The Meditation Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity September 10 th - 2017 A.D. The Gulf Stream (1899) Winslow Homer (1836-1910) American realist painter Lord, thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another. -Psalm 90 Gospel Prayer for the 13 th Sunday After Trinity
2. The Collect for the Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity - A.D. 2017 Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Laudable Service Through Mortification There is really only one way to sanctity; whether we call it the Way of the Cross, the Way of the Resurrection, or, the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood. The way of the Cross is a great undertaking for some people, for others it is small; for some it is exterior, and for others it s interior; but it all comes to the same thing the abandonment of self and the surrender to Christ. Jesus Himself shows us the road: The Bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him. (St. Matthew; Chap 25; Vs. 6). St. Agnes repeats His lesson in her own words: I have seen Him, loved Him, but in too human a way. I had first to lose myself by faith before I could embrace him with a love that was divine. This saint is telling us that between sight and disinterested love, there lies a long life of mortification, by which faith and pure love can be reached. St. James writes: Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and is enticed. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (St. James; Chap.1, Vss. 14 & 15). It was written, in last week s Meditation, that pride is an inherent trait of mankind. That being said, it is also true that the necessity for mortification is also born in us. The person who thinks that they can live without it, has no idea of their own innate sinfulness. St. Augustine of Hippo, (who acknowledged himself as a very grave sinner), writes in profound agreement: My sin was all the more incurable because I thought I was not a sinner; and my iniquity was more execrable [detestable] in that I would rather have You, God Almighty, vanquished in me to my destruction than myself vanquished by You for my salvation. (St. Augustine; Confessions; Ch. 5.) All in life that is positively good and fair can absorb us so much that we can imagine that we re no longer affected by those things that are contrary: that s to say; the sinful tendencies in our nature. A day will come however, when the God who wills our salvation, will show us that they still exist and subsist within us. The great Spiritual Director, St. Francis de Sales writes: Our Lord permits us to fail in little occasions, that we may humble ourselves and know that if
we overcome certain great temptations it is not by our own strength. (St. Francis de Sales; excerpt from: Letters to Persons in Religion, Ch. 4). 3. We are bidden to enjoy life and all it contains, because it is all a gift from God. In light of what s just been said, we may wonder if we really should follow this advice? We should, without a doubt, but within certain limits. We may taste what life may offer us, but at the same time desire only that which is necessary to our salvation. We must avoid being like those who can t just look at a flower without plucking from its stem in order to inhale its fragrance. We re given a stern warning by good old St. Augustine: Whatever your progress, [in your spiritual life], cupidity* still lives in you. We must rule, that is, mortify ourselves every single day, right up to the day we die. But, isn t it sufficient to take whatever pain God sends to us and bear it with fortitude? Our Lord gives us the answer: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching. (St. Luke: Chap. 12, Vs. 37). The parable which Jesus uses to make His point applies to us all. The person who keeps themselves awake, that they may watch, does violence against their nature: they mortify it. The brethren in some contemplative religious orders, exist on only a few hours of sleep every day, rising in the wee hours of the morning to sing their daily office. They do this not because they hate sleeping, or are insomniacs, but because it is a part of the Holy Rule to which they have vowed themselves, in order to mortify themselves and to give their praise and offer glory to Almighty God! Voluntary mortification is essential for every Christian, for the flesh is always more than ready to revolt against the spirit. The flesh must be mastered by the spirit; and the spirit in turn, must be vanquished by the Holy Ghost. This is the perfection so often spoken and written about by spiritual authors. All those who are called to seek perfection will find, in their program of spiritual exercises, the word mortification. A great example is that of a person who is training to run in a race. They can t be content in just going through the paces of ordinary exercises in their preparation for the race. They will have to go beyond the minimum requirements in order to even run the race, no less win it! They will have to toughen... to mortify their bodies in order to just be able to participate, no less excel. St. Paul writes: They that are Christ s have crucified the flesh with all its affections and lusts. (Galatians; Chap. 6, Vs. 24). St. Paul also says that God won t do it for them, they must begin themselves. He will continue, but they must continue with Him they can t coast along. What person, if they hadn t already strengthened themselves by the exercises of mortification, could bear God s fiery purification? Here s a thought that comes from the cloister, but is very applicable to those living in the day to day world as members of a parish or church group. Should personal and interior mortifications take the place of those which are exterior and common to all members of the community? All four are essential; that which is common draws its value from that which is personal. The exterior draws from the interior which, in its turn, leads. Some say today that such exterior penances, common to a community, are old-fashioned... out-dated... even, (gasp!) Medieval! If this is so, then the same would hold
4. true with living the common life and offering common prayer. A community, by living in common and praying in common, is part of an organic unity that is a part of the larger Body of Holy Church, and living within that unity brings something definite, and positive for that Body. Common mortifications help us to see what our personal mortifications ought to be. It s one of those forces by which the group helps the individual. The parish practice of holding common prayer gatherings such as Holy Rosary devotions is just one example. Regularly scheduled times of the administration of the Sacrament of Confession is another. It s been written that Exterior mortification is good for beginners, and beginners only. Indeed, a fallacy which should be put to rest. We can easily see, within the bounds of that statement, where our old adversary pride can come slithering in and could, over time, cause trouble for us rendering our mortifications useless. The Christian would do well to remember the spiritual practices that they were instructed in as children. The convert, needs to recall their time of instruction prior to their reception into the Church. The religious living under a rule, should go back to the days of their Novitiate. We are taught basic and common forms of mortification during the time of Christian formation for example, our attitude in prayer, our gestures of respect and submission to the traditions of the Church, our courtesy and kindness towards all and the setting aside of time in our day for prayer and a bit of recollection. These are points that we often find ourselves wanting in, and even ignoring. Why? Simple... our lack of self-control. We are all beginners, no matter what our station in life is or where our journey of faith places us. We must keep on with our eyes always on the prize that awaits us at the end of our race. Certain forms of physical mortifications become more difficult as we advance in age. It s then that our emphasis must be placed on those things that are interior but, mortifications in one form or another must never be neglected. Many of the Saints became extremely creative in their mortifications as they became older. Reading about their lives may give us ideas which we can try as we too, follow along in that march of time! The person who would follow our Blessed Lord Jesus, must first deny themselves; then, He will give that person their cross to carry. Let us ask in our daily prayers to be able to see that cross which Christ offers, and to receive it humbly, and gratefully from His hand. Meditation Notes: *Cupidity: def: Inordinate desires; greed and avarice.
5. Priory Kalendar For the week of: September 10 th to September 17 th - A.D. 2017 In the Trinity Season Sunday, September 10 th... Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity Comm. St. Nicholas of Tolentino; Conf. O.S.A. 13 th cent. Italy. Monday, September 11 th.sts. Protus &Hyacinth; Myrs. - 3 rd cent. Rome. Tuesday, September 12 th... The Holy Name of Mary Wednesday, September 13 th Monthly Requiem for the Departed - (Mass & Offices recommended.) Thursday, September 14 th... Exaltation of the Holy Cross* Friday, September 15 th... Our Lady of Seven Sorrows - Our Matronal feast Day Octave Day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saturday, September 16 th... St. Cyprian; Bp. & Myr. - 3 rd cent. Carthage, North Africa Comm. St. Edith; Nun, O.S.B. of Wilton, England - 10 th cent. Sunday, September 17 th... Fourteenth Sunday After Trinity Comm. St. Hildegard of Bingen: Abs. O.S.B. - Germany 12 th cent. Comm. The Stigmata of St. Francis *The nine-month fast always ends on the Wednesday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Dog Days end September 15 th September 16 th September 16 th Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Stigmata of St. Francis St. Hildegard of Bingen
6. Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things By Br. A. Chip Munk, O.S.B. September 16 th The Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis In the year 1224, two years before the great Saint Francis of Assisi died, and when he was 42 years old, and a year after he had built the first Nativity crib in honor of the birth of our Lord, Francis went off to a lonely mountain called Mount Alvernia to pray. He was preparing himself with forty days of fasting and prayer for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, whose feast is on September 29 th. On September 14 th, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, St. Francis received on his hands, feet, and side the Sacred Wounds from our Lord s own body. Such love our Lord had for Francis that He gave him the very wounds he suffered in His Crucifixion! These wounds, with their continuous bleeding, stayed on Francis for the two remaining years of his life. When Francis died in 1226, the wounds disappeared shortly after his expiration. The day on which Francis received the Five Wounds of Our Lord was September 14 th, Holy Mother Church set aside September 16 th as the day in which to celebrate this most beautiful event as its own feast-day. It could be said that the simple liturgy of this holy saint s life might be put this way: He built the crib in 1223, and ascended the Cross in 1224. It is seen as a sign that a person holds special favor with Christ, when He imparts His Sacred Wounds upon them. Most of us have lived during the time of another Saint, himself a follower of St. Francis, who was graced with the Five Wounds: St. Pio (Pius) of Pietrelcina (Italy). Affectionately known the world over simply as St. Padre Pio. Br. Chip
7. 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 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). 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.
8. 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. All of the animal in and around the property are gathering and storing food for winter. (Squirrels, chipmunks, mice, turkeys) Those that have hair or wool are changing coats for the new season. They know what is coming even before we do as their bodies put on weight to get them through the coming cold season. We wish you all, especially our animal angels, joy in this beautiful fall season. Take the time to look at all the beauty God puts before us each day and be grateful. We are all blessed. PEACE