The Meditation. The Twentieth Sunday After Trinity October 14 th, A.D. 2018

Transcription

1 The Meditation The Twentieth Sunday After Trinity October 14 th, A.D. 2018

2 The Alleluia Verse for the Twentieth Sunday After Trinity O God, my heart is ready, my heart is ready: I will sing of thee and praise thee... I will praise thee, O Lord... for thy mercy is great above the heavens. (Psalm 108) Deo Gratias Thanks be to God It s not only through the celebration of the Liturgy that the Christian must thank God. St. Paul bids the Ephesians: Give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians; Chap. 5, Vs. 20) One of this great Apostle s favorite themes is the gratitude which should penetrate the whole life of a Christian. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father through him. (Colossians; Chap. 3, Vs. 17). Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians; Chap. 5, Vss ). St. Paul makes it clear that gratitude is closely connected with the will of God, union with Jesus Christ, and unceasing prayer. It s a sign that God lives in us. How re-assuring is that, as we struggle through each day, trying to discern God s plan for us, not only for the day, but for the rest of our lives?! It s a characteristic of Christian gratitude to give thanks at all times and for all things. St. Mary Eupharasia Pelletier[1] wrote that, Gratitude is the memory of the heart. The true follower of Jesus will give thanks during times of adversity, as well as times of prosperity; in times of suffering and in times of happiness and pleasure; even when our fondest dreams or cherished projects come crashing down. How can this be done, one might ask? The answer is a rather simple one, in that Jesus Christ revealed to believers that God is their Father. This is, for a true Christian, the only reality; the beacon of light that shines through the darkness of this world and this life which shows the way. Everything else is just a passing shadow. The turmoil and tumults of today which have so many worked up into states of varying anger and anxiety, are in essence nothing. They re meaningless when compared to the eternity which a loving relationship with God and Christ offers. Life is but a question for God and for the soul; a dialogue between divine grace and human gratitude. Everything is a grace, because everything comes from the Father, whose intentions, which are infinitely wise within themselves (and beyond our comprehension) may sometimes be in contradiction with ours. This is for our good, since God can only act from love, He being love Himself.[2] A relationship must exist in order for such a divine inter-play to occur between the human and the divine, a relationship based upon a foundation of both love and gratitude. There s some good wisdom in the rather light-hearted words of Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey when he says: Thank God ahead of time. Nothing can keep our spiritual life young and full as does gratitude. It s at the base of God s life in us, accepting total dependence on Him at every turn, with a certainty that He ll never abandon his children (that s us!). Perfect gratitude includes perfect self-forgetfulness; that is, the

3 individual acknowledging their own poverty (both temporal and spiritual), and rejoicing in God alone... soli Deo! [3] We hear again from St. Paul: What hast thou, that thou didst not receive? (I Corinthians; Chap. 4, Vs. 7). So many times, that which we think of as our own, and treasure as our own, sooner or later grows old and disillusions us. Again, St. Paul writes: If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Galatians; Chap. 6, Vs. 3). Everything in this life is passing: possessions, ideas, events, isms, and most especially each one of us. It s all very temporal; something every generation seems to have to discover for itself. A soul which keeps nothing for itself, but which thankfully refers whatever it has to the great Source of all good, receiving from Him, hour by hour, whatever it needs, gives all glory to that source...a gratitude that becomes transformed into love. It s not the person to whom the most is given that should be seen as greatest, but the one who is most grateful for what they have received, no matter what that may be, or how much (or how little) it is. St. Theresa of Avila[4] says to us: In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God and in all things give Him thanks. The person who is convinced that it isn t possible to be too thankful for even the smallest of God s graces, has been blessed far and above the one who has amassed things of this life (possessions, position, wealth, reputation, etc.), for the former has also obtained true peace, while the latter continues along unsatisfied and always wanting more. Giving thanks without ceasing and therefore to praying without ceasing is to love. It proves that we love the Giver rather than His gifts. Here s a wonderful prayer in which we could use regarding gratitude. It covers the whole spectrum of the many graces and gifts which our heavenly Father imparts upon those souls who abandon themselves to His love and mercy: O my God and Father, I know that whatever you send me is good, not because it is in itself pleasing to me, or is better than what you have given to others, but simply because it comes from you. That suffices me; I desire nothing more. Never will I seek rest in your gift, but in your Heart from which it comes and in which I desire to lose myself. Grant me grace to find in every detail, every circumstance of my life, agreeable or disagreeable, a fresh proof of your love, and to answer it spontaneously. Father, I thank you; all you do for me and in me is well done, because you do it. My God, I love you! Amen.

4 On Gratitude Thanks no sweeter word is spoken. May my heart with love be broken When I say that simple word: Thanks be to God! (Fr. Guido Gazelle) [5] Remember the past with gratitude. Live in the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence And be not Afraid. (Pope St. John Paul II) Meditation Notes: [1] St. Mary Eupharasia Pelleter ( ): A French nun & foundress of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, an order that took in girls and women from the streets and helped them to better lives. [2] Ref: I St. John; Chap. 4, Vs. 8 & I St. John; Chap. 4, Vs. 16b [3] Latin: Soli Deo God Alone. Try shouting it out when you are grateful...it s lots of fun!!! [4] St. Theresa of Avila: ( ) Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic, and Doctor of the Church [5] Fr. Guido Pieter Theodorus Josephus Gezelle ( ) A Belgian Roman Catholic Priest and writer famous for the restoration of the use of the West Flemish dialect. He attempted to develop an independent Flemish dialect that was free from Dutch linguistic influence. Fr. Gezelle believed that this would give Belgium a more independent identity that was free from Dutch influence. He was also an Anglophile who had close ties with some of the Oxford Movement scholars.

5 Priory Kalendar For the week of: October 14 th to October 21 st A.D In Trinity Season Sunday, October 14 th... Twentieth Sunday After Trinity Comm. St. Callistus; Po. & Myr. 3 rd cent Monday, October 15 th... Our Lady of Walsingham Comm St. Theresa of Avila; N. O. Carm. & Doct. 16 th cent. Spain Tuesday, October 16 th... St. Hedwig; W. & N. & Abs. O. Cist th cent. Germany & Poland 25 th Anniversary of the Foundation of our Community in 1993 Wednesday, October 17 th... St. Etheldreda; Q. V. & Abs. O.S.B. -7 th cent. England Thursday, October 18 th.... St. Luke; Ev. - 1 st Cent. Friday, October 19 th..... St. Frideswide; V. & Abs. O.S.B. - 8 th cent. Oxford, England Saturday, October 20 th - Monthly Requiem; Please Pray for the deceased of our Community Mass & Office of the Dead Recommended Sunday, October 21 st... Twenty-First Sunday After Trinity Comm. St. Ursula & Companions; Myrs - 4th cent.. October 15 th October 16 th October 18 th Our Lady of Walsingham St. Hedwig St. Luke the Evangelist

6 Guardian Angel Card of the Week KALENDAR KEY: Holy Guardian Angel (German) 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),

7 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 or to make us aware of your needs, concerns and intentions for our prayerful attention. It is our privilege to pray for you. PLEASE CONSIDER REMEMBERING US IN YOUR ESTATE PLANNING Contact Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. for more information via our address Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things Happy 25 th Annivesary! Our History : Part I By Br. Chip The idea of a contemplative monastic community within the Diocese of the Northeast began around when shortly after the formation of the Anglican Church in America and the reforming of the Diocese of the Northeast, then-diocesan Ordinary, Bishop Bruce S. Chamberlain discovered that he had several men in his diocese who were either living solitary monastic lives, living some form of rules of life, or were seeking to live under a rule of life along monastic lines. Several meetings were held at St. Margaret s in Conway (a brand new church and the diocesan pro-cathedral) and Old St. Paul s in Portland, Maine (a venerable 225+ year old parish) so that the Bishop could gather these men together and determine where each man was in their spiritual journey and what God was calling for in the overall scheme of things. Br. Robert Herrick, an anchorite* Benedictine monk from East Waterboro, Maine had been attending St.

8 Paul s for his sacramental needs, met with Bp. Chamberlain and at the Bishop s request Br. Robert agreed to assist the Bishop in both the discernment process, formation, and novitiate direction of those men who would be approved by the Bishop for living under a monastic Rule. Br. Robert recommended that the Benedictine Rule and traditions would suit such a group, and the Bishop gave Br. Robert the authority to oversee all aspects in the process of formation. A postulancy period was begun which served to help all applicants and inquirers discern their respective callings. Not all who applied were accepted and a few left on their own. September 1 st, 1991 was the date on which those who qualified for the Novitiate began their lives as Novice Benedictines. A Mass and service was held at Old St. Paul s in which each man made their simple vows. Br. Robert skillfully administered a novitiate program that was exclusively tailored for each Novice as their state of life directed. This novitiate was rather eclectic: consisting of parish priests, a seminarian, and lay-brothers, a couple who held outside jobs. He gave individual instruction, and a couple of the men were able to attend Roman Catholic monasteries (as guests) as part of their training as well. It s a credit to Br. Robert for the great fidelity that he showed in helping to guide each man towards the final goal of formal profession which is no easy task when individuals with various egos are involved, no matter how humble they try to be! There were a lot of bumps along the way, but most persevered through the two-year process. Br. Robert and the Bishop met frequently to discuss the progress and direction the Novices and the group on the whole was making. The Bishop in September of 1993, announced at a gathering of the Novices that they had all been approved for making their final vows and the community would be officially given his recognition and blessing in October. The election of a Prior (community Superior) was held at that time, and Br. Robert Herrick was nominated, reluctantly accepted the nomination, and unanimously elected to the position. October 16 th, 1993 at St. Margaret s, Conway, N.H. Photo taken after the Mass, Solemn Profession Ceremony, and Blessing & Institution of the Community, and Blessing and Charge of the Prior Left to Right: Fr. Angelo D Onofrio, Fr. Dean Steward, Br. Prior Robert Herrick, Bishop Bruce Chamberlain, Br. Ignatius, Br. Jeffery Swasey, Br. Kevin LaMarre, & Br. Dismas.

9 On October 16 th, 1993, (the Feast of St, Hedwig, a 13 th century Cistercian abbess), The Servants of the Holy Family of The Order of St. Benedict was officially founded as Bishop Chamberlain celebrated a Mass at his pro-cathederal in Conway, N.H. Each brother made his solemn vows during this mass and became a fully professed monk of the community, The community itself was given full approbation and blessing by the Bishop, and the Prior was blessed and given his charge of the Community. (L) Bishop Bruce S. Chamberlain, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Northeast, who gave his approbation and blessing in the foundation of our community and received the solemn professions of the brethren and blessing of the Prior. (R) Br. Prior Robert Herrick, OSB, our first duly-elected Prior and spiritual director to the brethren of the community. He served officially as Prior from This was just the beginning. The easy part was over. Now, each brother had to earnestly adhere to and live the vows that he had made before Almighty God, the Bishop, Prior, and Brothers. Obedience had to be followed, the Holy Rule lived daily, and assignments accepted as the community began to find its footing. This group of brethren were known in monastic parlance as foundation members ; the very first men in a new community that had not come from another existing community, and therefore no history or traditions...yet. The new community had to formulate and develop an identity as to what kind of contemplative community it was to be. It would become a process that would take years, much prayer and work, and the desire to listen to that still small voice that comes from love and trust in Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. The first year was perhaps the hardest year. Prior Robert kept in constant communication with each brother, monitoring their progress in their monastic vocation and assisting as needed. Most Benedictine communities, are allowed a great amount of autonomy by their diocesan bishops, as they are usually a part of a Congregation, a type of federation of Benedictine priories and abbeys that share some common bond and support one another. Our community had no such

10 connections and in reality, we were our own mother-house. Technically, Br. Robert was a minor abbot, but he suffered no pretensions and often shuddered at being called a prior! Such was his humility. Each brother lived within their own established circumstances, so a common place of living wasn t needed, but community worship was another matter. The rector of Old St. Paul s in Portland, at that time, Fr. Harold MacElwain, offered the parish Church and facilities for the community to use until its circumstances improved. St. Paul s had been for the most part where the men had been coming together from 1991 to 1993, and it was already a good fit. It was during this period, that the community began to develop many of its traditions, most especially its liturgics and offices, very important aspects to a contemplative community. The High Anglo-Catholic liturgics and ethos of St. Paul s dove-tailed nicely with the emerging identity of the community. The community showed its gratitude to the parish by holding periodic quiet days... days of Mass, prayer, and reflection, open to the parish and public, and helping out where it could. One brother assisted the sexton in grounds-keeping and light maintenance. The relationship between community and parish became a good one with one helping out the other. The first two years for the Servants of the Holy Family Community of Benedictine brothers were much like a shake down cruise for a new ship. It s not always smooth sailing. So it was with us. The direction that the community was to take became clear to most of the brothers, but not all. There were personality frictions, and for more than one man, the adherence to St. Benedict s Holy Rule became difficult and burdensome. Two men left the community. This is not an uncommon occurrence within a foundation membership. Prior Robert worked diligently with the brothers, but as a seasoned monk himself, had to make some severe pronouncements when and where they were needed, but not after exhausting all other possible avenues. His consistency and fidelity in following both the Holy Rule and community constitution were never questioned. Bishop Chamberlain maintained open communications with the Prior, especially when matters became difficult. It speaks highly of the Bishop s character in that he gave allowances to Br. Robert s office as Prior considering that Br. Robert was not an ordained clergyman. The superior of a religious community, in most cases, holds the priestly office. Our Brother Prior labored under no pretenses and constantly described himself as just: A simple laybrother called to do the work of a father... reluctantly Nevertheless, being a father to a group of men which fondly called themselves The Dead-End Kids of the Order of St. Benedict was starting to take a toll of his own hermetic vocation and his health and 1995 saw two new men enter our community. First, was Br. John Heslin, a religious from another traditional order. This man fit in immediately with the community in that he had already been living a very rigorous rule of life and understood Benedictine spirituality well. His postulancy was waived and he entered the novitiate, where he moved along quickly. He was also at the time studying for the Sacred Priesthood, and it s remarkable what he accomplished. Around the same time Mr. William Morrell was accepted into the community and served his time as postulant and later was accepted into the Novitiate. Br. Bill was also studying for Holy Orders to the perpetual Diaconate, and everyone within the community helped him where they

11 could. Both new men fit in as though they had been with us from the start. Things were looking pretty bright. -Br. Chip Winter of 1995 Old St. Paul s Church in Portland, Maine St. Paul s served as the spiritual home of the community from 1991 to 1995 until the Priory chapel was built in the Summer of 1995 at its present location in Raymond, Maine. Left to Right: Novice Brother William Morrill, Br. Ignatius, Br. Prior Robert Herrick, Fr.John Heslin, Br. Dismas, Fr. Dean Steward, & Br. Kevin LaMarre. The occasion was Fr. John s ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. *Anchorite: A monk or nun who lives separately from a community. Usually in total enclosure. Not to be confused with a hermit, who although a part of a community, lives separately from that community, but still within the property a community occupies...usually in the woods or some set-away place. Hermits will still interact with the community but on a limited basis. Next Week: Part II More about Our history Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things are from The Chipmunks Nutshell Library, a frequent offering presented by our very learned brother, Br. A. Chip Munk, O.S.B. a munk of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, U.S.A.

12 Animal News By Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. Turkey hunting season started recently and we have noticed an influx of turkeys spending more time in our pasture which is tagged as a safe/no shoot zone to protect our horses and sheep. The turkeys do this every year very shortly after Sr. gets the orange tapes tied to the fence wires...how do they know they will be safe here? They have animal angels too! PAX PAX

13

14