http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/catholic-elementary-school-has-leading-uk-gay-lobby-group-educate-students
Thursday, 16 May 2013
Praise God from KL through CS blog carer
http://www.spiritdaily.com/Ourladycape.htm
This blog has long (over a year) been warning all readers against this pernicious site and false seer, who undermines the teaching and authority of Catholic Church.
This blog has long (over a year) been warning all readers against this pernicious site and false seer, who undermines the teaching and authority of Catholic Church.
Poems from the Monastery Two
Exodus 18 and 19
Zipporah, wandering bird
waiting in the tents of Yitro
Faithful to the wandering Jew
now crossing the Sea of Red.
She and her two sons, the
second, one of promise
Like Isaac, Jacob, second
but chosen-Eliezer-while
Zipporah weeps for Gershom,
passes the springs, not sharing
In the four cups of seder.
How long will this bird wander?
Moses no longer mere shepherd
but king, steps forward, taking
Yitro into his tent, the
mirror-image of times past.
The wandering bird is left
outside, the Kushite beauty
Separated, not loved, like
Sarah, Rebecca, or Rachel
Sisters in the Lord, sans gold
since the new Revelation.
Moses becomes God's eunuch.
The bird fades into the desert.
Zipporah, wandering bird
waiting in the tents of Yitro
Faithful to the wandering Jew
now crossing the Sea of Red.
She and her two sons, the
second, one of promise
Like Isaac, Jacob, second
but chosen-Eliezer-while
Zipporah weeps for Gershom,
passes the springs, not sharing
In the four cups of seder.
How long will this bird wander?
Moses no longer mere shepherd
but king, steps forward, taking
Yitro into his tent, the
mirror-image of times past.
The wandering bird is left
outside, the Kushite beauty
Separated, not loved, like
Sarah, Rebecca, or Rachel
Sisters in the Lord, sans gold
since the new Revelation.
Moses becomes God's eunuch.
The bird fades into the desert.
Poems from the Monastery
I have written three poems while here at Tyburn--here is one.
May 1535 for the Feast of the Tyburn Martyrs
Cherry blossoms fell in muddied lanes
--the bridgegrooms' path.
White chevaliers on wooden horses,
not stomping greys,
Taunt, not chants met their ears
which disregarded discord.
Fair Houghton, fair men witnessed
by the lone lawyer through
Slit-stone windows--long day
of hesed love, long memories
As we stand here at Tyburn.
May 1535 for the Feast of the Tyburn Martyrs
Cherry blossoms fell in muddied lanes
--the bridgegrooms' path.
White chevaliers on wooden horses,
not stomping greys,
Taunt, not chants met their ears
which disregarded discord.
Fair Houghton, fair men witnessed
by the lone lawyer through
Slit-stone windows--long day
of hesed love, long memories
As we stand here at Tyburn.
Letters from the Monastery Five
a snake in the grass...
A scandal has happened here in the latest yearly lecture of the Mother General. I am sure she is as upset and disgruntled as I am, although I have not had a chance to talk with her. She has been gone, come back, and it getting ready for Nigeria.
What happened was that the lecturer was a heretic. Sadly, the title of his talk did not indicate his weak thinking and criticisms of, (talk about arrogance), of Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI's stand against modernist heresies.
This man seemed to think that Pope Francis would open to door to change the teaching of the Church regarding socialism and other forms of political governance as well as criticizing the idea that the Church must be protected by the State. He spoke of the anti-modernist encyclicals as part of the "power plays" of the Church in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Arrgh. Also, he noted that the Church had been wrong about Galileo. What an old and silly argument.
How he got into Tyburn is a mystery of evil. Thank God, the attendance was lower than usual. But, I saw this as Christ, yet again, being killed on Calvary, and that the greatest evil in the Church are apostatized Catholics.
We were all invited to the lecture, in silence, in the enclosure, but only four nuns and myself attended. Good thing. I felt as if I were at the foot of the Cross. For almost 40 years, I have fought against modernist heresies and to have this man speaking thus in the Home of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus was too much for me.
Later on, I went back to the chapel and cried for the desecration of My Lord's Body on the Cross. The Crucified One suffers daily from the evil done by Catholics. This man did not believe in the authority of the Popes, merely seeing their ideas as antiquated. Can you believe a lecturer upholding modernist heresies at Tyburn? All I could to was weep and pray, as, of course, being in, I could not question him in the tea and coffee afterwards.
One nun sitting next to me, a young one, stood up and walked out, saying quietly, "This man is a heretic."
He even criticized Cardinal Pell and the Archbishop of Southwark who has come out against SSM. Sad, sad, sad. One can google the statement from Peter Smith and Vincent Nichols, I am sure, on the upcoming review, or rather passing, of the SSM bill in Parliament.
...Satan was allowed a nasty laugh here in the chapel, but he knows the war is lost, even though this battle was won. How many people in the audience were led astray? Most of the nuns are very orthodox, faithful daughters of the Church. I did see a The Tablet in the common room, but there are The Tablet(s) in Buckfast, and in the back of most Catholic churches in this fair country. What can I expect? The Mother Novice hates the The Tablet as well. I told her about the famous blogging sign from Father Tim, "Tabula delenda est". She loved it.
I spoke with Mother Novice Mistress about it, as she could not be at the lecture.I learned later on that the lecturer left without going to the do afterwards. Last year, the speaker was Lord Alton, and how I wish this year's speaker was in the same category. A shock to the system....
A scandal has happened here in the latest yearly lecture of the Mother General. I am sure she is as upset and disgruntled as I am, although I have not had a chance to talk with her. She has been gone, come back, and it getting ready for Nigeria.
What happened was that the lecturer was a heretic. Sadly, the title of his talk did not indicate his weak thinking and criticisms of, (talk about arrogance), of Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI's stand against modernist heresies.
This man seemed to think that Pope Francis would open to door to change the teaching of the Church regarding socialism and other forms of political governance as well as criticizing the idea that the Church must be protected by the State. He spoke of the anti-modernist encyclicals as part of the "power plays" of the Church in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Arrgh. Also, he noted that the Church had been wrong about Galileo. What an old and silly argument.
How he got into Tyburn is a mystery of evil. Thank God, the attendance was lower than usual. But, I saw this as Christ, yet again, being killed on Calvary, and that the greatest evil in the Church are apostatized Catholics.
We were all invited to the lecture, in silence, in the enclosure, but only four nuns and myself attended. Good thing. I felt as if I were at the foot of the Cross. For almost 40 years, I have fought against modernist heresies and to have this man speaking thus in the Home of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus was too much for me.
Later on, I went back to the chapel and cried for the desecration of My Lord's Body on the Cross. The Crucified One suffers daily from the evil done by Catholics. This man did not believe in the authority of the Popes, merely seeing their ideas as antiquated. Can you believe a lecturer upholding modernist heresies at Tyburn? All I could to was weep and pray, as, of course, being in, I could not question him in the tea and coffee afterwards.
One nun sitting next to me, a young one, stood up and walked out, saying quietly, "This man is a heretic."
He even criticized Cardinal Pell and the Archbishop of Southwark who has come out against SSM. Sad, sad, sad. One can google the statement from Peter Smith and Vincent Nichols, I am sure, on the upcoming review, or rather passing, of the SSM bill in Parliament.
...Satan was allowed a nasty laugh here in the chapel, but he knows the war is lost, even though this battle was won. How many people in the audience were led astray? Most of the nuns are very orthodox, faithful daughters of the Church. I did see a The Tablet in the common room, but there are The Tablet(s) in Buckfast, and in the back of most Catholic churches in this fair country. What can I expect? The Mother Novice hates the The Tablet as well. I told her about the famous blogging sign from Father Tim, "Tabula delenda est". She loved it.
I spoke with Mother Novice Mistress about it, as she could not be at the lecture.I learned later on that the lecturer left without going to the do afterwards. Last year, the speaker was Lord Alton, and how I wish this year's speaker was in the same category. A shock to the system....
Letters from the Monastery Four
It is nice to have permission to have access to my son through the phone and letters. Once I am formally in the novitiate, I shall not be able to send or receive letters or calls for six months.
There is a real need for young vocations here in London, in Ireland and Scotland. Most of the nuns in the order are under 49, but not here.
Sadly, there is only one very old Irish nun and a very few English ones. Most of the vocations are coming from the East, and now, Nigeria. One reason is that the Western girls lack stamina and the understanding of penance.
Kneeling on wooden floors, sleeping in school beds from the 1940s, and eating what is given, rather than having choices, are activities mostly not understood by the modern world. Benedict understood the road to perfection, as all these things destroy self-will. One really understands the Scripture about becoming a new creation, and Christ's words to Nicodemus about being born again when one is giving up all semblance of personality and the ideas one had of one's self.
This is an amazing stripping of self which I am experiencing daily. Many tears, but many graces....one feels like a newborn child, waiting for God.
Today, Mother Novice Mistress in class noted that the society (I would use the term culture) creates vocations, or does not do so.
Sad that the Anglo-Saxons and Celtic girls have no interest in Tyburn. What a great challenge. If they could only see and experience the joy and love of this community--but, where is the desire?
One must want to be taken into the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and follow Him wherever He is.
I fit in, so far, so far....
To be continued...
There is a real need for young vocations here in London, in Ireland and Scotland. Most of the nuns in the order are under 49, but not here.
Sadly, there is only one very old Irish nun and a very few English ones. Most of the vocations are coming from the East, and now, Nigeria. One reason is that the Western girls lack stamina and the understanding of penance.
Kneeling on wooden floors, sleeping in school beds from the 1940s, and eating what is given, rather than having choices, are activities mostly not understood by the modern world. Benedict understood the road to perfection, as all these things destroy self-will. One really understands the Scripture about becoming a new creation, and Christ's words to Nicodemus about being born again when one is giving up all semblance of personality and the ideas one had of one's self.
This is an amazing stripping of self which I am experiencing daily. Many tears, but many graces....one feels like a newborn child, waiting for God.
Today, Mother Novice Mistress in class noted that the society (I would use the term culture) creates vocations, or does not do so.
Sad that the Anglo-Saxons and Celtic girls have no interest in Tyburn. What a great challenge. If they could only see and experience the joy and love of this community--but, where is the desire?
One must want to be taken into the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and follow Him wherever He is.
I fit in, so far, so far....
To be continued...
Letters from the Monastery Three--tidbits for women readers
For those women readers who are interested, poverty dictates that one only changes clothes three times a week and bedding once a month. Poverty means that one owns nothing and if one runs out of something, like shampoo, one asks the Mother Novice Mistress. I brought plenty of things with me here.
One must wear white nightgowns and it is freezing in the convent and in London. Again, I have permission to use my duvet and have a hot water bottle. There is no heat in the convent at this time and the temperature drops into the high 50s at night.
Cleaning, which is on my list of chores, involves using brooms, dustpans and mops--no electric machines here, except for the wooden floor polisher. One lives in a "survival mode", which I totally expected. If one has seen or read The Road, it is helpful, as only that scenario is more dire.
Penance indicates that one suffers like the poorest of the poor. One of my favorite nuns, Sr. Escholastica, has a frayed habit because of the silly Velcro shoes all of us seem forced to buy, as black shoes with ties are almost impossible to find. The Velcro gets caught on the bottom of the habits.
She is so humble and so joyful. Joy is the mark of many of these nuns, even in their penances. Such a grace.
Three of the nuns will be going to Nigeria on May 14th. The foundation there is also calling four young ones in the area. The situation is, of course, dangerous, but the bishop asked the congregation last year to come and pray for peace, which is much needed.
I kissed the hands of the two young ones going out, saying that I wanted to kiss the hands of martyrs. They loved my action and all the nuns, even the ones here in London, talk about martyrdom. These are savvy women, not "pie-in-the-sky" people who think the good times are yet to come. I am so impressed with the level of intellectual honesty and humility of the mind-sets here.
A new foundation in France is being negotiated as well, which will bring the number of foundations to ten. God has chosen a real "builder" in the person of Mother General.
One must wear white nightgowns and it is freezing in the convent and in London. Again, I have permission to use my duvet and have a hot water bottle. There is no heat in the convent at this time and the temperature drops into the high 50s at night.
Cleaning, which is on my list of chores, involves using brooms, dustpans and mops--no electric machines here, except for the wooden floor polisher. One lives in a "survival mode", which I totally expected. If one has seen or read The Road, it is helpful, as only that scenario is more dire.
Penance indicates that one suffers like the poorest of the poor. One of my favorite nuns, Sr. Escholastica, has a frayed habit because of the silly Velcro shoes all of us seem forced to buy, as black shoes with ties are almost impossible to find. The Velcro gets caught on the bottom of the habits.
She is so humble and so joyful. Joy is the mark of many of these nuns, even in their penances. Such a grace.
Three of the nuns will be going to Nigeria on May 14th. The foundation there is also calling four young ones in the area. The situation is, of course, dangerous, but the bishop asked the congregation last year to come and pray for peace, which is much needed.
I kissed the hands of the two young ones going out, saying that I wanted to kiss the hands of martyrs. They loved my action and all the nuns, even the ones here in London, talk about martyrdom. These are savvy women, not "pie-in-the-sky" people who think the good times are yet to come. I am so impressed with the level of intellectual honesty and humility of the mind-sets here.
A new foundation in France is being negotiated as well, which will bring the number of foundations to ten. God has chosen a real "builder" in the person of Mother General.
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
A word of caution from a friend
There are some charismatics in Great Britain who are involved in a spurious thing called healing of memories. A friend of the usual blogger brought this to the attention of some people. Here is what wiki has to say about RMT which is not scientific. Recovered Memory Therapy has been found to be dubious, at best. Any Catholic or Christian group involved in this type of ministry may be merely New Age stuff and not reliable. Any group calling itself Catholic has no authority to do so.
There are several individuals and groups that have published guidelines, criticisms or cautions about recovered memory therapy and techniques to stimulate recall:
There are several individuals and groups that have published guidelines, criticisms or cautions about recovered memory therapy and techniques to stimulate recall:
- In the Brandon Report, a set of training, practice, research and professional development recommendations, the United Kingdom's Royal College of Psychiatrists advised psychiatrists to avoid use of RMT or any "memory recovery techniques", citing a lack of evidence to support the accuracy of memories recovered in this way.[28]
- In 2004, the government of the Health Council of the Netherlands issued a report in response to inquiries from professionals regarding RMT and memories of traumatic child sexual abuse.[11]The Health Council stated that while traumatic childhood experiences were major risk factors for psychological problems in adulthood, most traumatic memories are well remembered but can be forgotten or become inaccessible though the influence of specific circumstances precludes a simple description of the relationship between memory and trauma. The report also notes that memories can be confabulated, re-interpreted and even apparently vivid or dramatic memories can be false, a risk that is increased when therapists use suggestive techniques, attempt to link symptoms to past trauma, with certain patients and through the use of methods to stimulate memories.[11]
- The Australian Hypnotherapists Association (AHA) issued a similar statement, for contexts where false memories of child sexual abuse may arise. The AHA acknowledges that child sexual abuse is serious, damaging and at least some memories are genuine, while cautioning that some questioning techniques and interventions may lead to illusory memories leading to false beliefs about abuse.[29]
- The Canadian Psychological Association has issued guidelines for psychologists addressing recovered memories.[30] Psychologists are urged to be aware of their limitations in knowledge and training regarding memory, trauma and development and "that there is no constellation of symptoms which is diagnostic of child sexual abuse". The guidelines also urge caution and awareness of the benefits and limitations of "relaxation, hypnosis, guided imagery, free associations, inner child exercises, age regression, body memory interpretation, body massage, dream interpretation, and the use of projective techniques" and special caution regarding any legal involvement of memories, abuse and therapy.
Note to Readers
Some comments were "lost", sorry. from CS.
Also, the editor and the original writer do not care that Douglas Adams was an atheist. There are many artists who did not believe in God or who were "heretics". Do we ignore Moby Dick, one of the greatest books ever written because of the odd religious beliefs of the author?
Catholics do not ignore art created by unbelievers, unless it is bad art. We are aware that God uses many people to display His Creativity.
Also, the editor and the original writer do not care that Douglas Adams was an atheist. There are many artists who did not believe in God or who were "heretics". Do we ignore Moby Dick, one of the greatest books ever written because of the odd religious beliefs of the author?
Catholics do not ignore art created by unbelievers, unless it is bad art. We are aware that God uses many people to display His Creativity.
Letters from the Monastery Two
The monastic day is harrowing. I am on a mitigated schedule, which means I get up at 5:45 instead of having to be at Nocturns. I am in the Pantry by 6:15 making porridge, putting milk on for hot milk over a double boiler, and getting the trays ready for tea break, called mixte and also for breakfast. I make porridge for two of us who have permission to eat this, instead of the home-made bread which is making me sick.
Also, I have permission to drink coffee. Thank God. The Mother General must know I would turn into a beast without coffee.
I must say that I am a bit surprised that one only has an hour a day of private prayer. My classes have been cancelled more than held, as to all the interruptions of real life.
We are studying the Gospel of John, the Rule, the history of vocations, the CCC and other wonderful things. But, I have only had one class. I am ahead of my reading, as I cheat and read at night. Mother Novice Mistress is happy to have a keen student.
to be continued...
Also, I have permission to drink coffee. Thank God. The Mother General must know I would turn into a beast without coffee.
I must say that I am a bit surprised that one only has an hour a day of private prayer. My classes have been cancelled more than held, as to all the interruptions of real life.
We are studying the Gospel of John, the Rule, the history of vocations, the CCC and other wonderful things. But, I have only had one class. I am ahead of my reading, as I cheat and read at night. Mother Novice Mistress is happy to have a keen student.
to be continued...
Letters from Monastery One
I have permission to write to my son and I shall write about my experiences at Tyburn.
First of all , this is the most loving and mature congregations I have ever seen. The nuns are normal and human and real. I have never met such mature nuns. I am happy here and love the day. The Rule of Benedict is alreay in my heart somewhat. Mother General said that one reason I am not having trouble with obedience and the day is that she thinks I have interiorized the Benedictine way.
There is a Benedictine way of doing everything and one must be very watchful and learn by doing, not hearing. There is a monastic way of holding up one's bowl for hot water, for cutting bread and so on.
I love it. I love being here. I love the entire set up.
I have had to asked forgiveness of Mother Novice Mistress or Mother General at least once a day, but no matter.
To be continued...
First of all , this is the most loving and mature congregations I have ever seen. The nuns are normal and human and real. I have never met such mature nuns. I am happy here and love the day. The Rule of Benedict is alreay in my heart somewhat. Mother General said that one reason I am not having trouble with obedience and the day is that she thinks I have interiorized the Benedictine way.
There is a Benedictine way of doing everything and one must be very watchful and learn by doing, not hearing. There is a monastic way of holding up one's bowl for hot water, for cutting bread and so on.
I love it. I love being here. I love the entire set up.
I have had to asked forgiveness of Mother Novice Mistress or Mother General at least once a day, but no matter.
To be continued...
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
A Reminder of Etheldreda's Life
Abbess of Ely from http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/etheldreda.html
(AD 636-679)
(AD 636-679)
Etheldreda - or, more properly, Ethelthrith - was the third and most celebrated of the saintly daughters of King Anna of East Anglia, by his wife, Saewara. Anna was of the family of the Uffingas, descendants of the Norse God, Odin. He was a Christian who did much for the conversion of his own kingdom, and that of Wessex, his chief enemy being the savage Penda, heathen King of Mercia.
Etheldreda was born at Exning in Suffolk, around AD 636, and was brought up in an atmosphere of piety. It was her ambition to be a nun like her sisters, but she was destined not to attain this goal until she had been twice married. In AD 652, she was given, against her will to, Tondbert, King of South Gyrwe, an East Anglian subkingdom in the Fens. As part of their marriage settlement, Tondbert gave his wife an estate then called Elge, and afterwards Ely. Tondbert, either respecting and sympathising with her monastic vocation or regarding her with indifference, allowed Etheldreda to live as a nun during the three years of their marriage. During that time, her father, King Anna, was defeated and killed by Penda of Mercia (AD 654), and was succeeded by his brother, Aethelhere.
After the deaths of her husband and father, Etheldreda settled on her personal estate at Ely, intending to spend the rest of her life in religious retirement. However, in AD 660, for family reasons - probably to secure an alliance for the house of the Uffingas with the powerful Kingdom of Northumbria against the aggressive Mercians - she married Egfrith, the second son of Oswiu, King of Northumbria.
At the time of his marriage, Egfrith was little more than a child. Etheldreda won his esteem and affection at once, and rapidly acquired a purifying and ennobling influence over him. He "held her as a thing enskied and sainted". He sat at her feet and learnt wisdom and self-denial from her, and he assisted her in her good works.
In AD 670, at the age of twenty-four, Egfrith ascended - not without some trouble - to the throne of Northumbria. Whilst Queen, Etheldreda delighted in the society of monks and nuns, and took care to invite and attract to her house such of them as were most distinguished for learning and piety. Among these was St. Cuthbert, the young Prior of Lindisfarne, upon whose monastery, she bestowed many gifts from her own private property. Desiring to give him a token of her regard for himself and to be specially remembered in his prayers, she also made and embroidered, with her own skilful fingers, a stole and a maniple for him. A gift, he would wear only in the presence of God, and be reminded of her while celebrating mass. St. Wilfred was also her friend and adviser and she gave him much land in Hexham, which had originally been a gift from her husband. There, Wilfred built the fairest church which then existed north of the Alps.
Although, for twelve years, Egfrith had been a mere humble adorer of his beautiful wife, he had, by now become a man - with manly desires. His affection had grown to a love which could no longer be satisfied with worship at a distance. He had hitherto consented to let Etheldreda live in his house like a nun in her convent, but now he wanted, and even demanded, more. He entreated Wilfred to use his influence to induce his wife to become, in fact, what, as yet, she had been only in name. He promised Wilfred great things for himself and for his churches, should he be able to persuade the Queen that her duty to God was her duty to her husband. Wilfred feigned to enter into the King's view of the matter, but, in fact, he steadfastly encouraged the Queen to persist in her celibate life and even advised her to ask permission to leave the court and become a nun. Egfrith never forgave him.
After many painful scenes, an unwilling consent was wrung from the King, no sooner given than repented. However, before he could give orders to the contrary, Etheldreda had fled to Coldingham beyond the Tweed, where Egfrith's aunt, St. Aebbe the Elder, was abbess. Egfrith found life intolerable without Etheldreda, and determined to bring her back with or without her consent. St. Aebbe heartily sympathised with Etheldreda but, seeing that, should Egfrith insist on reclaiming his wife, resistance would be impossible, advised her to escape from Coldingham in the disguise of a beggar. Etheldreda did this, attended by two nuns of Coldingham, SS. Sewara and Sewenna. She did not go to her own aunt's sister, St. Hilda, at Whitby, as she would have opposed anything advised by Wilfred, but decided to go back to her own lands at Ely. Many stories are told of her adventures on the journey, and they have often been the subject of sculpture and painted glass in the English monastic churches.
On the first day of her flight, Etheldreda was all but overtaken by her husband. She arrived at a headland, Colbert's Head, jutting into the sea, and her pious intention was protected by the tide, which at once rose to an unusual height around the rock, making the place inaccessible to her pursuers. Egfrith resolved to wait till the ebbing waters should leave the path open to him, but instead of going down in a few hours, the waters remained at high tide for seven days. The baffled pursuer then realised that a power greater than his had taken Etheldreda, and her vow, under his protection. So he gave up the idea of compelling her to come back to him and returned home.
Later, as she travelled, one very hot day, Etheldreda was overpowered with fatigue. She stuck her staff into the ground and lay down to rest on the open plain. When she awoke, the staff had put forth leaves and branches, and it afterwards became a mighty oak tree, larger than any other for many miles around.
At length, after many days of weary walking, the saint arrived on her own lands in Ely. Here, there was a piece of good, firm, rich land, supporting six hundred families and surrounded to a great distance by fens, forming a more formidable rampart than walls or plain water would have done.
Here, in AD 673, Etheldreda built a large double monastery. Wilfred, who never lost sight of his old friend, made her abbess and gave the veil to her first nuns. He obtained special privileges for her, from the Pope, and often visited her and helped her with advice and suggestions useful in the management of her large establishment. Etheldreda ruled over her monastery for seven years, setting a great example of piety and abstinence and all other monastic virtues. Though such a great lady, and so delicately reared, she never wore any linen, but only rough woollen clothing. She denied herself the use of the warm bath, a luxury much in use among the English in her time. Only permitting herself this indulgence at the four great festivals of the year and, even then, she only used the bath that had already served the other nuns. Many of her old friends, relations and courtiers followed her and her example. For hither they came to live under her rule or to place their daughters in her care. Hither also came many holy men and priests to take her for their spiritual guide. Among the kindred princesses who were attracted by Etheldreda's good qualities and the fame of her holiness, was her sister, St. Sexburga, Queen of Kent, who, leaving her own foundation of Minster-in-Sheppey, came and put herself under the rule of Etheldreda. At her death, on 23rd June AD 679, she succeeded her as abbess.
Etheldreda died of a quinsy, which she regarded as a punishment for her former love of dress and, in particular, for having worn jewels on her neck. An incision was made into her throat, by a surgeon who afterwards swore to the healing of the wound after death. Hence her patronage of sufferers of throat complaints. Etheldreda is one of the most popular of English saints, and there are more dedications in her name in England than in that of any female saint of the early Anglo-Saxon Church. Her feast day is the anniversary of her death, 23rd June.
In AD 696, St. Sexburga, had her body taken from its tomb, where it was found, not only undestroyed, but with a youthful freshness which had long departed from the face of the living Etheldreda. Many miracles were wrought at her side and, as her successors were princesses of the same family, the abbey of Ely was, for many years, very famous and very rich. It was constituted a cathedral in 1109, the abbot and bishop thenceforth becoming one person.
The life and merits of Etheldreda were the favourite study of medieval writers, and many notices of her are still extant. She is represented in art with the emblems of Royalty, and of her rank as abbess, sometimes with a book and, sometimes, a crown of flowers, or crowned with a crosier and budding staff. At Ely Cathedral, the lantern columns represent her asleep, her head in a nun's lap, a book in her hand with a tree blossoming above her. She is sometimes known by the pet name of Audrey.
Edited from Agnes Dunbar's "A Dictionary of Saintly Women" (1904).
St. Joseph and the Truth
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| I like the little dog here. |
He was obedient and obviously had a relationship with God.
He listened to God and God's Messengers.
He reacted quickly to God's Will in his life.
He was righteous, following the Law and sensitive to the Law of Moses.
He learned a craft as a boy and was diligent in his work. He taught his Foster Son well.
He obeyed the rules of Judaism, as seen on the Feast of the Purification or Presentation of Christ in the Temple. He also went up to Jerusalem with his family.
He was a Protector of his wife and his Foster Son.
We need to concentrate on the Scriptures and not on spurious tales.
St. Jospeh, the Worker, pray for us today in our work and play and prayer.
A quick post on being Benedictine and lay
Someone asked me today how to incorporate the Rule of St. Benedict into the lay and even family life.
First of all, do not read any books on this, as there are none which are not contaminated by New Age nonsense.
Second of all, the idea is not new and for years there have been Oblates, who are lay men and women connected to a monastery. The problem is that one has to live within at least driving or train distance in order to be involved.
So, here are a few ideas, which are not connected to the Oblation.
One, simplify your life. Benedict knew that poverty allowed for energies and time to be dedicated to prayer.
Too much stuff and too many activities ruin the Benedictine atmosphere, even in monasteries. Some monasteries are just too busy.
Two, set aside, daily, regular time for prayer and the reading of Scripture. If you cannot manage an hour, manage a half hour of each, meditating, for example, on the Mass readings, one of those, of the day. Meditation should be, at first, active, using the imagination and not contemplation.
Three, make a schedule. Benedict, as I have noted elsewhere, invented time management. Without a schedule, there is no discipline for prayer and work.
Four, understand that the prayer time overflows into the work time, if one can maintain both silence and a reflective manner and mood. Talking ruins the rhythm of work and prayer.
Five, cultivate silence in the home, even with children. Children do not have to be loud all the time. They, also, need to learn reflection and being silent, which is possible at ages earlier than most people realize.
Six, get rid of the television. As Thomas Merton notes, we are geared to passive intake of knowledge, which happens at the contemplative stage, but if our minds are full of goo from the television, we shall never learn either meditation or contemplation.
Seven, stay in one place, or simplify your travel. This is very hard in our day because of the need for commuting, but one must learn to be still and stay put.
Eight, learn to cultivate the quiet space in your mind and soul and not to let things around distract you. This requires patience and practice, but is a very useful tool for praying during the day.
Nine, value working with your hands. Sewing, cooking, gardening, cleaning, etc. can all be part of the rhythm of prayer and work. Benedict knew the value, as well as the necessity, of labour.
Ten, do not pretend to be a hermit. Being a recluse does not automatically make one holy. One is made holy in relationships with other people and with God.
Eleven, read the Rule.
Twelve, have family meals together and discuss things quietly. Try to discuss God and holy things.
Thirteen, eat well, but simply.
Fourteen, be honest with yourself and others in your family or circle of friends. Humility is the mark of the Benedict soul.
Fifteen, never pass up the chance to go to frequent Confession and daily Mass is possible. Pray at least morning prayer or evening prayer as in the Breviary. Make a habit of prayer.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Feast Day of Pope St. Pius V
We celebrated this great Pope's feast day this evening at Mass. If you have not read his life, here it is.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12130a.htm
There are so many good seminarians here. Please pray for all those at St. John's, Wonersh and for the faculty and staff.
Sigh, a Gold Star from the Most Famous Blogger Priest in the World
I wish there were more vocations to the contemplative life so that the Church Militant had the prayer backup for all this spiritual warfare, but sadly, this is not happening. A few orders here and there, but no large numbers. We need prayer Marines.
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