Light of the north issue 10

DON’T BE LEFT IN THE DARK Page 1

GET THE LIGHT OF THE NORTH Light

Light I s s ue 1 0 , Eas ter, 2 0 0 9

I am the Light of the World Sister JJanet Sister anet Fearns F ea arns in N Nigeria igeria where wh here childr children en are ar e pr praying aying ffor or Scotland.

S cotland o .P Page age 34

So wha So whatt is the Charismatic C harismatic Renewal?

R enewal? JJamus amus Smith rreflects. eflects.

Page P age 10

New grotto New grotto ffor or O ur Lady Lad dy Our in the hills of Stratherrick.

Stratherrick.

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Vocation to the Diaconate and a response to God’s call Page 22

Each copy of the Light of the North costs over a pound to produce and we would ask you to consider this if you wish to make a donation.

A quarterly magazine produced da and published by the Ogilvie Institute ut for the Diocese of Aberdeen ut R.C. Diocese of Aberdeen rde Charitable Trust, a registered Scottish Charity rd ha h a no. SC005122

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Light of the North

O

ur front cover this issue implications of the larger and all-encompassing features a collage of nine narrative of God’s love for all creation. paintings by Chinese He Qi challenges our assumptions and asks us to view Christian artist, Dr He Qi. the scene with fresh eyes. In some paintings, black During the Cultural Revolution, He lines run boldly, but not obtrusively, through figures was in the countryside painting and space alike. Combined with the deep lightimages of Mao Zedong. One day he saw Raphael’s suffused colours, this technique gives a stained-glass Madonna and Child in an old magazine. “I was very effect- a reference to the medieval art he so admires. moved by the softness of the Virgin’s smile,” he told William McGurn of Far Eastern Economic Review (Feb. Today, He ranks as arguably China’s most 26, 1998). “Everywhere around me people claimed to internationally sought after contemporary Christian artist, a Nanjing University art-school graduate who be seeking truth but had their knives out.” is the first mainland Chinese to gain a doctorate in Raphael’s painting alone did not convert He Qi, comparative religious art. However, he would be the although it did capture his imagination. “There are first to acknowledge that he is only one part of a small two different ways in China for people to become a but growing movement of Chinese artists now Christian,” he says. “One is by the strong influence realizing a goal that long eluded generations of from his family background; another way is by his Western missionaries: a body of art that is both own choice—‘step by step.’ I belong to the second genuinely Christian and fully Chinese. way.”

He Qi first saw Jesus’ face in an old magazine but now He Qi presents us with art that connects us to the he paints his own images of the biblical story. biblical story in a fresh, even a surprising, way. He is both story-teller and evangelist in his art. He is not The paintings by He Qi chosen for our cover are, from only preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he is left to right: Glory to God in the Highest; Praying at also conveying a message that transcends cultural Gethsemane; Messiah; Empty Tomb; The Risen Lord; types. In seeking to de-westernize the Christian story, He Is Not Here; He is Risen; The Risen Christ Appears he is trying to open our eyes to the universal and Supper At Emmaus.

up front

Jubilee award for Brother John

R

ecently the Knights of St Columba, Council 88, Aberdeen celebrated the 50year membership of one of its members, Brother John Donoghue, by presenting him with a Jubilee Award.

Brother Donaghue has held all offices of the Council over the past 50 years.

He worked for British Rail but always found time for the Knights’ meetings.

The award was presented at a Supper Dance in the Northern Hotel, Aberdeen by Bishop Peter Moran, Provincial Grand Knight Province 40, Brother Cyril Connon, Grand Knight Brother Sammy Reid and Deacon Bill Joss.

Light of the North

contents deaneries 4 obituary 8 children’slight 9 witness 10 liturgy 11 educationandformation 15 faithandculture 23 humour 32 crossword 33 Westminster 34 OgilvieInstitute 35

Light of the North Managing Editor Deacon Tony Schmitz Editor Cowan Watson Chief Reporter Fr Paul Bonnici Editorial Advisor Canon Bill Anderson Light of the North Ogilvie Institute 16 Huntly Street Aberdeen AB10 1SH 01224 638675 lightofthenorthmagazine@ gmail.com www.lightofthenorth.org To advertise in the Light of the North please contact Sandra Townsley on 01463 831 133 Sedstown@aol.com

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Death where is thy victory?

Is it not peculiar that while so much of our behaviour is governed by anxiety and the fear of death, death itself still remains such a taboo. After all, there are just two certainties in life; that we have been born and that we will die. For most folk the hope is that the distance between the two will be long and that the process whereby they die will be relatively short and painless, and will preferably take place in their own beds . While the statistics indicate that two out of every three people in the UK have lost either a close family member or a friend in the last three years yet, as a nation, we still find it extremely difficult to discuss death, and cope with bereavement. We still seem happy to buy into that great secular delusion that death is something akin to a myth.

Ironic really, that it is often Christians who are accused of being deluded and yet, as Christians , we are urged to confront our own mortality and in doing so we become increasingly aware that God has implanted deep within our hearts the belief in eternal life. It’s a belief that rests primarily on one fundamental affirmation: the resurrection of Jesus as dramatically demonstrated in the Easter story. Death did not have the last word. God raised up Jesus from the dead and by his Resurrection vindicated the cause of righteousness, endorsed everything for which Jesus stood, demonstrated that the universe is on the side of goodness and truth. Jesus said, “Because I live you shall live also’’. In this we find hope and joy even in the presence of sorrow and death, for our loved ones continue in God’s care, life has meaning and purpose, its ultimate end is not oblivion but life eternal and God has given us not a dead leader, but a living Lord. “Lo, I am with you always.’’ All this, of course, makes Easter the greatest of celebrations and we celebrate it in this, our tenth issue of the Light of the North, with plenty of good Paschal fare including: a story from Stratherrick about a beautiful new grotto dedicated to Our Lady of the Highlands; news of a papal award for Bridget Gordon from the parish of St Mary’s, Nairn; an article by Jamus Smith highlighting the transforming power of the Holy Spirit as experienced in the Charismatic movement and, in our series on vocations, Deacon John Wire speaks of his personal response to God’s call. Then we have some great contributions from our regular writers such as Fr Bernard O’Connor’s challenging article on the Pauline theme of trust and Peter Davidson’s intriguing story of George Strachan of the Mearns, the pioneering linguist and translator...and there are still plenty more eggs in the basket!

Have a wonderful Easter Cowan

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Page P age 4

Light L ight

Newss f ro m t h he D e a n nee rie s

Our O ur Lady Lady o off tthe he H Highlands ighlands Marie M arie Clare Clare F Finlay inlay

T

ucked d away in the peace and tra tranquillity anquillity of the hills h surrounding the Chu urch of the surrounding Church Immaaculate Conception, Stratherrick, Stratheerrick, a new new Immaculate b grotto - dedicated to t Our Our Lady and beautiful grotto Highlandss - was blessed by

by Fr Fr Ryszard Ryszarrd Świder Świder on of the Highlands ulyy, 2008. Open Open air Mass Mass was was celebrated the 26th JJuly, outsstretched hands of Our Our Lady y. The beauty beneath the outstretched Lady. remained in the hearts hearts of all those of this moment has remained praayy. who came to pray.

The walk walk ffrom rom the the Church, Church, through through the the fields fields to to the the ggrotto rotto The provides an an ideal ideal opportunity opportunity to to pray pray the the rosary. rosary. Approaching Approaching provides the large large wooden wooden cross, cross, at at the the top top of of tthe he field, field, w are the wee are reminded that that Our Our Lady Lady always always leads leads us us to to h er Son, Son, Jesus.

Jesus. reminded her The cross, cross, blessed blessed in in 2007 2007 bbyy Fr Fr M ichael SSavage avage aand nd Fr Fr The Michael Ryszard, has has itself itself become become a place place of of prayer prayer aand nd rreflection. eflection.

Ryszard, Devotion to to Our Our Lady Lady has has always always remained remaiined strong strong in in tthis his Devotion part of of the the Highlands Highlands aand nd the the Church, Church, opened opened in in 11859, 859, was was part named “The “The Immaculate Immaculate Conception”.

Conception”. An An aarea rea rich rich iin n faith, faith, named it was was visited visited by by both both St St Columba Columba and and Cuimen Cuimen Abbot Abbot of of it Iona, who who preached preached among among the the people. people. Th hill above above nearby nearby Iona, Thee hill Loch Tarff Tarff is is named named Cuimen’s Cuimen’s Seat Seat and and has has been been the the focal focal Loch point for for ecumenical ecumenical pilgrimage pilgrimage in in recent recent times. times. point Mass Conception, Mass is is celebrated celebrated in in The The IImmaculate mmaculate C onception, Stratherrick, on on alternate alternate Sundays Sundays and and on on Saturday Saturday mornings mornings Stratherrick, at at 10am, 10am m, followed followed by

by Adoration Adoration of of the the Blessed Blessed Sacrament Sacrament and Confessions.

Confessions. Adoration Adoration aalso lso takes takes p lace on on T uesday at at and place Tuesday 8-9pm Thursday 8-9pm and and Friday Friday 2-3pm.

2-3pm. On On Th ursday eevenings veenings at at 7pm 7pm an enthusiastic enthusiastic group group of of people people ooff all all ag ges ffrom rom p arishes ooff an ages parishes Stratherrick, Stratherrick, Fort Fort Augustus Augustus and and Inverness Inverness meet meet ttoo pray pray together with with songs songs of of praise, praise, reading reading of of sscripture, cripture, silence silence together and and sharing. sharing. recent visitor fr om England England commented, “If “IIf God God made A recent from a place more havee kept it for more beautiful, beeautiful, then He He must hav Himself ”.

Himself

TThe hee b beautiful eautiful new gr grotto rotto dedicated dediccated tto o Our Our Lady Lady of the Highlands ds

Nunraw Abbey

SSancta ancta t Maria Abbey e 1/4

In the cloister, the monk’s vocation is always a call to sink deep roots in the

SILENCE OF GOD. Sancta Maria Abbey Garvald, Haddington, East Lothian, EH41 4LW, Scotland, UK. Monastery: 01620 830223 Fax: 01620 830304 Guesthouse: 01620 830228 Email: nunraw.abbot@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.nunraw.org.uk, Nunraw Blogspot

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a Page P age 5

Churrch honours Church hon nours Bridget B ffor or work w ork k with yyoung oung parishion parishioners p ners n ers JJohn ohn D Dolan olan

A

Highland H ighland p parish arish h has as been been ccelebrating elebrating the the award award ooff a B ene Merenti Mereenti M edal ttoo oone ne of of iits ts Bene Medal p arishionerss. parishioners.

B ridget G ordon h as aattended ttended St St Mary’s Maryy’s Church Church in in Nairn Nairn Bridget Gordon has ffor or 331 1 yyears ears aand nd ffor or jjust ust oover ver 2200 ooff tthose hose yyears ears sshe he h as has ttaught aught ccatechism atechism ttoo tthe he cchildren hildreen ooff tthe he p arish, aass w ell aass parish, well p reparing them them ffor or tthe he SSacraments acraments ooff R econciliation, preparing Reconciliation, H oly C ommunion aand nd C onfirmation.

Holy Communion Confirmation.

IIn n re ecognition ooff h er wo orkk, B ridget re eceived tthe he B ene recognition her work, Bridget received Bene M ereenti M edal aafter fter a rrecent ecent SSunday unday M ass ffrom rom the the Rt Rt Merenti Medal Mass R ev P eter M oran, B ishop ooff A berd deen - oon n bbehalf ehalf ooff P ope Rev Peter Moran, Bishop Aberdeen Pope B enedict X VI. B ridget iiss likely likeely to to be be the the only only parishioner parishioner Benedict XVI. Bridget iin n SStt M aryy’s 1144-year 44-year h istory ttoo h ave re eceived oone ne ooff tthe he Mary’s history have received ggold old m edals. medals.

Th ene M ereenti M edal was was instituted instituted by

by Pope Pope Gregory Gregoryy Thee B Bene Merenti Medal X VI iin n 11832 832 aand nd iiss cconferred onferred oon n tthose hose w ho h ave eexhibited xh hibited XVI who have llong ong aand nd eexceptional xceptional sservice ervvice to to the the Catholic Catholic Church, Church, their their ffamilies amilies aand nd community. community. On On the the front front of of the the medal medal is is aan n iimage mage ooff C hrist and and tthe he ccrossed roossed ke kkeys eys ooff SStt P eter. Th Christ Peter.

Thee w ords bene bene m ere renti m ean literally literallly “to “to (or (or for) for)) a wellweellwords merenti mean d eserving ((person)”. person)”. deserving A ell aass tthe he m edal, B ridget received reeceived a framed framed certificate certificate Ass w well medal, Bridget iinscribed nscribed w ith tthe he L atin w ord ds: B enedictvvs X VI P ont. with Latin words: Benedictvs XVI Pont.

M aximvs/ A vrev evm n omisma/ C viqvve cconstitvtvm onstitvtvm Maximvs/ Avrevm nomisma/ Cviqve ssingvlariter ingvlariter d hristiana/ Benemerenti/ Benemerenti/ D .nae B rigidae dee ree C Christiana/ D.nae Brigidae G ordon/ D ecerneree aacc d ilargiri d ignatvs eest/ st/ Eidem Eidem Gordon/ Decernere dilargiri dignatvs ffacvltatem acvvltatem ffaciens aciens ssese ese hoc hoc oornamento rnamento d ecorandi. decorandi.

T rraanslated iitt m eans: B enedict X VI, SSupreme upreeme P ontiff, h as Translated means: Benedict XVI, Pontiff, has ggraciously raciously aand nd ggenerously eneroously aawarded ward ded tthe he ggold old m edal medal eestablished stablished for for each each p erson ooutstandingly utstandingly well-deserving weell-deserving person iin nC hristian aactivity ctivity ttoo B ridget G ord don ggiving iving h er ffreedom reedom Christian Bridget Gordon her ttoo we ear this this decoration decoraation on on h er p erson. Th word ding iiss wear her person.

Thee wording fframed ra ramed iinside nside the the images images ooff SSaints aints P eter aand nd P aul and and Peter Paul vvarious arious B iblical ssymbols. ymbols.

Biblical B ridget ccommented: ommented: ““Receiving Receiving tthe he B ene M ereenti Medal Medal Bridget Bene Merenti w as a h uge surprise surp prise aand nd a great greeat honour honour iindeed. ndeed. A fter tthe he was huge After p resentation, a ccelebration elebraation wa as h eld, oorganised rganised bbyy m presentation, was held, myy ffamily, amily, w ith B ishop P eter aand nd F arnett aass gguests uests ooff with Bishop Peter Frr B Barnett h onour.. honour.

Bridget rreceiving eceiving e her aw award warrd from frrom Bishop Bisho op Peter Peter Moran, Morran, look o ing on ar re FFrr Barnett, paris sh priest of St while looking are parish Marry’s; husband hussband Iain and daughters daughters (from (from left) (fr lefft) Amy, Amy, Mary’s; Kirstie and d Eva. Eva. The The couple couple p hav other dau ghter g Kirstie havee one o daughter Johanna, who was was unable to to attend attend the t ceremony. cerremony.

Johanna, [Phot h ogrraph curtesy curtesy of Ian MacRae] MacR acRae] [Photograph ““It It ccertainly ertainly wa w as a d ay I w ill aalways lwaays re emember aand nd I aam m was day will remember vvery ery ggrateful rateful ttoo F arnett aand nd eeveryone veryyone eelse lse w ho m ade Frr B Barnett who made tthis his ssuch uch a w onderful ooccasion.” ccasion.” wonderful

SShe he added: added: “Teaching “Teaching the the children childreen ooff tthe he p arish d uring parish during tthe he llast ast 220 0 yyears ears h as bbeen een m ost re eward ding iin n iitself. tself. W ree has most rewarding Wee aare vvery ery ffortunate ortunate iin n SSt. t. M aryy’s iin n h aving aan n eextremely xtreemely Mary’s having ccommitted ommitted aand nd eenthusiastic nthusiastic tteam eam ooff ccatechists atechists ttoo w hom whom m uch ccredit reedit iiss d ue aand nd wh hom I tthank hank m ost ssincerely incereely ffor or much due whom most aallll ttheir heir support support over over the the yyears.” earss.”

B ishop M oran ccommented: ommented: ““Bridget Bridget iiss a ffully-trained ully-trained Bishop Moran p arish ccatechist atechist aand nd h ass n ow ccompleted ompleted 224 4 yyears earss iin n tthat hat parish has now rrole. ole. IItt is is particularly particularlly for for that that w ork, wh hich iiss ssoo vvaluable aluable iin n work, which tthose hose p arts ooff tthe he d iocese w heree tthere here aare re n atholic parts diocese where noo C Catholic sschools, chools, tthat hat tthe he B ene M erenti aaward ward d - tthe he P apal m edal Bene Merenti Papal medal w hich ccarries arries tthat hat d esignation - ttoo B ridget iiss w ell which designation Bridget well d eserved.” deserved.”

A ell aass h er w orkk w ith cchildren hildreen aatt SStt M aryy’s, B ridget iiss Ass w well her work with Mary’s, Bridget a m ember ooff tthe he C hernobyl C hildreen L ifeline ((Nairn Nairn member Chernobyl Children Lifeline L ink), w ho ra aise ffunds unds ttoo bring bring cchildren hildren oon nh oliday ffrom rom Link), who raise holiday B elarus to to Nairn Nairn each each summer. summer. Bridget Bridget aand nd h er ffamily amily aare ree Belarus her aalso lso oone ne of of the the many many h ost ffamilies amilies ttoo tthe he cchildren. hildreen. host SShe he iiss aalso lso ccurrently urreently wo orkking aass a m anagement aaccountant ccountant working management w ith M aryy’s M eals - a SScottish cottish ccharity harity w hich ssets ets u p sschool chool with Mary’s Meals which up ffeeding eeding p rojects iin n ccommunities ommunities tthroughout hroughout tthe he w orlld projects world w heree p overty and and hunger hunger prevent prevvent cchildren hildren ffrom rroom ggaining aining where poverty aan n eeducation. ducation.

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Page P age 6

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‘The ‘The e pr pretty e y little ett l RC church chu urch fo for o LLerwick’ or erwick w ’ ... .

Brian B rian N Nugent ugent

T

here h ere always always seems seems to to be be tthat hat moment moment in in tthe he BBC BBC p rogramme ‘Who ‘Who Do Do You You Think Think You You A re?’ w hen programme Are?’ when tthe he celebrity celebrity guest guest finds finds out out something something u nexpected iin n ttheir heir family family h istory. W ell, jjust ust as as unexpected history.

Well, in tthe he T V programme, programme, when when SStt Margaret Margaret parishioners parishioners first first in TV started rresearching esearching the the h istory of of tthe he church, church, tthey hey kept kept started history turning u p llittle ittle p ieces ooff information information tthat hat w ere turning up pieces were unexpected. unexpected.

Everybody in in L erwick, and and m ost ooff the the p arishioners ttoo, oo, Everybody Lerwick, most parishioners know tthe he C atholic cchurch hurch aass “St “St Margaret’s”.

Margaret’s”. Th Shetland know Catholic Thee Shetland Pencil drawing drrawing aw wing g of St Margaret’s Marrgar g ret’s church. churrch. ch. W ho dr rew it Pencil Who drew News ooff 8th 8th JJuly, uly, 11911 911 reported reported the the oopening pening Mass Mass w hich News which and when? was held held on on the the 22nd nd July, July, 1911 1911 ssaying aying ‘‘The The church church ((which which was he 770s 0s saw saw aan n increase increase of of parishioners, parishioners, with with an an additional additional has been been d edicated to to tthe he SSacred acred H eart of of Our Our L ord aand nd SStt tthe has dedicated Heart Lord p riest based based iin n Sullom Sullom Voe Voe ffor or a time. time. In In 1976 1976 Fr Fr Rory Rory priest Margaret, Q ueen aand nd P atron Saint Saint of of Scotland) Scotland) …

Margaret, Queen Patron …’.’.

G eoghegan SSJJ was was appointed appointed aass cchaplain haplain to to the the oil-related oil-related Geoghegan onstruction w orkers there. there. The The aarrival rrival ooff E astern Europeans Europeans workers Eastern The p roper n ame ooff the the church church came came aass a surprise surprise to to m any cconstruction The proper name many n llarge arrge numbers numbers ssince ince 2004, 2004, many many from from Poland, Poland, h as brought brought has current p arishioners. One One oorr two two thought thought tthe he name name ooff the the iin current parishioners. n e w l i f e t o t h e c h u r c h . new life to the church. church was was bbeing eing cchanged hanged in in some some underhand underhand w ay. church way.

Are yyou ou a fformer ormer parishioner parishioner or or have have yyou ou h ad ssome ome Are had connection ttoo St St Margaret’s?

Margaret’s? The The ccongregation ongregation iin n SShetland hetland connection is transitory transitory - p eople come come ffor or a jjob, ob, stay stay for for a number number of of is people years aand nd tthen hen move move oon. n. W lan to to w rite a bbooklet ooklet aabout bout years Wee p plan write the ccentenary. entenary. What What w are h oping is is tthat hat fformer ormer the wee are hoping parishioners, and and aany ny oothers, thers, w ho h ave m oved away away ccan an parishioners, who have moved help u fill iin n some some of of the the ggaps aps in in our our information. information. W would help uss fill Wee would be gglad lad of of aany ny iinformation, nformation, no no matter matter how how trivial trivial iitt might might be seem. Any Any photographs, photographs, the the older older the the better, better, would would be be an an seem. added bbonus. onus. We We are are trying trying ttoo fill fill in in pieces pieces iin nah uge jigsaw jigsaw added huge puzzle. puzzle.

W ave interesting interesting ssnippets nippets of of information information from from vvarious arious Wee h have ttimes; imes; bbelow elow are are a few: few: F eophilus Verstraeten, Verstraeten, a Belgian Belgian priest, priest, was was resident resident in in Frr Th Theophilus SShetland hetland for for 1111 yyears, ears, setting setting up up a chapel chapel dedicated dedicated to to St St A nne. In In 11871, 871, he he caught caught smallpox, smallpox, after after attending attending a sick sick Anne. ccrewman rewman oon n board board a B elgian fi shing ssmack. mack. IIn n his his w ill, he he Belgian fishing will, lleft eft m oney ttoo build build a church. church. money W hen tthe he cchurch hurch w as finally finally bbuilt, uilt, ‘The ‘The altar altar itself itself (with (with its its When was sside ide w ings) w as ssent ent oover veer from from Antwerp.’

Antwerp.’ Was Was the the aaltar ltar sent sent wings) was oover ver bbyy the the Verstraeten Verstraeten family family and and friends? friends?

Recently, oour ur P arish P riest w as Fr Fr Paul Paul Bonnici Bonnici ffrom rom Malta.

Mallta.

Recently, Parish Priest was By ccoincidence, oincidence, one one ooff tthe he p riests participating participating in in the the By priests opening Mass Mass in in 1911 1911 was was d escribed iin n tthe he SShetland hetland N ews opening described News as ‘‘Fr Fr Maurus Maurus C aruana (a (a Maltese Maltese ggentleman)’. entleman)’. H ater as Caruana Hee llater went on on ttoo become become tthe he B ishop of of Malta.

Malta. went Bishop

M rs Hakon, Hakon, oorr H acon, of of Dornoch, Dornoch, Sutherland Sutherland was was a Mrs Hacon, bbenefactor enefactor ooff tthe he cchurch; hurch; w hat sshe he donated donated was was described described in in what tthe he Shetland Shetland N ews article, article, but but we we kknow now n othing eelse lse about about News nothing h er. her.

The bbuilding uilding of of ‘The ‘The pretty pretty llittle ittle RC RC cchurch hurch ffor or L erwick’ as as The Lerwick’ it w as d escribed by by tthe he local locall p aper,, and and tthe he ongoing ongoing life life ooff it was described paper, the church church chime chime iin nw ith the the social social h istory ooff SShetland. hetland. the with history Catholic men men and and women, women, mainly mainly Irish, Irish, ffollowing ollowing tthe he Catholic fishing, cchipped hipped iin n to to fund fund tthe he church church bbuilding uilding iin n 1911 1911 aand nd fishing, what tthe he local local p aper described described aass tthe he influx influx ooff oil oil w orkers iin n what paper workers

Th ere iiss a p laque iin n the the church church dedicated dedicated to to Mrs Mrs Margaret Margaret There plaque C ruickshank. SShe he h olidayed in in Shetland, Shetland, asked asked where where a Cruickshank. holidayed C atholic sservice ervice w ould bbee h eld and and was was directed directed to to a Gutters’ Gutters’ Catholic would held h ut w here a Mass Mass was was ttaking akking place, place, with with the the hut hut full full and and hut where m any standing standing ooutside. utside. M rs Cruickshank Cruickshank organised organised many Mrs ccollections ollections among among tthe he fisher fisher ffolk olk ttoo bbuild uild up up a fund fund ttoo bbuild uild

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the church. Mrs Cruickshank died on Boxing Day 1910 with the church opening in July of 1911; we wonder if that was why the church was dedicated to St Margaret. We know nothing else about Mrs Cruickshank.

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Creaven, Fr Gerald Fitzgibbon, Fr Victor Riederer, Fr Peter Barry, Fr James Hayes, Fr Gerald Livingstone, Fr Paul Bonnici and current incumbent Fr Colin Davies have since followed Fr Whitaker.

In 1911 John G Anderson was the contractor and James M Baikie, from Kirkwall was the architect. The church was free from debt and funds were left over to build a house which was completed in 1914. The house was let, usually to doctors, until priests became resident.

Can any reader help us fill in some of the gaps in our information, especially in the years between 1911 and 1955?

Any information or photographs from St Margaret’s past would be appreciated. You can contact us at: St Margarets, 87 St Olaf Street, Lerwick, ZE1 0ES In 1955, Fr Joseph Ryland Whitaker became the first Tel: 01595 692233 resident priest. Fr William Ryan, Fr Brian Riordan, Fr Fintan E-mail: stmargaretsshetland@btinternet.com

SCIAF appeal for more volunteers

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group of local SCIAF volunteers braved the wintry weather on 7th February to attend a SCIAF information day in Aberdeen. SCIAF volunteer co-ordinator Peter McMillan sent out a diocesan-wide appeal for more volunteers. He would like to have at least one volunteer contact in every parish, to disseminate information, distribute leaflets, ‘wee boxes’ etc and to be the link of communication between the parish and SCIAF. He can be contacted at pmcmillan@sciaf.org.uk

The 2009 Pluscarden Pentecost Lectures

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ach year the Abbot and Community of Pluscarden Abbey sponsor a series of four lectures by an invited Theologian on an aspect of Catholic Theology. Previous Lecturers have included Bishop Michael Evans, Fr Aidan Nichols OP, Fr Thomas Weinandy OFM Cap, Fr Anthony Meredith SJ and Fr Paul McPartlan.

The Lectures are held on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after Pentecost (2nd, 3rd and 4th of June) in St Scholastica’s Retreat House at the Abbey. They are open to all who wish to attend and are free.

developments towards an integrated Western theology of nature from pagan philosophy through Scripture and Patristics to a modern and post-modern understanding.

This year’s series will be given by the Rev Dr Tom Herbst OFM, lecturer at the Franciscan International Centre in Canterbury.

Limited accommodation is available at the Abbey and those who wish to stay should book as soon as possible.

There are also many places to stay in the Elgin area: contact the local tourist office: 01343 542666.

In this year’s Lectures, Dr Herbst will trace the

Obituaryy Obituar

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Light L ight he p eople of of SScotland. cotland. Th education and spiritual needs of the people Thee howing SStt M argaret sculpture represents these interestss bbyy sshowing Margaret eading a ssmall mall girl girl bbyy the the holding an open book and gently lleading hand.

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audience w ith Pope Pope John John On 22 February, 2003, during an audience with lair p resented h im w ith Paul II, then prime minister Tony B Blair presented him with otland.

Anne’s statue of St Margaret of Scotland.

nne n ne D Davidson, avidson, tthe h sculptor, died suddenly on the ieces iinclude nclude tthe he A lick Anne’s many non-religious pieces Alick 220th 0th December, December, 2008 after a short illness. of a Gordon Gordon Highlander Highlander Buchanan-Smith Award (a figure of ruce for for Aberdeen Aberdeen Town Town Bruce B orn iin nG lasgow in 1937, Anne showed obvious Officer), a statue of Robert the B Born Glasgow oman aand nd C hild ssculpture culpture Child aartistic rtistic talent talent from from aan n early earr age. She was educated at the House, and the life-size African Woman nveiled iin n 1986 1986 to to m ark unveiled mark C onvent of of the the Sacred Sacred Heart He in Aberdeen, a school with in Edinburgh’s Festival Square — u Convent d. w hich A nne w ould have have a lifelong connection, returning that City’s stand against Apartheid. which Anne would tthere here as as Principal Principal Teacher Teacher of o Art from 1960-68 and later as ed a d ignified aand nd quiet quiet Anne’s sculptures often celebrated dignified aan n active active member member of of the the Former Fo Pupils Association. hild iiss a p erfect eexample. xample. strength. African Woman and Child perfect ed ccourage ourage and and rresolve esolve of of A nne studied studied ssculpture culpture aatt Gray’s G Anne School of Art in Aberdeen She chose to celebrate the dignified aacce ooff tterrible errible rrepression epression ffrom rom 11955-59, 955-59, graduating graduating top of her class with a DA the South African people in the fface black w oman sstanding tanding woman ((sculpture). sculpture). SShe he aadmired dmired tthe h works of many other sculptors, and poverty. The sculpture depictss a black uggestion ooff a sshantytown. hantyytown. iincluding ncluding Barbara Barbara Hepworth, Hepwo Jacob Epstein, Constantin with a young child in front of the suggestion then-exiled member member of of B rancusi and and A lberto G ia Brancusi Alberto Giacometti.

However, she always It was unveiled on 22 July, 1986 byy a then-exiled uganya C hetty, w ho w as Chetty, who was m aintained a resolutely resolutely individual ind maintained and independent vision the African National Congress, Suganya ooff tthe he w orld, ccommunicated ommunica world, in her own distinctive and living in Edinburgh at that time. iinclusive nclusive style. style. illiam Grant Grant & SSons ons The oil industry, the Royal Mail,, W William deen C ity C ouncil w ere City Council were A fter training training as as an an art art teacher, teach Anne returned to her former Glenfiddich Distillery, and Aberdeen After viduals who who ccommissioned ommissioned sschool chool as as p rincipal tteacher eacher of art from 1960-68. She then among many organisation and individuals principal w ent on on to to work work aass a full-time full-ti sculptor. She was a member Anne to model gifts and awards. went ooff the the R oyal British British SSociety ociety of Sculptors (RBSS) and of the Royal nne ccontinued ontinued teaching teaching Anne IInternational nternational Society Society ooff C h Christian Artists (SIAC), Christian Alongside her sculpture work, A re at at Gray’s Gray’s SSchool chool ooff Art Art part-time. She lectured in Sculpture A rts, and and the the Society Society ooff C at Arts, Catholic Artists. pular SSculpture culpture Workshop Workshop from 1978 to 1982 and ran a popular ity C ouncil, from from 11985 985 City Council, IIn n her her 4499- yyear ear ccareer, areer, A nn work covered both religious for the Blind, funded by Aberdeen C Anne’s aand nd ssecular ecular ssubjects. ubjects. Anne Anne was interested in the human to 1998. fi gure and and tthe he lives lives of of h er ssubjects. u figure her She attempted to capture nued working working well well past past tthe he ccommon ommon humanity humanity ooff iindividuals, n kings and saints alike, A dedicated artist, Anne continued nall llarge arge ccommission, ommission, a retirement age and completed her fi final tthrough hrough her her ggenerous enerous aand nd aaffectionate treatment.

July 22008.

008. She She was was also also statue of Saint Paul, at the end off July Primary schools schools u ntil her her until N otable eexamples xamples of of h er rreligious el Notable her commissions are the relief teaching art in three Aberdeen Primary ssculptures culptures iin n Aberdeen’s Aberdeen’s St S Mary’s R.C. Cathedral, the illness in September 2008. eexternal xternal rrelief elief for for tthe he Church Ch of St Paschal Baylon in er h usband JJimmy immy - who who husband L iverpool, aand nd tthe he M adonn and Child and St Margaret of Anne Davidson is survived by her Liverpool, Madonna ur cchildren hildren aand nd ffour our their work - four SScotland cotland limited limited edition edition fi figures which can be found in continues grandchildren. llocations ocations as as ffar ar aaway way aass New New Zealand and the USA. IIn n 11993, 993, the the M ost Rev Rev Mario Mari Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow, Most tthen hen B ishop ooff Aberdeen, Aberdeen, commissioned Anne to create a Bishop ssmall mall figure figure ooff St St M argare of Scotland to celebrate her Margaret 9900th 00th aanniversary, nniversary, in in an an eedition di of 500. St Margaret married K ing Malcolm Malcolm IIII II ooff SScotland cotla in the 11th century and was King eespecially specially cconcerned oncerned w ith tthe he welfare welfare of of tthe he poor poor and and tthe he with

mily Contributed by the Davidson family he h uge rrange ange ooff A nne’s If you would like to see some of tthe huge Anne’s my’s w ebsite at: at: work you will find Anne and Jimmy’s website www.ajdsculptors.co.uk

children’slight childr en’slight

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a Page P age 9

, Holy FFamily Holy amily h has as always always been been kknown nown as as a friendly, friendly, w warm arm a nd w elcoming school school and and now now H.M. H.M. Inspect0rate Inspect0rate of of and welcoming Education have Ed ucation h ave made made iitt official! official!

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oly Family oly Family P Primary rimary S School chool iiss ssituated ituated iin n Summerhill S ummerhill T Terrace, errace, A Aberdeen berdeen and and sserves erves tthe he c community ommunity tthat hat b belongs elongs tto oH Holy oly F Family amily C hurch iin nM astrick a ell a upils f rom Church Mastrick ass w well ass p pupils from o ther a reas o fA berdeen. Father Father P atrick R ice iiss tthe he other areas of Aberdeen.

Patrick Rice P arish P riest o fH oly F amily C hurch a nd M rs M argaret Parish Priest of Holy Family Church and Mrs Margaret C oll is is tthe he P astoral A ssistant.

Coll Pastoral Assistant.

H oly F amily Primary Primary S chool h as a rroll oll o fa pproximately Holy Family School has of approximately 1140 40 p upils. T he H ead Te eacher iiss M rs D orothy H agan. pupils.

The Head Teacher Mrs Dorothy Hagan.

F ather P atrick w ho iiss o ur S chool C haplain a nd M rs Father Patrick who our School Chaplain and Mrs C oll are are frequent frequent vvisitors isitors tto o tthe he sschool. chool.

Coll T he c hildren a re p resently b eing p repared f or tthe he The children are presently being prepared for ssacraments acraments o f Reconciliation, Reconciliation, F irst H oly C ommunion of First Holy Communion D QG & RQÀUPDWLRQ 2 XU Q XPEHUV K DYH E HHQ J UHDWO\ DQG &RQÀUPDWLRQ 2XU QXPEHUV KDYH EHHQ JUHDWO\ e nhanced b y tthe he c hildren f rom tthe he I ndian enhanced by children from Indian C ommunity.

Community.

T he c hildren a oly F amily S chool h ave c ontributed The children att H Holy Family School have contributed g enerously tto o m any d ifferent c harities. T hese generously many different charities.

These iinclude nclude H oly C hildhood, S CIAF, L EPRA a nd L et tthe he Holy Childhood, SCIAF, LEPRA and Let C hildren L ive. T hey h ave a lso c ollected b lankets f or Children Live.

They have also collected blankets for tthe he S t. V incent d eP aul S ociety iin nA berdeen a nd tthey hey St. Vincent de Paul Society Aberdeen and h ave g enerously c ontributed tto o tthe he n eedy iin n tthe he have generously contributed needy P hilippines b y d onating sshoes hoes a nd T -shirts w hich Philippines by donating and T-shirts which w ere vvery ery w ell rreceived eceived b y tthe he p eople tthere. here. were well by people A bout a y ear a go a m onthly p rayer g roup w as sset et u p About year ago monthly prayer group was up Z KLFK LLVV K HOG R Q WWKH KH À UVW ) ULGD\ R IH YHU\ P RQWK D QG ZKLFK KHOG RQ ÀUVW )ULGD\ RI HYHU\ PRQWK DQG iitt iiss d edicated tto oT he S acred H eart o fJ esus. I dedicated The Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Itt iiss a vvoluntary oluntary p rayer g roup w hich iiss h eld d uring tthe he llunch unch prayer group which held during h our f or 115 5m inutes a nd iiss w ell a ttended b yc hildren hour for minutes and well attended by children f rom P rimary 3 tto oP rimary 7 ormally lled ed b y from Primary Primary 7.. I Itt iiss n normally by ttwo wo tteachers eachers f rom H oly F amily S chool a nd iinvited nvited from Holy Family School and vvisitors. isitors. I no ur P rayer G roup w ef ollow tthe he C hurch In our Prayer Group we follow Church Y ear a nd w e ttry ry tto o iinclude nclude rreadings; eadings; h ymns; p etitions Year and we hymns; petitions a nd m editations. W e h ave a sschool chool a ltar w hich and meditations.

We have altar which c omplements tthe he p rayer g roup. complements prayer group.

H oly F amily h as a lways b een k nown a riendly, Holy Family has always been known ass a f friendly, Z HOFRPLQJ VVFKRRO FKRRO D DV E HHQ UUHÁHFWHG HÁHFWHG LLQ Q WWKH KH + ZHOFRPLQJ DVV K KDV EHHQ + M .I.E. R eport b y H .M. I nspectorate o f E ducation, M.I.E. Report by H.M. Inspectorate of Education, w hich sstated tated tthat hat ““the the sschool chool iincluded ncluded p upils w ith which pupils with e thnic m inority b ackgrounds a nd sspecial pecial e ducational ethnic minority backgrounds and educational n eeds vvery ery e ffectively. I ctively p romoted needs effectively.

Itt a actively promoted

The h p opular monthly prayer prrayyer gr group The popular group C hristian vvalues alues iincluding ncluding e mpathy a nd ttolerance olerance Christian empathy and ttowards owards o thers”. others”.

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witness

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Light of the North

What is Charismatic Renewal?

In the gospels Jesus carries out a large number of healings and delivers many from the power of evil spirits. He sent out his disciples to do the same. They came back full of joy, rejoicing at what had been achieved.

At the end of Mark’s gospel, before he ascends to heaven, Jesus declares to the eleven “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons: they will speak in new tongues: they will pick up snakes with their hands: and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all: they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well” (Mark 16: 17,18).

Jamus Smith who, with his wife Helen, started the first Charismatic Prayer Group in Scotland 36 years ago, reflects on what is meant by Charismatic Renewal.

T

Baptism in the Holy Spirit (a full release of the Holy Spirit) occurs when someone is prayed over — the laying on of hands — by suitably experienced Christians. During this prayer many are deeply touched in a way that is akin to a conversion experience and feel a great release from spiritual, mental and physical burdens. Some become conscious of receiving one or more of the charismatic gifts such as teaching or healing. All of this is accompanied by a deepening of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. Each individual’s experience is different but all witness to receiving a powerful blessing.

he Charismatic Renewal is like no other movement in the Church. It is a continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit on each individual: a renewal of the graces received in Baptism and Confirmation. This continual outpouring makes us more and more aware of the love of God for each of us as individuals; for the Church and for all the peoples of the world. His love for us remains. It never departs. Baptism in Here is an example of what can happen when someone is the Holy Spirit helps us to discern the subtle movements of prayed over for healing. Virginia came from the Philippines God in our lives. to Aberdeen in order to earn enough money to keep her ailing husband and to pay for her daughter to be educated at Repent and believe becomes an essential message. The Lord a convent school. She worked hard and regularly sent home opens our eyes to the things of which we need to repent money for her husband and daughter. After some time when especially the sins which cause broken relationships. The she was working as a hospital auxiliary she was badly troubled Spirit guides us to the sins which we need to confess in the with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a painful disorder of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our appreciation of scripture wrist and hand. She told the prayer group that without the deepens. We refer to the Bible more frequently. Our faith in use of her hands she had no option but to go home. A private the Eucharist and the healing it brings increases. operation might provide relief but she did not have the money. A collection was suggested but someone objected, Forgiveness becomes an important part of our lives. Learning “Are we not here to pray over the sick so that they may be to forgive so as to restore broken relationships becomes an cured.” At her very last meeting Virginia did not come ongoing grace. Many poisons in our mental and spiritual forward for prayers. She was half way down the stairs when lives are thus removed giving us the kind of freedom which someone ran after her and persuaded her to come back. Five Jesus desires for us. members of the group laid hands on her and prayed over her. After five minutes the leader asked her how she felt. “I Life in the Spirit Seminars help us to be of one mind with have been healed! I have been healed!” she cried out.

Christ and to have an ever closer relationship with Jesus. Immediately someone gave her a pen and a piece of paper During the Seminars we acquire a stronger faith; a faith to and asked her to write down her name. She did so with exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are set out in complete clarity and the condition has not recurred.

1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 and in Romans 12:6-8. Among them are included the gift of discernment, the gift of healing, Cardinal Suenens has said “To interpret the renewal as a the gift of utterance expressing knowledge and several others movement among other movements is to misunderstand such as the gift of prophecy. In Romans mention is made of its nature. It is a movement of the Spirit offered to the the gift of encouragement and the gift of administration. All entire Church and destined to rejuvenate every facet of the of these are intended for the building up of the Church.

Church’s life.

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For practical purposes, The General Instruction of The Roman Missal is currently the authoritative source on which to base and inform our discussions. It is hoped that by providing pertinent extracts from The Roman Missal Revised By Decree of the Second Vatican Council and published by the authority of Pope Paul VI (Official English Texts 1974) this will serve as a potent reminder of the key principles in planning and preparing liturgical music in the service of Church and parish.

It is worth noting that both choirs and cantors are referred to explicitly, being expected features of the celebration of Mass. Examples of references include: The schola or choir exercises a liturgical function within the assembly. It sings the different parts proper to it and encourages active participation of the people in singing.

What is said about the schola of singers applies in a similar way to other musicians, especially the organist. (63)

David Meiklejohn’s series on liturgical music continues by focusing on more practical issues relating to the selection of music for Mass and how consulting the rubrics provides authoritative clarification on some ambiguous issues. With the English-speaking Roman Catholic Church shortly publishing the New Revised Standard Version of the Roman Lectionary, the time may be appropriate to consider anew issues relating to liturgical formation, education and pastoral ministry in music.

A

t various times in the life of an active and dynamic parish, there can be discussion or comment regarding the role of the choir in leading liturgical music. The nature of such observation, comment and, at times, criticism, often centres on aspects of the Mass where it is felt that the congregation must have the opportunity to sing as well as the choir members. A stark example would be the Gloria, the singing of which may be considered by some to be the prerogative of all. In consulting the rubrics however we find that this is not necessarily the case. It may be entirely appropriate for a choir to present a beautiful or sophisticated setting of the Gloria on a particular occasion, enhancing the words as well as nourishing aspects of ‘interior participation’ for the congregation.

There should be a cantor or choirmaster to direct and encourage the people in singing. If there is no choir, the cantor leads the various songs, and the people take their own part. (64) These extracts provide numerical references related to the rubrics numbered in the text: Importance of Singing The faithful who gather to await the Lord’s coming are urged by the Apostle Paul to sing psalms, hymns, and inspired songs (Colossians 3.16). Song is the sign of the heart’s joy (Acts 2; 46), and Saint Augustine said ‘To sing belongs to lovers’. Even in antiquity it was proverbial to say, ‘He prays twice who sings well.’

Singing should be widely used at Mass, depending on the type of people and the capability of the congregation, but it is not always necessary to sing all the texts which were composed for singing. Preference should be given to the most significant parts, especially those to be sung by the priest or ministers with the people responding or those to be sung by the priest and people together.

Since people frequently come together from different countries, it is desirable that they know how to sing at least some parts of the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin, especially the profession of faith and the Lord’s Prayer, set to simple melodies. (19) Processional Entrance song After the people have assembled, the entrance song begins, and the priest and ministers come in. The purpose of this song is to open the celebration, deepen the unity of the people, introduce them to the mystery of the season or feast, and accompany the procession. (25)

Such debates are valuable as they keep the central importance of liturgical consciousness at the forefront of our minds. This is essential in the ministry of music, which seeks to enhance the liturgy – a truly breath-taking responsibility where we are constantly striving to provide wonderful church music – something that the faithful are The entrance song is sung alternately by the choir and the entitled to expect. people or by the cantor and the people; or is sung entirely

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by the people or the choir alone. The antiphon and psalm of the Roman Gradual or the Simple Gradual may be used, or another song appropriate for this part of the Mass, the day, or the season. If there is no singing at the entrance, the antiphon in the missal is recited either by the people, by some of them, or by a reader. Otherwise it is said by the priest after the greeting. (26)

accompany the breaking of the bread, and is brought to a close by the words, grant us peace. (56e)

Communion The song sung during communion of the priest and the people expresses the spiritual union of the communicants who join their voices in a single song, shows the joy of all, and makes the communion procession an act of brotherhood. The song begins when the priest receives Lord, Have Mercy After the penitential rite, the Kyrie is begun, unless it has communion and continues as long as convenient. The already been included as part of the penitential rite. This communion song should be concluded in time if there is acclamation which praises the Lord and implores his mercy, to be an additional hymn after communion. is ordinarily made by all, that is with parts for the people An antiphon from the Roman Gradual, with or without and for the choir or cantor. the psalm, an antiphon with the psalm from the Simple Each acclamation is normally made twice, but, because of Gradual, or another suitable song approved by the the nature of the language, the music, or other conference of bishops may be used. It is sung by the choir circumstances, the number may be greater or a short verse alone or by the choir or cantor with the people. (trope) may be inserted. If the Kyrie is not sung, it is to be If there is no singing, the antiphon in the Missal is recited recited. (30) either by the people, by some of them, or by a reader.

Otherwise the priest himself says it after he receives Gloria The Gloria is an ancient hymn in which the Church, communion and before he gives communion to the assembled in the Spirit, praises and prays to the Father and congregation. (56i) the Lamb. It is sung by the congregation, by the people alternately with the choir, or by the choir alone. If not After communion, the priest and the people may spend some time in silent prayer. If desired, a hymn, psalm, or sung, it is to be recited by all together or in alternation. other song of praise may be sung by the entire congregation.

The Gloria is sung or said on Sundays outside Advent and (56j) Lent, on solemnities and feasts, and at solemn local Recessional Hymn celebrations. (31) There is no requirement to have a recessional hymn and no mention is made of a recessional hymn in the Roman Responsorial Psalm Reading from the scripture and the chants between the Missal. At certain times of the liturgical year it may be readings form the main part of the liturgy of the word. entirely fitting for people to dismiss with only the organ or (33) The cantor of the psalm is to sing the psalm or other other instruments playing appropriate music. During biblical song between the readings. He should be trained Advent and Lent the removal of a recessional hymn may in the area of singing psalms and be able to speak clearly focus on the great events to come. and distinctly (67) David Meiklejohn is Director of Music for St Mary’s Preparation of the Gifts Cathedral and the Aberdeen Diocesan Choir.

The procession with the gifts is accompanied by the offertory song, which continues at least until the gifts are placed on the altar. The rules for the offertory song are the same as those for the entrance song (no. 26). If the antiphon is not sung it is omitted. (50) Holy, Holy, Holy United with the angels, the congregation sings or recites the Sanctus. This acclamation forms part of the eucharist prayer, and all the people join with the priest in singing or reciting it. (55b) The Lamb of God During the breaking of the bread and the commingling the Agnus Dei is ordinarily sung by the choir or cantor with the people responding; or it may be said aloud. This invocation may be repeated as often as necessary to

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Light Li L ight

lliturgy ittur turrgy gy gy

An Easter Homily Abbot Hugh Gilbert O.S.B. “Simon Peter ... now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head. This was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself” (Jn 20:6-7).

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oday Simon Peter went into the tomb where his Lord and Master and the Love of his broken life h ad been been buried. buried. A nd h ound it it eempty. mpty. It It was was had And hee ffound a hint, hint, a ssuggestion, uggestion, a photographic photographic negative. negative.

And he he ssaw aw tthe he linen linen ccloths loths on on tthe he ground. ground. A nd oone ne ccloth, loth, And And in particular, particular, the the cloth cloth tthat hat had had been been oover ver h is head, head, the the in his sudarion, rolled rolled u p in in a place place by by itself. itself. Another Another hint. hint. Did Did sudarion, up Peter remember remember perhaps perhaps the the way way he’d he’d sseen een JJesus esus roll roll up up Peter cloths? D id aan n unimaginably unimaginably wonderful wonderful tthought hought bbegin egin ttoo cloths?

Did form in in h is m ind? H is companion, companion, says says tthe he Gospel, Gospel, n ow form his mind?

His now “also went went in; in; he he ssaw aw and and he he bbelieved”, elieved”, at at lleast east with with a d awning “also dawning of faith. faith. D id P eter ttoo? oo? of Did Peter

By eevening, By vening, certainly. certainly. B Byy eevening, vening, h hee kknew. new. “The “The Lord Lord h has as rrisen isen indeed, indeed, and and has has appeared appeared to to Simon.”

Simon.” To To h im fi rst, and and him first, tthen hen ttoo all all the the Eleven.

Eleven. And And the the ttransformation ransformation ooff Peter, Peter, tthe he m ending of of tthe he llife ife h is d enial had had bbroken, roken, his his resurrection resurrection in in mending his denial sspirit pirit aand nd soul, soul, was was underway. underway. This This was was the the man man n who who now now w ould n ever stop stop running, running, aand nd w ould ttake ake the the Gospel Gospel to to tthe he would never would heart h eart of of tthe he great great Roman Roman Empire, Empire, gladly gladly giving giving his his llife ife ffor or tthe he ttruth ruth of of this this Sunday.

Sunday. who ““Simon Simon Peter, Peter,, w ho was was ffollowing, ollowing, now now came came up, up, went went rright ight iinto nto the the tomb” tomb” – and and saw saw tthat hat it it was was empty. emptyy. When When he he ccame ame was however oout ut of of the the tomb, tomb, he he w as already, already, h owever unaware unaware ooff iit, t, a man him.

And m an with with a new new llife ife in in h im. A nd tthis his empty empty tomb tomb rremains, emains, aatt the the centre centre of of the the world, world, in in blood-stained blood-stained JJerusalem; erusalem; iitt history. rremains emains aatt the the heart heart of of human human h istory. The The rresurrection esurrection of of Christ not C hrist does does n ot admit admit ooff being being eerased. rased. Jerusalem’s Jerusalem’s cchurch hurch of of tthe he Holy Holy Sepulchre, Sepulchre, aand nd the the sstrange trange llittle ittle bbuilding, uilding, cchurch hurch within w ithin a church, church, that that covers covers a rock-cut rock-cut tomb: tomb: iitt could, could, ooff human ccourse, ourse, all all go. go. But But there there is is still, still, forever, forever,, oone ne empty empty h uman wound ttomb omb giving giving life: life: like like a w ound in in oour ur unhealth, unhealth, like like a leakage leakage polluted ooff ooxygen xygen into into p olluted air, air, llike ike aan n unquenchable unquenchable sspring. pring. IItt

Page P age 13

is uss is still, still, aalways, lways, aafter fter Peter, Peter, open. open. In In fact, fact, everyone everyone ooff u baptized has aptized h as already already ggone one in, in, aand nd come come oout, ut, however however with us. unaware, naware, w ith the the resurrection resurrection inside inside u s. “When “When we we were were baptized Christ were wee aptized in in C hrist Jesus Jesus we we w ere bbaptized aptized iin n his his death death ... ... w went with him him went iinto nto tthe he tomb tomb w ith h im aand nd joined joined h im iin n death, death, so so that dead Father’s hat aass Christ Christ was was rraised aised from from tthe he d ead bbyy tthe he F ather’s gglory, lory, we might new we too too m ight llive ive a n ew life” life” (Rom (Rom 6:3-4).

6:3-4).

Out Out ooff this this ttomb omb has has ccome ome ttwo wo tthousand housand yyears ears ooff forgiveness forgiveness and made whole nd lives lives m ade w hole aagain, gain, ttwo wo thousand thousand yyears ears of of faith faith aand nd hope ope and and a new new kkind ind of of love, love, ttwo wo thousand thousand yyears ears of of truth truth and Mary nd ssanctity anctity aand nd prayer; prayer; Peters Peters and and JJohns ohns and and M ary Magdalenes, Out Magdallenes, Francises Francises and and Clares, Clares, Seraphims Seraphims and and Pios.

Pios. O ut off it despair, it come come rrefusals efusalls to to d espair, rreturnings eturnings of of evil evil with with ggood, ood, patience atience iin n sufferings, sufferings, ffresh resh beginnings, beginnings, kkindness, indness, chastity chastity and wee n not want nd joy. joy. How How can can w ot w ant ttoo be be part part of of it? it? How How can can we we not want flood ot w ant this this sspring pring of of a tomb tomb ttoo fl ood oourselves urselves aand nd the the world?

How world? H ow ccan an we we not not want want to to llive ive aass baptized? baptized?

Christ dead! day, Christ iiss risen risen from from the the d ead! “Very “Very eearly arly oon n tthe he first first d ay, while was dark.” while it it w as sstill till d arrk.” Today Today and and ffor or us. us. The The wellspring wellspring rrises ises from Father’s heart, wakes rom tthe he F ather’s h eart, iiss bborne orne by by the the Spirit, Spirit, w akes the the sleeping humanity.

Noo witnesses, Trinity. leeping h umanity. N witnesses, only only the the T rinity. And And a tomb world wounded tomb forever forever empty empty aand nd oopen, pen, aand nd a w orld fforever orever w ounded by Christ

by Life.

Life. JJesus esus C hrist back back from from tthe he dead dead ttoo raise raise everyone eveeryone with him.

River Life. with h im. The The R iver ooff L ife. IInto nto iitt rran an blessed, blessed, impetuous impetuous Peter, Peter, “right “right iinto nto the the tomb”, tomb”, to to bbee tturned urned round round and and out out bbyy a ttidal idal wave wave of of Life.

Life. Let Let us us follow follow him! him! Let Let us us resolve resolve ttoday oday to to llive ive bbaptized, aptized, to to llive ive ffrom rom the the life life of of the the Risen Risen One! One!

KINNOULL Reedemptorist Centre of Spirituality

Body, Soul ansd Spirit - Where does love begin?

27 April - 2 May 2009, Fr Jim McManus C.Ss.R. Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body has been described , by George Weigel, as a “theological time bomb set to go off, with dramatic consequences, sometime in the 21st Century”. During this week you will be able to explore John Paul’s this vision of what it means to be a human being. Past participants in this week left with a deep appreciation of this rich legacy that John Paul has left the Church in his Theology of the Body.

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4 - 8 May 2009 Fr Jim Mcmanus C.Ss.R. and Sr. Germaine O’Neill Living life to the full means living in the daily awareness that we “are precious in God’s sight” (Isaiah 43:4) Hundreds of people have found in this retreat a time of renewal encouraged and healing.

Planning a Summer Retreat?

We have two very popular retreats in July and August 13 - 17 July 2009 10 - 14 August 2009

Private Retreats and Away Days

We welcome individuals and groups for private retreats and away days.

Enjoy the peace and quite of St. Mary’s and the outstanding beauty of Kinnoull Hill.

Details From: The Secretary, St. Mary’s, Kinnoull, Perth PH2 7BP Email: copiosa@aol.com Tel. 01738624075 Website:kinnoullmonastery.org

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Page P age 15

Grace and Gratitude Clare C lare Benedict Benedict “Rejoicee aalways, “Rejoice lways, pray pray cconstantly, onstaantlly, ggive ive tthanks hanks iin n aallll ccircumstances.” ircumstaances.”

Thus wrote Paul Thessalonians, Th us w roote SStt P aul ttoo tthe he Th essalonians, a ccommunity ommunity who most w ho had had taken takkeen m ost eenthusiastically nthusiastically to to the the Good Good News Newss Paul, who had bbrought rought bbyy P aul, bbut ut w ho aalso lso h ad ttoo endure enduree persecution persecution neighbours assumes, ffrom ro rom their their unconverted unconverted n eighbours aand, nd, oone ne as ssumes, the the which rest uss aare prey ssame ame sslings lings and and arrows arroows ttoo wh hich tthe he re est ooff u ree p reey not ttoday. oday. IItt iiss n ot aalways lwaays eeasy asy ttoo ffeel eel ggrateful, rateful, ttoo give give thanks, thanks, when us, eespecially specially w hen eeverything verything sseems eems ttoo bbee aagainst gainst u s, eeven ven more find m oree eespecially specially iiff we we fi nd it it difficult difficult to to believe believe in in God’s God’s uss aass iindividuals. llove ove ffor or u ndividuals.

Lord, hee iiss ggood, ““O O ggive ive thanks thanks ks ttoo tthe he L ord d, ffor or h ood, For his F or h is ssteadfast teadfast love love eendures ndurees for for eever!” ver!” (Ps (Ps 1106/136) 06/136) A re recent ecent Z Zenit enit iinterview ntervview ssuggested uggested a link link between betw weeen gratitude graatitude positive mental health, aand nd p ositive m ental h ealth, by by looking looking outwards outward ds rather raather tthan han iinwards. nwards. There Theree is is indeed indeed little little that that is is new new under under the the ssun: un: tthe he ancients ancients knew knew tthis his ttruth; ruth; the the Psalmist Psalmist knew knew it; it; SStt Paul P aul m most ost ccertainly ertainly kknew new iit, t, jjust ust aass h hee kknew new m more oree tthan han his h is ‘‘fair’ fair’ sshare haree of of suffering. suffering. Yet Yet he he always always gave gave thanks thankss in in all all ccircumstances; ircumstances; h having aving forfeited forfeited ffamily, amily, friends friends and and career, careeer, eenduring nduring imprisonment, imprisonment, flogging, flogging, shipwreck, shipwreck, physical physical aailments, ilments, loneliness, loneliness, and and eventually eventually facing facing certain certain death: death: hee ccontinued h ontinued to to write write uplifting, uplifting, encouraging, encouraging, loving loving lletters etterss to to his his spiritual spiritual children childreen from from prison, prison, even even from frroom a death d eath ccell. ell. L Like ikee P Paul, aul, w wee ttoo oo m must ust learn learn ttoo give give thanks thankss in in aallll ccircumstances, ircumstances, even even oon n tthose hose ooccasions ccasions w hen wee m ay when may ffeel eel m more oree iinclined nclined to to ggroan rooan oorr ccurse, ursse, ssoo tthat hat h his is wo words ord ds ttoo tthe he C olossians may may aapply pply to to u s: Colossians us:

The humblee monk-cook B Lawrencce wr ote about Brr Lawrence wrote “the practicee of the pr esence of G od”;; F ean-Pierre “the presence God”; Frr JJean-Pierre the sacrament of the pr esent de Caussadee spoke of ““the present moment”, an nother way of ‘‘practising’ practising’ ke eeping in touch moment”, another keeping od. M ight wee not talk of another ‘‘practice’ practice’ – that with G God. Might th hank you’ you’ to God? God? Even Even when w wee do not of saying ‘‘thank ticulaarly grateful, why not prac ctise expr essing feel par particularly practise expressing i d on n a daily d il basis, b i as par ur pray yer?? Who Wh gratitude partt off ou our prayer? kno ws? – it might become a natural pa art of our liv es, knows? part lives, our br eathin ng, our hear ts. G ratitude is mor breathing, hearts.

Gratitude moree than simply sayin ng ‘‘thank thank yyou’; ou’; w eally saying wee can say itt without rreally meaning it, without w feeling it in our he earts. Like faith, hearts. and the man ny other fr ee gifts G od giv es us, gratitude many free God gives too is gift, a grace which can be rreceived eceivved bbyy the open hear t, bbyy a hear h ding to SStt B enedict, is heart, heartt which, accord according Benedict, enlarged bbyy the constant practice of and a pr ogress in progress faith and lo ve and thanksgiving. love “F or it is all for yyour our sake, so that as grace g extends to “For mor ore people it may incr ease tthanksgiving, hanksgiving, to moree and mo more increase the glor od” (2 Cor 4:15). gloryy of G God”

‘G race’ and ‘‘gratitude’ gratitude’ come fr om thee same rroot oot (in ‘Grace’ from Latin), as doo the G reek wor ds used bbyy the E vangelists Greek words Evangelists and SStt P au ul: charis and eucharistia Paul: eucharistia;; that is not a coincidence! IItt is unfor tunate that E ngllish translations unfortunate English tend to misss the oppor tunity to play on o these word ds opportunity words as St St Paul Paul do oes. We We all kno w that the wor w d ‘E ucharist’ does. know word ‘Eucharist’ means ‘‘thanksgiving’; than nksgiving’; when w me together to wee com come celebrate tha at public thanksgiving wee ar ed the that aree offer offered grace ((charis) chariss) to giv eucharisteein) for all that givee thanks ((eucharistein) we hav eceeived as fr ee gift ((charisma) charisma) fr om G od our we havee rreceived free from God Father.. This, This, in turn, will increase increase our our joy joy ((chara). charra).

Father. we goo for th fr om the M ass w s be filled When we forth from Mass wee should de and jo eucharistia and d chara) charra) and are are with gratitud gratitude joyy ((eucharistia ““May May yyou ou bbee sstrengthened tre rengthened w with ith aallll p power, ower, aaccording ccord ding to to we we not truly trulyy blessed! – this is granted us every every week, week, h is gglorious lorious might, might, for for aallll eendurance nduraance aand nd p atience with with even his patience even ev ery day! d M ore than enough, sur relyy, to keep us every More surely, jjoy, oy, ggiving iving thanks thanks ks to to tthe he Father, Father,, who who has has qualified qualified us us ttoo staggering on n in the midst of life’s life’s trials. trialss. sshare haree iin n tthe he iinheritance nheritance ooff tthe he ssaints aints in in light” light” (Col (Col 1:12).

1:12).

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“Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”

‘Count your Blessings’, based on our opening text from 1 Thessalonians, was written by a Methodist minister over a hundred years ago. It is not perhaps a ‘fashionable’ hymn in our sophisticated times but it speaks simple truth and we could do worse than listen to its urgings. We need not, perhaps, actually Whitchester Christian Centre Borthaugh, Hawick, Scottish Borders TD9 7LN Tel: 01450 377477 Charity No. SCO11436

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set ourselves a daily task of ‘counting’ blessings, as we count our Rosary beads: the danger there is that we become bogged down in the counting, which (according to another psychologist) might end up making us resentful. We could, however, take an occasional moment in the midst of our busy, anxious lives to acknowledge that all we have, all we are given, is pure gift from our loving Father. And being grateful is healthier than being resentful or angry; finding God in our hearts rather than just ‘poor me’, must always bring light into our inner darkness.

“Let us give thanks to God throughout our lives.

For the best safeguard of a kindness is to remember it with everlasting gratitude. That is why that aweinspiring and life-giving sacrament which we celebrate at every gathering is called the Eucharist.

It is the commemoration of many blessings and the culmination of divine providence, and teaches us to give thanks always” (St John Chrysostom).

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Thank you, Lord, for all you have given me, For all you have taken away, And for all you have left me.

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• Fairness - we believe in treating our customers fairly by providing a professional and efficient service and good value, transparent products • Customer service - we’re welcoming and helpful. At Chelsea, you will always get a friendly greeting (94%# of new customers agree), clear information and straight talk • Charity - we support a range of charitable causes and recently received Good Shopping Guide Ethical Company accreditation • Mutuality - as we don’t have shareholders, we can be totally focused on our members Established in 1875, Chelsea has assets in excess of £14 billion and is the UK’s 5th largest building society with 35 branches.

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S O C I E T Y

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Sharing of Mary’s Sharing Mar a y’s Jo n the Rosary Rosa ary Joyy in

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W h a t yyou What ou a always l wa y s w wanted anted tto o kknow now a about b o u t yyour o u r ffaith aith but b ut w were ere a afraid f r a i d tto oa ask! sk!

llay ay ffaithful aithful ssaid aid tthe he ssame ame n umber ooff O ur F athers. number Our Fathers. tth h IIn the h 111 1 century, SSt. Peter P D Damian i called ll d tthe he Hail Hail M Mary ary Eileen Grant to tthe he ffaithful. aithful. the ‘angelic prayer’ and recommended it to blind, crippled crippled Around the same time, in Germany, a blind, ing hymns, hymns, of of Benedictine monk, Bl. Herman, was writing ““To To rrecite ecite tthe he R Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate which the Salve Regina was to be the best known. own. with w ith Mary Mary the the face f of Christ. With the Rosary, the Christian p eople sits sits at at tthe he school of Mary and is led to contemplate the people odiva, m ost Godiva, most Some of you may have heard of Lady G bbeauty eauty on on tthe he face fa of Christ and to experience the depths of eets ooff C oventry remembered for riding naked through the streets Coventry h is love” love” (John (John Paul II). his gainst eexcessive xcessive in an early form of public demonstration against eft h er prayer prayer taxation. When she died around 1075, she lleft her Th osary, as as a contemplative prayer, has a long history.

Thee R Rosary, n the the statue statue ooff beads to the monks of Coventry, to be hung oon JJesus esus ttaught aught his his disciples d about the need to ‘pray continuously’; er w ill w as ““the the ‘Our Layde of Coventry’ and described in her will was SStt Paul Paul u rged that th we should ‘pray without ceasing’. The first urged aded on on a ccord ord circlet of precious stones which she had threaded w ritten teachings teachin urged people to pray regularly, especially written other she she might might in order that by fingering them one after another tthe he Our Our Father.

Fathe The early Desert Fathers who devoted tthemselves hemselves ttoo contemplative co prayer, used stones or sticks to count her prayers exactly”. kkeep eep count count of of their prayers, so much part of them that In the 12th century a rule for anchorites gave instructions instructions on on p raying became became as natural as breathing. praying how to divide and pray 50 Hail Marys and we hear how we h ear h ow a decades ecades ‘‘slowly slowly Th Rosary prayer pray was always firmly rooted in Scripture. For woman named Eulalia was told to pray five d Thee Rosary hurry. urry. A good good eearly arly monks monks aand nd clergy, the core of their liturgical prayer was and devoutly’ rather than fifteen decades in a h lesson to learn! tthe he 150 150 P salms Many pious lay people would join them Psalms. bbut, ut, bbecause ecause m most of them could not read, instead they w ould cchant hant 150 1 ‘Our Fathers’, using strings of beads or would kknots nots ttoo h elp tthem h keep up. By the 6th century the Angel’s help greeting had had been be added: “Hail (Mary) full of grace, the greeting Lord is Lord is with with thee…” th y greeting g g was later Elizabeth’s jjoyful added: “Blessed “Blessed art art thou thou among among women, women, bblessed lessed iiss tthe he ffruit ruit added: of thy thy womb, womb, (Jesus).”

(Jesus).” Th us the the first first part part of of the the prayer prayer was was of Thus tth h century. firmly established established by by the the 12 12 century. firmly The ssecond econd part part – “Holy “Holy M ary, M other ooff G od…” w as n ot The Mary, Mother God…” was not added until added u ntil tthe he 116 6tthh century. century. IItt h had, ad, h however, owever, p probably robably bbeen een ap opular p rayer long long bbefore efore tthen. hen. W hen tthe he C ouncil ooff popular prayer When Council Ephesus E phesus ggathered athered iin n 4451 51 tthey hey oofficially fficially cconfirmed onfirmed M Mary arry aass ‘‘Mother Mother of of G od’, ttoo ccounter ounter a ccurrent urrent h eresy w hich cclaimed laimed God’, heresy which sshe he w was as tthe he mother mother only only ooff the the hhuman uman JJesus, esus, n not ot ooff tthe he SSon on ooff G od. T radition h as it it tthat hat tthe he ccitizens itizens ooff E phesus rrioted, ioted, God. Tradition has Ephesus rrushing round tthe he sstreets treets ccarrying arrying ttorches orches aand nd ccrying rying oout, ut, ushing aaround ““Holy Holy M ary M other ooff G od, p ray ffor or u inners…”

Mary Mother God, pray uss ssinners…”

In 1214 the legend was born of how St Dominic, inic, in in a vision, vision, was handed a rosary by the Virgin herself and d from from tthen hen on on the Dominicans became associated with thee spread spread ooff tthis his method of prayer. In the middle of this century wee find ury w find tthe he word first with Mary, w ord ‘rosary’ ‘rosary’ being being used used fi rst in in cconnection onnection w ith M ary, until wee find tthough hough iitt was was not not u ntil 1597 1597 tthat hat w find tthe he first first rrecorded ecorded use prayer u se of of the the word word ttoo refer refer to to p rayer beads. bead ads. Before Before tthis, his, tthe he were Thee p practice sstrings trings ooff beads beads w ere called called Paternosters.

Paternosters. Th ractice ooff meditation during Marys m editattion d uring tthe he recitation recitation of of tthe he Hail Hail M arys iiss believed believed tth h ttoo have have bbeen een introduced introduced iin n tthe he 1155 ccentury entury bbyy aanother nother Dominic, Dominic, a Carthusian, Carthusian, who who added added a sentence sentence about about Jesus Jesus to to each each Hail Hail Mary, Mary, using using quotations quotations from from Scripture, Scripture, and and this this practice practice spread spread throughout throughout Europe.

Europe. Around Around 1514, 1514, the the prayer prayer took took on on its its current current twofold twofold form form of of the the Hail Hail Mary…

Mary…

Holy aand nd the the H oly Mary, Mary, Mother Mother of of God… God… … aand nd in in 11569 569 Pius Pius V eestablished stablished tthe he order order of of 115 5 Mysteries, Mysteries, w with ith tthe he Feast Feasst ooff the the Holy Rosary H oly R osarry introduced introduced in in 11573 573 as as a tthanksgiving hanksgiving ffor or vvictory ictory oover ver tthe he Turks Turks att Lepanto Lepanto – a victory victory attributed attributed ttoo prayer And, ffervent ervent p rayer of of the the Rosary.

Rosary. A nd, of of course, course, iin n rrecent ecent yyears ears JJohn ohn P Paul aul II II aadded dded tthe he Luminous Luminous Mysteries, Mysteries, tthus hus aallowing llowing uss to meditate u to m editate on on JJesus’ esus’ eearthly arthly ministry. ministry.

M any sstories tories ooff SSaints aints u sing tthe he p rayer h ave ccome ome d own ttoo Many using prayer have down us: u s: ffor or iinstance, nstance, iin n eearly arly 6tthh ccentury entury Ireland, Irelan nd, SStt B Brigid rigid u used sed ttoo her wooden aaid id h er prayers prayers with with a sstring tring ooff w ooden oorr sstone tone beads beads ssuch uch aas, s, w wee are are ttold, old, w was as ‘‘customary customary among among h hermits’. ermits’. A century century Why Anglohy ccall all tthem hem ‘beads’? ‘beads’? The The word word ‘bede’ ‘bede’ dates dates back back ttoo A nglomonks were llater, ater, aalso lso iin n IIreland, reland, m onks w ere kkeeping eeping ttrack rack ooff tthe he 1150 50 W axon ttimes imes m meaning ean ning ‘‘prayer’. prayer’. The The ssame ame rroot oot gives gives us us P salms they they chanted chanted daily daily bbyy u sing kknotted notted ccords, ords, w hile tthe he SSaxon Psalms using while

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‘bidding’ prayers, that is, prayers requesting favours from God. From the early Middle Ages on we read of ‘bedesmen’, literally ‘men of prayer’ who were given alms or places in almshouses in return for ‘telling (counting) their beads’ and offering prayers on behalf of their benefactors. Bedesmen often appear in literature: “When holy and devout religious men Are at their beads, ‘tis much to draw them thence, So sweet is zealous contemplation” (Shakespeare).

individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are unfolded.” It has been said that one mystery of the Rosary recited well gives greater glory to God than an entire Rosary said hastily.

“One thing is clear,” wrote John Paul: “although the repeated Hail Mary is addressed directly to Mary, it is to Jesus that the “Sweet and zealous contemplation” has long been a feature act of love is ultimately directed, with her and through her. of the Rosary. In our own times, however, there is concern that the Rosary may have lost some of its original Christ until we attain true holiness.” contemplative nature, with people perhaps becoming more anxious about the number of Hail Marys to be said, leading And more recently, Pope Benedict said: “With Mary the to a speedy pace that hinders rather than helps contemplation. heart is oriented toward the mystery of Jesus. Christ is put at the centre of our life, of our time, of our city, through the praying with Mary and contemplating with her the Mysteries contemplation and meditation of his holy mysteries of joy, of her Son’s life. In 1974 Pope Paul VI wrote: “Without this [contemplation] the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its authentic way … contains within itself the healing power of recitation is in danger of becoming a mechanical repetition the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love of formulas and of going counter to the warning of Christ: at the centre of each ‘Hail Mary’.”

‘And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many Eileen Grant is RCIA Catechist at St Mary’s Cathedral, words’ (Mt. 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary Aberdeen calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the

‘The St. Thomas Christians, a gift to the Church universal’ Fr Bernard O’Connor has responsibity within the Vatican’s Congregation for Eastern Churches for the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches. In Aberdeen alone there are at least 500 members of the Syro-Malabar Church and Fr O’Connor explains what it means to be in communion with the Holy See.

P

eople ask frequently what is meant when I say that I am assigned to the Vatican’s Congregation for Eastern Churches. Typically, they remark: “But isn’t there only one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church? How can there be Eastern Churches in communion with Rome?”

differ widely in population. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church (a.k.a.Byzantine) numbers some 4.3 million faithful, while the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church has a mere 61,000. What identifies them specifically is their distinct liturgy (e.g. vestments, music), patrimony (e.g. spirituality) and discipline (e.g. role of the Synod, election of ‘Catholic’ doctrines and in their fidelity to the pastoral guidance of the Pope (unlike such Eastern Churches as the Greek Orthodox which are not in communion with the Holy See). Each of the 23 is equal in dignity, obligations and rights.

more and more familiar. Often, these clergy, who are authorized by their respective bishops to serve outside of their Indian dioceses, belong to either the Syro-Malabar or Syro-Malankara Churches. Because they have the consent of both their ‘sending’ and ‘receiving’ bishops, they are entitled to petition the Congregation for Eastern Churches Catholic ‘communion’ is similarly comprised of 23 sui iuris for permission to celebrate the liturgy according to the Latin (‘particular’) Church entities. By far the largest sector of our more than one billion Catholics worldwide is the Latin Rite. not cancel their membership in their proper sui iuris church.

is dependent upon multiple cultural and historical factors, yet without contradiction to the overall unity of Christ’s Church. To simplify, think of the analogy of a garden which consists of 23 groups of flowers; each unit of varying size and character. Placed together, they form a single array.

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In the same way, increased migration among laity allows for a greater visibility of Indian families in Latin parishes. Some of these may well be of Eastern Rite. Because these are Catholic beyond question, they are entitled to receive the Sacraments from their Latin counterparts. But the result can then be an incorrect presumption that there is thereby an automatic ‘change’ of Rite, especially where later generations have little or no contact with their original Tradition. Aside from regulations relating to Inter-Rite marriage, it is the Holy See which authorizes a change of Rite, though on a case by case basis in response to a process of request initiated usually by the diocesan bishop from Catholics should not have to face an almost forced assimilation due to demographic circumstances, but might be encouraged whenever possible to rediscover and reclaim their ecclesial ‘roots’. former with 3,753,000 adherents and the latter with 405,000, are my responsibility within the Congregation.

And I have come to respect and love them profoundly.

Both of these Churches trace their Christian lineage to the that it is beyond mere legend. Indication is that in 52 A.D. several families and established seven Christian communities.

He was martyred at Mylapore and his tomb continues to be visited regularly in the modern state of Tamil Nadu. Not surprisingly, the spiritual descendants of the Apostle’s initial

A Syro-Malabar Catholic Mass in St. Mary Church in Ernakulam, Kerala. (photo: Sean Sprague)

After the Fourth century, the East-Syrian Church (a.k.a. By 1653 there was overt resistance to this Portuguese Chaldean, deriving from today’s Iran and Iraq) strongly subjugation. What is known as the Coonan Cross Oath assurance that there would be successors to India’s bishops. Christians. (It was only in 1930 that some of this segment returned to “full communion,” constituting our Syroimpact of East Syrian bishops persisted until the Sixteenth Malankara Church, with its West-Syrian identity and century. But the actual leader of India’s Church was the liturgical orientation.) family. And so the Indian Church could still develop its For further data on events after 1700 and until the modern own explicit policies and structures (e.g. the yogam or Church era , I recommend a very readable book (111 pages), assembly). Despite obstacles of communication, “full Syro-Malabar Church Today, (Rajkot, India: Deepti communion” with Rome was maintained without interruption. foremost issues presently challenging this remarkable and dynamic Church, especially after the restoration of the SyroVasco da Gama) commenced a Latin influence which was Malabar hierarchy by Pope Pius XI in 1923, and the Church’s unable to reconcile the Latin experience of faith and worship elevation “to the rank of Archbishopric Major” in 1992. missionaries sought converts from Hinduism who were thus incorporated into the Latin Rite and a European mindset. and truly a source of inspiration.

Regrettably, royal Portuguese patronage (Padroado) proceeded to vigorously Latinize all of India’s Christians. Fr Bernard O’Connor is a priest of the Diocese of to push that agenda and also severed the East-Syrian link. Congregation for Eastern Churches.

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Stt P S Paul aul o on nT Trust rust Frr B F Bernard ernard O’Connor O’Connor

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iiterature terature aabounds bounds w with ith rreferences eferences ttoo tthe he ttheme heme ooff ttrust, rust, tthe he ccornerstone ornerstone ooff iinterpersonal nterpersonal rrelationships. elationships.

Thee renowned American poet, Ralph Waldo Th renowned A merican p oet, R alph W aldo E merson, wrote wrote ((1841) 1841) iin nh is ““Prudence” Prudence” ((Essays: Essays: Emerson, his F irst SSeries): eries): ““Trust Trust m en aand nd tthey hey w ill be be true true ttoo you: you: treat treat First men will tthem hem ggreatly reatly and and tthey hey will will show show tthemselves hemselves great.” great.” A nother Another A merican poet, poet, M arianne M oore, commented commented in in h er ““In In American Marianne Moore, her D istrust ooff Merits,” Merits,” that that “as “as contagion contagion ooff sickness sickness makes makes Distrust ssickness, ickness, ccontagion ontagion of of ttrust rust m akes trust.” trust.” B etween E merson makes Between Emerson aand nd Moore Moore w find F inley P eter Dunne’s Dunne’s M r. D ooleyy’s wee find Finley Peter Mr. Dooley’s P hilosophy (1906).

(1906). Dunne Dunne w as cconvinced onvinced that that we we sshould hould Philosophy was ““trust trust everybody” everybody” bbut ut still still ““cut cut the the cards.” cards.” But But basically basically the the tthree hree p resume the the conventional conventional dictionary’s dictionary’s d efinition ooff presume definition ttrust rust aass tthe he “assured “assured reliance reliance on on the the ccharacter, haracter, ability, ability, strength, strength, oorr truth truth of of ssomeone.” omeone.” It It is is a definition definition w hich aalso lso shares shares which w ith oour ur writers writers that that trust trust may may be be eelicited licited ((Emerson’s Emerson’s with iidealism); dealism); trust trust is is p erpetuated ((Moore’s Moore’s optimism), optimism), and and ttrust rust perpetuated iiss m oderated ((Dunne’s Dunne’s rrealism). ealism). moderated Th ese ssecular ecular aauthors uthors definitely definitely ooffer ffer bbeneficial eneficial insights. insights.

These A nd it it is is wisdom wisdom which which C hristian ttradition radition bboth oth rreinforces einforces And Christian Paul’s aand nd bbroadens. roadens. Let Let us us cconsider onsider ffor or iinstance nstance how how SSt. t. P aul’s eepistles pistles eenrich nrich our our understanding understanding of of the the concept concept ooff ttrust. rust.

Thee tterm multiple Th erm has has m ultiple variations variations according according to to the the bbiblical iblical Version cconcordance oncordance for for the the New New International International V ersion ((NIV).

NIV).

Paul his SSt. t. P aul iinitially nitially refers refers ttoo trust trust iin nh is Letter Letter ttoo the the Romans.

Romans.

God hope fillll IIn n chapter chapter 115, 5, vverse erse 13, 13, we we read: read: ““May May tthe he G od ooff h ope fi yyou ou with with all all jjoy oy aand nd peace peace as as you you ttrust rust iin n Him.” Him.” But But llet et us us first fi rst rrecall ecall tthat hat the the prior prior twelve twelve verses verses speak speak of of the the importance importance mutual ooff ccooperation ooperation aand nd m utual support support among among members members ooff tthe he ffaith aith community. community. Self-interest, Self-interest, ffor or eexample, xaample, must must bbee rreplaced eplaced by by the the concern concern of of those those ““who who are arre strong strong ttoo bear bear with w ith the the susceptibilities susceptibilities of of the the weaker weaker oones” nes” (v.1). (v.1). Insults Insults are are not while n ot to to be be rrepaid epaid iin n kind kind (v. (v. 3), 3), w hile bbelievers elievers sshould hould “accept” “accept” eeach ach oother ther just just as as they they tthemselves hemselves have have been been “accepted “accepted by by

Christ” Moreover, C hrist” ((v. v. 77). ). M oreover, Jews Jews and and gentiles gentiles are are eembraced mbraced eequally qually aand nd llovingly ovingly (v. (v. 88-9).

-9). not mandate.

And Paul, SSuch uch iiss n ot aan n eeasy asy m andate. A nd aaccording ccording ttoo P aul, human human unable aauthority uthority iiss u nable ttoo cconfer onfer tthe he ccapacity apacity to to eensure nsure iits ts God His uss ssuccess. uccess. G od aalone lone and and H is grace grace ccan an iinspire nspire aand nd guide guide u direction For when iin n tthe he d irection ooff ccommunal ommunal ssolidarity. olidarity. F or it it is is only only w hen I eexperience xperience bbeing eing trusted trusted by

by God God that that I ccan an thereby thereby be be fformed ormed aass aan n iinstrument nstrument of of that that ssame ame ttrust rust toward toward oothers. thers.

This Th is iiss a ccrucial rucial point point of of Paul’s Paul’s theology, theology, and and remains remains relevant relevant Authentic ffor or ttoday’s oday’s bbeliever. eliever. A uthentic trust trust presumes presumes tthe he active active model Christ. aagency gency ooff a m odel eexternal xternal ttoo ourselves, ourselvees, tthe he Spirit Spirit of of C hrist.

Noo iindividual whatever N ndividual iiss tthe he ooriginating riginating ssource ource ffor or w hatever ttrust rust Consequently, unlike tthey hey cclaim laim oorr eexhibit. xhibit. C onsequently, aand nd rather rather u nlike tthe he Emerson Moore, not vview iew ooff E merson aand nd M oore, for for tthe he Christian Christian ttrust rust iiss n ot a privately p rivately ggenerated enerated option option which which aautomatically utomatically iincreases ncreases upon Trust derives God, passing u pon ssuperficial uperficial ccontact. ontact. T rust d erives from from G od, p assing profoundly us, p rofoundly ttoo u s, aand nd tthen hen ffrom rom tthe he depths depths of of oour ur renewed renewed Christian iinteriority nteriority rreaching eaching through through us us to to our our C hristian brothers brothers aand nd ssisters. isters.

Paul’s First Letter Corinthians P aul’s F irst L etter ttoo tthe he C orinthians continues continues bbyy teaching teaching necessitates tthat hat ttrust rust n ecessitates rresponsibility. esponsibility. ““Christ’s Christ’s servants” servants” aare re whom mysteries God ““stewards” stewards” ttoo w hom ““the the m ysteries ooff G od aare re cconfided” onfided” Those must ((4:1).

4:1). Th ose ““who who have have bbeen een given given (such (such a) a) trust” trust” m ust prove Paul wee ought p rove tthemselves hemselves ((v.2). v.2). P aul recognized recognized tthat hat w ought ttoo witness That w itness ttoo tthe he ttruth ruth ooff tthe he Gospel, Gospel, tthe he “mysteries.” “mysteries.” Th at witness neither passive nor motivated w itness iiss n either p assive n or m otivated bbyy tthe he promise promise ooff Ass w with Paul himself, us, rreward. eward. A ith P aul h imself, the the Gospel Gospel urges urges u s, compels compels us, u s, ttoo rrespond espond ttoo the the obligations obligations “entrusted” “entrusted” ttoo us us ((9:17) 9:17) bbyy dynamic presence. iits ts d ynamic aand nd ssalvific alvific p resence.

Modern presume M odern ssecular ecular cculture ulture is is rrather ather inclined inclined ttoo p resume tthat hat mankind with m ankind iiss eessentially ssentially ccompartmentalized, ompartmentalized, w ith the the religious religious human aaspect spect bbeing eing bbut ut oone ne dimension dimension ooff tthe he h uman person. person. With With ssuch uch aan n aanthropology nthropology aand nd iin n a ssociety ociety which which aassigns ssigns the the hardly sstudy tudy ooff rreality eality ttoo aan n aarray rray ooff specialists, specialists, iitt is is h ardly ssurprising urprising mysteries God” have tthat hat ““the the m ysteries ooff G od” h ave come come ttoo be be associated associated with who aalmost lmost eexclusively xclusively w ith tthose hose w ho aare re ‘professionally’ ‘professionally’ rreligious eligious ((e.g. e.g. cclerics, lerics, Sisters, Sisters, eetc.). tc.). But But this this is is quite quite ccontrary ontrary what Paul has mind.

For fidelity ttoo w hat P aul h as iin nm ind. F or him, him, fi delity ttoo Jesus Jesus bbegins egins primarily Baptism.

While Paul p rimarily iin nB aptism. W hile P aul would would ccertainly ertainly favour favour what wee rrecognize hee w hatt w ecognize as as Holy Holy Orders Orders aand/or nd/or tthe he vvowed owed llife, ife, h

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stresses that witness to the Gospel involves the totality of the ‘ordinary’ believer. The faithful are enlisted to promote Christ’s message in their everyday activities and everyday relationships.

Recall for a moment a liturgical formula for the “Dismissal” at the conclusion of Mass. In the Latin text we read: Ite Missa est. A weak rendition of this becomes: “Go, the Mass is ended.” A more appropriate translation would encourage the idea of: “Go, now, for you are commissioned.” Each of us thus receives a mission to be bearers and exemplars of the Peace of Christ. None of us is exempt. Indeed, the very word ‘Mass’ itself implies that participation in the Eucharist renews our willingness to be sustained in that “trust.”

Also in First Corinthians we notice Paul’s mention of his “own opinion” (7:25). Paul states that the Lord has not moved him to declare definitively about whether Christians of his era should marry or “remain virgin.” There are, he says, sufficient stresses otherwise which should preoccupy their priorities. Still, this is his private view which he declines to impose, although he regards himself as having been “granted the Lord’s mercy to be trustworthy.” The connection with trust is readily apparent. Nor is it incidental, even when the Jerusalem Bible substitutes “faithful” for “trustworthy.”

What Paul suggests is profound. Think of an analogy. Are

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you familiar with the legend that people take on a physical and psychological image corresponding to what they most value and crave? For example, artists portray Santa Claus as big and jolly. This is because the customary notion is that this is how those generous and outgoing regularly appear. By contrast, the despicable character of Uriah Heep in the 1850 Dickens’ classic, David Copperfield, is invariably pictured as looking avaricious, grasping and withered. This is a fitting image of those thought to be dominated by greed. Paul is in fact arguing that if we are governed by trust in God, the whole of our being is influenced externally and internally.

Imbued by trust, everything about us projects trust.

“Trustworthy”, then, encompasses more than a single trait.

For Paul, it is the finale to a lifetime of consciousness that we are spiritually adopted.

This author would never claim to be a Biblical expert (aka exegete). Yet my hope is that this reflection on trust will be a reminder that it was trust which enabled Paul to allow “no difficulty (to) hinder him from persevering in his courageous evangelizing actions” (Benedict XVI, Message of January 18, for World Day of Migrants and Refugees). May the same ever be said of us!

Fr Bernard O’Connor is a priest of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia and an official with the Vatican’s Congregation for Eastern Churches.

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Light of the North

Responding to God’s call

John Wire, Permanent Deacon and Chancellor of the Diocese of Aberdeen, tells of his response to God’s call.

“...Yet it is within that closeness of a loving family that faith survives and God’s plan is realised.”

I

f you read my article in last summer’s issue of the Light of the North commemorating the 150th anniversary of Our Lady’s appearances to Bernadette at the grotto in Lourdes you would have realised that the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2001 which my wife Sue and I took part in marked the beginning of my journey to become a permanent deacon.

him as he did with his first disciples was not a thought that entered my head. However, I was impatient to be an altar server and eventually when I was about 8 or 9 and after what seemed like an endless period of training I achieved that goal and went on to serve at Mass until my early twenties. That was as far as my response (unknowingly) to God’s call went.

By the time I got married my mother’s disappointment at my ‘not having a vocation’ had changed to joy, particularly when her first grand child arrived and as the others followed. I should mention here that I am an only child so my children are my parents’ only grandchildren. You are probably thinking that not having mentioned my father at all until now, my mother was the biggest influence in my early life.

Well, as far as the early grounding of my faith was concerned, she was. Her faith was unshakable but precluded any discussion of issues of faith or teachings of the Church which she considered controversial or derogatory; as a teenager and young adult I found that extremely infuriating! My father also had a strong unshakable faith and was always willing to discuss things, although his favoured subject was politics!

Looking back on those early years when my mother prayed so much for my ‘vocation’ it strikes me that here is a very good example of how God answers our prayers, perhaps not in the way we want him to but

One of the similarities one notices when talking to people who have accepted God’s call to the religious life as a priest, as a sister or a brother in a religious community is that from an early age they have experienced a persistent feeling that they were being drawn to a life in the service of Christ. Yet, it doesn’t always happen like that. Some people come to realise that God is calling them to serve Him much later in life and at times with an urgency that cannot be fully explained or understood to begin with.

During my boyhood and teenage years I’m sure my mother prayed every day for me to become a priest and from time to time during family conversations there would be references to someone or other having a ‘vocation’. I wondered what a vocation was; where did it come from? Did it suddenly appear? It seemed to me at the time that one either had a vocation or one didn’t; the concept of God calling one to follow

John graduates BA in Applied Theology for the Diaconal Ministry from the Maryvale Institute

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answ answered wered without withoout doubt; but as G God od des desired sired not as desired.

Her God’s mum desir ed. H er plan was for me to be a priest, p G od’s plan was for SSue u and me to get married ue d and hav havee childr en. children.

changes were something ch hanges inside yyou ou and whatt w ere priorities one’s’s life become secondary; God in one b secondar y; doing the t will of G od whatever Hee rrequires matters.

However, in whatev er way w H equires is what mat tters. H owever, one’s’s family hav havee to be par partt of that tran transformed one nsformed life. married partt of G God’s After all; ma arried life was also par od’s plan for A family f il has h too sur viv i e, and d the h taskk off pr oviding idi a me. survive, providing home and educating educaating the children children takes oover ver one one’s’s life.

Thr ough all the times of worr il that come B Through worryy and turmoi turmoil But, God’s ut, what is G od’s plan for yyou? ou? IIss it that t yyou ou should children eventually become as the childr en grow g ow up and ev gr entually bec come adults be par partt of a family family, mother,, father father,, so son y, a mother on or daughter (y et they forever foreverr remain remain your your childr en) on ne’s faith can and that the example of yyour (yet children) one’s our Christian life within that flow, loving ebb and flo w, yyet et e it is within that closenesss of a lo ving family is an example e to the world and a way w of spreading spreading family that faith h sur vives and G od’s plan iss rrealised. ealised. survives God’s the good news news w to your your friends and neighbours neigghbours and the comm munityy, or are are you you being asked askeed by

by God God to be wider community, Well, that’s’s my backgr God W ell, that bbackground, ound, so why did G od want me a priest, a member m religious community coommunity or a of a religious to take a fur therr step and become a perman nent deacon? permanent deacon? further permanent d Myy initial rreaction say, don’t’t kno know; M eactiion could be to say y, I rreally eally don w; my consider ed answ aanswer er is to say that when one rrealises ealises A married permanent considered peermanent deacon is part part of Christian C family God particularly follow Him, that G od is par t ticularly asking yyou ou to foll ow H im, as life as well well ass being an ordained ordained member ber of the clergy Matthew, JJesus esus did to Peter, Peter, e , JJames, ames, JJohn ohn and M atthew, then of the Catholic Cathoolic Church.

Church.

More Mor rree Mu Mus Musical usic ssiicca Memories sica of th the he Nor North-East rrth thShelagh S helagh N Noden oden

T

hink h ink of of Dufftown Dufftown aand nd the the fi first rst thing thing tthat hat u usually sually ccomes omes to to mind mind iis, s, understandably, understandably, w whisky. hisky. Few Few people p eople think think of of tthe he place place aass a centre centre ooff excellence excellence iin n the the field field ooff cchurch hurch m music, usic, but but iin n tthe he eearly arly years years of of the the nineteenth nineteenth ccentury entury tthat hat is is indeed indeed what what it it was. was. Th Thee person person responsible responsible ffor or this this p phenomenon henomenon was was the the R Rev ev G George eorge Gordon, Gordon, 11776-1857, 776-1857, w who ho was was tthe he fi first rst p priest riest ttoo work work in in the the newly newly fformed ormed village village and and bbegan egan tthe he building building of of tthe he Catholic Catholic church church there. there.

Catholic tthe he Scottish Scottish C atholic Archive, Archive, criticizing criticizing George George for for his music sspending pending too too much much ttime ime oon nh is m usic ttoo tthe he detriment detriment ooff h his is studies studies iin n ttheology. heology. F Fortunately ortunately h hee mended mended his his w ways, ays, and and was w as ordained ordained in in 1797, 1797, returning returning to to Scotland Scotland the the following following yyear. ear.

This have musical Th is must must h ave been been a ffrustrating rustrating time time ffor or tthe he m usical yyoung oung priest.

Repeated Bishop p riest. R epeated rrequests equests aaddressed ddressed to to B ishop Hay Hay still still ffailed ailed Bishop ttoo remove remove the the bban an on on singing singing in in church, church, but but in in 1803 1803 B ishop C Cameron, ameron, himself himself a fformer ormer rrector ector ooff the the SScots cots C College ollege in in S Spain, p a i n , b became e c a m e the t h e acting a c t i n g Vicar V i c a r A Apostolic. p o s t o l i c .

H His i s a attitude t t i t u d e was w as George George Gordon Gordon was was born born in in tthe he Enzie.

Enzie. Before Before his his tenth tenth m more o r e relaxed, r e l a x e d , and a n d gradually g r a d u a l l y m music u s i c was w a s r reintroduced e i n t r o d u c e d into i n t o birthday birthday he he w was as sent sent ttoo be be educated educated aatt Scalan, Scalan, ffrom rom where where cottish Catholic Catholic churches. churches. he he w went ent oout ut to to tthe he R Royal oyal SScots cots College College in in V Valladolid, alladolid, SSpain, pain, SScottish in in 1788.

1788. By By tthis his ttime ime Scottish Scottish Catholics Catholics w were ere eenjoying njoying m more ore We hear hear of of George George Gordon Gordon training traiining organists organists at at Dufftown Dufftown religious religious ffreedom, reedom, and and tthe he foundation foundattion stone stone had had bbeen een llaid aid aatt We (six of of them them by by 1819 1819 - and and more more to to follow) follow) for for which which service service Preshome Preshome ffor or Scotland’s Scotland’s first first rrecognisable ecognisable Catholic Catholic cchurch hurch (six h e c h a r g e d t e n g u i n e a s , p l u s a n e x t r a fi v e s h i l l i n g s f o r each each he charged ten guineas, plus an extra five shillings for since since the the rreformation. eformation. Nevertheless Neveertheless tthe he cautious cautious Bishop Bishop Hay Hay sheet of of music music he he produced produced for for a pupil. pupil. A letter letter to to a fellow fellow still still refused refused ttoo aallow llow any any music music in in tthe he public public worship worship ooff the the sheet p r i e s t f r o m M r G o r d o n ( p r i e s t s w e r e k n o w n a s “ M r ” a t this this priest from Mr Gordon (priests were known as “Mr” at church.

George church. So So iimagine magine tthe he eeffect ffect on on tthe he ttwelve-year-old welve-year-old G eorge t i m e ) a b o u t p r o s p e c t i v e o r g a n s t u d e n t i s w o r t h q u o t i n g for time) about a prospective organ student is worth quoting for when hee aarrived when h rrived in in SSpain pain and and eexperienced xperienced the the iimpressive mpressive the insight insight it it gives gives to to the the down-to-earth down-to-earth methods methods of of training training the music music aand nd cceremony eremony ooff tthe he M Mass ass aass celebrated celebrated tthere. here. church musicians musicians in in the the early early nineteenth nineteenth century: century: church A letter professors preserved letter from from one one of of tthe he College College p rofessors is is p reserved iin n

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Light of the North

“He will be lodged in the house of one of my own organists, (John MacIntosh, Coppersmith, Dufftown) where he will have the use of Piano, Bed, Board and washing for five shillings a week. The diet is understood to be common country fare. A few steps from his Quarters a Cooper lives who says he can give him as much work as he can hold his face to [to pay for his board]...

In the mean time let him learn what he can of his Notes on any Keyed instrument, it will always be so much time gained. I shall keep him at first a couple of weeks or longer to teach him to move his fingers and ascertain whether he will answer your purpose.

After that I may perhaps send him home to practise by himself for some time, unless I find that he had made such progress that he may remain here constantly till he finish with me.”

A surprising number of the pieces included are still in use today. We find a version of Adeste Fideles arranged for soloist and choir, alongside Webbe’s Regina Caeli, Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus and familiar settings of Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris. A more exotic work which Mr Gordon evidently brought with him from his college days in Spain, is the Trumpet Mass, composed in 1736 by the director of music at Seville Cathedral. Odd to think of it travelling thousands of miles to the north of Scotland.

Copies of the collection were sold to raise money for the new church in Dufftown. Mr Gordon was keen to promote his work, and early editions of the Catholic Directory for Scotland have adverts for the book. Copies of it can still be Mr Gordon’s crowning achievement was his two-volume found all over Scotland, and further afield, including collection of church music, Sacred Music Calculated for Small England, Ireland and even as far as the USA. Not many Choirs, which appeared around 1830. This collection filled a crates of whisky at that date could have travelled as far. real need. Previously, newly-formed choirs had to send to London for copies of music, which was a time-consuming If you have memories of using Mr Gordon’s book and expensive process. The two volumes contain a wide- Shelagh would like to hear from you at : ranging assortment of works, carefully arranged for s.noden@abdn.ac.uk or phone 01358 742248. inexperienced singers, with a fully written out accompaniment Thanks to everyone who got in touch following the for organ. There are songs for full choir in four vocal parts, previous article, in particular to Mary M. Connelly, some in two or three parts, and others intended for everyone sister of the late Canon Symon, who has some to sing the tune together. Some pieces have more elaborate wonderful memories of St Joseph’s Church Choir sections to be performed by more experienced singers, with (Woodside, Aberdeen). simpler passages for the rest. Something for everyone!

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Light of the North

Page 25

Orkney Journal Orkney is a single parish of our diocese, but it has seventeen inhabited islands, to say nothing of numerous smaller islets and skerries.

The island of Stronsay, on the Eastern edge of Orkney, is ten kilometres long and shaped a bit like a lobster; and just off the North-East tip of Stronsay lies the tiny island of Papa Stronsay. Its area is less than one square kilometre.

“Papa” in the title Papa Stronsay, like Papa Westray further North (and Papa Stour in Shetland) indicates that long ago there were priests, probably monks, on the island; and once again there is a religious community on Papa Stronsay.

Bishop Peter visited them in February, and sent the Journal this report:

B

oarding the community’s little motor-boat at the pier of Whitehall village on Stronsay I could clearly see, across the water on Papa Stronsay, the row of twelve little one-room houses or “cells”. With a parallel row behind them, these are the only newly-constructed buildings on the island, but the old farmhouse is still habitable, and the farm buildings are gradually being converted. A temporary chapel is already in use, the refectory or dining-room is spotless and welcoming, and the main chapel is almost ready for furnishing.

The community aims to follow the rule of life set up by St Alphonsus Liguori (founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – the Redemptorists) in its original or unmodified form and their title now is Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (F.SS.R.) There are two priests in the Papa Stronsay community, and about ten other members, while a third priest lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, where they have the nucleus of a “daughter-house” of their monastery.

So why was this my first visit there in five years as bishop?

For many years there has been a split among Catholics, particularly since Archbishop Lefebvre ordained other bishops without the necessary authority from Rome. The best known disagreement has been about the “old Mass” (the Tridentine Mass) and the “new Mass” (the Novus Ordo), but the divisions go much deeper than that. As long ago as 1988 Pope John Paul II set up a Commission (usually called the Ecclesia Dei Commission) to welcome any groups wanting to heal the divisions.

Pope Benedict is deeply saddened by these divisions, and determined to push for a solution. Two years ago he issued his Motu Proprio document which gave much wider permission for the Tridentine Mass. In effect this was an invitation for the divided Catholics to “come home”.

The community on Papa Stronsay had, up till then, followed the Lefebvrist opinion and its current leader Bishop Bernard Fellay, and so they were estranged from the Church. Last year however they decided to respond to Pope Benedict’s invitation, and so they approached the Ecclesia Dei Commission. The three priests had their censures lifted and are now in good standing. The two on Papa Stronsay are authorised to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacraments for their own members and on the neighbouring island of Stronsay. The process is also under way in Rome to regularise the status of their little community.

I discovered that there are hardly two men of the same nationality on Papa Stronsay! Poland, France and Denmark are represented, and a list of English-speaking countries such as New Zealand and Zimbabwe as well as Scotland, England and Ireland. When I met them gathered as a community I told them about the Synod of Bishops in October with its theme of The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church, and about my own meeting with the Cardinal in charge of the Ecclesia Dei Commission.

They were friendly and attentive to my needs and indeed my comfort – I found myself fog-bound overnight on Stronsay – but their own life-style is frugal and reminds me strongly of our routine in the Scots College, Rome, in the nineteen-fifties.

These men are prayerful and self-disciplined, but they have been out of touch with the mainstream of Catholic life in the diocese for years – in some cases, I believe, for most of their lives. They have taken the step – and it needed courage – of asking Rome to welcome them back. But our diocese is where they actually live, so in practice that welcome must come from us. It is up to us, now, to help them gradually to become fully and happily our brothers in Christ.

ffaithandculture a i tth han nd d ccu u l ttu u re re

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On a wing and a prayer Canon Peter Barry explores the bird life of Scotland and other exotic climes!

O

n Friday Friday 6th March, March, ch a film m “Romero” Romer o o” attracted crowd hall. attr racted a large cr owd to SStt Francis Francis r hall It It tells storyy of Oscar Archbishop tell ls the stor Oscar Romero, Romero,, Ar chbishop of SSan an SSalvador, alvador, murdered murdered at the very very elevated a the host during M ass. An A academic, moment he elevated Mass. h witnessed the appalling suffering suff ffering of his in poor health, he haands of corrupt corrupt people at the hands government and death government haad to make a squads, and had sp peak out, or decision: to speak remain i silent. il He paid id with i h his hi remain He decisiion he made. life for the decision

Amazonia ha as a species density unrivalled unrivalled anywher Amazonia has anywheree else planett. With With a guide, a young young Geography Geoography teacher, teacher, on the planet. we stayed stayed in a plantation with the local Shaman.

Shaman. The we Government allows allows him to grow grow co ocoa, which is Government cocoa, narcotic for religious religioous ceremonies. ceremonies. consumed ass a mild narcotic Pineapples grow g ow ev gr erywhere, along with witth tobacco and Pineapples everywhere, Dip a hook h strreams, and a fish yam. Dip into one of the little streams, guaaranteed. is almost guaranteed.

Shaman h I sat with the Shaman during a ceremonyy, and thought thought of the ceremony, Prophet p Elijah. j Should we we have have Prophet Elijah.

Should eacch other to draw competed with each down fire fire from from heaven? heaaven? He He knew knew I down Priest, and d accepted me was a Priest, implicitlyy. His His medicinal med dicinal skills had implicitly. down n by by his father been passed down father,, there was w no son to but sadly there follow him. Every Every root root and plant follow rainforest has h a medicinal in the rainforest propertyy, and to destroy d oy the forest destr forest property, down nature’s naature’s medicine is to close down We parted parted d on good terms, cabinet. We parrish, the Shaman Shaman me back to my parish, remedies. back to his herbal remedies.

Other priests in Latin America Other have faced the same s have dilemma. ph hotographs of A series of photographs Pablo Escobar, Escobar, the th he drug drug baron, baron, Pablo receiving Holy Holy Communion C receiving in chu urch, shaking a Catholic church, Bishop i , rresulted esulted hands with a Bishop, Priests refusing refusing to be in some Priests part of this corruption. corrruption. Many Many part parish hes and joined left their parishes FAR RC, an armed the FARC, revolutionary movement revolutionary movement memorries are are colourful colourful Among my memories guerrilla war against fighting a guerrilla birds d which danced manakin, tiny birds government troops. trooops. Others Others set government hes abo ve our along the branch branches above p their own own force, foorce,, livingg in up h d sporting ti t l heads, sporting outrageously Canon C anon nP Peter eter with the lo local cal Shama Shaman an rainforest, armed with the rainforest, colourful plumagee .... the giant colourful artillery, fightingg along with the FARC. FAR RC. artillery, sizze of Labrador dogs, and insects sects a plenty to otters the size ferocioously at any exposed skin. Insect Inssect bites remain remain nibble ferociously Pablo Escobar iss now now dead, having peddled d heroin heroin and Pablo foor many months after. after. T rying to identify the on the skin for Trying narcotics too countless numbers of people, people, and some other narcotics from m a myriad of possibilities (vampire (vampire bats, culprit from are drifting drifting back to their parishes, having h priests are been fi fire ants, etc ) would be impossible. possible. mosquitoes, fire promised immunity immun nity from from persecution. promised

Night Prayer Prayer of the chur ch,, asking God God to As I say the Night church, Priest in Amazonia, Amazonia, onia and heard hearrd his tale of I met one such Priest d l er me from deliv f om fr o any harm, h f l grateful f l to have h e sampled hav ld deliver I feel malaaria and other diseases were were part part and jungle-life: malaria n of his world, with its wonde erful people and a tiny section wonderful parcel of their existence exxistence .... much of the FARC FAR RC economy parcel creatures, and d to have have arrived arrived home safely. safelyy. creatures, by the th he drug drug trade. Was Was he ashamed asham med of what is financed by he’d done? He He couldn’t coouldn’t answer. answer. he’d

ffaithandculture a i tth han nd d ccu u l ttu u re re

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Page P age 27

Historical al Curiosities from the D Diocese iocese ocese of Aberdeen rdeen SScotland cotland d ue ttoo h is C atholicism, h tudied aatt P ont-àdue his Catholicism, hee sstudied Pont-àM usson ((where where JJohn ohn Barclay Barclay was was brought brought up) up) and and Paris, Paris, Musson ass w ell aass aatt tthe he n ewly-founded SScots cots C ollege iin nR ome. well newly-founded College Rome.

H is aalbum lbum aamicorum micorum ((or or n otebook for for friends friends ttoo re ecord d His notebook record ttheir heir m eetings w ith h im) ccovering overing tthe he yyears ears 11599–1609, 599–1609, meetings with him) p ermits us us to to rreconstruct econstruct bboth oth tthe he ssophistication ophistication ooff tthe he permits Peter P eter D Davidson avidson ccircles ircles iin nw hich h oveed oon n tthe he C ontinent aand nd h is which hee m moved Continent his ravels aass aan n u ndercover aagent gent iin n SScotland cotland aacting cting oon n undercover eeorge orge SStrachan trachan ((fl. fl. 11592–1634), 592–1634), was was a ttravels b e h a l f o f t h e J e s u i t s . behalf of the Jesuits.

C atholic SScotsman cotsman ooff tthe he llate ate renaissance, renaissance, Catholic tthe he fi rst w estern E uropean ttoo llive ive w ith the the first western European with hile a sstudent tudent h emonstrated h is eextraordinary xtraoord dinary sskill kill While hee d demonstrated his n omadic A rabs, aand nd aan n eearly arly ccollector ollector aand nd W nomadic Arabs, atin p oet, w riting aan n eepitaph pitaph ffor or a yyoung oung re elative Latin poet, writing relative ttranslator ranslator ooff A rabic lliterature, iteraturee, oone ne w hose knowledge knowledge ooff ass a L Arabic whose c a l l e d P a t r i c k S e t o n , w h i c h wa a s p r i n t e d i n t h e greeat called Patrick Seton, which was printed in the great tthe he llanguage anguage aand nd ooff IIslamic slamic cculture ulturee w ass d eeper tthan han tthat hat was deeper nthology ooff SScottish cottish L attin p oetry ((in in aan n aage ge wh hen ttoo Latin poetry when ooff aany ny ooff h is ccontemporaries. ontemporaries. H as a p rooduct ooff tthe he aanthology his Hee w was product w r i t e i n L a t i n w a s t o w r i t e f o r a l l o f E u r o p e a n d b e yond) write in Latin was to write for all of Europe and beyond) ssame ame d istinctive n orthern SScottish cottish cculture ulturee aass tthe he w riters distinctive northern writers elitiae P oetarum SScotorum, cotorum, eedited dited bbyy tthe he A berdonian Delitiae Poetarum Aberdonian W illiam and and JJohn ohn B arclay ((see see aarticle rticle oon nT owie B arclay D William Barclay Towie Barclay C astle), aand nd like like Alexander Alexander SSeton, eton, tthe he ggreat reeat bbuilder uilder ooff Castle), F yvie C astle, a product product of of tthe he C olleges of of Rome.

Rome.

Fyvie Castle, Colleges

George Strachan George S t ra c h a n o off tthe he Mearns, M e a r n s, pioneering p ioneering llinguist inguist a and nd ttranslator ranslator

G

SStrachan trachanw asaL atin p oet ooffbbreathtaking reathtakingaccomplishment, accomplishment, was Latin poet aand nd aalso lso tthe he m ost aaccomplished ccomplished llinguist inguist ooff tthe he fi rst most first ggeneration eneration of of Europeans Europeans ttoo llive ive iin n aand nd sstudy tudy tthe he A rabbic Arabic w orld. H as born born iin n tthe he M earns, p art ooff tthat hat n orthern world.

Hee wa was Mearns, part northern SScotland cotland w hich llooked ookeed ttoo A berd deen aass iits ts ccapital. apital. Th which Aberdeen Thee N orth ((as as tthe he ““north-east” north-east” was waas ccalled alled aatt tthe he ttime ime iin n North d istinction ffrom rroom tthe he H ighlands aand nd the the L owlands) w as distinction Highlands Lowlands) was cculturally ulturally as as well well as as ggeographically eographically remote remote ffrom rroom the the rrest est ooff SScotland, cotland, and, and, due due to to the the power power of of the the Earls Earls of of Huntly, Huntly, tthe he m ost p owerful m agnates iin n SScotland cotland ((most most ooff w hom most powerful magnates whom w eree ccatholics), atholics), something something of of a state state within within a state. state. were ‘‘The The m ap sshows howss tthe he d istrict ttoo bbee n aturally sseparate eparate ffrom rom map district naturally tthe he rrest est ooff SScotland, cotland, sstretching tretching ffar ar eeastward astwaard iinto nto tthe he G erman O cean. IItt h ad tthus hus tthe he m eans ooff uninterrupted uninterrupted German Ocean. had means ccommunication ommunication w ith tthe he E uropean ccontinent ontinent bbyy ssea.’ ea.’ with European tthus hus tthe he h istorian JJohn ohn H ill B urton w rote aatt aatt the the eend nd historian Hill Burton wrote ooff tthe he n ineteenth ccentury entury ooff tthe he sself-contained elf-contained aand nd nineteenth ccultivated ultivated rregion egion ffrom rom w hich G eorge SStrachan trachan which George ooriginated. riginated.

SStrachan’s trachan’s sstory tory iiss ssoo re emarkable aand nd ssoo llittle ittle kknown nown tthat hat remarkable iitt iiss w orth rrecounting ecounting iin n ssome ome d etail. SSelf-exiled elf-exiled ffrom rom worth detail.

Isphahan n in 1685 from frrom a ccopper opper engraved, eng grraved d, hand ccoloured olourred d map b artogrrapherr, Allain Alla ain M. Mallet byy ccartographer,

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Light of the North

Arthur Johnson, but published in Holland. His long poem was much admired by contemporaries such as William Barclay, who wrote verses in praise of it.

The poem is as fine as Milton’s English or Latin elegies for his lost friends, and is comparable with them in its evocation of friendship cut short and lost youth remembered.

Strachan left Paris for the east in 1613, and in 1616– 1618, travelled with the nomadic court of the Emir Feyyad. In this period, he gave out that he had married and converted to Islam, while becoming more deeply knowledgeable in Arabic and in Islamic theology and philosophy than any European contemporary. Travelling thus in the entourange of the Emir, he could visit parts of the middle east impossible for a lone western traveller.

Renaissance, a cultural achievement which was, paradoxically, the fruit of a troubled and adventurous life.

His biographer, G. L.della Vida, estimates that his knowledge of Arabic was far beyond that of any other Western European of his time, and exceeded even that of the famous Dutch Arabist Thomasus Erpenius, who has, by contrast, received his due measure of learned attention.1 Strachan’s translations of literary and philosophical texts constitute a vital, almost wholly unexplored body of early translation from Arabic, and a monument of early modern reception and understanding of Islam. But because the target language of his translations is Latin, not a vernacular, and his life and work fit neither with an English view of Scotland, nor with the Scots’ view of themselves, he has disappeared from the historiography of east-west contact.

In 1619, he secured a position in Isphahan as translator and physician to the English merchants of the East India Company, which he left the following year in spectacular circumstances when a mentally-disturbed colleague denounced him as a traitor, murderer and embezzeler.

Whether his enemy (an Englishman) was simply mad, or whether his antipathy was based on anti-Catholicism is unknowable. Perhaps it was a bit of both. Certainly Strachan caused acute resentment by his accurate assertion that Queen Anna (Anne of Denmark) had lived since 1598 as a Catholic and had died in the Faith.

Peter Davidson is Professor of Renaissance Studies at the University of Aberdeen

Strachan then went to live in the Carmelite house in Isphahan and taught Arabic. His will of 26 September 1621, witnessed by the Italian traveller Pietro della Valle, bequeathed his books to the Discalced Carmelites of Rome, although there are indications that it was not made on his deathbed, and he lived for some time afterwards. There is indeed some indication that he lived to a fair age and that he was in or near Agra in later life.

If so, he was in a cultivated Mughal society which would welcome and debate with the Jesuits.

Not the least important aspect of Strachan is that his life raises the question of why such colossal achievements, evidenced by sixty oriental manuscripts with interlinear translations, as well as letters, and poems, are so little known.

These oriental manuscripts survive with Strachan’s interlinear translations and commentary , covering a vast gamut of Arabic literature, philosophy and theology.

These are now in the Vatican, the Biblioteca Nazionale at Naples and the British Library. They represent perhaps the most sustained engagement with Islamic culture (both Arabic and Persian) of any individual of the late

1.G.L.Della Vida, George Strachan, memorials of a wandering Scottish scholar of the seventeenth century (Aberdeen: Third Spalding Club, 1956), especially p.72

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Light of the North

faithandculture

BOOK REVIEWS

Page 29

“Growing”, and “Bearing Fruit”. There is no need, however, slavishly to follow the chapters in that order.

The book is one enjoyably to be dipped into if desired.

Dom Gilbert communicates particularly well when the subject is personal: on the occasion of Br Daniel’s Solemn Profession, of Br Adrian’s Golden Jubilee of Profession, and, with touching sensitivity, during the Requiem Mass for the late Fr Maurus.

Living the Mystery Author: Gilbert, Dom Hugh Publisher: Gracewing ISBN: 0852446926 List Price: £16.26 Paperback 204 pages Copies are available from the Ogilvie Institute

Living the Mystery

The merits of the book as a whole derive from the author’s learning (never oppressive), his deep understanding of monastic life and of the liturgy, and his signal ability to stimulate the reader’s inclination to apply to his or her personal struggles the wisdom and compassion of a monk in the cloister.

There is an especial universality in the sections “The Christian Way” (Pt 1), “The Little Foxes” (Pt 2), and “The Spiritual Senses” (Pt 3). The last of these is admittedly hard work, but the ideas put forward will repay handsomely the reader’s perseverance!

This volume provides “spiritual reading” both racy and resourceful.

The Church and the World: Essays Catholic and Contemporary Author: John Haldane Publisher: Gracewing ISBN: 0852445884 List Price: £9.99 215 pages

Canon Bill Anderson “Even where we may think we know the terrain, the Abbot invites us to share with him fresh insights in a manner at once challenging and interesting”

T

he very term “spiritual book” may sound ominous to some, for it may bring back memories of enforced reading-habits at school or in the home. They may have shunned such “improving” discipline on arrival at early adulthood, and never returned.

The Abbot of Pluscarden won golden opinions for “Unfolding the Mystery”, which guided the reader through the liturgical year, and has recently given us a companion volume, “Living the Mystery”, for the most part talks or homilies given to his monastic brethren.

Neither book need frighten off prospective readers, since far from being dreary or turgid, each is written with clarity, beauty of style and lightness of toauch.

“Living the Mystery” is subtitled “Monastic markers on the Christian Way”, but the author, while making no claim to take us on a systematic journey, does lead us gently along spiritual highways and byways. Even where we may think we know the terrain, the Abbot invites us to share with him fresh insights in a manner at once challenging and interesting. The prologue and epilogue are charming Marian cameos, while the body of the work progresses under the headings “Rooted”,

The Church and the World David Braine “Secular society offers no unifying vision, no deep cultural perspective, no distinctive personal social values, no ennobling conception of the human condition”

F

rom the age of ten or earlier, the predominant influence shaping the thinking and attitudes of young people in Britain today is the peer group of youngsters the same age.

It is therefore a fight for every parent and every Catholic parent to have much influence. And the situation is dire in one random class of 12 year olds, with no recent immigrants, when asked how many believed in God, 10% said they did and 90% said they didn’t. Since then, the impact of preoccupation with sex and of secular propaganda on the media has got even greater. This is the background within which Church and Catholic school now work.

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Light of the North

Meantime, over 40% of young people go on to university or have some period of higher education. Most of these and most of the rest pick up the remainder of their information from the media and the internet.

In this setting, those who have left school often appear to be in a vacuum, with parents having left the job of providing the intellectual food which might have been appropriate at each stage of the children and adolescents growing to adulthood, to schools, and the schools having communicated very little so far as faith or any meaningful values, while for the most part the homilies presented in the Church to the congregation of sitting targets have been empty of the teaching content which might supply what was missing from elsewhere.

This is the situation in which Haldane presents his set of thoughtful articles from newspapers and journals, mostly quite recent.

He makes it plain that Catholics have an intellectual resource in Catholic writing of the past which is simply not being tapped. Sixty years ago, George Orwell, known today by lots of young people because of his books Animal Farm and 1984, wrote that “It would be to put it too crudely to say that every poet in our time must either die young, enter the Catholic Church or join the Communist Party, but in fact the escape from the consciousness of futility is along these lines.” In 1959 Jaroslav Pelikan, then a Lutheran theologian (although later Eastern Orthodox), wrote “the road to Rome has often been the road to synthesis of faith and intellect which appeared impossible anywhere else.” But as Haldane says “that road has not yet closed but is increasingly less well known, ….” Indeed, to many today, the Catholic Church has become intellectually invisible. And this is much more true in Britain than in most parts of Europe, and certainly than in America.

In the past, and in some places very much still in the present, the Catholic Church has been the Church of thinking as well as of spirituality and silence, with churches built with an architecture drawing those in them to worship.

Haldane calls us back to this tradition. He says “secular society offers no unifying vision, no deep cultural perspective, no distinctive personal social values, no ennobling conception of the human condition” – an invitation to see nothing but futility in human life (a kind of vision which leads many quite young to suicide, as he does not mention, and others to egoism). So, it is not Catholicism that is in crisis but secular society.

Here, Catholic tradition is conspicuous for its work in presenting a coherent account of faith and in confronting the intellectual obstacles which the fashion of the day or new knowledge throws up. Haldane illustrates this from the way it has offered reasons for belief, insisting that it is

right for people to ask for reasons for belief – and showing that in the background of faith there are real reasons for believing in God (Essays 11 and 12). And he shows the superficiality of the criticisms made by believers in evolution. It is reasonable for every Catholic to accept evolution, but not what he calls “evolutionism” (Essay 13) – which is where scientists go outside their field into areas which do not belong to science.

He also gives a very handy informal presentation of the natural law way of thinking which sees sex as having a place only in relation to marriage and marriage as the sort of relationship essentially connected with openness to the having of children (Essays 16, 17 and 20). As another part of this moral tradition he shows how the modern way of thinking about rights comes from over-emphasising one aspect of how we should think about the good or moral life at the expense of others, and even runs contrary to the original intention of the Declarations of 1948 which was like Catholic tradition anxious to protect human rights against the state, whether this be controlled by a dictator or majority rule. Freedom and independent thought depend on the vigour of institutions, such as the family and the school, intermediate between the state and the individual.

David Braine is Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Divinity, History & Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen

LIVING THE MYSTERY Dom Hugh Gilbert, OSB

In this book, which follows on from the companion volume, Unfolding the Mystery, the Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey reflects before his monastic brethren on some of the elements common to the life of all Christians – from Baptism to the hope of eternal life.

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Light of the North

Poetic licence

Page 31

Canon Bill Anderson takes a look at some of his favourite inspirational verse.

It was but now their sounding clamours sung, “Blessed is He that comes from the Most High ! “ And all the mountains with hosannah rung ; And now, “Away with Him, away!” they cry, And nothing can be heard but “ Crucify “ : It was but now the crown itself they save, And golden name of King unto Him gave ; And now no king but only Caesar they will have.

It was but now they gathered blooming May, And of his arms disrobed the branching tree, To strFw with boughs and blossoms all Thy way; And now the branchless trunk a cross for Thee, And May, dismay’d, thy coronet must be : It was but now they were so kind to throw Their own best garments, where Thy feet should go ; And now Thyself they strip, and bleeding wounds they show.

See where the Author of all life is dying : O fearful day ! He dead, what hope of living ?

See where the hopes of all our lives are buying ; O cheerful day ! they bought, what fear of grieving ?

Love love for hate and EFBUI for MJGF is giving : Lo, how His arms are stretch’d abroad to grace thee, And, as they open stand, call to embrace thee : Why stay’st thou then, my soul ? O fly, fly, thither haste thee !

Giles Fletcher wrote those lines some four hundred years ago, and his reflections on Calvary still carry vivid images to stimulate our devotion.

Indeed Fletcher’s treatments of religious themes are supposed greatly to have affected John Milton, the author of “Paradise Lost”, the narrative of the fall of Adam and Eve. Another, though lesser poet possibly influenced by the lines above is Samuel Crossman, who wrote “My song is love unknown”, the much - loved Lenten hymn. The similarity between the two pieces is strong. Crossman was born the year following Fletcher’s death.

The second stanza is perhaps the most moving, and contains some charming quirks of language, e.g. “And May, dismayed, thy coronet must be”.

For anyone keen to follow up on our author, search out his “Christ’s Victory and Triumph in Heaven and Earth”, from which our piece is extracted.

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The T he h e audience audiie en nc ce c e is is asked aske ed d to to remain remaiin n seated sse ea atte ed d until untiill the the he end e nd n d of of tthe he rrecession. he ecession. n. ,W¡V , WW¡V ¡ ' ¡V 'UXJ UX XJ J$ $ZDUHQHVV ZDUHQHVVVV : :HHN HHN N * *HW HWW LLQYROYHG H QYYR Q ROOYH HG G LLQ QG GUXJV UXJV JV before b eforre ey your ou ou urr children childre en nd do. o. o.

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Jackson J ackso on n to to come com me ef forward orward and an nd d lay la ay ya an n egg eg gg g on on the the he altar. a lta arr.

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win off A Abbot Hugh Gilbert’s in a copy ilbert’s To ugh G copy o To w bbot H Mystery’ the M ysteryy’, ssend atest book, ‘Living the book, ‘Living llatest end entry, with our ccompleted yyour ompleted e ntry, ttogether ith yyour our ogether w address and number name, ddre ame, a o nd telephone umber tto n telephone n ess a the North, Ogilvie 16 orth, O Light of of the gilvie IInstitute, the Light nstitute, 1 6 the N Huntly First Street,, Aberdeen deen AB10 Aberd Huntly Street, 1SH. F irsst AB10 1SH. entry drawn out off the hat ntryy d ut o ect e ccorrect is tthe he awn o orre the h ra at is winner.

2009. une, 2 date: 1st 009.

1st JJune, winner. Closing Closing date:

Franc Kaminski’s Brain Teaser TThe er onlyy b pair of clues diff wo par he ttwo ts of each e ffer parts differ byy one er (st eam/stream =r). U lett se the letters generated letters thus generated letter (steam/stream Use es of thr ee br orm the name e Old om the others fr to fform to names three brothers from Testament.

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Shepherd.

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.................................................................................

Name ......................................................................................... ........................... .................................................................................

A Address ..................................................................................... ddress ..... ........................... ........................... ........................................................................................................ .................................................................................

Telephone ..................................................................................

Telephone ........................... ................................................................................... cross Across A 1.. Correct (8) Correct (8) 1 6) 5.

5. Charge Charge ((6) 9.

9. Wet 8) Wet ((8) (6) 10. off growth Season o growth (6) 10. Season (5) 12. live (5) 2. Come 1 Come aalive 13.

13. Compensation Compensation for for wrong wrong (9) (9) 14.

14. Messiah (6) Messiah (6) 1 16.

Short story story (7) (7) 6. Short for 19. udas Iscariot, 9. JJudas 1 Iscariot, for example (7) example (7) 6) 21.

21. Innocence Innocence ((6) 23. writing Religious w (9) riting (9) 23. Religious in ord frequently 25.

Word fo frequently found ound in 25. W the the Psalms Psalms (5) (5) 26.

Assemble ssemble (6) (6) 26. A high p 27. priest (8) 27. A high riest (8) 28. God th the 7 28. did 7th God d id tthis his on on the day day ((6) 6) 29.

Master (8) aster of 9. M 2 of Onesimus Onesimus (8)

Last L issue’s solution ast issue’s Across: Across: 1.bible; 4.Ob 4.Obadiah; badiah; 7.one; mes; 11.Judges; 8.old; 9.James; 12.Jude; th ; 13 EEsther 13.Esther 12 J d 13.Esther; 7.Ezra; 14.Psalms; 17.Ezra; salms; 1 14.P en; 18.author 18.author;; 21.thr 21.three; 23.ten; 2 ee; 23.t 24.sea; 26.letters; 6.letters; 27.

Micah 4.sea; 2 2 27. Micah

Down Down 1.

Percussion iinstrument (6) 1. Percussion nstrument (6) an 2.. Home man the m 2 town of Home town of the who buried who b esus ((9) uried JJesus 9) (5) 3. one-tenth offering ering (5) 3. A o ffe ff ne-tenth o (7) 4. ranking worker worker (7) 4. LLow ow ranking 6 6.. N Nehemiah’s the ervice to ehemiah’s sservice to the king ((9) king 9) 7.

Bind ind ((5) 5) 7. B 8.

Number off 8. N umber killed killed by

by TTower ower o Siloam 8) Siloam ((8) 11.

1. SSubstance 1 used to to ubstance used purify (4) leanse or ccleanse or purify (4) 15.

Mediate (9) (9) 5. Mediate 1 of Rachel Rachel (9) place of 17.

(9) 17. Burial Burial place 1 18. person (8) Unknown person (8) 8. Unknown 20.

Cord ord (4) 0. C 2 (4) 21. during tthe 1. EEgyptian 2 uler during he gyptian rruler exodus (7) exodus (7) 22.

Preferred (6) 22. Preferred (6) 24.

24. Promises (5) Promises (5) 5. C 2 25.

Creature reature forbidden forbidden aass ood by food the llaw by the fo aw ((5) 5) Down: Down: 1.books; 2.lo; 2.lo; 3.end; 5.alms; 6.Hebrews; 6.Hebrews; 9. Ruth;10.Joel; 13.Ezekiel; 15 Amos; 16.

15.A i l 15.Amos; 16 Ezekkiel; 13 13.E tree;22.

LLuke; ee;22. uke; 19.Jonah; nah; 20. tr hem25. A Aii

r, Congratulations winner, t tions to ition winner competition to our last competition Congratula Mrr Ron Ron Smith from from Keith.

Keith h.

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Page P age 34

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Sister Sis S ster t r Janet JJanet’s net ettt’’s Westminster Westmins tminster stterr Blog B og Sister JJanet Sister anet FFearns earns FFMDM MDM iiss tthe he C Communications ommunications Coordinator Pontifical C oordinator for for tthe he P ontifical Mission Mission Societies.

Societies.

Y ou can can visit visit h er w ebsite, ‘‘Pause Pause for for Prayer’ Prayer ’ at at You her website, http://pauseforprayer.blogspot.com http://pauseforprayer.blogspot.com

m ission ccountries ountries ooff tthe he w orld, learning learning aabout bout tthem, hem, p raying mission world, praying ffor or tthem hem aand nd rraising aising m oney ttoo h elp them. them. IIn n recent recent yyears, ears, the the money help cchildren’s hildren’s eefforts fforts ttoo h elp oother ther cchildren hildren h ave bbeen een d irected ttoo help have directed tD Dominic’s omin nic’s school, Y Yelwa-Yauri, elwa-Y Yauri, wa was as a surprise. E cuador, T amil N adu ((India), India), G hana, Nigeria Nigeria and, and, tthis his yyear, ear, Ecuador, Tamil Nadu Ghana, IItt is onlyy a fe w minutes from the banks of U few minutes’’ walk from ganda.

Uganda. the hugee Riv er Niger, Niger, in the midst of a heavilyRiver populate l ed d to wn in i the h pr edominan d i ntly l M uslim li populated town predominantly Muslim H ow d he cchildren hildren h ere h elp tthe he cchildren hildren oover ver tthere? here?

How doo tthe here help nor th of Nigeria.

Nigeriaa. It It resembled resembled so many other oth her Catholic SSometimes north ometimes tthey hey sshow how aan n aamazing mazing d egree ooff iingenuity! ngenuity! W degree Wee primar large number of w primaryy schools insofar as it caters for a large ere aastounded stounded iin n tthe he L ondon ooffice, ffice, for for iinstance, nstance, ttoo h ear ooff were London hear ittle 8 yyear-old ear-old w ho, oon n her her oown wn initiative, initiative, h eld a oone-day ne-day who, held childr en within a comparativ ely small area. area. In In the car children comparatively caree of a llittle ponsored ssilence ilence aand nd rraised aised ££60!

60! SShe he eeven ven attended attended sschool chool D ominican Sisters, Sisteers, the 600 youngsters, youngsters, for the th he most part, part, ssponsored Dominican nd m anaged ttoo sstay tay ssilent ilent in in spite spite of of the the efforts efforts ooff h er managed her came fr om peasa ant farming families. M any of of them, ev en aand from peasant Many even c l a s s m a t e s t o m a k e h e r l a u g h o r t o s p e a k a t l e a s t o n e w o r d . classmates to make her laugh or to speak at least one word. the yyoungest, oungest, hav ve to boar d at the school duri ing the w eek have board during week because their ho ome villages ar home aree too far into the bush to SShe he w as n ot aalone. lone. Th rough the the Holy Holy Childhood, Childhood, children children in in was not Through allo w of a daily commute on foot. A largee number of allow G hana, having having little little money money themselves, themselves, successfully successfully fundfundGhana, childr en at SStt Dominic’s Dominic’s ar generaation of their children aree the first generation rraised aised aand nd p aid ffor or llife-saving ife-saving ssurgery urgery ffor or a boy boy by by the the name name ooff paid families ever ever to hav h ducation, the havee had the chance of an ed education, A mos! This This year, year, tthe he children children in in ssuch uch Amos! first to rread ead and write, the first to p laces aass tthe he Kankobe Kankobe H ome iin n places Home go to school.

U ganda, which which offers offers a h ome to to 75 75 Uganda, home oorphans rphans w hose aages ges range range bbetween etw ween 6 whose W hy w ere we we ssurprised? urprised? Fr Fr P at Why were Pat aand nd 116, 6, w ill be be well well on on tthe he w ay ttoo will way M cGuire SSMA, MA, N ational Director Director McGuire National p roviding aanti-malarial nti-malarial d rugs, a providing drugs, ooff Missio Missio SScotland, cotland, spoke spoke to to tthe he w ater pump pump aand nd m osquito nets nets oon n water mosquito cchildren hildren iin n the the fi rst classroom. classroom. ‘‘Does Does first tthe he w indows, tthanks hanks ttoo the the windows, aanybody nybody here here belong belong ttoo tthe he Holy Holy yyoungsters oungsters ooff SScotland, cotland, Ireland, Ireland, C hildhood?’ A forest forest ooff hands hands rrose ose Childhood?’

E ngland aand nd Wales.

Wales.

England iinto nto tthe he air. air. ‘Can ‘Can aanybody nybody tell tell me me Praying y g for children in Scotland tthe he m otto of of the the Holy Holy C hildhood?’ motto Childhood?’ ...... bbut ut back back to to the the cchildren hildren of of SStt W ith one one voice, voice, tthe he answer answer ccame; ame; ‘Children ‘Children h elping children!’ children!’ D With helping ominic’s sschool chool iin nY elwa-Yauri, N igeria. F Pat sspoke poke ttoo Dominic’s Yelwa-Yauri, Nigeria.

Frr Pat IItt was was tthe he ssame ame iin n eevery very cclassroom lassroom eexcept xcept ffor or tthose hose occupied occupied tthem. hem. ‘‘We We aare re h ere ttoo bbring ring you you ggreetings reetings from from the the cchildren hildren ooff here bbyy tthe he vvery ery yyoungest. oungest. W eally h ad n ot eexpected xpected to to fi nd a SScotland, Wee rreally had not find cotland, E ngland aand nd W ales.’ Suddenly Suddenly the the room room w as fi lled England Wales.’ was filled sschool chool ssoo m uch ‘in ‘in the the m iddle ooff nowhere’ nowhere’ to to be be vvery ery much much w much middle ith eeven ven bbigger igger smiles, smiles, iiff that that w ere p ossible. ‘Can ‘Can w ake with were possible. wee ttake ‘‘in in the the middle middle ooff ssomewhere’ omewhere’ aand nd ccompletely ompletely clued-in clued-in to to ttheir heir ggreetings reetings ffrom rom yyou ou ttoo tthe he cchildren hildren bback ack home?’ home?’ His His question question rresponsibilities esponsibilities as as m ini-missionaries. mini-missionaries. w as aaccompanied ccompanied bbyy vvigorous igorous n ods. was nods.

They’re T hey’re pr p praying aying ffor or S Scotland! cotland! o

S

Frr Pat McGuire McGrath, F Pat M cGuire and and JJoe oe M cGrath, rrepresenting epresenting Missio Missio Wales, SScotland cotland aand nd I, I, oon n bbehalf ehalf of of tthe he office office ffor or England England aand nd W ales, were Nigeria, projects w ere in in N igeria, vvisiting isiting some some ooff the the p rojects supported supported by by tthe he Holy cchildren hildren of of the the three three countries countries through through tthe he H oly Childhood, Childhood, Missionary oor,r, aass it it is is known known in in Scotland, Scotland, M issionary Children.

Children. IIn n England Mission Together.

Thee Holy E ngland aand nd Wales, Wales, it it is is called called M ission T ogether. Th Holy Childhood, which Mission C hildhood, w hich iiss oone ne of of the the Pontifical Pontifical M ission Societies, Societies, pastoral, ffacilitates acilitattes tthe he p astoral, eeducational ducational and and humanitarian humanitarian sservice ervice Catholic ffor or tthe he bbenefit enefit ooff cchildren hildren under under the the direction direction ooff tthe he C atholic mission m ission bbishops. ishops.

Th oly C hildhood iiss aabout bout ssharing haring prayer prayer aass w ell aass m aterial Thee H Holy Childhood well material rresources. esources. ‘‘The The cchildren hildren iin n Scotland, Scotland, England England and and Wales Wales p ray pray ffor or yyou ou u sing tthis his p rayer ((that that I h ad jjust ust distributed distributed oon na using prayer had ccolourful olourful ccard). arrd d). W ill yyou ou p ray for for tthem?’ hem?’ With With the the aabsolute bsolute Will pray ssolemnity olemnity ooff which which only only cchildren hildren aare re capable, capable, tthere here were were m ore more n ods. Th ey w ere aamazed mazed tthat hat youngsters youngsters on on the the other other sside ide of of nods.

They were tthe he w orld could could bbee praying praying for for them them in in just just the the same same way way as as world tthe he llittle ittle oones nes in in Yelwa-Yauri Yelwa-Yauri pray pray for for those those whom whom they they will will n ever h ave a chance chance to to meet meet in in person. person. never have

F rankly, for for tthe he adults, adults, it it was was a beautiful beautiful illustration illustration of of tthe he Frankly, SScotland, cotland, IIreland, reland, E ngland and and Wales Wales cconstitute onstitute a ggroup roup strength England streength ooff tthe he H oly Childhood Childhood n etwork across across the the world. world.

Holy network kknown nown aass tthe he Western Western IIsles sles and, and, each each yyear, ear, tthe he cchildren hildren of of the the ffour our ccountries ountries ffocus ocus on on ttheir heir counterparts counterparts iin n oone ne of of the the

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O OgilvieInstitute gilvieInstitute

Page P age 35

Ogilvie O gilvie Library Librarry During D uring LLent, ent, why why not take the opportunity opportun nity ffor or some spir spiritual itual reading? reading? i There There is an extensive extensivve library library in the O gilvie C entre aatt 16 Hun tlyy SStreet. treet. FFor or opening times es, tel tel 01224 638675 or visit sit Ogilvie Centre Huntly times, www.ogilvie.ac.uk w ww.o og gililv ilvi vie ie.ac .ac.uk .uk tto o br owse stock. stock. browse

TTop op ten ten resources reso ou urce ess from from tthe he O Ogilvie Ogi gilvvie ie IIns Insti nst sttiittute ute 1

Benedict X Benedict XVI, VI, JJourney ourney to to Easter: Easter: Reflections R eflfleections for for tthe he L Lenten enteen SSeason eason

6

Alive in in Christ: Christ: Making Making MisMisAlive sion Possible Possible in in Your Your Parish Parish sion DVD) (Café DVD) (Café

2

Abbot Hugh Abbot Hugh Gilbert, Gilbert, Living Living the Mystery Myster y the

7

F drian G raffy, T ake aand nd Frr A Adrian Graffy, Take R eadd - Th ospel ooff M ark Read Thee G Gospel Mark

3

ahn, Th amb’s Hahn, Thee L Lamb’s S cottt H Scott SSupper upper

8

F aiitth ooff tthe he C atholic C hurch Faith Catholic Church ((CTS) CTS)

4

CTS Be eing a Re eader aatt M ass ((CTS Being Reader Mass leaflet) leaflet)

9

eck, E urope’s SSoul oul Beck, Europe’s F shley B Frr A Ashley aand nd hher er P atron SSaints aints ((CTS) CTS) Patron

5

Raaniero Cantalamessa, Cantalamessa, Life Life in in Raniero Christ (DVD) (DVD) Christ

110 0

en O O’Rourke, ’Rourkee, A ugustine ooff Augustine B Ben H ippo ((CTS) CTS) Hippo

Have you seen th H the h O Ogilvie il i IInstitute’s tit i t ’ new website? b it i ?

J go to www.ogilvie.ac.uk Just to learn about all the great courses and workshops on offer, such aas the ‘Listening to the Word’ scripture course or the Parish Catechists’ course. You can also find out aabout forthcoming events, and you will have complete access to the Ogilvie Library.

MARYVALE M ARYVALE C COURSES OURSES OFFERED IN SC SCOTLAND OTLAND Certifi ficate ffor or P arish C atechists Certificate Parish Catechists SStudies tudie es in the C atholic C atechism m Catholic Catechism LListening List ening to to the W ord Word BA A in Applied Applied Theology Theology Diploma in EEvangelisation vangelisation and M inistry Ministry A rt B eauty & Inspiration Inspir n ation in a C atholic Perspective Perrspective Art Beauty Catholic OGIL O LVIE W ORKSHOPS OGILVIE WORKSHOPS W o kshops on Spirituality or Spirituality Workshops Workshops ffor or R eaders Workshops Readers W orkshops ffor or Auxiliary Auxiliary M inisters o oly C ommunion Workshops Ministers off H Holy Communion Workshops kh on Litur Li gy Workshops Liturgy Wor o kshops ffor or C atechists Workshops Catechists W orkshop ps on Catholic Catholic SSocial ocial TTeaching eaching each hing Workshops W orkshop ps on Catholic Catholic FFaith aith and Culture Cultur u e Workshops Workshop ps on SScottish cottish Catholic Catholic H isstory Workshops History W orkshops ffor or tr aining EEchoes choes C oordiinators Workshops training Coordinators If like further anyy of the If you you would would lik ke fur ther information on a an above courses courrses ccontact ontact the Ogilvie Ogilvie Inst titute, above Institute, 16 Huntly 1SH, Huntlly Street, Strreet, eet ABERDEEN AB10 1S SH SH, TTel el 01224 638675, 6388675, Email: dir rector@ogilviie.ac.uk director@ogilvie.ac.uk Director: Deacon Tony Schmitz Direector: D eaco on T ony S chmitzz C ourse ourses es C oorrdinator: Ma ry Nelson Nelson Courses Coordinator: Mary

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Please return this form to: SCIAF, FREEPOST GW5634, 19 Park Circus, Glasgow G3 6BR

[please tick] I want all donations I’ve made to SCIAF since 6 April 2002 and all donations I make in the future to qualify for Gift Aid until I notify you otherwise.

To qualify for Gift Aid, what you pay in income tax or capital gains tax must at least equal the amount we will claim in the tax year.

Data protection: Information will be treated in the strictest confidence. Relevant data will be recorded on our database which is used to keep you up to date with the work of SCIAF and never released to third parties for their marketing purposes. If you do not wish to receive information from us whether by post: email: or telephone: please tick the relevant box(es).

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