The Meditation Whitsunday - Pentecost June 4 th - 2017 A.D. Pentecost Illuminated page from a 14 th century Missal
2. The Collect for Whitsunday - A.D. 2017 O God, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort. Through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. DAY OF JOY We pray in today s Collect: O God, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort. If the Holy Ghost really is our Comforter, the Consolator optime, (as known in Theology), the fruits of His consolation will be joy and gladness. St. Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians, speaks of fruits of the Holy Ghost, * of which the first is, of course, love, and since He is a Spirit of love, there is always joy. This great Apostle was convinced that joy forms an integral part of a Christian s life. St. Paul never wearies of saying to be joyful; Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say unto thee, Rejoice! (Philippians: Chap. 4, Vs. 4). He says to the Romans, For the kingdom of God... is righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans: Chap. 14, Vs. 17). Isaiah prophesied that in God s kingdom: For the Lord shall comfort Zion... he will make her wilderness like Eden, and the desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (Isaiah; Chap. 51, Vs, 3). Let us include in our prayers of joy today the petition to our Father to grant unto us an abundant share in the happiness of His children. May the fruit of His Spirit in us be true and constant joy. Lasting joy will never be found from this pain-wracked and broken world, no matter how hard people search for it. Holy Mother Church, on this feast of Pentecost, reminds all where joy can be found forever! Indeed, there have been times when Christians have insisted perhaps too much upon the seriousness of life, on penance and reparation, on the darkness and misery of this vale of tears called life. Pentecost serves as a reminder to all that life is indeed difficult, but when imbued with the joy of the Holy Spirit, the individual is changed, just as the Apostles were. These simple, largely uneducated men who knew hardship (and would experience much more) were transformed by this same Spirit, into Ambassadors for Christ. They would become the first Bishops of the Church preaching, teaching, and bringing the Gospel to all parts, and in doing so, would speak in tongues (languages) they had never known before. Anything is possible with and through Almighty God. *see Galatians; Chap. 5, Vss. 22 & 23
3. It s no different with us. Our lives should be lived in a most contemplative manner, always being mindful that we are broken and sinful, but always confident in the love and mercy of the triune God... and there should lie all our joy. St. Paul s words echo in us: Rejoice, again I say Rejoice! Beloved St. Francis of Assisi called his Order the Brothers of penance, but he warned them, whatever austerities or excesses thy may perform in their work, they were to never look gloomy, as the hypocrites did, but to be joyful in the Lord, and to be pleasant and courteous to all people. A favorite saying of St. Francis de Sales is: A saint who is sad is a sad sort of saint! good words, for sure; for what is the Holy Gospel but good tidings of great joy? When we carry Christ s message to others, we must do so gladly. Joy and gladness have much more influence than negativity or melancholy. There s already plenty of that going around everywhere today, on that we can agree. Joy actually increases our powers of work. A joyless life is an uninteresting life. A person without joy simply is just going through the motions of a life that will one day end. This is not the best nor wisest thing to be doing with a most divine gift which all life is. A heart that is happy gives good health to the body. Medical science has proven that time and time again. The wisdom found in Proverbs stated this long before: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. (Proverbs: 17: 22) It is our Christian duty as Christians to increase the joy of our brothers and sisters, and strangers as well, for true joy is holy, because it is a fruit of the spirit. We would do very well at Whitsuntide, to pray for joy: joy in our prayer, because we should always rejoice in God; joy in our work, because it is pleasing to God; and joy in living, since our lives are (as Christians), passed in the service of our Lord and God. We join with the psalmist in exclaiming: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord! (Psalm 105, Vs. 3). Our prayer for Whitsun week O Lord, by the consolation that we receive from thy Holy Ghost, grant us constant joy here on earth and eternal joy in heaven. Amen.
4. Priory Kalendar For the week of: June 4 th to June11 th A.D. 2017 In Whitsuntide Sunday, June 4 th......whitsunday (Pentecost) Monday, June 5 th..... Monday in Whitsun Week comm. St. Boniface: Bp. & Myr. Apostle to the Germans 8 th cent. Tuesday, June 6 th..... Tuesday in Whitsun Week Wednesday, June 7 th...ember Wednesday in Whitsun Week..Fast &Abstinence - -- comm. St. Robert of Newminster: Abt. O.C.O. - 12 th cent. England Thursday, June 8 th.... Thursday in Whitsun Week Friday, June 9 th......ember Friday in Whitsun Week. Fast & Abst. Comm. St. Columba; Abt. O.S.B. 6 th cent. Scotland & England Saturday, June 10 th... Ember Saturday in Whitsun Week.. Fast & Abst. Comm. St. Margaret of Scotland; Q. & W. - 13 th cent. Scotland Sunday, June 11 th..... Trinity Sunday The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
5. Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things By Br. A. Chip Munk, O.S.B. St. Robert of Newminster English Cistercian Abbot Feast Day June 7 th Robert was a native of Yorkshire in England. He desired, from his youth, to enter the religious life. He was assigned as rector to a parish in York, after he was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood, and devoted his energies to serving the people there. He eventually resigned from parish service and entered the religious life taking the Benedictine habit at a monastery in York. Robert was eventually elected prior of the community and served his office with great dedication. He was further compelled to live and observe the Benedictine Rule more strictly, and after being given permission by his abbot, he and twelve brothers took leave, and founded Fountains Abbey. It would be one of the first Cistercian houses in England. Robert and his community grew in their vocations and soon Fountains became an example for other monasteries to follow. A baron Ranulph, who visited the abbey, was so struck by the holiness of the community and its abbot, that he offered to be a benefactor for the founding of another abbey in Newminster in Northumberland in 1137. Robert was appointed the first abbot of this foundation.
6. He lived at Newminster for the rest of his life. The Newminster community grew so rapidly, that Robert would go on to found another monastery at Rivebelle in Northamptonshire. He became friends with both St. Bernard and St. Godric. Robert died in 1159. He is still very much venerated in many places in Northern England today. Collect for St. Robert of Newminster O God, who to the blessed Abbot Robert, gavest grace to imitate Christ by his poverty, and with humble heart to follow him to the end: grant that all who enter the path of Gospel perfection may neither look back nor go astray from the way, but hastening to thee without stumbling, may attain the crown of eternal life whereunto thou hast called them. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God. Throughout all ages of ages. World without end. Amen. 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 KALENDAR KEY 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).
7. 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: www.ourladyofsorrows.org 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 email to make an appointment. Animal News Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. Winnie the Pooh says, A little Consideration, a little Thought for others, makes all the difference. We humans tend to not think of how our actions affect nature and the wild animals in it. We have a woman in our neighborhood whose family used to own most of what used to be a working sheep farm and natural habitat for many varieties of wildlife. She has sold off her land piece by piece as she has wanted money and has created a neighborhood from forest and field. She was denied the ability to clear cut the property when Sister pointed out to the warden that was inspecting the land, that it was a deer wintering area for many deer, which was proven by the further inspection of pine trees with dug outs under them and lots and lots of deer poo. The woman took a different tact and sold the acreage for a house lot on which a house has been built and swamp area backfilled. Deer, owls, hawks and other wildlife have, once again been displaced by tree cutting and this new home. You can hear them calling from the air as they search for the tree that they nested in for years and must now find another. I am certain that these creatures and their eventual predicament were not even considered by any of the humans involved in the pursuit of their own goals. We recently had a visit from some of the deer the other evening as they walked outside our pasture fence eating some wayward grass. We noted that some were obviously pregnant. It was a gift to see them and know that they will continue to persevere in a smaller area and will visit us, who have never caused them harm, from time to time. - Sr. M.F. PAX