in the first place at birth, and now, Jesus gives the boy back from death, all because He has compassion toward the widow and is deeply touched by her sorrow. It's interesting to note the attitude of the crowd as well. St. Luke tells us, And there came a fear on all : and they glorified God saying, 'That a great prophet is risen up among us ; and that God hath visited his people.' - ( St. Luke; Ch. 7, Vs. 16 ). Why are they afraid of One who is so capable of such great sympathy and mercy? Perhaps the crowd has been momentarily awestruck by this glimpse of Jesus of Nazareth being both God as well as man! COMPASSION Whatever may have prompted the people's fear, they react correctly. They glorify God and say that A great prophet has risen among us and that God has visited His people. To glorify God is what we can always do all of our lives, in this world and in the next... because of the great compassion Jesus shows us each time He raises us from the dead by His Holy Absolution through the great Sacrament of Penance, and the life that Christ gives to us in all of His Sacraments, most especially in the Holy Eucharist. We can make one more observation. It is about this compassion that our Lord has for our fallen and sinful race. This compassion is so much a part of the Christian life that, as a matter of fact, Jesus Christ is compassion incarnate. We, as good Christians, are supposed to be little Christs... therefore we must also become compassion incarnate now. Blessed Lord Jesus, grant us this gift. Help

3 3. us to be more compassionate to all unfortunate people, to widows (and widowers), to the sick, the poor, the homeless, those in mental confusion, those in prison... all your children. The world, dear friends is experiencing a time of great fragility that lies hidden beneath all the anger, frustration, and hate that we can only see visibly. The solution to addressing this fragility, is compassion... plain and simple. It is that Divine Compassion that redeemed our race through the Cross, and it can be our own compassion, freely given within our race that will help our humanity recover itself. Jesus has shown us this, and begs us to extend this to all mankind. We can't raise someone back to life as Jesus did at Nain. We can't be God as Jesus is, but by becoming compassionate, we can be God-like. We can become more human. We can suffer with the unfortunate. We can give them our hearts, our mercy, and our love and, as we grow in compassion, Christ grows within us. What can matter any more than that? It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord : and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest. To tell of thy loving-kindness ( compassion) early in the morning, and of the truth in the night-season. Alleluia, Alleluia. For the Lord is a great God, and a great king above all gods. Alleluia. - ( Psalms 92 & 95 ). PRAYER OF THE DAY: I SAY TO THEE, ARISE. The Widow of Nain - woodcut print Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen c Dutch Woodcut artist & Painter Northern Holland

4 4. PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Keep us, we beseech thee, O Lord with thy perpetual mercy ; because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation. PRO CLERICIS FOR THE CLERGY The greatest clerks (clerics) be not the wisest men - John Heywood : Proverbs, 2,5 - ( 16th cent.) The Meditation is produced by the Benedictine Community of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory 4 Shaw Road Raymond, Maine This is a free on-line ministry of our community to anyone who wishes to receive it. Please feel free to copy and pass on this meditation to anyone you feel might benefit from it. To be placed on our weekly mailing list, please contact Father Prior Kevin at : klamarre@ourladyofsevensorrows.org * Visit our Website to view past editions of The Meditation at: and go to 'Meditation' section. * SUNDAY Public MASS with the Office of TERCE: 9:00 a.m. (The Chapel is located on the second floor of the garage. Please enter by left side door and go up the stairs. Please keep silence upon entering the building. ) Also, Please Note: There are no Public Rest Room facilities at the Priory, please plan accordingly. PRIORY KALENDAR A.D Week of October 5th to October 12th : Season of Trinity-Tide Sunday, October 5th... Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity ( Please see Note 1 ) Monday, October 6... St. Bruno, C. founder of the Carthusian Order - ( 12th cent.) Tuesday, October 7... Feast of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary Wednesday, October 8. St. Bridgit (or Bridgid); (W. 13th cent. Sweden), foundress of the Bridgettine Order. Thursday, October 9... St. Denys( Dionysius) and Companions; M.M. ( 3rd cent. - France) Friday, October St. Paulinus, M. O.S.B. Abp. Of York, England -( 7th cent.) - fidelity to the Pope Saturday, October 11.. St. Ethelburga; 1st Abbess. of Barking Abbey, England - (8th cent.) Sunday, October Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity comm St. Wilfrid. O.S.B. A Monk of Lindisfarne Abbey and later consecrated Archbishop of York - ( 8th cent. England).

5 5. KALENDAR KEY: Ab. = Abbot, Abs. = Abbess, Abp. = Archbishop, Ap = Apostle, Bp. = Bishop, C. or Conf. = Confessor, Comm. = Commemorate. Dcn. = Deacon, Doct. = Doctor of the Church, Ev. = Evangelist, H = Hermit, K = King, M. = Monk, Myr. = Martyr, N. = Nun, P= Priest Po. = Pope, R.= Recluse, Q. = Queen, Vir. = Virgin, W = Widow, O.F.M. = Order of Friars Minor Franciscans, O.S.B. = Order of St. Benedict. O.C.O. = Order of the Cistercian Observance (Trappists), A = Abstinence, F = Fast, F & A = Fast and Abstinence NOTES: 1. October 5th - Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity No public Mass at the Priory Chapel today as Fr. Prior Kevin will be celebrating Mass at St. Augustine's in Saco, ME. Today. St. Augustine's is located at the Saco Grange Hall, 168 North Street, Saco, Maine. Mass begins at St. Augustine's at 10:00 a.m Feasts, Fasts and Other Things October 6th St. Bruno Founder of the Carthusian Order One of the things I enjoy about the month of October, besides the fact that it is in my favorite month of Autumn, and the days are cooler, and apple cider is freshly made, and I've collected all my nuts for the winter, and the leaves are so bright and pretty...well, you get the idea...! I really enjoy October! It's also because there are so many Saints in our Monastic Kalendar to celebrate! My job security would be assured for years to come if I did nothing but write about the lives of the Saints in every Meditation. St. Bruno was born in Cologne, Germany about 1030, and was the founder of a religious order, the Carthusians. Excepting St. Norbert ( who founded the Norbertine Order), Bruno is the only German having that honor. Bruno was a cannon,early in his life, at Cologne and at Rheims Cathedrals. He got into trouble when he exposed his arch bishop for simony and was persecuted by that prelate. This persecution hastened Bruno's entry into a life of solitude. Renouncing all clerical benefices, Bruno was given a tract of land near Grenoble, France in 1084 by Hugo, the bishop of Grenoble and a friend, where Bruno could reside in seclusion. The order founded by Bruno is one of the strictest in the Church. Carthusians (as they are known), follow the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, but accord it a more austere interpretation. There is perpetual silence and complete abstinence from meat ( only bread, legumes, and water are taken for daily nourishment). Bruno sought to revive the ancient eremetical ( hermetic) way of life. His order enjoys the singular distinction of never having become unfaithful to the spirit of its founder, never needing any reform. Six years after initiating the foundation of this order, Bruno was called to Rome by Pope Urban II to serve as personal counselor and while serving the Pope, Bruno started a second foundation at La Torre, in Italy around Bruno died in amongst his own brethren on October 6, 1101 at 71 years of age.

6 6. St. Bruno founded an order which practices unbroken silence, unbroken fasting, and unbroken solitude. For Christians living in the world such practices are not for imitation, but for admiration and edification. Nevertheless, the daily observances of the Carthusians should now and then form part of the Christian's routine. No one can be able to enjoy the goods of this world reasonably, if they have not learned the virtue of detachment. Temperance is actually a school for the enjoyment of proper pleasures. No one can command wisely or prudently if they have not learned obedience first. No one can speak properly if they have not learned what it is to be silent. No one can take food and drink in its proper measure if they have not learned what it is to fast. No one can be in perfect community with their fellow human beings if they have never practiced solitude occasionally. These highlighted observances serve as the core of the Carthusian life, so in truth, we see that those who are called to this unique order, are not some sort of folk from another planet, but committed Christians who have received a unique call from the Master in the direction of their lives for their lives. We, as Benedictines, accord the greatest affection and respect to our Carthusian brothers and sisters, and each Benedictine community strives to emulate some portion of the Carthusian ethos as is proper to that community. After all, we are related to one another through St. Benedict's Holy Rule! The Carthusian life is one of absolute solitude and enclosure. Outsiders are not permitted into the walls of Carthusian monasetaries. However, the world in recent years was given a wonderful grace when St. Bruno's foundation community of Grande Chartruese in France allowed special access to German filmmaker Philip Groning to make a film about current life within the walls of this most venerable monastery. Into Great Silence is a film that gives the viewer an inside look in a way of life that hasn't changed in it's observance since it was instituted by St. Bruno in the 12th century. It is a film well worth watching and experiencing. - Br. Chip, O.S.B. Br. Chip is back! Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things; from The Chipmunk's Nutshell Library Presented by Br. A. Chip Monk. O.S.B. A munk of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine

7 7. Carthusian Monks in Choir chanting the Night Office We are always looking for benefactors to help financially with the animals. Winter is on the way and we are going into it at a deficit. If you or someone that you know would like to help, simply mark your check for the animals. It will be gratefully received and deeply appreciated. St. Francis heals the Wolf of Gubbio Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, ye have done it unto me. - ( St. Matthew; Chap. 25 Verse, 40. KJV ) Please make all checks payable to the Servant of the Holy Family, 4 Shaw Rd. Raymond, Maine and please indicate for the animals so the money will go to them. Thank you! Please consider including our Animal Outreach and Rescue in your Estate Planning. Contact Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. For details.

8 8. ANIMAL NEWS from the PRIORY Can you hear me knocking?! In his Holy Rule, our Holy Father St. Benedict instructs both the abbot and would-be monk (or nun), that in order to be recognized for admittance into a community they must persevere in their request. Within monastic circles, this is called knocking at the door This knocking at the door can take many forms, and it is up to the Holy Wisdom of the Abbot to recognize the request, and the perspective monastic as to what form this request should take. Thus, it can at least be determined that the request is being made from a sincere, spiritual, and godly desire. It must be mentioned that in Monastic life, there is a big difference between perseverance and assertiveness! That having been said, we think that we may have a new aspirant knocking at the Door here at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory. Recently, both Fr. Prior Kevin and Sr. Mary-Francis have spotted and been spotted by a ground-hog who has apparently taken up digs in what was once our pumpkin patch. The contacts are brief, but obvious on his part. Each time, he has been seen standing in just about the same spot, erect and unafraid, and when we acknowledge his presence, he scoots back into the bushes. He probably has a little burrow in there somewhere! If this obviously loveable character continues in his perseverance, we may conclude that he (or she) is seeking entrance into our monastic animal family. A deputation will be sent to visit him ( consisting most likely of Brothers, Chip, Raymond, and Sylvester) to ascertain his (or her) intentions...and we'll take things from there. If the critter is just passing through, he (or she) is most welcome to whatever hospitality our little pumpkin patch can afford them! Stay tuned... I guess! - Fr. k.l.l.+ THANK YOU!!! For your Generosity! Here's where your hard-earned donations go to help the Animals that God sends to us. Thanks to those of you who care for the animals with your donations. You make a difference in the lives of all these animals here at the priory with your gifts large or small. The animals say thank you!...we especially want to thank those of you who participated in the raffles to support the animals at Synod, and donated money to start us into the colder weather. It takes a lot of money just to feed these creatures that have been left in our care. We are not extravagant in any way with them but give them exactly what they need to thrive with their handicaps. Consider this... A bale of hay runs between $3.50 $5.00 depending on the supply. We use bales a day, grain is $11.00 to $18.00 per 50lb bag depending on the type of grain, price of gas, good crop/bad crop of oats, corn etc... Shavings $4.79 $5.50 per bag and we use several bags per week. Hoof trimming $ $ each time the farrier comes. These are just some of the expenses for just the barn animals not to mention the dogs etc. So we appreciate each heartfelt donation and thank you! Sr. Mary-Francis. O.S.B.

9 9. COMINGS AND GOINGS This past week saw quite a few changes at the priory. Our small flock of ducks was placed in a wonderful home in New Hampshire. They now have more friends, a huge pond and a giant enclosure. No sooner was our shed cleaned out, and we received 2-14 week old English Pointers that have been in a kennel since birth. This is a kennel that raises and trains dogs for hunting. These two had not been sold and could not be used for breeding as they were at the end of the blood lines so they were scheduled to be killed. They were rescued by our soft hearted daughter and brought to us. These dogs have been starved and have suffered some sort of violence and are wary, but warm up quickly and are real lovebugs. They have no manners, training, or housebreaking and need food and neutering, training and most of all, LOVE. They have been on cement their whole lives and are now on a thick floor of shavings with a hay bed which they love. They act like they are in the Ritz hotel. These guys are going to be a challenge, as they are clueless and territorial but with some food and training we hope to eventually get them into a great home for each. ( They are not bonded to each other, in fact Copper really doesn't like other animals at all and is the bolder of the two. )Snoop Dogg is very shy and both are prone to cowering which tells me that they have been hit somewhere along the line. If there is anyone that would like to offer either one a home without children or other animals, at any point in time please contact us. Be aware that we screen people very thoroughly and request that animals be brought back to us if they don't work out. - Sr. M. Francis Fr. Kevin and Snoop Copper P A X

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