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Light I am the Light of the World Celebrating Celebrating g Mary’s M ary’s ‘‘Assumption’ Assumption n’ with A Abbot bbot Hugh. P Page age e 10
The Siege of The Malta M altta g gives ives ‘‘A A Little Liittle F Food ood ffor or T Thought’ hought’. Page P age e 26
Issue 11, S ummer, ummer,2009 2009 David David Meiklejohn M eiklejohn asks wh whyy Catholics C atholics can’t can’n n’t t ’t sing! s P Page12 age12 2
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SrSr Moira M Moira M oiroir aa Donnely Donnely onon the the rroad oad rroad oad tto oto to Corrymeela. C orr Corrymeela. C orr ymeela. ymeela. Page P age Page P age 3131
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up front
Light of the North
The front cover this issue features a detail of the painting “The Virgin at Prayer” by the Italian painter Gionanni Battista Salva da Sassoferrato (1609 – 1685), (often referred to only by the town of his birthplace Sassoferrato).
Sassoferrato was apprenticed under his father, the painter Tarquinio Salvi. It is thought that the rest of his training took place in Rome under the Bolognese master, Domenichino Zampieri (1581-1641), a main apprentice of Annibale Carracci (1560-1609). The “Virgin at Prayer” is one of at least four versions of a similar design and theme created by Sassoferrato. This version is in the National Gallery in London. The work was executed between 1640 and 1650 at a time when a new direction and approach to religious art was evolving. The flaccid forms and narrative confusion of late Mannerism were giving way to a new style which combined simple subject matter, unidealised naturalism, uncomplicated iconography and a direct emotional appeal combined with Caravaggio’s (1571-1610) strong chiaroscuro ( the balance of light and dark in a picture and the skill
shown by the artist in the management of shadows), Raphael’s strong clarity of composition, balance and harmony and Annibale Carracci’s directness of meaning and imagery. A characteristic of this new style was its aim to act on the emotions of the viewer inviting them to participate in the feelings of the characters. Its blend of illusionism, light, colour and movement is calculated to overwhelm the viewer by a direct emotional appeal. Thus we see in Sassoferrato’s “The Virgin at Prayer” an artist who is responding to real life in a monumental fashion. The subject matter is simple, the style is naturalistic and yet the image is powerful and timeless. We see a real person quietly, inwardly reflecting; there are no other people or objects to distract our attention. Sassoferrato places emphasis on the softly flowing, modelled draperies, the white veil and brilliant blue cloak, painted in ultramarine. The face remains partly hidden, largely in shadow, the eyes cast down. This has the effect of highlighting the hands joined together simply and sensitively in prayer. Sassoferrato presents us with the essence of prayer. By focusing on the praying hands and bringing them right up to the picture plane the viewer is invited to become directly involved with Mary in her prayer.
Jimmy and Margaret celebrate diamond anniversary
Jimmy and Margaret Mooney of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Banff are presented with a ‘Papal Blessing’ by Bishop John Jukes to mark their diamond wedding anniversary. (Photographer: Bill Bain)
Light of the North
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contents
deaneries 4
witness
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liturgy 11
educationandformation 14
faithinaction 20
faithandculture 22
crossword
From very early times August 15th has been observed as the “birthday� of our Blessed Lady. On this greatest of all Marian feasts we celebrate the greatest moment of her life – being permanently re-united with her son and sharing his glory.
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humour 34
Westminster 35
OgilvieInstitute 36
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
However, sometimes the religious imagery which is associated with the Assumption, in particular those wonderful paintings of the Virgin being taken up to heaven surrounded by ranks of swirling angels, can seem to distance us from the reality of Mary’s absolutely ordinary humanity. After all, when was the last time you saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars? The point of the incarnation was, after all, that God takes on the fullness of our humanity, warts and all and Mary places humanity right at the heart of our salvation, for without her the Christ of God would be merely another supernatural being as unconnected to the human condition as some comic book super hero. Saint Paul says that “all will come to life again, but each one in proper order� (I Cor 15:23). Christ, of course, blazes the resurrection trail but who is to be first among his disciples? The one who is last is first, the Lord’s humble handmaid who did no more than say yes, and kept saying yes, and whose soul magnified not herself, but the Lord. The Assumption then is that moment when the promises became real for one member of the mystical body of Christ and a reminder and assurance that we too are heirs of that same promise. To celebrate this great feast why not take the time to read Abbot Hugh Gilbert’s insightful article on the Assumption. We also have three new series starting in this issue: Margaret Bradley, a parishioner of Trinity Church, Westhill, combines cookery with a little bit of food for thought in a new column. For this issue she recounts the harrowing story of the siege of Malta and its subsequent relief on 15th August, 1942. David Meiklejohn, conductor of the Aberdeen Diocesan Choir, takes his life in his hands and begins a controversial enquiry into why Catholics can’t or won’t sing! Also, Fr Bernard O’Connor, one of our regular contributors has become our eyes and ears in the Holy See in ‘Vatican Brief’. Happy Holy Day Cowan
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News f ro m t he D e a ne rie s
Bringing about a buzz in Brora!
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happy group of parishioners from Brora and Dornoch accompanied their Parish Priest to Aberdeen on Wednesday, 24th June. Father Benedict Seed was to be installed as a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. Canon Benedict (74) was a pupil at Fort Augustus Abbey school. He became a monk of that community in 1950, and after graduating at St Andrews University, taught science subjects at “the Fort”, and later became headmaster there. At weekends he supplied in Dornie, and later in Brora. When the Abbey school closed and the Benedictine community was dispersed, he was one of two monks who obtained dispensation from their monastic vows and became priests of the Diocese of Aberdeen. For the
past ten years he has been Parish Priest of Brora, an enormous parish which covers the entire former county of Sutherland and includes Dornoch on the East coast and Lochinver and
Kinlochbervie on the West. Canon Benedict is a keen bee-keeper, an interest which makes him a member of a different kind of dedicated community !
Reception to celebrate the ‘Good News’
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ishop Peter Moran hosted a reception at the Bishop’s House in Aberdeen for those from St Mary’s and St Columba’s Deaneries who were received into the Church at Easter.
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June Pilgrimage to Pluscarden Abbey
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aint Columba’s parishioners in Banchory have been supporting the Sacred Heart Deaf Unit at Ikelenge in Zambia for over six years, following their introduction to the school by Fr Max McKeown. In June 2007, a group of four parishioners from St Columba’s, along with Fr Max, paid a visit to Ikelenge, which is in the far northwest of Zambia near the border with Angola and Congo. There they met Sisters Regina, Rajamani, Udhaya and Josephine. This summer, Rose Cassidy and Michelle McLoughlin spent 6 weeks with the unit, representing St Columba’s parish and helping with the running of the school. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to develop our relationship with the sisters and children at Ikelenge.
St Columba’s support Sacred Heat Deaf Unit
deaneries d eaneries
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Diocesan D i o ce s a n C Choir hoir tto o ssing ing a att N Notre otre Dame Dame
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he A he Aberdeen berdeen D Diocesan iocesan Choir is delighted d to announce that it has been invited too sing at the world famous Notre Notr o e Dame Dame Cathedral, Paris Paris on the 28th September. September. well as givingg a 30-minute recital recital at thiss pr estigious As well prestigious venue the choir will also be presenting presenting a concert cooncert at the venue Kirk in Paris, Paris, a which will raise mone ey for M arie Scots Kirk money Marie Curie Cancer Care. Caare. Curie interdenominational choirr includes a The visit of thiss interdenominational private tour and blessing at the Basilica Basilica of Sacré Sacré Coeur private reception at a the British British Embassy. Embassyy. The programme programme and a reception Notre Dame Dame includes in ncludes the music of Bach, Bach, Schubert S Schuber t and at Notre Elgar as well well as a setting of the Agnus Dei Dei e by by David David Leith, will accompany Elgar accompany the choir on their visit to Paris. Paris. Meiklejohn, the choir’s choir’s conductor, conductor, commissioned commissiioned by by the Meiklejohn, Revv. Mario Mariio Conti to mark mark his silver silver e jubilee as If Right Rev. If you you would like to contribute to this important imp portant event event or Bishop of Aberdeen Aberdeeen in 2001. Their regular regular accompanist, a Bishop more contact: secretary@aberdeendiocesanchoir. secretary@aberdeeendiocesanchoir. find out more St M ary’s Cathedral, Cathedral A berdeen, een R onald and organist of St Mary’s Aberdeen, Ronald
Online O nline llearning earning p provision rovision for for Catholic Catholic RE RE
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n online learning site for Catholi Catholic ic R Religious eligious H Highlands, ighlands, Moray Moray & N Northern orthern Isles Isles to be b released released for 1 om their RME classes to un ndertake RCRE RCRE from undertake Education has been established under the auspices term fr Education courses. of A berdeen Cityy Council. Aberdeen O nce issued with h a user-name user name and a passwor rd pupils are are Once password able to log ontoo the ‘‘moodle moodle site’ site’ and undertake und dertake their R CRE classes. U sually this takes place in n the school RCRE Usually librar p equire teacherr super vision libraryy and the pupils do not rrequire supervision as their wor n be monitor ed online from from m the R CRE workk can monitored RCRE base (or, (or, indeed, anywher anywheree that the teacher has internet access). This monitoring moonitoring displays the work work with which the pupils are are engaged en ngaged and their rate of progress. progr o ess. Both pupil(s) and teacher teach her can email each other if any an ny difficulties ar encountered. d These Th online li encounters are are also l blended bl d d aree encountered. with face-to-facee meetings at which topics of a deeper and mor concep ptual nature nature are are discussed. moree conceptual A typical piece of o work work may see a pupil(s) read read a chapter fr om a book and then undertake undertake a series of quizzes qu uizzes to test from their comprehension comprehen nsion (cr ossword, matching-up matching-u up exercises, exercises, (crossword, etc.) Their work work is marked marked automatically and a this has been an aid to pu upil motiv ation. pupil motivation. IItt is now now possi ible to envisage this blend ded learning learning possible blended appr oach being extended e across the Diocese Diocese of o Aberdeen. Aberdeen. approach across IItt should be feas sible for Catholic pupils in n some nonfeasible denominational secondar ber b deenshire, secondaryy schools in A Aberdeenshire,
IIff you’d you’d like to t experience the site at first hand a menu of secondar sch hool courses (S1-S4) are are available avaiilable to view view at secondaryy school www w.abernet.org.uk/r .abernet.org.uk/r g cremoodle (use gue est access). www.abernet.org.uk/rcremoodle guest F or fur ther in nformation contact Antony Luby Luby at: lub y@ For further information luby@ stjosephsprim j p p mary.aberdeen.sch.uk or phone: p stjosephsprimary.aberdeen.sch.uk 07736 083143
Newman Extravagaza As we eagerly await the long anticipated anouncement of the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman, the Aberdeen Circle of the Newman Association is planning a ‘Newman Extravaganza’ for its first meeting of the 2009-10 season on Thursday, October 1st. Newman was way ahead of his time in his desire that the laity should be informed and involved in the Church. This will be a largely informal evening, with illustrated information about Newman himself and the Association named after him. Free refreshments, including wine, will be provided. For further information see posters and bulletins later.
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Pluscarden’s P lusca arden’s Brr D Dunstan unstan tto o be or ordained da ained
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t Pluscarden Pluscarden A Abbey b bbey on the 20th August August B ishop p Peter Peter Moran Moran will ordain ordain to the Bishop ervice of his B enedictine priesthood for the se service Benedictine monastic community y, B Dunstan Robertson Robertson community, Brr Dunstan OSB.
in n public rrelations elations in London. London n.
IIn n addition to the usual round rou und of monastic ta asks, oover ver the yyears ears he has be en asked to help tasks, been co o-ordinate the community co-ordinate community’s’s kitchen, shop shop,, d domestic an nd also served served in tasks, and liturgy and he small H ead Office in Rome Rome of his the Head From Hertfordshire now F rom H ertfordshire and a no w in his mid 40s, th enedictine Congregation. Congregation. The Th community Benedictine B unstan has been n a monk since his mid B Brr D Dunstan sks for yyour our prayers. prayers. 20s, entering after a histor ee at aasks historyy degr degree E dinburgh U niversitty and a period wor king Edinburgh University working
Blairs b Blairs bag ag tthe he ‘Bishop’s ‘Bishop p’s Golden Golden JJubilee ubilee Trophy’ Trophy ’
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his yyear ear the there ere was a new new tr trophy ophy to play fo or at the A berdeen for Aberdeen Diocesan Golf Outing Duff D iocesan G olf O uting held at D uff H ouse R oyal, B an nff. House Royal, Banff. “Bishop’s Golden Golf The “B ishop’s G olden JJubilee ubilee G olf T rophyy” was per rsonally donated by by Trophy” personally B Bishop ishop P Peter eter M Moran. oran. IItt mar marks ks the occasion of his G olden JJubilee ubilee of Golden O Ordination rdination to thee P Priesthood riesthood and was pr esented to this yyear’s ear’s winning team presented fr om B lairs P arish h. from Blairs Parish.
Symposium S ymp posium on nS Scottish cottish h Sacred Sacred Music M
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theree will be a concert evenin ng ther concert in i which music rom Tuesday rom Tuesd uesday day 1st to Thursday 3rd 3rd SSeptember eptember Each evening from period performed. om the peri iod discussed that day will bbe per formed. Pluscarden P luscarden Abbey Abbey will host a SSymposium ympossium on the fr subject of Scott Scottish ish SSacred acred M Music. usic. The sub sub-title b-title of the Att the final evening A evening concert, concert, the Glasgow-based Glasgoow-based Choir Towards New SSymposium ymposium is: T owards a N ew Narrative. Narrative. perform Scottish Voices Voice oices es will per form a range off contemporary contemporary sacrred music. After an interval interval a the composer Attendance A ttendance is open op pen to all, and fr free ee of cha charge, arge, though Scottish sacred James MacMillan MacM Millan will illustrate and comment comm ment on his own own participants aree asked par ticipants ar a to make a donation too help cover cover James music. catering expenses expenses. s.
experts present Each day leadingg exper ts in the field will pr p esent talks, co veringg the who ole range g of Scottish SSacred acred M usic fr om covering whole Music from mediaeval the mediaev al too the modern period, rrepresenting epresenting e the traditions of all the Chur Churches, ches, using the languages l of Latin, Scots, G Gaelic Theree will be aeelic and English. English. Ther b space also for questions, discussion d and contribution contributions ns fr from om the floor. floor.
All are are asked to register register their place at thee Symposium Symposium in advance advance either eitheer by by wayy of the Pluscarden Pluscarden web web site at: www.pluscardenabbey.org www w.pluscardenabbey d y.org or bbyy post to: The Pluscarden Music Pluscarden Pluscarden d M usic SSymposium, ymposium, P lu uscarden Abbey, Abbeyy, Elgin Elgin IV30 8UA. 8UA. 8U
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Pope Benedict’s latest encyclical On Tuesday 7th July 2009 Pope Benedict XVI published his Encyclical Letter, Caritas in Veritate – “Love in Truth”. Bishop Peter Moran, Bishop-President of the Scottish Bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission, gives a flavour of this latest Papal teaching.
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ust over forty years since Pope Paul VI’s The Progress of Peoples (1967) and twenty years since Pope John Paul II’s Concern for the Social Order (1987), our present Pope addresses the principles and the challenges of genuinely human development in a rapidly changing world. Truth means much more than correct statements – it means each of us realising our own truth, that is, who and what we are within God’s plan. Love means more than being nice to some people – it is God’s love for us applied to public as well as private relationships, to Development without values is sterile; but fear of development indicates a lack of trust in God’s plan for us. global systems as well as day-to-day behaviour. “The ardour of love and the wisdom of truth” can work together for genuine human progress. These principles underlie two main criteria of the Church’s social doctrine, (1) Justice, and (2) the Common Good. (1) Love, of course, goes beyond justice, but must first see justice done. (2) Aiming for the Common Good protects each individual but calls upon each individual to play his or her part: in a Christian vision, striving for the Common Good builds the City of God already in this life.
Life ethics and social ethics are closely linked – hence the place of Humanae Vitae and Evangelium Vitae in this forty-year story.
Merely technical or organizational development is not truly human progress. Problems such as globalization (e.g. outsourcing products at the cheapest cost), mobility of labour and deregulation, the down-sizing of social security systems, terrorism, religious indifference, the persistence of widespread hunger and poverty which is effectively disrespect for life – all these challenges cry out for the broader, faith-enriched, In a context of continual development, the Church’s teaching Christian response. also develops – not by any abrupt break or change, but dynamically. The Progress of Peoples was clearly linked to Vatican Works of justice, peace and development are in fact part and Two’s Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) with its message that the parcel of offering Love in Truth – evangelisation, bringing the Church is in the world and at the service of the world, providing, Gospel message to the world. as it were, a soul for the world. It is not enough to set up systems and institutions – there must be a “free assumption by + Peter A. Moran everyone, in solidarity, of responsibility” for genuine The new encyclical is available at the Ogilvie Centre development.
October mission for Deacon Vincent Missio Scotland is preparing the Church for the Mission Month of October. The high point of the month is Mission Sunday 18th October. On that day every parish in the world is invited to share what they can to help the growth and development of the new Church in
mission areas. Each diocese in Scotland has a Diocesan Mission Director who plays a vital role in the work of Missio Scotland. The Director for Aberdeen Diocese is Rev. Deacon Vincent McQuaid of St. Sylvester’s Parish, Elgin.
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witness w itne itn tnes ess ss
a Page P age 9
The T Th he Fa Famous F a am mous Fi F Five ive ve o on nA Ad Adventure dve ve en nturre e Is IIsland sslla an nd ! JJoyce oyce D Davies avies
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veryday veryday ay life can be busy and taking takking time to rreflect eflect on who God God wants us to be is i something w neeed to remind remind ourselves ourselves to do. doo. When we we wee need do so, the gifts w anted ar wee take for gra granted aree so evident it seems strange s that w beeen constantly wee hav havee not been awar Th wonder ful gifts the H olyy Spirit Spirit gives gives awaree of them. The wonderful Holy each and ev ery one o of us every every single g dayy of our lives lives are are every ther are conscious of them or not. n theree whether w wee are I hav eading F inding Calcutta bbyy M ary P oplin havee just been rreading Finding Mary Poplin (published bbyy V eritas e F orum Books in 2008). 2008)). The writer Veritas Forum tells of a journeyy she took as a vvolunteer olunteer in Calcutta C and the rrealizations ealizations that t occurr ed about herself and her life. occurred SShe he writes hones stly and po werfully and l found fou und her book honestly powerfully impossible to pu ut do wn until l had rread ead it co over to cover. cover. put down cover W alking alongsid de her on her journey thr ouggh the pages Walking alongside through meant I could sh hare her journey and her jo ys but also feel share joys JJoyce oyce D Davies avies and her thr three ree girls her sadness and fr ustrations. IItt was not an easy e journey frustrations. for M ary P oplin n but looking at the world thr ough her D Mary Poplin through avid and l w ere beginning to worr David were worryy when out of ey es allo wed m mirror and see see my own own no eyes allowed mee to take a mirror where cam me a stranger in an old minib bus who hur tled nowhere came minibus hurtled journey y. journey. to wards us. T rying not to judge bbyy appearances, a w towards Trying wee listened as hee called out, “D “Daa plane is nae cumin; the mist A little journey w ear did not take is too bad wee took as a family last yyear bad”” W Wee felt numb and frightened but tried not to us as far away as Calcutta but it took my hus band D avid sho husband David w it. Whe ere w ere w where to stay y. show Where were wee to go? Ther Theree was no nowhere stay. and me as w ell as a our three three children children to a strange strange place W well a the little chur ch w ad spent time in Wee thought about church wee ha had wher me so awar God was llooking ooking after that day; it was wheree w wee becam became awaree that God w the only open building. A Att least w wee would us, just as he loo oked after the author of thiss book when be warm; w looked d just hav wee had plenty of food; it would havee to be she was a strang ger in a for eign land. stranger foreign an adv enture for us. adventure W live on the beautiful b Shetland lsles and ssince ince mo ving Wee live Shetland moving her ver four yyears e ago w ears viisit each and heree oover wee hav havee set out to visit ev ery island, of which w ther y. Each is unique in every theree ar arcc many many. character dscape, in the lives lives that people peoople liv e. F or character,, in land landscape, live. For example. l w l one morning and d headed h d d for f wee set out early D ingwall airpor oula.. F oula is a Dingwall airportt to catch a flight to F Foula. Foula rremote emote island wi ith a tiny population (ar ound d 20) on the with (around w est coast. west W lovely day exploring the island, a picnic p lunch Wee had a lovely and lots of fun. IIn n late afternoon we we headed d for the tiny airstrip to wait fo or the plane which was to tak ke us back to for take mainland SShetland. hetlaand. When w there, th he mist had wee got there, the come do wn, it had got colder and w ere looking down, wee w were for ward to the sig ght of the plane in the sky and d anticipating forward sight its landing. O urr three three girls w ere getting cold c and w Our were wee chatted about ho w we we w ere like the Famous Famous F ive how were Five mar ooned on a h huge adv enture. marooned adventure.
The stranger however however had other ideas an nd someho ww and somehow wee felt w ust him. H wee could tr trust Hee took us in his minibus and w wee arriv ed in a fe w moments at some old co ottages. W ent arrived few cottages. Wee w went into one wh here he busilyy set about gget ttingg sheets and where getting quilts, then food fo and drink. H is hospitali ity was amazing. His hospitality H out lots of things and made us feel safe and Hee joked abo about car ed tor en picked fr esh vvegetables egettables fr om his cared tor.. W Wee ev even fresh from allotment an nd our girls were were soon playing pllaying with his and grandson wh ho was visiting him from from thee mainland. We We who fell asleep qu uickly that night and in the morning awoke quickly to the sound of br eakfast arriving in our cottage. c H breakfast Hee told us not to wor rry if the plane didn`t mana age for he would worry manage take us on the th he ferry ferry back to the mainland. nd H nd. Hee was also o the ferry. ferry. I tell you you this story s y as in these stor the skipper of current timess it is har d to tr ust a strange r. As par ents w current hard trust stranger. parents wee are always thinking th hinking about pr otecting ou ur childr en and are protecting our children ngers that surr ound them. about the dangers surround
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This man however reminded us of the words of St very different places. Both of us strangers in strange lands. Both of us in need. Both of us taking time to listen to God. Matthew: Both of us so aware of how God walks besides us on our “for I was hungry and you gave me food; journeys through life. I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in.” I am sure that in reading this you may be reminded of a day There is something magical about this little island: the light, when you were “lost” and in need of a stranger`s help. the scenery, the animals, and the pace of life. It is truly a Mother Teresa treated every person she met as a wounded Christ. She took every opportunity to care for them and place that allows reflection; in fact it demands it of you! meet their needs. Strangers can be so near to us even in the How often in our cities and towns do we walk past the streets where we live or on the pews where we worship. displaced, the homeless, the stranger in need’! Here we were, in a place with less than twenty inhabitants and all our needs This summer we hope to visit the last couple of islands on were taken care of. The Holy Spirit brought us an unlikely our list. l’m sure we will have more adventures and will be looking “angel” but an “angeI” just the same. Someone in able to store more happy memories for our future. The the words of Mother Teresa was “doing something beautiful Foula trip, however, will always be a very special memory for me. Being reminded to trust in God, believing in the for God”. goodness in human beings, seeing the wonder of God`s In the church garden we met the sheep and her lamb, creation in peaceful isolation and seeing the sheer joy on the keeping close together and keeping safe too, out of the wind, faces of my children as we tucked them into bed that night. in a place with plenty of green grass. The “mothering” by the Being thankful for a roof over our heads and food in our sheep of her lamb was beautiful to see. I could understand stomachs. Being reminded of the simplicity of life and what her wish to protect her lamb when I was faced with the our actual needs are. Being reminded of the importance of possibility of nowhere to take my children for the night. The “family”`. For all of that I am grateful to Foula, to my family, “mothering” of our whole family was carried out by this to the stranger and to God who lives in all of them. male stranger on behalf of God. Of that I am in no doubt. I look back at that time on Foula with wonderful memories Joyce Davies is a parishioner of St Margaret’s and the just as Mary Poplin looks back at her time in Calcutta. Two Sacred Heart, Lerwick, Shetland Isles.
SCIAF Appeals for Parish Contacts SCIAF is aiming to have a parish contact in every church across Scotland to help create a better future for communities in some of the poorest countries in the world. If you have any spare time you can play your part by putting up posters, distributing leaflets, holding fundraising events, and raising awareness of SCIAF’s work in your own parish. Most parish contacts help their parish priest promote and organise activities for SCIAF’s major annual fundraising drive during Lent but there is work to do all year round. For Lent SCIAF provides beautiful Lenten packs to its parish contacts which are full of all the necessary resources and materials you need, such as special prayer booklets, ideas for fundraising, leaflets, and much more. SCIAF staff, volunteers and ambassadors are happy to give talks and presentations to parish groups – you just need to get in touch. Peter McMillan of SCIAF said: “Everyone can make a difference and help SCIAF in its work to reduce poverty in poor countries. We find many parish priests also really appreciate someone else taking on the task or at least being ready to help out with highlighting SCIAF’s work and
running fundraising activities. “Our parish contacts also act as the first point of contact for any SCIAF enquiries from people within their communities and they play a key role informing their fellow parishioners about the latest SCIAF campaigns, appeals and distributing Lent packs. “Anyone who is interested in becoming a parish contact can adapt this role to suit their needs and the needs of their parish. We are very grateful for any help we receive which can benefit the many thousands of people we assist in poor countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.” One hundred volunteer parish contacts have already signed up but SCIAF needs many more as it would ideally like to have a SCIAF parish contact in every one of the four hundred parishes in Scotland. If you have any spare time and would like to be a SCIAF parish contact and help make a real difference to the lives of people living in poverty around the world SCIAF would love to hear from you. Contact Peter McMillan on tel: 0141 354 5555 or email: pmcmillan@sciaf.org.uk.
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h undred yyears ears old, old, which which hung hung in in a ruined r uined B enedictine hundred Benedictine cchapel hapel outside outside Assisi. Assisi. Through Through it it the the Lord Lord spoke spoke ttoo a yyoung oung man man called called Francis, Francis, “Go “Go and and rebuild rebuild my my C hurch”. On On the the cross cross there there hangs hangs – or or rrather ather sstands tands Church”. – C hrist, a vvictor ictor in in suffering, suffering, a vvictor ictor oover ver ssin in first first Christ, aand nd d eath subsequently; subsequently; conqueror conqueror ooff ssin in on on tthe he ccross ro s s death bbyy his his love love to to the the end, end, conqueror conqueror of of death death by by his his rresurrection. esurrection. At At the the four four corners, corners, angels angels ––guardians guardians ooff tthe he cosmos cosmos – h old the the cross cross up, up, showing showing iit. t. It’s It’s to to say say hold tthat hat by by the the cross cross and and resurrection resurrection of of Christ, Christ, tthe he oorder rd e r ((or or d isorder) ooff tthe he ffallen allen world world has has bbeen een replaced replaced bbyy disorder) aanother: nother: that that the the four-cornered four-cornered world world n ow h as another another now has ffuture, uture, the the one one God’s God’s wisdom wisdom and and love love originally originally iintended. ntended. ““He He has has shown shown the the power power of of his his aarm, rm, he he h as rrouted outed has tthe he proud proud .... .. he he has has pulled pulled down down princes princes ... ... h as hee h has eexalted xalted the the lowly.” lowly.” Th ere iiss another another way way of of looking looking aatt tthings hings tthan han tthe he There w orld’s way. way. There There is is ssomething omething else else ttoo bbee seen. seen. C hrist world’s Christ h as been been raised raised from from the the dead dead by by the the p ower ooff the the has power F ather’s arm, arm, exalting exalting the the lowly. lowly. And And today today the the Risen Risen Father’s O ne raises raises his his mother mother body body and and soul soul ttoo tthe he gglory lor y ooff One h eaven, by by the the power power of of his his arm, arm, exalting exalting the the lowly. lowly. It It heaven, iiss aanother nother sign sign of of tthe he world’s world’s renewal, renewal, the the sign sign ooff M ar y: Mary: ssin in cconquered onquered in in her her from from the the first first m oment ooff h er moment her eexistence, xistence, death death conquered conquered in in her her aatt the the end end of of her her eearthly arthly life. life. “Now “Now a great great sign sign appeared appeared in in h e a ve n : a heaven: w oman adorned adorned with with the the sun, sun, standing standing on on tthe he m oon, woman moon, Abbot Ab bot H Hugh ugh G Gilbert ilber t O O.S.B. .S.B. aand nd with with the the twelve twelve stars stars on on her her head head for for a crown” crown” ((Apoc Apoc 12:1). 12:1). G od is is aatt w ork, conquering conquering ssin, in, God work, cconquering onquering death death – at at work work from from tthe he cross cross – and and ““all all ““He He h has as sshown hown tthe he p power ower of of his his aarm, rm, he he h has as rrouted outed tthe he w ill be be brought brought to to life life in in Christ, Christ, but but all all iin n ttheir heir proper p ro p e r will p roud ooff heart. hear t. H as p ulled d ow n p rinces ffrom rom ttheir heir oorder: proud Hee h has pulled down princes rd e r : C hrist as as the the first-fruits”, first-fruits”, then then today today M ar y, Christ Mary, tthrones hrones aand nd eexalted xalted tthe he llowly” owly” ((Lk Lk 11:51-52). :51-52). V irgin and and Mother, Mother, “then “then after after the the coming coming of of Christ, Christ, Virgin tthose hose who who bbelong elong to to him” him” (1 (1 C or 115:23). 5:23). Cor aary r y ssang ang tthese hese words w o rd s – h her er battle-song battle-song – in in ffront ront of of E lizabeth sshortly hortly after after ““He Elizabeth He has has shown shown the the power power of of his his arm, arm, he he has has routed routed tthe he cconceiving onceiving h er child, child, the the Messiah. Messiah. The The p her roud .... .. h has pulled pulled down down princes princes .... .. h has exalted exalted proud hee has hee has lliturgy iturgy iimagines magines h er ssinging inging tthem hem aagain gain tthe her he llowly.” owly.” ttoday oday w hen, m any ssorrowful orrowful aand nd gglorious lorious mysteries mysteries when, many llater, ater, sshe he iiss ttaken aken u p body body and and ssoul oul iinto nto heaven; heaven; taken taken up The w orld ttoo all all appearances appearances goes goes oon, n, tthe he p roud aand nd The world proud u p to to bbee rreunited eunited w ith her her rrisen isen and and ascended ascended Son. So n . up with tthe he princes. princes. But But ever ever since since E a s t e r n i g h t , i t h a s b e en Easter night, it has been T oday w are ccelebrating elebrating the the aassumption ssumption iinto nto h e a ve n Today wee are heaven undermined, ffatally atally u ndermined, m or tally w ounded. undermined, undermined, mortally wounded. ooff tthe he B lessed Vi V irgin Mary, Mar y, m other of of Jesus Jesus Christ. Christ. Blessed Virgin mother Mar y’s Magnificat Magnificat rruns uns tthrough hrough history histor y n ow llike ike a Mary’s now hidden m elody, aaudible udible only only to to tthe he eears ars ooff ffaith, aith, bbut ut hidden melody, ““He He h as sshown hown the the power power ooff his his arm, arm, he he has has routed routed the the has unforgettable oonce nce h eard and and iinfinitely nfinitely m ore rresonant esonant unforgettable heard more p roud .... .. h has pulled pulled down down princes princes ... ... he he h as eexalted xalted proud hee has has than tthe he cchatter hatter of of the the w orld oorr tthe he cclatter latter ooff tthe he than world tthe he llowly.” owly.” Dragon aand nd h is falling falling stars. stars. Dragon his
ASSUMED A SSUMED SSUM MED INT INTO TO HEA HEAVEN AVEN V
M
Th ways ooff G od aare re n ot oour ur w ays. Mercifully, Mercifully, they they are a re Thee ways God not ways. “He has has shown shown tthe he p ower of of his his aarm rm .... .. H has exalted exalted “He power Hee has ffar ar more more wonderful. wonderful. Over Over our our aaltar ltar hangs hangs a n ew new the lowly.” lowly.” the ccrucifix. rucifix. IIt’s t’s a reproduction reproduction of of oone, ne, p erhaps nine nine perhaps
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God’s ways are not our ways. How extraordinary that God should exalt today a woman, and, not just in her immortal soul, but in her mortal body. “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing, with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you” (Gen 3:16). So said the Lord to Eve after sin. The body of a woman, the setting of life for every one of us, man or woman, but the object, God knows, of how much violence, how much humiliation. “He has shown the power of his arm.”
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he has given us too the pledge of his mother’s Assumption, Easter in August, additional hope of eternal life: the woman as well as the man, the handmaid as well as the Lord, the Church as well as Christ, creation as well as the Creator. “He has shown the power of his arm ... he has exalted the lowly.” And Mary’s song becomes ours too: not in beatific vision and ultimate embrace, but in faith and hope. Hope especially, today. Christian hope in “the power of his arm”, hope of grace and hope of glory. Hope, the poet’s [Charles Péguy] little girl, skipping on ahead, irrepressible. Christian hope, that little, powerful thing, overlooked by the proud and the princes. Hope that sustains in illness or trauma. Hope that helped scattered Europe re-gather after World War II. Hope that helped demolish the Wall and the Curtain in 1989. Hope that keeps us praying. Hope that knows that Easter has happened in Jesus, happened in Mary, and is waiting for us as well. In the words of a great British soldier’s battle-song [Field-Marshall Wavell]:
Today we are shown that even that wound can be healed, that humiliation redressed. “Because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid. Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48). And more even than that. The liturgy sees the angels – guardians of the cosmos – holding up Mary as she ascends, as they hold up the cross. Today the whole Church – that woman, that body, giving life out of humiliation; today the whole world is given assurance of final, overwhelming glory: the victory of good over evil, truth over lies, beauty over horror. Our Lord could have left us only with the pledge of his own “For all that loveliness, that warmth, that light, resurrection, Easter in April, hope of eternal life. But Blessed Madonna, I go back to fight.” IItt iiss reported reported that that the the following following portion portion of of the the Book Book o off Genesis Genesis was was d discovered iscovered aamong mong the the Dead Dead Sea Sea Scrolls. Scrolls. llff authentic authentic it it would would shed shed llight ight on on the the question, question, “Where “Where do do pets pets come come from?” from?” A nd A dam ssaid, aid, ““Lord, Lord, when when I was was in in the the garden, garden, you you And Adam walked walked with with me me everyday. everyday. N ev Now ow I do do not not see see yyou ou anymore. anymore. I am llonely onely here here aand nd it it iiss difficult difficult ffor or me me to to remember remember h ow am how much yyou ou llove ove me. me. “ much And A nd God God said, said, ““Don’t Don’t worry worry I will will ccreate reate a companion companion ffor or you who who will will be be w ith yyou ou and and w ho w ill be be a reflection reflection of of my my you with who will love for for you, you, so so that that you you will will k now I love love yyou, ou, eeven ven when when you you love know cannot see see me. me. Regardless Regarrd dless of of h ow sselfish elfish and and churlish churlish and and cannot how unlovable yyou ou may may be, be, this this new new companion companion will will accept accept you you as as unlovable you you are are aand nd w will ill love love yyou ou aass I do, do, iin n sspite pite o off yyourself.” ourself.” And God God created created a new new animal animal to to be be a companion companion for for And Adam. And And tthe he n ew animal animal was was pleased pleased tto o be be with with A dam and and Adam. new Adam he he wagged wagged h his is tail. tail. A nd Adam Adam said, said, “But “But Lord, Lord, I have have already already named named all all the the And animals iin n the the K ingdom aand nd all all the the good good names names are are taken taken and and animals Kingdom I ccannot annot think think of of a name name for for this this new new aanimal.” nimal.” A nd G od said said “Because “Because I have have created created this this new new animal animal to to And God
b ecollection o my love love for for you, you, his his name name will will h bee a rrecollection off my hee a rreflection eflection of of my my o wn name name and and you you will will call call him him “DOG.” “DOG.” own And Dog was A nd D og lived lived with with Adam Adam and and w as a companion companion to to him him aand nd loved loved h him. im. A And nd A Adam dam w was as ccomforted. omforted. A And nd G God od was was p leased. A nd Dog Dog was was content content and and wagged wagged his his tail. tail. pleased. And After while, A fter a w hile, it it came came to to pass pass that that Adam’s Adam’s guardian guardian angel angel ccame ame tto o tthe he Lord Lord aand nd said, said, “Lord, “Lord, Adam Adam has has become become filled filled w with ith p pride. ride. H Hee struts struts and and preens preens like like a peacock peacock and and believes believes h hee is is worthy worthy o off adoration. adoration. Dog Dog has has indeed indeed taught taught him him that that hee is h is loved loved but but no no one one has has taught taught him him humility. humility. “ And A nd tthe he Lord Lord ssaid, aid, “ I will will create create for for him him a companion companion w who ho will will be be with with him him forever forever and and who who will will see see him him as as he he is. is. Thee ccompanion him off his hee Th ompanion will will remind remind h im o his humiliation, humiliation, sso oh w will ill know know tthat hat he he is is not not worthy worthy of of adoration. adoration. “ A And nd God God created created CAT CAT tto o he he a ccompanion ompanion to to A Adam. dam. And And C at would would not not obey obey Adam. Adam. And And when when Adam Adam gazed gazed into into Cat C at’s eeyes, yes, he he was was reminded reminded that that he he was was not not the the Supreme Supreme Cat’s B Being. eing. And And A Adam dam learned learned humility. humility. And And God God was was pleased. pleased. A nd Adam Adam w as greatly greatly improved. improved. And was A nd Cat Cat d id not not care, care, one one way way or or the the other. other. And did
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contains some hard-hitting messages not confined to church musicians. He explores the position prior to Vatican II (1962-65) and provides much criticism of clergy who have contributed to this regrettable situation. His thesis is not, however, devoid of humour and references to Father Histrionicus and Sister Mary Dynamite (who could brilliantly run the Pentagon and the IBM at the same time!) provide some light relief.
Why Catholics can’t sing The Culture of Catholicism and the Triumph of Bad Taste In a new, three - part series David Meiklejohn explores an American publication, ‘Why Catholics Can’t Sing’ and asks why it is that in 21st century Scotland Catholics still have this lamentable reputation! The answers may lie in ‘a most curious development of Christianity’ and, by identifying the nature of the problem, David is hoping will lead to a debate from which solutions may emerge.
I
n considering the contents of this controversial book, we begin with the good news, which is that the author, Thomas Day, is writing about practices in the Catholic Church in the U.S.A. some twenty years ago. The bad news is that we can immediately recognise many corresponding traits in Catholic Churches in our own country today. Written in 1990, the author highlights a number of key features that have contributed to the curious anomaly where the Vatican promotes what is best from its rich treasury of sacred music but where many parishes appear to deliver musical menus, which are often at variance with these high ideals. Although these articles do not claim to be an authorised book review, I would nevertheless invite the reader to consider the essential messages of Day’s text and determine firstly, the extent to which his observations accord with our own current experience and secondly, whether the alternative title ‘Why Catholics don’t sing’ may be a more appropriate one in twenty-first century Scotland. It is also very important to state at the outset that there are a number of well-established Catholic parishes in Scotland where, exceptionally, the congregational singing is of a very high standard. The reasons for such noted success are also worthy of investigation. While Day’s style of writing tends to be informal it
The purpose of the book is to look at reasons why the author can go to a congregation of fifty elderly Episcopalians and hear more volume than a congregation of over thee hundred Catholics. He wants to address what he calls ‘a most curious development in the history of Christianity’. ‘To stand in the middle of a row of people ignoring music they are supposed to sing, can be an unsettling experience; it looks like something from the theatre of the absurd.’ The author acknowledges that one way of dealing with the problem is to pretend that it does not exist. Perhaps ‘the people’ have come to expect nothing less than the ‘pale noise’ they hear on Sunday, and few are moved to change the status quo. One of the principal reasons given for this demise is the result of something called ‘Liturgical Renewal’, in some form or another, which has been building up for more than a century. The author refers to the example of the old lady who energetically fingered her rosary beads all during Mass and who brusquely refused to engage in a handshake for the new ‘sign of peace’. It is likely that she would also have a battered prayer book stuffed with holy cards, few of which would have anything at all to do with the liturgy. Thomas Day maintains that the elderly lady would not spend much of her spare time reading liturgical texts and she certainly did not know much about the theological complexities of her faith. Nevertheless, the signs and symbols of the old liturgy – conducted in Latin and watched by everyone in silence – very powerfully communicated the essence of her faith in a way that she and her culture understood perfectly. In those days, the majority of American Catholics were secure in the knowledge that the tomblike silence of the parish Mass was the best of all possible liturgical worlds. Day makes the point that change without due cognisance of the pervading culture is likely to have at least some negative consequences. The dominant values of waste not and control thyself appear to be in evidence in many aspects of church life in the USA so that the ability to endure musical pain in church music was the mark of a devout Catholic who, unlike his non-Catholic neighbours, did not believe in wasting money on music. The parish that spent money on a new pipe organ or on a qualified music director quickly got the reputation of being presumptuous and putting on airs.
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As we draw this first part to a close we have now lifted the lid off a rather captivating but multifaceted can of worms. Perhaps we can acknowledge that our culture may not have been very different from the one described by Thomas Day and many may recall similar circumstances which might, at least partially, begin to answer the question as to why many Catholics choose not to sing during Mass. The second article will reveal the markedly The author maintains that if the Second Vatican Council differing approaches of the Archbishops of Chicago and had not met, music would have virtually disappeared New York and how such contrasting positions may from the majority of Catholic churches, except for ‘pastel contribute to the confused state of our church music. background music’ during communion and weddings; the decorous High Mass would have survived only in seminaries and some convents. By the year 2000 the Why Catholics Can’t Sing almost total absence of music in particular parishes would Author: Thomas K. Day have been widely interpreted as a sign of a well-managed Publisher: Crossroad Publishing institution where money was not wasted and where the ISBN: 0824511530 parishioners, completely in control of their emotions, did Paperback: 183 pages not need such stimulation to devotion. Another strong List Price: £9.99 but recurring concept is that the Mass does not need music. Cultural attitudes, some of which can be traced from the Irish-American influence, also preferred this quiet decorum. Noble church music was the ‘property of the Queen of England’. Nobility meant pretension; nobility was English. On the other hand German speakers David Meiklejohn is Director of Music for St Mary’s brought with them a thriving tradition of congregational Cathedral, Aberdeen and conductor of the Aberdeen Diocesan Choir singing and a love of choral music. The ‘suppression of enthusiasm’ is another aspect of Day’s concern, so that enthusiasm could exist only ‘underneath the surface’. A subdued faith, one that burned intensely but quietly in private, had emerged as the ideal for mainstream American Catholics prior to the Second Vatican Council. Enthusiastic singing would have been out of place.
Andrzej Jan Niski arrived in Scotland four years ago from Poland and we are delighted to welcome him as our new seminarian. Andrzej will be a familiar figure to church- goers in Inverness but he would like to take this opportunity to introduce himself to the rest of the Diocese.
I
am the new seminarian for the Diocese of Aberdeen. As an incomer to this Diocese and to this country I think that the people of the Diocese deserve a few words of explanation as to how it came about that ‘home’ in my own world. What I have discovered is that a young man from Poland decided to take the first steps one of the most wonderful gifts in being a Catholic is the leading to the vocation of diocesan priesthood in a blessing of being a part of a world-wide community of country other than his own. faith, a universal family which has not only got the same Father in Heaven but also on Earth. During these last I came from Poland – like many others – soon after my four years in Scotland I have learned how different the country’s accession to the EU. One of the very first things Church is here from the one that I know in my homeland. I needed to do after arriving in Scotland was to locate the But at the same time I have experienced in a deep sense nearest Catholic Church. I have always recognised the that this is still the very same Church and that the Church as an important part of what constitutes the term Eucharist is the fullest way of expressing the unity of the
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local yet Universal Church. In the Eucharist we share the very same body of Christ at the same time being – through baptism – in the same Body of Christ – His Holy Church.
But there is no Eucharist without a priest...Most of us can agree that one of the greatest needs of the Church nowadays is the need for priestly and religious vocations. Realising that need while living here I could not deny the thoughts of being a priest which have been with me for a number of years. There was also a kind of desire within me to be a missionary, a desire to attract people to what I consider as the greatest treasure of all.
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other than my own. But times are changing and it is probably not such a bizarre step to take as it would have been considered, even twenty years ago. Europe is uniting its people, although what has become increasingly clear is that this is under the banner of values which are strange and alien to Christianity and to the true spirit of Europe. This is a challenge for Christians and maybe for Catholics in particular. It also calls us to unite within our own communities and to face the difficulties of our times together. Such thoughts encouraged me to take this step, as did also the warm welcome and very supportive attitude towards me that I have experienced from those who are involved in the pre-seminary preparation for seminary candidates.
Recently, I also discovered that I come from the region of Poland which has well established connections with Scotland. Robert Gordon, founder of Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen made his wealth trading with Gdansk, where he lived for several years. There are also a number of Polish villages whose origins are connected with Scottish incomers to Poland in the 16th and 17th I must admit that originally I came here without any centuries. So it is not such a strange idea as it might particular long term plans. Indeed, I felt a little lost with appear at first! what to do with my life. I would even say that it was a tough time for me. But having met good and helpful As my experience of Scotland is mostly limited to people here in Scotland I decided to engage in a process Inverness and the Highlands, I am looking forward to visiting parishes within the Aberdeen Diocese during my of discernment to discover God’s will for me. future summer parish placements. I believe there is still a Now, looking back on these past four years I clearly see lot to discover in “the best small country in the world”. the amazing way the Holy Spirit led me to this land, the land whose Patron is St. Andrew the Apostle and, Please keep me in your prayers during this time of discernment of God’s will for my life. incidentally, my own patron. Some people say that Scotland is a missionary country, others may find this view exaggerated and some might even be offended by it. However, most people would agree that not only Scotland, but also western and eastern Europe need re-evangelisation, to rediscover the Christian heritage which has formed us and our civilisation.
Many times I have questioned myself if it is a proper Andrzej Jan Niski thing to do, to enter the diocesan seminary in a country
Pope Benedict XVI has inaugerated a special jubilee year for priests. The Holy Father named St. Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney as the Patron of this special year. This coincides with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney who is the patron saint of priests. During the course of the year a “Directory for Confessors and Spiritual Directors” will also be published, as will a collection of texts by the Holy Father on essential aspects of the life and mission of priests in our time. The jubilee year will close on June 19th, 2010 when Pope Benedict will preside at a “World Meeting of Priests” in St. Peter’s Square, Rome.
Dear Lord, We pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry. We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5). May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse. May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross. May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your love seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls. Amen. St. Jean Vianney, pray for all priests and pray for us!
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EXIL XILE E FROM F OM PAR FR ARADISE A E ADIS Eileen E ileen Grant Grant
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!
W hen G od cconfronts onfronts tthem, hem, w hat h appens? Th an When God what happens? Thee m man “Then G “Then God od ssaid. aid. ‘Let ‘Let u uss make make m man an iin n oour ur iimage, mage, aafter fter our our immediately immediately bblames lames tthe he w oman, h is eequal qual iin nd ignity; aand nd woman, his dignity; llikeness…’” ikeness…’” tthe he w oman bblames lames tthe he sserpent: erpent: neither neither wishes wishes ttoo aaccept ccept woman rresponsibility. esponsibility. H uman bbeings eings aare re rrelational: elational: oother ther people people Human ““What What m ade yyou ou eestablish stablish m an iin n ssoo great great a d ignity? define made man dignity? define w ho I am; am; I d ot, or or sshould hould not, not, llive ive only only ffor or who doo n not, Certainly which C ertainly tthe he iincalculable ncalculable love love bbyy w hich you you have have llooked ooked myself myself aand nd ffor or w hat I desire. desire. Original Original hharmony armony h as n ow what has now oon n yyour our creature creature in in yourself. yourself. You You are are ttaken aken with with love love for for bbeen een lost; lost; aand nd ssoo we we find, find, in in the the very very next next generation, generation, tthe he h er; ffor or by by llove ove iindeed ndeed you you ccreated reated her, her, r, by by llove ove yyou ou have have fi her; rst m urder, w hen bbrother rother kkills ills bbrother rother iin nafi of angry angry first murder, when fitt of ggiven iven her her a bbeing eing capable capable ooff tasting tasting your your eeternal ternal G ood” (St (St jjealousy Good” ealousy (Gen (Gen 4:3-8). 4:3-8). Sin Sin lleads eads to to ssin; in; all all subsequent subsequent ssin in C atherine ooff SSiena). iena). Catherine w ill ccome ome ffrom rom d isobedience towards towards will disobedience G od aand nd llack ack of of trust trust iin nH im. God Him. o what went went wr wrong? ong? Genesis Genesis 2:4 – 3:24 3:2 24 rrecounts ecounts a second G od has has bbeen een ttheir heir ffriend: riend: tthis his is is w hat God what tale, or myth, of C reation, Creation, tthey hey were were m ade for. for. N ow ssuch uch bliss bliss made Now follo wed d bbyy the F all and the followed Fall h as bbeen een cast cast away away and and they they must must has expulsion of thee first human beings lleave eave the the Garden Garden aand nd eembrace mbrace the the ffrom fr om the h Garden. Garde den. As A with i h the h first fi sself-sufficiency elf-sufficiency they they chose. chose. W hat What account, w wee ar aree not asked to accept ssounds ounds llike ike a ccurse urse is is rather rather a prophecy prophecy this story story literal lly; it is a metaphor literally; aabout bout what what will will rresult esult from from tthis his which attempts to t explain why we we ar aree O riginal Sin: Sin: a lloss oss of of O riginal Original Original as w are. IIn n the beginning b eatures wee are. all cr creatures H oliness. O ur fi rst parents parents rreceived eceived Holiness. Our first liv ed together in harmony and human lived ooriginal riginal h oliness n ot jjust ust for for themselves themselves holiness not beings had an intimate i rrelationship elationship bbut ut for for all alll human human bbeings; eings; they they with G od, trusting trussting children children of a God, ccommitted ommitted a ppersonal ersonal ssin, in, but but ““this this ssin in lo ving Father. Father. loving aaffected ffected the the h uman n ature that that they they human nature w ould then then transmit transmit iin n a ffallen allen sstate” tate” would Th serpent is is a symbol symbol ooff tthat hat seductive seductive Thee serpent ((CCC CCC 4404) 04) – aan n infection, infection, ffar ar m ore more aattraction, ttraction, into into w hich we we can can aallll ffall, all, which d eadly aand nd insidious insidious than than any any `flu. `flu. IIts ts deadly ttowards owards what what is is not not good good ffor or u s. He He is is us. aafter fter effects effects mean mean that that w re w ounded, wee aare wounded, vvery ery subtle; subtle; he he does does n ot deny deny oorr accuse accuse not iinclined nclined towards towards ignorance, ignorance, suffering, suffering, G od; h is is is the the voice voice ooff rreason, eason, God; his d eath and and personal personal sin sin ((cf cf 1 JJn n 22:16). :16). death w hispering seductively seductively into into tthe he ear, ear,, whispering bbut ut h is w hispers p rovoke tthe he humans humans his whispers provoke H armony h as ggone; one; n atural ffunctions unctions Harmony has natural iinto nto qquestioning uestioning G od’s m otives aand nd God’s motives ssuch uch aass child child bbearing earing will will bbee painful; painful; llead ead eventually eventually ffrom rom ttrust rust ttoo m istrust, mistrust, w ork, ooriginally riginally a pleasant pleasant d uty work, duty ffrom rom lloving oving sservice ervice ttoo ffear, ear, from from w illingly undertaken, undertaken, w ill bbecome ecome willingly will oobedience bedience ttoo sself-willed elflf-willed disobedience. disobedience. h ard ttoil. oil. A nd they they w ill one one dday ay ddie. ie. hard And will F irst comes comes ddoubt, oubt, tthen hen pride, pride, First B ut eeven ven d eath, iin n tthese hese n ew But death, new ddisobedience isobedience aand nd self-idolatry: self-idolatry: tthey hey c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i s b l e s s i n g , f o r t o l i ve circumstances, is a blessing, for to live ‘‘The The Expulsion Expulsion ffrom rom the the Garden Garden of of d esire ttoo bbee aass God. God. God God h as created created desire has or ever ever kknowing nowing tthat hat w have thrown thrown wee have Eden’ byy the Renaissance Eden’ b the Italian Italian Early Early R enaissance ffor tthem hem w ith free free w ill, tthe he freedom freedom ttoo with will, a w a y G o d ’ s f r i e n d s h i p , w o u l d indeed away God’s friendship, would indeed artist, artist, M Masaccio, asaccio, ((1423). 1423). cchoose; hoose; tthe he T ree of of tthe he Knowledge Knowledge ooff Tree bbee tterrible, errible, would would be be hell. hell. B ut G od d id But God did G ood and and E vil marks marks ttheir heir llimitations. imitations. When When tempted, tempted, not Good Evil not aabandon bandon H is children. children. IIn nG enesis 33:15, :15, often often ccalled alled His Genesis iinstead nstead ooff turning turning ttoo ttheir heir F ather for for h elp, tthey hey tragically tragically the Father help, the ‘first ‘first G ospel’, we we hear hear tthe he first first hint hint of of the the Redeemer Redeemer to to Gospel’, cchoose hoose ttoo go go their their oown wn way. way. H aving bbelonged elonged to to G od, iin n come, Having God, come, the the ‘‘new new A dam’ w ho w ill m ake aatonement tonement oon n oour ur Adam’ who will make G od, they they step step outside outside tthat hat relationship relationship aand, nd, iin n discovering discovering behalf God, behalf aand nd thus thus aachieve chieve oour ur aat-one-ment t-one-ment w ith God God and and with tthe he nature nature ooff evil, evil, tthey hey discover discover emptiness emptiness and and chaos, chaos, Creation. Creation. sshame hame and and fear. fear.
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We can be saved saaved from from the consequences of that first sin; We we can help to t rrepair epair the damage done too rrelationality elationality bbyy we proper relationship: relationship: with hG od, with H is entering intoo a proper God, His Creation, wit th each other and within ourselves. ourselves. SSince ince our Creation, with relationship with w C reation has been damaged, dam maged, only the relationship Creation Creator H imself im lf can be b our Saviour. Saviour i . In In Christ Ch i JJesus, C esus, God God d Creator Himself His hand to us again and offers offers us the free free gift holds out His His loving lovingg friendship. friendship. God’s God’s love love is great g eat enough to gr of His damagged human love love and to lead leaad the whole of The doctrine of the th he Fall Fall goes a long way to wards d explaining purify damaged towards Creation back back into a state of at-one-ment. t. dency not only to sin, but to set ourselv es Creation our unhappy ten tendency ourselves God. o When humankind fell fr om grace, so up at times as God. from new A dam, with wh hom humankind Adam, whom Creation: as we we fell out of harmo ony with the “Thus Christt is the new did all of Creation: harmony anew. The SSon, on, who is bbyy nature nature rrelationship elationship and natural world, soo that natural world becam becamee a chaos of begins anew. relatedness, rre-establishes e-establishes rrelationships. elationships. H is arms, spr ead relatedness, His spread struggle and survival. surviv v al. struggle crross, are are an open invitation to rrelationship, elationship, out on the cross, conttinually offered offered to us. The cross, crross, the place of “But why did God God not preserve preserve the firstt man from from which is continually “But e, is the true true tree tree of life. From From m this tree tree ther theree St Leo responds, responds, ‘Christ’s ‘Christ’s inexpressible inexpressible e sinning? St grace his obedience, th he word word of temptation but th hat of redeeming redeeming that gave us blessingss better than those the demon’s demoon’s envy had comes not the gave love, the wo ord of obedience, which an n obedient G od word God awayy.’ And An nd Aquinas Aquinas wrote, wrote, ‘Ther taken away.’ ‘Theree iss nothing to love, obedience as a context prevent human nature’s nature’s being raised up too something himself used,, thus offering us his obedience prevent freedom.” (Cardinal (Cardinal Ratzinger). greater, even even after afteer sin; God God permits evil in order orrder to draw for freedom.” greater, forth some greater greatter good. Thus St St Paul Paul says, sayss, Where Where sin forth Eileen G rant is is R CIA Catechist Catechist at at St St Mary’s Mary’s Cathedral, Cathedral, Grant RCIA increased,, grace g more;; and d the Exultet Exultet Eileen increased, abounded all the more; Aberdeen u so great great a Aberdeen sings, ‘O happy fault … which gained for us Redeemer!’ (CCC C 412) Redeemer!’ God always God always w wills ills good good to to come come out out of of eevil. vil. He He still has a fatherly car is children children and, taking pity p on their caree for H His nakedness, He He fashions faashions suitable clothing for them: t in H is His continuing lo ve for His His children, children, G od fur th her damages love God further H is C reation. If If we we could ascribe human emotions to His Creation. G od, d how h w could ho ld we we not imagine i i that h he h must must have h e wept hav wept God, at the F all? Fall?
Lord, ord, to to whom who om shall hall w we e go? go o?
oown wn ‘‘persecutions’ persecutions’ perhaps perhaps ttake ake a subtler subtler form form bbut ut oour ur aancestors ncestors ttoo oo had had to to eendure ndure a cconstant onstant bombardment bombardment ooff mockery undermine m ockery and and determined determined attempts attempts to to u ndermine ttheir heir Christian C hristian ffaith. aith. Some Some wavered, wavered, ssome ome ggave ave iin, n, ffor or tthe he ssake ake peaceful many ooff a p eaceful life, life, bbut ut m any more more endured endured patiently patiently aand nd iitt iiss thanks thanks ttoo tthem hem tthat hat tthe he flame flame of of ffaith aith sstill till bburns urns ssteadily. teadily. have IItt is is a torch torch that that tthey hey h ave passed passed on on ttoo us. us. H ow do do we we kkeep eep tthe he flame flame burning? burning? Th ere aare re times times iin n the the How There llives ives ooff most, most, if if not not aall, ll, of of u hen we we ggrow row weary weary ooff ignoring ignoring uss w when tthe he scorn scorn aand nd resisting resisting tthe he siren siren voices voices ffrom rom tthe he rocks rocks of of ssecular ecular atheism atheism – ‘‘Do Do yyou ou really really bbelieve elieve that?’ thatt?’ ‘Isn’t ‘Isn’t it it time time tthe he C atholic C hurch m oved w ith the the times times and and permitted permitted Catholic Church moved with tthis, his, that that or or tthe he other?’ other?’ ‘‘Where’s Where’s the the h arm, if if it it d oes some some harm, does ggood?’ ood?’ ‘God ‘God d idn’t rreally eally m ean tthat…’ hat…’ SSomewhere omewhere along along didn’t mean tthe he line line the the ssiren iren vvoice oice tturns urns iinto nto tthe he wheedling wheedling voice voice of of tthe he sserpent erpent w hich crawled crawled out out ooff E den. which Eden.
devil does not have weapon. Hee u uses many ““The The d evil d oes n ot h ave oonly nly oone ne w eapon. H ses m any different means defeat human now with d ifferent m eans ttoo d efeatt h uman bbeings: eings: n ow w ith bbribery, ribery, Clare C lare B Benedict enedic t now with now with hee aattacks, n ow w ith bboredom, oredom, n ow w ith ggreed reed h ttacks, iinflicting nflicting mental physical wounds Thee kkind m ental aand nd p hysical w ounds eequally. qually. Th ind ooff ttemptation emptation ““Ah, Ah, m brother, you you are are mistaken, mistakken, yyou ou aare re m istaken, if if yyou ou vvaries myy brother, mistaken, with different aries w ith tthe he d ifferent kkinds inds ooff vvictim ictim … eeveryone veryone iiss ssuppose uppose tthat hat there there is is ever ever a time time w hen tthe he C hristian d oes eexposed when Christian does pain mind What wealth weapons xposed ttoo p ain ooff m ind oorr bbody. ody. W hat a w ealth ooff w eapons n ot ssuffer uffer persecution” persecution” ((St St JJerome). erome). not devil’s disposal! Let uss n not iiss aatt tthe he d evil’s d isposal! L et u ot bbee aafraid fraid ooff ttemptations. emptations. Rather, uss gglory Paul]: R ather, llet et u lory iin n tthem hem ssaying aying [[with with SStt P aul]: ‘‘When When I t Jerome Jerome w wrote rote tthat hat iin n tthe he 44th th ccentury. entury. IItt iiss aass ttrue rue aam weak, Chrysostom). mw eak, tthen hen aam m I sstrong’” trong’” ((St St JJohn ohn C hrysostom). ttoday oday aass iitt w was as tthen. hen. O Our ur fforebears orebears iin n tthe he C Christian hristian ffaith aith ssuffered uffered p physical hysical ttorments, orments, eeven ven d death, eath, aass d doo IItt iiss ttempting empting ttoo llisten isten ttoo tthose hose vvoices. oices. IIn n oour ur oown wn ttime, ime, w wee Christians C hristians ttoday oday iin n ccertain ertain p parts arts ooff tthe he w world. orld. O Our ur h ave oour ur oown wn sspecial pecial d ifficulties iin n rresisting esisting tthose hose vvoices, oices, have difficulties
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with ith tthe which so which so often often seem seem reasonable, reasonable, llogical, ogical, iin n kkeeping eeping w he uss ooff tthe aage. ge. We We are are surrounded surrounded bbyy a ssteady teady cclamour lamour telling telling u he w onderful new new aadvances dvances ooff sscience cience aand nd ttechnology, echnology, wonderful p romising a bbetter etter qquality uality ooff llife. ife. SSurely, urely, ssuchlike uchlike ccan’t an’t bbee promising man now bbad? ad? The The ttemptation emptation ooften ften iiss ttoo accept accept tthat hat m an iiss n ow aass all, ggood ood as as God: God: he he ccan, an, after after al ll, ccreate reate life life in in a laboratory, laboratory, manipulate make wee cchoose. Wee d don’t, after m anipulate tthat hat life life ttoo m ake iitt aass w hoose. W on’t, af fter Many aall, ll, wish wish to to die, die, do do we? we? M any ooff tthe he sso-called o-called aadvancements dvancements pursued death ccurrently urrently bbeing eing eagerly eagerly p ursued sseek eek ttoo sstave tave ooff ffd eath ffor or aass wish Are llong ong as as possible. possible. But But do do we we really really w ish ttoo llive ive ffor or eever? ver? A re wee determined nothing w determined to to accept accept n othing lless ess tthan han perfection perfection iin n aallll now world? Don’t wee sshapes hapes and and forms forms here here and and n ow iin n this this w orld? D on’t w desire with God home with Him? How d esire to to be be w ith G od iin n oour ur eeternal ternal h ome w ith H im? H ow doo w wee rresist whisper d esist the the voices voices tthat hat w hisper ssoo sseductively: eductively: what what harm were made h arm ccan an it it do? do? After After all, all, ““rules rules w ere m ade ttoo bbee bbroken”, roken”, weren’t w eren’t tthey? hey?
the Life’ the ‘Bread ‘Bread ooff L ife’ and and some some of of his his ffollowers ollowers back bacck off, off, finding finding it u npalatable aand nd unacceptable, unacceptable, h urns ttoo tthe he T welve aand nd it unpalatable hee tturns Twelve asks tthem hem iiff tthey hey too too mean mean ttoo lleave eave h im. P eter humbly humbly asks him. Peter probably noo m more replies, tthough hough p robably understanding understanding n ore tthan han tthose hose replies, others, whom wee go? You words others, “Lord, “Lord, ttoo w hom shall shall w go? Y ou have have the the w ords of of eternal have eternal life; life; aand nd we we h ave bbelieved, elieved, aand nd have have come come to to know, know, that Holy that yyou ou aare re tthe he H oly One One of of God” God” (Jn (Jn 6: 6: 68-9). 68-9). At At times times of of doubt unhappiness, doubt aand nd u nhappiness, iitt iiss good good ttoo rremember emember tthese hese words; words; there nothing there is, is, quite quite ssimply, imply, n othing else. else. “I “I was was ttaught aught by by the the grace grace of of God God that that I sshould hould ssteadfastly teadfastly keep keep me me in in tthe he faith faith … aand nd that that at at the the ssame ame time time I sshould hould take myy stand what Lord take m stand on on aand nd eearnestly arnestly bbelieve elieve iin nw hat oour ur L ord showed showed iin n tthis his ttime ime – that that ‘‘all all shall shall be be well, well, and and all all shall shall be be well, manner well’” well, aand nd all all m anner ooff thing thing sshall hall be be w ell’” ((Julian Julian of of Norwich). Norwich).
We aare re so so privileged, privileged, so so fortunate fortunate in in h aving ssuch uch resources. resources. having ““This This may may not not be be the the age age ooff ssaints, aints, bbut ut aallll ttimes imes aare re tthe he aage ge We Spare a thought, thought, aand nd a llittle ittle ccompassion, ompassion, for for tthose hose w ho h ave Spare who have ooff martyrs” martyrs” (J. (J. H. H. Newman). Newman). no ssuch uch ffoundation; oundation; no no p lace ooff rrefuge; efuge; n loving L ord iin n no place noo loving Lord whom ttoo rrest est – oonly nly their their poor poor isolated isolated selves selves and and ttheir heir M ore h urtful, aand nd therefore therefore m ore d ifficult ttoo eendure, ndure, aare re tthe he whom More hurtful, more difficult inadequate m atterial ccomforts. omforts. Let Let us us h umbly cry cry to to oour ur material humbly sscornful cornful voices voices which which rubbish rubbish oour ur bbeliefs eliefs and and trample trample oon n inadequate Father: “Lead “Lead us us n ot iinto nto temptation, temptation, bbut ut deliver deliver u from not uss from oour ur llove. ove. It It is is difficult, difficult, even even p ainful aatt times, times, ttoo rresist esist ssuch uch Father: painful evil!”; ccall all upon upon tthe he n ame of of our our L ord Jesus Jesus C hrist and and w name Lord Christ wee vvoices. oices. W grow weary weary an nd ssometimes ometimes oour ur ffaith aith sseems eems ssuch uch evil!”; Wee grow and can bbee ssure ure that that w ill be be heard. heard. wee w will a little little thing thing iin n the the fface ace ooff tthe he h owling ooff tthe he m asses. Th howling masses. Thee can ttemptation emptation iiss to to ggive ive iin, n, ggoo w ith tthe he fl ow, jjoin oin tthe he [[seeming] seeming] with flow, Oh! That That it it were were as as iitt w as wont wont to to bbe, e, was m ajority, offer offer the the modern modern equivalent equivalent ooff tthe he ggrains rains ooff iincense ncense Oh! majority, When thy thy old old friends friends of of fire, fire, all all full full of of thee, thee, oon n the the pagan pagan altar. altar. At At such such times, times, I fi nd P eter’s w ords ssoo When find Peter’s words Fought against against frowns frowns with with ssmiles! miles! Gave Gave gglorious lorious chase chase cconsoling, onsoling, ssoo strengthening strengthening – tthat hat ssame ame P eter w ho w as Fought Peter who was To persecutions, persecutions, and and against against the the face face fforever orever putting putting his his foot foot iin n iit, t, bbeing eing tticked icked ooff ff bbyy JJesus esus ((even even To Of d eath and and fiercest fiercest dangers dangers d urst, with with bbrave rave death durst, bbyy God God the the Father Father on on M abor), w ho d enied h is L ord aand nd Of Mtt T Tabor), who denied his Lord And ssober ober pace, pace, m arch oon n to to m eet tthe he ggrave. rave. march meet rran an aaway way in in fear, fear, but but w ho, iinspired nspired bbyy tthe he H oly SSpirit, pirit, lled ed And who, Holy (Richard Crashaw Cras ashaw Most Most Holy Holy N ame ooff JJesus) esus) Name tthe he infant infant Church Church in in ffaith aith aand nd ccourage ourage aand nd d ied ffor or llove ove ooff (Richard died h is L ord and and h is people. people. W hen JJesus esus d elivers h is tteaching eaching oon n his Lord his When delivers his
Fr Bernard O’Connor’s
Vatican Brief
The ‘‘Brief’ The Brief ’ B Beginning: eginning: Laity’s Laity’s Witness Witness
W
i this edition of Light ith Lightt of the North Norrth w wee bbegin a new new column, ‘‘Vatican Vatican B rieff.’ Brief.’ The idea is that yyou Th ou may maay think of these rreflections eflections as my sort sort of o ‘Dear ‘Dear F riends’ Friends’ correspondence, correspondeence, and bbyy means of which w I intend regularly sharee with you regularly too shar you a summary summary of a significant discourse originating Holy orriginating with the H oly See. See. Typically, Typicallyy, these will upon an Address Message given ill focus f u Addr dd ess or M essagge giv i en bbyy the h Pope. hope Pope. My My ho ope is that rreaders eaders may thereby thereb by be encouraged to refer available refer to the t complete text of the same, sam me, av ailable via the Vatican Vatican n web web site (www.vatican.va) (www w.vatican.va) a or the Zenit Zenit New (www.zenit.org IInternational nternationaal N ew SService ervice (www w.zenit.oorg ). Consider effortt to pr promote this as an effor omote a broadening broad dening of your your knowledge contemporaryy Catholics ar aree kno wledge base. SSince ince contemporar frequently fr equently described d as being rather uninformed u and misinformed, Brief even misinforme d, ‘‘Vatican Vatican B rief ’ aims to ccounter ounter ev en the theree could suggestion ti tthat th t ther ld be b vvalidity alidity lidity to t the th claim. l i Now, wheree does our series commence commence? With N ow, wher e? W ith what is entailed in sacramental initiation, thatt is to say, sayy, with attention too what it means for Catholic Catholic Christians to
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move beyond the notion of passive membership in the Church to that of active and dynamic participation. Recall that baptism ‘pours’ upon us the cleansing waters of new life in Christ. The person who is created by God is thus consecrated and dedicated for service to God. We ‘begin’ our spiritual journey, imbued by the gift of an actual model by which to reverse the influence of a society which argues that man stands alone, without having to take seriously that we exist in the ‘image and likeness’ of God (Genesis 1:27). We are meant to mature in faithdevelopment, becoming ‘confirmed’ in what we have the conviction to affirm, namely that the Holy Spirit sends us forth as His witnesses before all humanity. And we are sustained for the mission to be heralds of the Gospel by the Eucharist. In the context of the Mass, we are formed and inspired by our openness to the Scriptural ‘Word’, and we are nourished by our ‘communion’ of Bread and Wine. For these are the very Body and Blood of that Christ Who calls us to live as disciples; one in solidarity, devoted to charity and committed to proclaim authentic Church teaching. On 26th May, Pope Benedict delivered a challenging Address to the annual Pastoral Conference on Laity sponsored by the Diocese of Rome. But it is prudent for us to note that his statements (cf Zenit for June 4, 2009) are not restricted to those living in the area of the Italian capital. Quite the contrary, for the theme of ‘coresponsibility’ is no less necessary and urgent for your own Diocese of Aberdeen. And those statements propose a strategy which permits us to evaluate our personal response to the privilege of being ‘initiated sacramentally’ into the community of the Church. From among the Pope’s essential points, we learn that: (A) The Church to which we belong is neither static nor prone to dormancy and lethargy. Recalling Pope Paul VI’s Inaugural Address to the Second Session of Vatican II, Pope Benedict emphasizes that the Church is ‘always capable of new and deeper exploration.’ This implies that individual Catholics must be aware of the breadth and richness of our heritage. It never ceases to amaze and disappoint me when I encounter people who reject the Church because they deduce that it has nothing ‘new’ to say of relevance to the modern world. As one lady informed me: ‘Catholicism is just a perennial rehash of the same old, dreary stuff.’ And so she departed us for Hindu mysticism and is now numbered among those who espouse the cycle of endless rebirth (where reincarnation is punitive and not purgative) and which bows to the sacredness of the cow and a pantheon of millions of deities. So much for appeal to relevance. When someone declares that the Church has nothing vital to offer, their argument is equivalent to one who
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dies from starvation while inhabiting a supermarket. Catholics must embrace our Tradition with a willingness to probe its depths in quest of what does not equate with trite novelty or with the dogmatism of privatised and smug opinion. (B) Pope Benedict reminds us of how the Church is truly ‘a sign and instrument’ by which the Divine design is accomplished. For each of us, and equally for laity, this raises the question of the manner in which we are recognizable as ‘instruments’. What is the result of God’s plan having been consigned by Him to us? How is that plan being expressed concretely? How is it discerned and implemented as compliant to what God asks and expects of us? (C) There is a phrase, derived from the Old Testament, which speaks of the Church as ‘People of God.’ This ‘expresses the continuity of the Church’s history;’ showing that God has truly ‘entered into the reality’ of our human time and space. ‘God, Emmanuel, is with us’, as the Bible attests. And the desire for closeness with God, for union with God, for practical holiness, should remain the purpose for our being. But is this how we view the meaning and fulfillment of our destiny? Recall that this is the rationale for the promises we profess in connection with baptism, with confirmation and which we renew during our Easter liturgies. This is why the Apostles Creed speaks of ‘Credo,’ or ‘I believe.’ Because we must not be content to escape into the anonymity of the collective. There comes a moment when we declare that ‘I’ submit to the tenets of faith and consent to govern my own life by their standard. (D) Similarly, from the New Testament, we acquire the view of the Church as being the Body of Christ. This points to a ‘universality’ which flows from ‘the Cross and (from) Christ’s Resurrection.’ The Pope stresses that what is involved is Christ’s offering us ‘His real Body, not only an image of it.’ And so we are engaged with an actual God-in-Christ, not with a theoretical or speculative surrogate. You have doubtless heard those who assert that they ‘believe in God,’ but see no need of religion. However prevalent, this is a tragic perspective. For this denies that God could have established the Church, precisely to rescue us from confining Him to the minute realm of our own attitudes and interests and conjecture. How ironic that when we make a caricature of God we reduce ourselves to the emptiness of that same caricature. By contrast, we are invited ‘to put (our) enthusiasm and creativity’ in ever readiness to co-operate in animating our world and our peers with His presence and His love. 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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“There is something about a boat, somehow, a soul”
and night, in n perpetual pray er for those in peril at sea. prayer O n each sidee of the wooden cr ucifix, wh hich stood on a On crucifix, which cr oss-beam, were were two models: one a battleship, battlleship, the other cross-beam, a liner h made by by a local Macduff Macduff ff fish mer chant. liner,, both merchant. Ther ere also allso models of a sailing Zulu, Zulu, a lifeboat, and a Theree w were thr h ee mastedd-sailing l ship h . three masted-sailing ship. O n a fishbo three more more small model m boats, and On fishboxx stood three facing them was a plaster statuette off O ur Lady of Our Boulogne, se eated in an open boat, toge ether with mor seated together moree small models s. models. F ishing nets, oars, rropes opes and cr eels added to the maritime Fishing creels atmospher e, and a canv as sail made bbyy a local sailmaker atmosphere, canvas sailmaker,, edged with white w rrope, ope, decorated the aaltar. ltar. The canv as canvas was a blue-gr reen colour p esent an image pr blue-green colour,, and was said to present of the sea, wi ith the sun shining on it. with
Tina T ina Harris Harris
SSacristy acristy equip pment had been obtained by by donation fr om equipment from friends, and a F ranciscan friar asil H odges, had Franciscan friar,, F Frr B Basil Hodges, pr esented P etter with a chalice and paten that t he had used presented Peter at sea as a N a al chaplain. A pair of ir av on candlesticks c and Naval iron an ir on lamp made at F ort A ugustus A bbe bbey ey w ere also par iron Fort Augustus Abbey were partt of the chapel easure. chapel’s’s tr treasure.
The chapel was w inspected bbyy one Mgrr P aterson, who Paterson, o in information nformation about sailing, fish fishing hing and the rreported eported favourably, favourably o y, and from from that time an ny priest staying any Moray sea,, on the M oray Coast, would be complete with P eter could coould celebrate Mass. Mass. The firstt of these M asses Peter Masses wit hout mention of P eter Anson. Ansoon. without Peter was on 6 JJuly ulyy 1946.
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There is somet thing about a boat, someho w, a soul “ There something somehow, soul””
In 1921 this B enedictine monk co-founded co-foounded the In Benedictine Apostleship of the SSea, ea, the internationallyy rrenowned enowned Apostleship supporting seafar ers and their families. fa organisation supporting seafarers Peter dev oted hi is life to his interest interest in the sea, fishing, Peter devoted his Church. His His personal faith and his love love and the Catholicc Church. were his h inspiration. for the sea were His drawings and an nd writing are are well well known known in the area, area, but His ell kno wn is that in 1938 Peter wn, Peter Anson what is not so w well known, create a small chapel in the loft of his harbourside began to create Macdu uff. cottage in Macduff.
Peter P eter Anson’s Anson’s h house ouse a att Harbour Harbour Head, Head, Macduff Macduff before before it it was d emolished in in 1966 1966 to to make make harbour harbour improvements improvements was demolished
d ur Lady of th he Ships Ships and The chapel was dedicated to O Our the St P eter the F isheerman. St Peter Fisherman. Thr ough thee skylights in the summer mornings, the Through mingling of Latin with the whispers of the t wav es could waves Towards the end d of 1946, many Catholic weeklies, weeklies, and be hear Towards d. A nautical n liturgyy. heard. liturgy. Press an nd JJournal, ournal, reported reported that an orator also the Press and oratoryy had b d in i Macduff. Macduff. d ff been opened F or many yyears eaars P eter and his small oratory oratory w ere a guiding For Peter were light to both h Catholic and non-Catholi non-Catholicc alike, and the lem of the w What was to become the official embl emblem ee cottage in n the harbour became rrefuge efugee to many yyoung oung wee Apostleship of th he SSea, ea, hung behind the tinyy altar, altar, on an people. Apostleship the plaquee, behind a small light which h burned day M enamelled plaque, uch wor o his book, “The Chur ch and the SSailor” ailor” Much workk on Church
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was written whilst Peter was living in Macduff, and he dwelling stands The Harbour Café, a bright reminder to also had a small boat, registered B75, called Stella Maris, those who may remember its predecessor, and a great place to eat for those who don’t. which, he says, he loved with all his heart. There is very little to remind us in Macduff of the spiritual legacy of Peter Anson, but there is a lasting reminder of his success as a writer and artist, in the form of a sculpture depicting a steam drifter similar to those drawn so precisely by Peter, which is supported by trawl nets and But before its final sale, as Peter’s fame grew in the literary herring. world, it was suggested that he run a snack bar at Harbour head on a commercial basis for fishers and lorry drivers. It is hoped that readers will get in touch if they know of His hospitality grew, and thousands of cups of tea, coffee the whereabouts of any of the effects from the chapel of and cocoa were consumed against a background of Our Lady of the Ships and St Peter the Fisherman, so generosity and resourcefulness. An article was published that they can be brought back to Macduff and displayed here. on its success by the Banffshire Journal. It was the eventual loss of this boat, through old age, that finally moved Peter to sell his harbour home (affectionately called Harbour Head, although its correct address was No 2 Low Shore).
Peter reminds us in his book, “Life on Low Shore”, (1969), that future historians of Macduff must not forget that “for six years there was a Roman Catholic place of worship in this low, low house beside the harbour.” Some of the artefacts from the chapel are said to have been gifted to the Mission de la Mer, in northern France, and some of the model boats went to local people.
You can get in touch with Tina Harris at: Boatmans Place, 13 Buchan Street, Macduff. AB44 1RQ or email: tinaharris44@hotmail.com
Tina Harris’ book, Back to the Sea - An Introduction to Peter Frederick Anson and His Life on the East Coast of Scotland is available from Bard Books and costs £6.00 Proceeds from the sale of the book will go What Peter will not know is that on the site of his old to the Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association.
A Sea Sunday Appeal by:
Stella a Maris
Reg. ccharity Reg. harity n no. o. 11069833 069833 Reg. No. Company C ompany R eg. N o. 33320318 320318
Also so known as the
Apostleship ip of the Sea Since ourr cr creation eation ion in 1921, we have continued to support rt seafar seafarers ers fr from om all over the world, in Scotland and and thr throughout oughout the UK.
We need your help to We continue our vital work Stella S tella Maris Maris is is a ffrontline rontline service service ffor or tthe he ccare are ooff sseafarers eafarers vvisiting isiting B British ritish sshores. hores. WE WILL WILL:: Speak upp for those seafarers who are isolated, olated, exploited and denied their eir human rights. WE WILL WILL:: Provide practical and pastoral help to all ll seafarers who need it, including ing access to the Sacraments. WE WILL WILL:: Campaign gn for fair treatment for all seafarers. farers.
WILL YOU Y HELP P US? Please ease support our annual al Sea Sunday Appeal Sea Sunday Sea Sundayy is is an an annual annual appeal appeal to to support support the the vital vital ministry ministry of of Stella Stella Maris Marris also also known known as as the the Apostleship A postleship of of the the Sea Sea (AoS), (AoS), in in providing providing pastoral pastoral and and practical practical help help to to seafarers seafarers visiting visiting our our shores. shores. This T his year year parishes parishes in in Scotland Scotland will will celebrate celebrate Sea Sea Sunday Sunday in in September. September. AoS AoS is is an an independent independent charitable charitable aagency gency of of the the Catholic Catholic Church Church wholly wholly dependent dependentt on on voluntary voluntary donations donations and and the the Sea Sea Sunday Sunday appeal appeal to to ccontinue ontinue its its work. work. It It takes takes the the love love of of Christ Christ to to seafarers seafarers in in the the name name of of the the Church, Church, recognising recognising them them as as oour ur brothers brothers and and sisters sisters in in need. need. Please Please give give generously. generously. Thank Thank you. you.
For mor moree information on AoS please visit www www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk w.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk .apostleshipofthesea.org.uk
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Pi l g r i m s’ Pilgrims’ treasure treasure in in the e North North of Scotland of S cotland Bob B ob K King ing
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hile h ile tthe he eeconomy conomy ccontinues ontinues ttoo h head ead ssouth outh aand nd tthe he p pound ound rremains emains iin n tthe he doldrums d oldrums m more ore p people eople aare re h holidaying olidaying aatt home. And h ome. A nd ffor or those those who who had had d hoped hoped ttoo pilgrimage Assisi, Rome vvisit isit tthe he ggreat reeat p ilgrimage ccentres entrees ooff A ssisi, R ome oorr Compostela, C ompostela, bbut ut find find it it unaffordable unafford dable at at the the moment, moment, North tthere heree are aree many many treasures treasures on on their their doorstep doorstep in in the the N orth ooff SScotland. cotland.
L ord C olum C richton-Stuart, sson on ooff tthe he tthird hird 33rd rd Lord Colum Crichton-Stuart, M arqquess, inherited inherited Pluscarden Pluscarden and and gave gave the the property property Marquess, ttoo tthe he B Benedictine enedictine ccommunity ommunity ooff P Prinknash rinknash iin n 11943, 943, resurgence Benedictine tthus hus ffacilitating acilitating tthe he re esurgence ooff B enedictine llife ife aatt tthe he A bbey. Abbey. Fivee monks monkss moved moved in in in in April April 1948, 1948, and and the the vibrant vibrant Five ccommunity ommunity n ow h ouses 21 21 m onkss with with another another eight eight now houses monks iin nad aughter h ouse iin nM assachussets in in the the US US wh hile daughter house Massachussets while aanother, nother, F Frr Giles, Giles, iiss superior superior in in Kristo Kristo Buase, Buase, a B enedictine m onastery iin nG hana. Benedictine monastery Ghana. The A The Abbey bbey iiss p part art ooff SScotland’s cotland’s h heritage eritage aand nd oone ne ooff tthe he ooutstanding utstanding bbuildings uildings iin n the the N orth. IItt iiss visited visited each each North. yyear ear bbyy m many any tthousands, housands, m most ost re recently ecently bbyy tthe he ssizeable izeable P olish ccommunity ommunity iin n aand nd aaround round IInverness, nverness, who who shared shareed Polish iin n a jjoint oint E nglish aand nd P olish liturgy, liturgy, aand nd w ill be be m aking English Polish will making ttheir heir tthird hird p ilgrimage aatt the the eend nd ooff A ugust. pilgrimage August.
Calvine C alvine based based artist artist Roger Roger LLee’s ee’s iimpression mpression o off the the Abbey Abbey
Top T op ooff tthe he llist, ist, ssurely, urely, is is Pluscarden Pluscard den Abbey, Abbey, founded founded as as a AD French rreligious eligious ccommunity ommunity iin n 11230 230 A D ffor or aan n oorder rder ooff F rench monks, Valliscaulians, who priories m onkss, tthe he V alliscaulians, wh ho bbuilt uilt oother ther p riories aatt Ardchattan A rd dchattan aand nd Beauly. Beauly. The The Abbey’s Abbey’s extensive extensive llands ands Dores Loch sstretched treetched aass ffar ar aass D ores oon nL och Ness Ness sside. ide. In In 11454 454 Pluscarden P luscarden w was as assumed assumed bbyy Benedictines Benedictines ffrom rom Dunfermline. D unfermline. After A fter tthe he R Reformation eformation aand nd yyears ears ooff decay, decay, the the 4th 4th E Earl arl ooff F Fife ife p partly artly restored reestored the the bbuildings uildings iin n 11830 830 aand nd eencouraged ncouraged tthe he P Presbyterian resbyterian fform orm ooff wo worship. orship. Th Thee property p roperty w was as tthen hen aacquired cquired bbyy tthe he 33rd rd M Marquess arquess ooff Bute, B ute, a C Catholic, atholic, w which hich rresulted esulted iin n tthe he fi first rst M Mass ass ssince ince tthe he R eformation bbeing eing ccelebrated elebrated iin n 11897. 897. Reformation
TThe he magnific m magnificent g ruins of Elgin g C Cathedral athedrral
N ot ffar ar aaway way aare re tthe he m agnificent ru rruins ins ooff E lgin Not magnificent Elgin C athedral, ffounded ounded iin n 11224. 224. K nown iin n tthe he d ays ooff iits ts Cathedral, Known days gglory lory aass “The “The L antern ooff tthe he N orth”, iitt aand nd tthe he town town Lantern North”, w ere bburned urned bbyy A lexander SStewart, tewart, tthe he ““Wolf Wolf ooff were Alexander
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Badenoch” after he had been excommunicated by the area has produced some 11 Bishops and many more Bishop. Priests. The last public Mass within the Cathedral was celebrated after the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594 when the leaders of the Catholic forces had defeated the Government forces under Argyll only to find they had no outside support.
While it may not be able to boast of architectural beauty, the quiet peaceful building with its pristine simplicity, has perhaps greater claim to the title “House of Prayer” than many more pretentious buildings.
The year 1974 marked the 750th anniversary of the founding of the Cathedral and Mass was celebrated by Bishop Michael Foylan in the presence of many of the faithful. Cardinal Gordon Gray was the preacher.
Particularly dear to Highland Catholics is Scalan on the Braes of Glenlivet opened as a seminary in 1716 to replace one on Loch Morar which had been forced to disband after the 1715 Jacobite Rising. It was destroyed after the ’45 but later rebuilt. It was at Scalan that Hugh Macdonald, later Bishop, and George Gordon from Fochabers were ordained to the priesthood in 1725, the first of the so-called ‘heather priests’ who had their whole training in this country. In 1799 the seminary was abandoned and the students removed to Aquhorties in Aberdeenshire.
The pristine simplicity of St Ninian’s Tynet
Another “must” for the Catholic pilgrim is the Church of St Ninian’s, Tynet, a short distance from the main Elgin to Banff road, and the oldest Post-Reformation Catholic Church in Scotland still used for regular worship. Nobody glancing at this long, low building with harled Presholme was the first Catholic church after the walls, slated roof and square headed windows would Reformation in Scotland to look like a church ever guess that it is a Catholic Church, though it lies in an area which, with the support of the Gordons of Another church of note for pilgrims is Preshome, where Gordon Castle over the years, had remained faithful to Scotland’s first Catholic Bishop since the Reformation, the Catholic religion after the Reformation. This small Thomas Nicolson, took up residence in 1697. It was to remain for over a century the strategic centre of the Church in Scotland. Later vicars apostolic made it their headquarters, and its importance only ended with the death of Bishop James Kyle at Preshome in 1869. The present church was begun in 1788, the first Catholic church in Scotland to look like a church.
Scalan, seminary of the ‘heather priests’
These are but a few of the Catholic pilgrimage sites in the North of Scotland. There are many more in Inverness-shire and Ross-shire, but hopefully this will tempt the pilgrim to look further and see for himself or herself the treasures on the doorstep.
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Orkney Journal The St Magnus Festival is enduringly popular and this year Fr Ronald Walls has noticed that some of the youngest members of his parish have been duly inspired!
As
“Young people from Kirkwall Grammar School, along with local artists and community groups, are collaborating with a creative team from the National Theatre of Scotland to devise enigmatic, site-specific performances and intimate story-telling encounters. This exciting theatre event involves elements of performance, movement, music, visual art and creative writing.”
I write, the St Magnus Festival is in full swing. This festival offers material of the highest quality, on a par with any international festival of music and the arts, although on a smaller scale.This year there are perfomances by the Royal Scottish National Orchestara, by Psappha, by the Endellion String Quartet, and by the enchanting Trio Mediaeval, a trio of Scandivanian The St Magnus festival is not the only notable event in sopranos. Space is also made for the French pianist Eric the life of Orkney. From time to time there are visits by le Sage and for guitar and accordian and even the artistic and scientific organisations which make a point Hungarian Cimbalom. of reaching out to the local organisations connected with their work. This outreach is often achieved by contact with the schools and community centres, in which a great deal of artistic and educational activity takes place throughout the year.
During the St Magnus Festival, performances are not confined to Kirkwall but also take place throughout the Mainland of Orkney and even on some islands. This year the Royal Scottish National Orchestra perfomed on the Island of Sanday as well as in Kirkwall, and the Trio Orcadians have an extraordinary appetite for singing Mediaeval sang in St Magnus Kirk in Birsay which is at the north of the mainland, the place from which Leif As well as the high quality of material, a striking feature Erikssen set off on his adventure to America in the year of the St Magnus Festival is its popularity. This is due in AD 1000. part to the extraordinary appetite of Orcadians for singing; as well as imported items the festival always This year on the Sunday at the beginning of the St Magnus includes a contribution by the St Magnus Festival Chorus, Festival I was struck by a musical stirring amongst our a local choir anyone who wants to sing may join – there youngest members, children between 0 and 5 years old, is no audition test – and the choir has about 150 members. of whom we can have as many as ten at Sunday Mass. I This year they are joined by the prestigious Huddersfield happened to be in the church a little before Mass began Choral Society in order to sing Vaughan Williams’s Sea and heard an “Alleluia”chanted once or twice from at Symphony. least two very little throats. Then during Mass I noticed that a three year old girl in a front seat was singing the Another reason for the popularity of the festival is the complete Kyrie and then the refrain of the Gloria. What way the items are presented. Several items are preceded delighted her most was the sound of the word “eleison”. by talks and public discussion. For example, this year Sir Later in the Mass we were encouraged also by the Peter Maxwell Davies gave a pre-performance talk before occasional “Alleluia” and “Hosanna” from different parts the performance of his chamber opera, ‘The Lighthouse’. of the church. There is also, concurrently with the festival, a Conductors’ Course and a Composers’ Course. Most interesting too is There are not many older children in the congregation at an item advertised in the Festival Program as Transforming the moment, but the future is bright. Since 14th Orkney. I quote: December, 2008 I have baptized eight babies in our “National Theatre of Scotland returns to 0rkney parish. Whoever has the good fortune to be parish priest with an ambitious theatre project examining the ‘mixterhere in ten years time will have a most interesting life. maxter’ of contemporary Orkney identity.
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Musical Memories of the North-East th he chapel house at Dufftown. Dufftown n. perhaps in the
Shelagh S helagh N Noden oden
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hankss to ev everyone eryone who rresponded espondeed to the last Musical memories;; it seems that several M usic usical cal memories sevveral parishes in thee north-east north-east and beyond beyond possess posssess copies of Sacrredd Music Music Calculated Calculated for smalll Choirs, Choirs, and Sacred St Peter’s, Peter’s, Buckie Buckie — are are still putting it to some - notably St even after after almost 200 years. years. good use, even The compiler of this choir book, book Rev Rev George Georgee Gordon, Gordon, don is a fascinating character, chaaracter, and worthy worthy of further furtheer comment. After his ordination ordinaation in Spain Spain in 1797, he rreturned eturned to Scotland and spent Edinburgh, wheree sp pent some time in E dinbu urgh, wher despite Bishop Bishop Hay’s Hay’s ban on church church mus music sic the local were keen k to introduce introduce singing in the t liturgy y. A Catholics were liturgy. group of them had h engaged a choirmaster, choirmaster, Giambattista Giambattista group begu un taking singing lessons at a their own own Corri, and begun even th hough they were were still not allo wed to expense even though allowed perform f i church. chur h ch. ch perform in
Recently Recently I visited vissited Dufftown Dufftown church church to see seee what traces of George Gordon Gordon d remain. remain. emain A portrait portrait of him h is preserved preserved George there, painted painted not long before before his death. death h. It It is presently presently there, stored in the organ loft, which also boasts boastts built-in music stored the choir, choir, incorporated into the rail which desks for the surrounds the th he choir gallery: gallery: a most unusual unussual feature. feature. But But surrounds by far the most m exciting find were were sixx leather-bound by exciting volumes of manuscript m Fr G ordoon’s handwriting, volumes music in Fr Gordon’s Mass settings and a other pieces containing a selection of Mass mu ust have have written out to be performed peerformed by by the which he must h there. ther h e. It It is wonderful wonder d ful f l that h these h books b ks book k hav h survived, d choir havee survived, mucch old music has fallen victim m over over the yyears ears when so much spring-cleaanings and clearouts. clearouts. to spring-cleanings
From Edinburgh Edinburgh h Fr Fr G ordon went went to the new new seminary seminary at From Gordon Aquhorthies and d thence to Foggyloan Foggyloan where wherre he built a Aquhorthies n 1805 he was sent to Blairs, Blairss, with stints chapel. Then, in Fetternear e Dundee. In In 1809 1 on supply at Fetternear and Dundee. he was moved up to Keithock, Keithock, e Elggin after the moved also filling in at Elgin prieest there. there. death of the priest So it is not surprising surpriising that when it was suggested suggessted he move move So Dufftown to build b new church church there there he was initially to Dufftown a new reluctant, remarking remarking k letter, “I have have had d enough of reluctant, in a letter, flitting.” But But to Dufftown Dufftown he went went in 1824 building and flitting.” started the construction c constr uction of the little church, ch hurch, where where and started later, in 1845, according according to the Scottish Scottissh Catholic later, Directory, “he enriched e Directory, the chapel with a magnificent North”. organ which has not its equal in the North”. His interest interest in music m went beyond beyyond the sacred. sacred. e He He was a His went friend of the well-known William who, welll-known fiddler, fiddler, W illiam Marshall, Marshall, a Fr Gordon, Gordon, was w born in Fochabers. Fochabers. He He supplied su upplied cello like Fr and keyboard keyboard parts paarts for Marshall’s Marshall’s fiddle tunes, tun nes, and one m playing the tunes together with w friends, can imagine them
Our O urr LLady ady of the Assumption, Assumption, Dufftown Duff ffttown If yyou ou had been a member of the congr ccongregation egation at If Dufftown in the 1840s and 50s you you would woould have have heard heard Dufftown Masses bbyy Mozart, Mozart, Haydn Haydn and Weber, Weber, ass well well as those of Masses lesser-known n composers such as Bauer, Baueer, B luther and lesser-known Bluther
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Fr G ordon h ad other other iinterests nterests besides besides m usic. H was a Gordon had music. Hee was Vincent V incent Novello. Novello. You You could could have have listened listened to to P Pergolesi’s ergolesi’s Fr noted sstudent tudent of of church church history history and and contributed contributed sseveral everal SStabat tabat M ater oorr Zingarelli’s Zingarelli’s Te Te D eum. Ambitious Ambitious rrepertoire epertoire noted Mater Deum. erudite articles articles ttoo tthe he Scottish Scottish C atholic Directory. Directory. H as erudite Catholic Hee w was ffor or a ssmall mall ccountry ountry cchurch! hurch! also a very very keen keen ggardener, ardener, aand nd aaccording ccording to to h is obituary, obituary, also his “he improved improved w ith h is oown wn h ands the the ggreater reater p art ooff tthe he with his hands part IIn n ffact act iitt was was not not qquite uite ssoo aambitious mbitious as as iitt might might sseem. eem. Mr Mr “he ground attached attached to to tthe he C hapel property.” property.” Chapel G ordon cleverly cleverly arranged arranged and an nd simplified simplified tthe he m usic, taking taking ground Gordon music, oout ut llengthy engthy repetitive repetitive sections, sections, and and ccutting utting down down tthe he n umber of of vvocal ocal p arts, p resumably to to suit suit the the fforces orces aatt h is How number parts, presumably his How did did he he manage manage to to do do all all this, this, and and find find time time for for h is his d isposal. disposal. music aass well, well, not not to to mention mention his his p riestly duties duties which which h music priestly hee seems ttoo have have undertaken undertakken with with notable notable ssuccess? uccess? H is seems His obituary reveals reveals the the secret. secret. “His “His time time he he husbanded husbanded w ith with L ocall composers composers aare re represented. represented. A motet, motet, Bless Bless the the Lord, Lord, obituary Local the most most scrupulous scrupulous care, care, n ever the never allowing, if if h could help help it, it, a allowing, hee could moment to to be be wasted.” wasted.” moment
O my my soul, soul, is is aattributed ttributed ttoo ““Dr Dr Reid” Reid” who who is is tthought hought to to be be a young young A berdeen priest, priest, Rev Rev JJohn ohn R eid, highly highly rregarded egarrded Aberdeen Reid, aatt the the time time ffor or h is musical musical accomplishment. accomplishment. SSadly adly he he d ied his died ooff ttyphus yphus ffever ever iin n 1854, 1854, aged aged oonly nly 335, 5, leaving leaving his his eearly arly m usical p romise u nfulfilled. musical promise unfulfilled. IInterestingly nterestingly Fr Fr Gordon’s Gordon’s m anuscript iincludes ncludes a version version ooff manuscript tthe he h ymn, Iam Iam lucis lucis orto orto ssidere idere set set to to w hat aappears ppears to to bbee a hymn, what ttraditional raditional Scottish Scottish melody. melody. One One of of W illiam Marshall’s, Marshall’s, William p erhaps? Here Here we we could could use use ssome ome h elp. The The melody melody is is perhaps? help. w ritten oout ut above; abbove; if if aanyone nyone rrecognises ecognises tthe he ttune, une, oorr written rremembers emembers singing singing iit, t, w ould bbee d elighted to to hear. hear. wee w would delighted Th ast volume volume has has sseveral everal p ages ooff unused unused manuscript. manuscript. Thee llast pages Th nal piece piece ooff music music in in iitt is is tthe he C redo ooff a M ass by by Thee fi final Credo Mass D obrisch. Mr Mr Gordon Gordon h as gone gone oon n ttoo bracket bracket ttogether ogether Dobrisch. has sseveral everal sstaves tavvees following, following, and and written written the the title title Sanctus Sanctus iindicating ndicating tthat hat h ntended to to write write iin n further further m usic, bbut ut hee iintended music, n othing follows. follows. Th is, and and the the increasingly increasingly shaky shaky nothing This, h andwriting, ssuggests uggests that that this this M ass must must have have been been what what handwriting, Mass h was w orking oon n at at tthe he ttime ime of of his his d eath in in 1857. 1857. hee was working death
Fr Gordon Gordon died died in in 1857 1857 on on tthe he Fr eve of of Pentecost, Pentecost, a feast feast ttoo which which eve he had had a special special devotion. devotion. He He w as he was given a splendid splendid ffuneral uneral aatt given Dufftown, with with the the interior interior ooff tthe he Dufftown, church draped draped in in black. black. The The church Scottish Catholic Catholic Directory Directory sstated tated Scottish that “Mass “Mass was was celebrated celebrated bbyy tthe he that Rev J. J. Kemp....the Kemp....the Rev Rev James James Glennie Glennie of of Chapeltown Chapeltown Rev being Deacon, Deacon, the the Rev Rev C .Tochetti .Tochetti of of Keith, Keith, Subdeacon Subdeacon being and the the Rev Rev H. H. Gall Gall of of Tomintoul Tomintoul Master Master of of C eremonies. and Ceremonies. After Mass Mass the the customary customary Absolution Absolution was was performed performed bbyy After the Rt Rt Rev Rev Bishop Bishop Kyle.” Kyle.” the One aassumes ssumes that that the the choir choir sang sang at at the the funeral funeral bbut ut One unfortunately this this is is not not recorded. recorded. Rev Rev Gordon Gordon iiss bburied uried unfortunately in tthe he crypt crypt of of his his church church aatt D ufftown commemorated commemorated by by in Dufftown tablet on on the the wall. wall. The The building building itself, itself, like like his his contribution contribution a tablet to church church music music in in Scotland, Scotland, forms forms a lasting lasting memorial. memorial. to Shelagh Noden Noden read read music music at at Cambridge Cambridge where where she she Shelagh was awarded awarded the the John John Stewart Stewart of of Rannoch Rannoch scholarship scholarship was in sacred sacred music. music. She She is is now now researching researching the the post-Reforpost-Reforin mation history history of of Roman Roman Catholic Catholic music music in in Scotland, Scotland, mation at A berdeen University, University, and and is is interested interested to to hear hear from from at Aberdeen anyone with with memories memories of of church church music music in in the the north north east east anyone (s.noden@abdn.ac.uk or or phone phone 01358 01358 742248). 742248). (s.noden@abdn.ac.uk
‘The pretty little RC church for Lerwick’ ….. St Margarets, ‘The pretty little RC church for Lerwick’, will be celebrating its centenary on the 2nd July 2011. Parishioners of St Margarets in Shetland are: looking out pictures and other memorabilia; thinking about parish and family stories and researching parish history.
They would like to appeal to former parishioners who have moved away from Shetland to get in touch with any pictures or stories from their time there. You can contact the church at St Margarets, 87 St Olaf Street, Lerwick, ZE1 0ES, phone: 01595 692233 or email: stmargaretsshetland@btinternet.com
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154 days of continuous day and night raids. Buildings were flattened and casualties were high. Villagers took shelter underground; food and fuel were rationed; Victory Kitchens were set up to feed the population and ammunition was rationed. Nothing could reach the islands. Churchill signalled: “The eyes of Britain are watching Malta in her struggle day by day. We are sure success as well as glory will reward your efforts”.
Margaret Bradley
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In April King George V1 awarded the islands the George Cross: “To honour her brave people, I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history.”
he Feast of the Assumption which falls this month is a particularly special day for the island of Malta, not only because the island’s patron is ‘The Virgin Mary Assumed into Heaven’ but also because during World War II the Siege of Malta was relieved on the 15th August, ‘Assumption Day’,1942. However, by August 1942 supplies of food, fuel and ammunition had nearly run out, the people were near to From 1940–1943 Malta was fighting against incessant air starvation and a date had been fixed for surrender. But attacks. The island’s strategic airfield was key to holding relief was on its way. Heading towards Malta under
This painting by the Maltese artist, Paul Camilleri Cauchi, depicts the arrival on the 15th August of the damaged tanker Ohio, one of the tankers that arrived safely to Malta bringing much needed food and supplies during “Operation Pedestal” the Mediterranean, but food and oil had to get through past enemy bombers. Churchill insisted that Malta must be held whatever the cost. Rommel’s Afrika Korps was attempting to advance along the North African coast to Egypt but close to his key supply lines from Europe was Malta – a solid military base with an airfield and a dockyard. Malta had to be disarmed. The full might of the German Luftwaffe was thrown against the islands and the convoys of merchant ships and escorting warships supplying the islands. The aim was to cut Malta’s supply line and starve the islands into submission.
‘Operation Pedestal’, was a convoy of fourteen supply ships with an enormous escort of three aircraft carriers, two battleships, seven cruisers and 24 destroyers. This was the final effort to supply Malta before she was forced to surrender. Despite heavy losses, five supply ships reached Malta by the middle of August. On the 15th August, the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the last of these, the supply ship Brisbane Star and the tanker Ohio, limped into harbour, the Ohio battered and charred, barely above water, towed by two mine-sweepers and a destroyer. The islands had been saved. But for the arrival of the Santa Marija Convoy, as it is now known, the islanders would The Siege of Malta started in January 1942. There were have had to surrender in two weeks. Revitalised, the island
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was able to fight on. The Santa Maria Convoy symbolises Cross is woven into the flag of Malta. the islanders’ determination to hold out. The 15th August is a public holiday on Malta. On this day The George Cross medal is now on display in the War and at other holidays and feast days the Maltese bake Museum in Fort Saint Elmo, Valletta. The fortitude of special date cakes. Why not have a go at this recipe supplied the population under sustained enemy air raids and a by Katherine Teow from St Francis Parish, Mannofield, naval blockade which almost saw them starved into Aberdeen to commemorate the Assumption of the Virgin submission won widespread admiration. The George Mary and the Santa Maria Convoy? DATE AND WALNUT CAKE INGREDIENTS 4oz butter, 4oz sugar, 1oz honey, 2 eggs, 1 pinch salt, 2tbsp rum, grated lemon rind, 9oz flour, 2tsp baking powder, 2oz chopped chocolate, 1oz chopped walnuts, 5oz dried dates, whole stoned dates for decoration, 4oz Apricot Jam. DIRECTIONS 1.Cream the butter, sugar and honey until light and fluffy. 2.Add the eggs one at a time and continue to beat until the sugar has completely dissolved. 3.Combine the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture. 4.Add the chocolate and walnuts and stir to combine. 5.Stone the dates and chop coarsely. Fold into the cake mixture. 6.Grease an 8in. tin and dust with flour. Pour in the cake mixture and bake in the middle of the oven at 175 C / 350 F gas mark 3-4. 7.Allow the cake to cool a little, release from the tin and leave to cool on a cake rack. 8.Heat the apricot jam, press through a sieve and spread onto the cake. Garnish the top of the cake with whole dates.
MacIntosh & Gilchrist
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ffaithandculture a i tth han nd d ccu u l ttu u re re
Light L ight
Page P age 29
Historical al Curiosities from the D Diocese iocese ocese of Aberdeen rdeen
Bishop E Bishop Elphinstone lphinstone a and nd the B reviary o berdeen the Breviary off A Aberdeen Peter P eter D Davidson avidson
T
he firstt full-scale book to be printed d in Scotland, ich copies sur vive, is The B reviary of of whi which survive, Breviary Aberdeeen: this is exactly what itss title would Aberdeen: suggestt, a br eviary printed (at E d dinburgh, suggest, breviary Edinburgh, in ottish Clergy y. 1509-10) in small format for the use of the Sco Scottish Clergy. It was composed bbyy the extraor dinary group group off chur chmen It extraordinary churchmen cholars formed under the lleadership eadership of and humanistic sc scholars Aberdeen’s gr eat renaissance renaissance e bishop William E lphinstone. Aberdeen’s great bishop,, William Elphinstone. It is a typical pr odu uct of the Aberdeen Aberdeen rrenaissance: enaissan nce: forwardforwardIt product looking, optimistic optimistiic and somewhat somewhat ahead of itss time. Elphinstone p was tthe he King’s Kingg’s controller controller of the p rintingg press press p Elphinstone printing dinburgh bbyy Walter Walter Chepman n and Andro Andro established in E Edinburgh Myllar. The prim mary purpose of this pr ess was w to print Myllar. primary press service books for the Chur ch, a fact which histories of service Church, h e sometimes chosen not too emphasise. hav Scottish printing have The B Breviary Aberdeen project, reviary of A berdeen was an ambitiouss pr oject, an attempt to form a ““use” use” or set of commemorations commemoraations at the daily prayer thee hours ex exclusively Scottish prayer of th clusively for Scot ttish use and S saints wherever wherever possible. possible. As such commemorating Scottish it incorporates a formidable f quantity of research reseaarch in early sources sources and alsoo considerable literar literaryy tal talent lent in the composition of the office hymns, incl including luding two sophisticated and beautiful hymns to O Our ur Lady, Laadyy, both in classical Latin metres. mettres. Sidus Sidus hoc primum rutilare rutilare cepitt Utt car U ccareremus eremus tenebris opacis Utt pr procellosos U p ocellosos via per timores timorres Tuta Tuta pater pateret et Annee conceptus rreticendus eticendus ille T Tantus antus anttus ac talis canit ecce terra P ontuss exsultat rrecinuntque ecinuntque coel o Pontus coelo Phoebus Phoebus et astra.
A pa page ge from frrom the ccalendar alendar of thee Br Breviary reviarry first wee may be fr freed [This star firs st begins to shine/ SSoo that w eed from fr om deep darkness/ d kness/ SSoo that the way tthrough dar hrough storming terrors/ wonderful terr ors/ May Mayy lie safe.// SShould hould so great great and wonder ful a Bee gr greeted conception of o Anna’s/ Anna’’s/ B eeted with silence? sileence? Behold, Behold, the earth ear th sings,/ The Th sea rejoices, rejoices, the sun and the stars re-echo/ re-echo/ From heavens.] F rom the h hea h avens.]] Wee have however Breviary W have to admit, a ho wever rreluctantly, eluctantlyy, that the B reviary success, national was not a succ cess, failing to become the na ational institution Elphinstone havee hoped. for which E lphinstone and JJames ames IV might m hav Three Thr ee outlying outlyin ng dioceses in the Scottish Church C ch at the turn Chur sixteenth were of the sixteen nth century, century, after all, w ere barely b ely within the bar Scottish fold,, and all were were wary wary of the comparatively com mparatively recent recent primacy of St Andrews. Scottish St Andr ews. Most Most of the Sco ottish clergy were were thoroughly to the liturgy of thoroughly accustomed a o Salisbury, Salisbury, (‘the (‘the use of Sarum’) long Sarum m’) which had, with local adaptations, a enjoyed enjoyed popularity popu ularity in Scotland. Most Most were werre perfectly perfectly happy with a pile off pamphlets for special comm commemorations memorations and recently-introduced (devotio recently-introduced o (devotio moderna) devotions, devotions, and
ffaithandculture a i tth han nd d ccu u l ttu u re re
Page P age 3 30 0
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four appear appear to to h ave belonged belonged ttoo members members ooff kknown n ow n have saw n saw noo n need eed for for aan n aall-inclusive ll-inclusive bbook, ook, containing containing four Catholic ffamilies amilies iin n tthe he n orth, aand nd bboth oth ooff tthe he rrecorded e c o rd e d north, much m uch unfamiliar unfamiliar material, material, aand nd addressing addressing the the needs needs of of Catholic lost ccopies opies were were in in exiled exiled C atholic h ands. O ne ooff tthese hese Catholic hands. One an ational church church which which d id not not yet yet see see itself itself as as such. such. lost national did was used used bbyy the the eexiled xiled C atholic apologist apologist Thomas Thomas was Catholic Dempster of of Muiresk Muiresk up up ttoo 1625, 1625, and and extensive e x t e n s i ve u se ooff use There Th ere is is no no rrecord ecord of of a single single copy copy aactually ctually being being sold sold Dempster the llost ost ccopy opy ffrom rom tthe he Scots Scots C ollege iin nP aris w as m ade College Paris was made aand, nd, w orse still, still, a ffew ew months months after after tthe he B reviar y of of the worse Breviary by tthe he Abbé Abbé Innes Innes in in tthe he eighteenth eighteenth ccentury. entur y. IIn n a A berdeen was was p rinted, the the publisher publisher was was complaining complaining by Aberdeen printed, sense, if if the the B reviar y ever ever ffound ound a ccommunity ommunity ttoo Breviary ttoo the the King King tthat hat imported imported Sarum Sarum breviaries breviaries were were sense, welcome it it and and to to u se it it to to sstrengthen trengthen ttheir heir ssense ense ooff use iillegally llegally on on ssale ale iin nE dinburgh. IItt looks looks as as iiff the the project project welcome Edinburgh. selfhood and and nationhood nationhood it it was was tthe he n orthern SScottish cottish northern w as indeed indeed ahead ahead ooff its its time. time. Certainly Certainly bbyy the the 11530s, 530s, selfhood was Catholics during during times times ooff penalty penalty aand nd d iaspora ffrom ro m diaspora aafter fter the the death death ooff JJames ames IV IV at at F lodden, aand nd tthe he d eath Catholics Flodden, death the rreformation eformation to to the the llate ate eeighteenth ighteenth ccentury. entur y. O Off ooff E lphinstone h imself, unsold unsold and and unwanted unwanted sheets sheets the Elphinstone himself, course they they w ere not not u sing iitt for for ttheir heir d evotions. IItt were using devotions. ooff the the B reviar y were were bbeing eing used used iin n Edinburgh Edinburgh aass course Breviary had bbeen een llong ong replaced replaced by by tthe he T ridentine B reviar y. B ut Tridentine Breviary. But p adding ffor or the the bbindings indings of of oother ther books. books. Even Even out out of of had padding they were were using using iitt iin n tthe he p ursuit ooff aarguments rguments ffrom ro m pursuit tthe he very ver y ffew ew copies copies which which remain remain to to us, us, two two were were they antiquity, ooff tthe he w hole p roject ooff p ro d u c i n g a C atholic whole project producing Catholic ssubstantially ubstantially revised revised in in m anuscript by by eearly arly cc16 16 clerical clerical antiquity, manuscript histor y for for Scotland. Scotland. oowners. wners. The The tendency tendency ooff these these revisions revisions is is to to rremove emove history SScottish cottish Commemorations Commemorations and and iinsert nsert English English ones, ones, And we we ccan an fi nally d iscern a qqualified ualified success success ffor or tthe he finally discern eending nding up up with with something something llike ike the the sstatus tatus quo quo familiar familiar And Breviar y when when four four centuries centuries had had gone gone bby: y: tthe he 11903 903 ttoo Scottish Scottish clerics, clerics, ooff a SSarum ar um B re v i a r y w ith Scottish Scottish Breviary Breviary with Scottish Breviary Breviar y did did iin n ffact act draw draw oon n the the work work ooff ccommemorations ommemorations written written in in (or (or vice-versa vice-versa to to aabout bout Scottish Elphinstone aand nd his his circle circle ffor or ssome ome ooff iits ts m aterial. Elphinstone material. tthe he ssame ame bbalance). alance). There is is fi ne m aterial in in iit, t, especially especially tthe he h ymns, w hich There fine material hymns, which might still still find find a p lace in in SScottish cottish C atholic w orship place Catholic worship H owever the the B reviar y of of A berdeen did did find find a might However Breviary Aberdeen today. ccommunity ommunity ttoo vvalue alue it. it. Out Out of of six six surviving sur viving copies, copies, today.
Snippets Photo: Richard Else
Genius G enius ma m may y ha have ve its limita limitations, tions, st stupidity upidity is not so handic capped. B ob Hop handicapped. Bob Hopee B e car eful about rreading eading health bo ooks, yyou ou ma Be careful books, mayy die of a misprin m t. Ma rk Twain Twain misprint. Mark
TTrade rade C Craft raft
Joyce Chibouro, Fairtrade sugar farmer in Malawi.
B effore G o w od e ar e all equally wise e and equally Before God we are stupid lbert Einstein Einsttein stupid.. A Albert W hen yyou o flee ttemptation ou emptation do on’t lea ve a When don’t leave fforwarding orwardin ng address. address. A nonymous Anonymous
Going the e extra xttra mile For 30 y For years, ears, T Traidcraft raidcraft has been pioneering ffair air tr trade ade inno innovations, vation ns, working long-term partnership producers lobbying w orking in long-t erm partne ership with pr oducers and lobb ying go vernments tto o mak e tr ade e agreements agreements w ork for for the poor governments make trade work poor.. T hese ar e jus ays w e do mor e than other c ompanies These are justt some of the w ways we more companies which jus airtrade mar rked pr oducts – wha e call going th he justt sell F Fairtrade marked products whatt w we the e xtra mile extra mile.. But 1.4 billion people sstill till live live in absolut e po verty. Y ou can mak ea absolute poverty. You make diff erence. difference.
M ost peo ople wish tto o ser ve G od, but b only in an Most people serve God, advisor y ccapacit y. A nonymous advisory capacity. Anonymous W hen I die d ant to to go peacefully peacefully lik e my my When die,, I w want like G randfath her did ot scr eaming, Grandfather did,, in his sleep -- no not screaming, lik e the pa assengers in his car non nymous like passengers car.. A Anonymous
Phone us on 0 191 4 91 05 91 or visit 0191 491 0591
www.traidcraft.co.uk w ww.traidcraft.co.u uk Traidcraft products, work tto o buy T raidcraft ffair air trade trade pr oducts, support our charity w ork trade justice. and campaign with us ffor or tr rade jus tice.
a Chris Christian tian response response e to to poverty poverty
B effore yyou o criticiz ou e someone ou should s w alk a Before criticize someone,, yyou walk mile in th heir shoes hat w ay when n yyou ou criticiz e their shoes.. T That way criticize them, yyou ou u ar e a mile a way fr om th hem and yyou ou are away from them ha ve thei nonymous have theirr shoes shoes.. A Anonymous
faithandculture
Light of the North
Corrymeela, the Road to Peace and Reconciliation Sister Moira Donnely RSCJ who has been a ‘Friend of Corrymeela’ for many years tells the story of how Ray Davy, the founder of the Corrymeela Centre for Reconciliation, was inspired to create a community where people could face their differences in an atmosphere of peace, prayer, study and friendship.
Page 31
Then, in 1968 came the outbreak of violence and the beginning of years of armed conflict, emnity and fear. During those dark days, Corrymeela began to be seen as a small beacon of light by people on both sides of “The Troubles”. It took time to build trust, especially among the Catholic population, but eventually groups from Protestant and Catholic areas would meet together to try to heal divisions and model new ways of living in harmony with one another. One of the courageous works undertaken by Corrymeela personnel at that time was the “lifting” of isolated families, for example, a Catholic family in a Protestant area or a Protestant family in a Catholic area, who were endangered or victimised. At considerable personal risk, volunteers moved these families and their possessions to safer temporary housing.
An important and ongoing part of Corrymeela’s work has been educational. Groups of adults and of children from both communities come to spend some days together studying, praying, recreating, interacting and having fun. During these days lasting friendships are orrymeela began as the dream of a couple in often forged, age-old prejudices dissolve and hope is Northem Ireland, Ray and Kathleen Davy. given for a better future. Ray, the son of a Presbyterian minister, was captured at the fall of Tobruc during the A book by David Stevens, current leader of the Corrymeela Second World War and spent two harrowing years in community, gives a good idea about the type of peaceprisoner-of-war camps. He was a prisoner in Dresden making studies which take place there. The book is called during the Allied bombing of that city and saw there the “The Place Called Reconciliation” and combines total devastation war could inflict. Scriptural insights with the philosophy of leading thinkers in this field, such as René Girard. The book is both Back in Ireland and reunited with his sweetheart Kathleen, inspiring and challenging, as are the workshops at the Ray was able to fulfil his desire to become a minister like Centre. his father. In his post as chaplain at Queen’s University, he and his wife Kathleen kept open house, welcoming Corrymeela is a dispersed community of about 180 students of differing racial, cultural and religious members. There are also groups of “Friends of Corrymeela” backgrounds. Already committed to the work of in many places including Aberdeen. Each year about a reconciliation, Ray organised student trips to Germany dozen young people from various countries come to and Italy. This work made him more and more aware of Corrymeela to work and also to take back the skills of the political and religious divisions at home and so, in peace-making and reconciling that they learn there. And 1965, he and Kathleen began to make their dream a so, today, the Centre founded by Ray and Kathleen Davy reality by opening a centre of reconciliation where people continues to enlighten, inspire and encourage people far could face their differences in an atmosphere of peace, beyond the Hill of Harmony that they so prophetically prayer, study and friendship. chose to embody their dream.
C
Those who have visited Corrymeela (The Hill of Harmony) know what an inspired site the Davys chose for this enterprise. Set on a little height above the North Antrim coast, and looking across to Rathlin Island and Mull of Kintyre, just a few miles away, the Centre is surrounded by natural beauty. It is truly a place to unmask old prejudices and heal wounded hearts.
Those who are interested in the work of peace and justice might like to become a member of the support group. If so please contact Derek Shanks on 01569 730537.
ffaithandculture a i tth han nd d ccu u l ttu u re re
Page P age 32
Light L ight
Poeooetic etic Lic L Li Licence cence
H
Canon Ca anon anon on Billlll Anderson derson rson soson on delves on lveses intoto som into soomme off hisis favourite some f vourite vovourite ourite rite itete inspirational nspirational sppirational spi piirational rational ational tional tional nalall verse veerse ersesee.
ere are some seasonal verses, as serene as they are summery.The author, William Walsham How, is far better known for another hymn,”For all the saints”, in part because Vaughan Williams gave it such a marvellous tune. Our choice, however, is still quite poular with young people, and retains a place in many hymnaries.
How, an Anglican clergyman later to become bishop of Wakefield and of Durham, had begun to write hymns as a young boy, but it was during his long incumbency of Whittington in Shropshire that he wrote most, indulging between-times his passion for ferns and fishing! Whilst in London he did great work among the poor of the East End, displaying what we would now call “green” credentials on account of his preference for travelling by public transport rather than in an episcopal carriage; hence his nickname,”the omnibus bishop”! A worthy and popular cleric of Victorian times. The words of our hymn are based upon these words in Psalm 74: “Yours is the day and yours the night, you caused sun and light to exist, you fixed all the boundaries of the earth, you created summer and winter.” Summer suns are glowing Over land and sea; Happy light is flowing, Bountiful and free. Everything rejoices In the mellow rays; All earth’s thousand voices Swell the psalm of praise.
Lord, upon our blindness Thy pure radiance pour; For thy loving-kindness Make us love thee more. And when clouds are drifting Dark across our sky, Then, the veil uplifting, Father, be thou nigh.
God’s free mercy streameth Over all the world, And his banner gleameth, Everywhere unfurled. Broad and deep and glorious, As the heaven above, Shines in might victorious His eternal love.
We will never doubt thee, Though thou veil thy light; Life is dark without thee; Death with thee is bright. Light of light, shine o’er us On our pilgrim way; Go thou still before us To the endless day.
ht Light ight L
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E=MA2 2 E=MB
E=MC2 Crossword 1 C rossword 10
To win off A Abbot Hugh Gilbert’s bbot H in a copy ilbert’s ugh G copy o ow T latest Mystery’ ‘Living the book, ‘Living latest book, the M ysteryy’, send send ntry, ttogether your entry, with ith yyour our ogether w your ccompleted ompleted e ddre telephone n ess a name, address and number o nd telephone umber tto name, a North, O e, 1 entre gilvie C tthe Light of he Light of tthe Ogilvie Centre, 16 he North, 6 irsst Huntly Aberdeen First deen AB10 berd Huntly Street, 1SH. F Street,, A AB10 1SH. orre ntryy drawn at is ut o ect e ccorrect entry out off the hat is tthe he awn o dra the h inner. Closing Closing date: ctober, 2 009. date: 1 st O w winner. 1st October, 2009.
Franc Kaminski’s Brain Teaser by one ffer letter The two eaach pair of clues differ parts of each o letter er only by two parts diff The form the (steam/stream =r). Use generated to form d to letters thus generated (steam/stream Use the letters from the Bible from men from wom from the same three women names of three same family. (extended) family. (extended) rescin nd, abrogate abrogate a i) _ _ _ _ _ rescind, yearly ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ yearly forecast b i) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ forecast affirmation, assertion assertion ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ affirmation, binary digit digit c i) _ _ _ binary allurement, temptation temptation ii) _ _ _ _ allurement, was fruitful fru uitful d i) _ _ _ _ was eat (?) what companions companions eat ii) _ _ _ _ _ what to sheep ng to relatin e i) _ _ _ _ _ relating relating cattle to cattle t to ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ relating riposte verbal riposte f i) _ _ _ _ verbal ii) _ _ _ _ _ fit out out g i) _ _ _ _ _ fit out team m ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ team gluttony h i) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ gluttony traffi ffic jam in for a car in a traffic ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a danger for summer order gu uards, keeps in order i i) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ guards, p have these oftten have often ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ politicians ffe aristocrat emale aristocrat j i) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ female innumerable ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ innumerable are kept exotic animals are where exotic k i) _ _ _ where (rapidly) focus (rapidly) ii) _ _ _ _ change focus secrret l i) _ _ _ _ _ _ secret becomes a Catholic Catholic adult who becomes ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ adult conked d out m i) _ _ _ _ conked ou ate out ut ii) _ _ _ _ _ ate n i) _ _ _ _ _ _ not including t act extr ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ extract crrude, sunflower sunflower or engine engine o i) _ _ _ can be crude, work hard wor hard hard work o k or work ii) _ _ _ _ hard purifies e purifies p i) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ he ii) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ itt produces produces petrol petrol how may accompany thing, time or how y thing, o accompan q i) _ _ _ may crazy ii) _ _ _ _ crazy Last L issue’s solution ast issue’s on solutio Adroit, nstorm, witCh, fiEnd, coAst, coAst, A droit, Brainstorm, cllotH, minIster, fiEnd, finEd, finEd, clotH, Brain minIsterr, cL cLue, Abel, Seth Cain, ain Abel, table, Teach Teach > Cain, theN SStable, Seth ue, theN,
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Last solution Lastt issue’s issue’s solution Across: Across: 1. 1. cchastise;5. accuse; hastise;5. accuse; 9. 9. moisture;10. moisture;10. spring; spring; 12. 12. aawake;13. wake;13. atonement; atonement;; 14. 1 4. Christ;16.parable; Christ;;16.parable; 19. 21. purity; 19. traitor; purity; traitor;; 21. 23. 25. 26. 2 3. apocrypha; 6. 5. selah; apocrypha; 2 selah; 2 gather; Caiaphas; gather; 27. aiaphas; 27. C 2 28. 29. 8. rested; 9. Philemon. rested; 2 Philemon.
Down: own: D 1. 2.. Arimathea; 1. cymbal; Arimathea; cymbal; 2 3.. ttithe; ithe; 4. 4. servant; 3 servant; cupbearer; 7. unite; 6. 6. cupbearer; 7. unite; 8. soap; 8. eighteen;11. eighteen;11. soap; intercede; 15. 15. intercede; 17. Bethlehem;18. ethlehem;18. stranger; 17. B stranger; rope;21. pharaoh; 20. 2 0. rope;21. pharaoh; 22. oaths;25. 22. cchosen;24. snail. aths;25. snail. hosen;24. o
Congratulations winner, t tions to ition winner competition to our last competition C ongratula r, Mr Alistair from Aberdeen orris from Mr Morris Alistair G. M erdeen Abe
humour h umour
Page P age 34
Light L ight
Humour from the Vestry Humour serves Humour serves tto o d destabilise estabilise tthe he e ego. go. T This his iiss w hy llaughter aughter iiss essential essential tto o rreligion. eligion. It It c uts a why cuts S HUVRQ G RZQ WWR R VVL]H L]H + XPRXU LLVV WWKH KH À UVW VVWHS WHS WWR R SHUVRQ GRZQ +XPRXU ÀUVW h umility. humility.
IIff yyou’re ou’re g going oing a abroad broad o on nh holiday oliday tthis his ssummer ummer k eep a llook o ok o ut ffor or tthese hese E nglish ssigns. igns. keep out English ACUPULCO A CUPULC CO O H HOTEL: OTEL: L: T The he h e m manager anag ag ge err has e has as personally p ersona alllly yp passed asse as ed d all all ll tthe he h ew water ate err sserved errvve ed d here. here. e. BUDAPEST B UDAPEST (HUNGARY) (HUNGARY (H Y)) ZOO: ZOO: O: P Please leas asse ed do on not ot ot feed f ee ed d the th he e a animals. niimalss.. If n If you yo ou u have havve e any any suitable suitable le food, f oo od, d give givve e it it to to the th he e guard guard o on nd duty. utty y. COPENHAGEN C OPENHAGEN EN (DENMARK) (DENMARK K)) AIRLINE: AIRLINE: E: We W e take tak ke e y your ou ou urr b bags ag gss and an nd d send sen nd d tthem he he em m iin n all al directions. di d irections. s. RHODES R HO H ODE ES S ((G (GREECE) GR G REECE) E) T TAILOR AIL LO OR O R SHOP: SHOP OP: P O Order rde err your y ou urr summers summers rs ssuit. uiitt. B Because ecausse e iiss b big iig g rush rus ussh h we we w will il ill execute e xecutte ec customers usto tomerrss in in strict stric ctt rotation. rotation on. n. MOSCOW M OSCO OW W HOTEL: HOTEL: HO L: Y You ou o u are arre e welcome welcome me to to visit visit it tthe he h e c cemetery emete erry where wherre e f famous amou uss Russian Ru ussssiia an n a and nd n d Soviet S ovie ett c composers, ompo poserrs, s artists artisttss and an nd d writers wrriitte errss are are re buried b urie ed d daily daily except excep ptt T Thursday. hursday. ATHENS ATH A THEN NS S ((GREECE) GR GR RE EECE E)) H HOTEL: OTEL: L: V Visitors isit itorrss a are re re H[SHFWHG H [SHFWH HG G WR WR F FRPSODLQ RPSOD DLLQ DW DW WWKH KH K H RIÀFH RIÀFH FH E EHWZHHQ HWZHHQ HQ tthe he h eh ho hours ourrss o of f9a and nd n d 11 11 a a.m. .m m.. d daily. aiilly a y. TOKYO T OKY YO O CAR CA AR RR RENTAL ENTA AL L FIRM: FIRM: M: W When he en np passender asssende a err of o f foot foo ott heave heavve iin n ssight, igh htt, tootle tootlle e the th he h horn. orn. n. 7UXPSHW 7 UXPSH HWW KLP KLLP P K PHORGLRXVO\ HORGLRXVO\ DW DW À ÀUVW UVVW W EXW EX XWW LLI I KH KH sstill till ll o obstacles bstacles es your you urr passage passag ge e then the en n tootle tootlle to e him him im with w itth h vvigor. igo orr. ROMAN R OMA AN N DOCTOR: DOCTOR: R: S Specialist pecia allisstt iin n wo w women ome en n a and nd n d other o the err d diseases. isease ses. s. TOKYO T OKY YO O S SHOP: HO H OP: P O Our urr nylons u nylon nss c cost osstt m more orrre o e than than an FRPPRQ F RPPR RQ Q EXW EXW XW \ \RX¡OO RX X¡OO ¡¡OO O ÀQG ÀQ QG G WKH\ WKH H\ \ DUH DUUH H E EHVW EH HVVW LLQ Q WWKH KH KH llong on ng g run. run. n.
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One O ne S Sunday unday m morning, orning, tthe he m minister inister noticed Alex was up att the n oticed llittle ittle A lex w as sstaring taring u p a the llarge arge plaque, plaque, covered covered w with ith names, names, that that hung hung foyer of iin n the the f oyer o f the the church. church. The The seven-year seven-year old been att the plaque o ld had had b een sstaring taring a the p laque for for some some up, ttime, ime, so so tthe he minister minister walked walked u p, sstood tood beside beside tthe he boy, boy, a and nd ssaid aid quietly, quietly, “Good “Good morning morning Alex.â€? A lex.â€? ““Good Good m morning orning p pastor,â€? astor,â€? rreplied eplied tthe he y young oung man, on plaque. m an, sstill till focused focused o n tthe he p laque. ““Rev Rev M McGhee, cGhee, w what hat iiss tthis?â€? his?â€? A Alex lex asked. asked. PHPRULDO DOO ´´:HOO :HOO VVRQ RQ LLW¡V W¡V D P HPRULDO WWR RD OO WWKH KH \RXQJ \RXQJ men men and and women women who who died died in in the the service.â€? service.â€? Soberly, they they stood stood together, together, staring staring Soberly, DW WKH WKH ODUJH ODUJH SODTXH SODTXH /LWWOH /LWWOH $ OH[¡V YYRLFH RLFH DW $OH[¡V w as barely barely audible audible when when h e a sked, “Which “Which was he asked, sservice, ervice, the the 8:30 8:30 or or tthe he 111:00?â€? 1:00?â€?
Westminster
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Light Light of of the the North North
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Sister Janet’s Westminster Blog Sister Janet Fearns FMDM is the Communications Coordinator for the Pontifical Mission Societies. You can visit her website, ‘Pause for Prayer’ at http://pauseforprayer.blogspot.com
My Lady. My Mother You are beautiful, My Lady. Yet your loveliness is one of great age. I am told that you are nearly 600 years old, but the years have failed to obliterate the smile that gently plays on your face as you look down at me. Your gaze is serene and wise: you look into me more than at me. What do you see? Why do your eyes not focus on the Son who sits on your knee? His concern is directed upwards, towards you, his mother, and towards God, his Father, but you? You look downwards, towards me. My Lady, perhaps that is the reason why I am here, before you, opening my heart to you. I know you have not forgotten Jesus, but as you sit on your throne, crowned and bearing the sceptre of your authority as Queen of Heaven, you have remembered me and that is more than I deserve.
can allow his reality to shine through the petals of my own daily life? Is that why, just like the carved daisies, I can also pause for a moment, quietly at your feet? My Lady, since a Nottingham craftsman brought you out of a block of crude off-white alabaster, you have seen so many things. I am told that he carved you in about 1450, which means that, in England, the Wars of the Roses were just beginning. In Scotland, William Dunbar was the poet at the court of James IV and the alchemist John Damian made history by attempting to fly from the walls of Stirling Castle and landing in a dunghill! Did you see the crowning of your namesake as Queen of Scots whilst on this island, or had you already been carried to France, to be given a place of honour within an altar, close to the Blessed Sacrament? Did you witness the French Revolution and plead for mercy for the innocent and for the Church? What was your story before you were ‘discovered’ and brought home to Westminster? My Lady, it is all lost to us in the sands of time, but you remember and you could tell us if we knew how to ask.
Time was when your cloak was blue, red and gold and the dark green grass beneath your feet was spangled with white daisies. Now, with the passage of the centuries, there is merely a hint of those colours and the sceptre in your left hand is no longer whole and entire. Is that a message in itself? Has our world lost some of its beauty My Lady, you are now enthroned in since the days of its pristine loveliness? Have we Our Lady of Westminster conceded some of your authority to lesser mortals is a late Medieval statue of Westminster Cathedral, but you have never been and to causes that are not of your wanting? the Virgin & Child, now to separated from the Child who sits on your knee. be found at the entrance You hold the sceptre, but he holds the orb. The centuries have battered it somewhat, but he still In our world, the simple daisy glows brilliant of the Lady Chapel in white and gold when its many petals are touched Westminster Cathedral. has the whole world in his hands. Your crown still shows that there was a time when it shone gold in by the sun. Its only responsibility in its short life is to reflect the sunlight of God’s presence. Do the daisies in our the light of the candles that burned before you. Its colour has fields and hedgerows show us that, by comparison, we are, in faded with age, wear and tear. My Lady, you received your crown from your Son when you left this world to be with him in heaven, some way, clouded and dusty? but does your faded crown here in Westminster tell us that you My Lady, there are times when we fall short of our original beauty never entirely left us behind, that you are still here with us? Does and wholeness… just like the faded flowers at your feet, which it tell us that your own life left you a little bit battered, but perhaps are no longer as pretty as when they were created. Are they a more real? Does it proclaim to those with eyes to see, that your parable? Do they lie there, close to you, honestly admitting that, own struggles and suffering are the reason why you are so able to outwardly, they are no longer as lovely as they were 600 years understand each one of us and to be with us in all the ups and ago? Yet although the flowers have faded, they still have their downs of our daily lives. My Lady, your time-worn alabaster own uniqueness and the privilege of resting in your presence. statue says something that touches me at the very core of my Am I, somewhat chipped and bruised by my own history, in being. You fill me with hope and with peace. some way, also more genuine? Has God pruned me so that he My Lady. My Mother.
Ogilviecentre
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Light of the North
Ogilvie Library Open Day An Open Day will be held at the Ogilvie Centre on the 29th August from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Why not take this opportunity to have a look around and see what resources are available? After many years of service to the Ogilvie Institute, Rev Tony Schmitz has retired and Mary Nelson, whom many of you will know, has taking over the day-today running of this great pastoral and educational resource for the Diocese. Mary would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about herself and what the future now holds for the Ogilvie which has now reverted to its original name, The Ogilvie Centre.
H
ello, I’m Mary Nelson and I have been working at the Ogilvie for the past four years. I live in Stonehaven where I help with the children’s catechesis at St Mary’s Course Coordinator, Mary Nelson Church; a labour of love which I have carried out for 13 years now! I have completed the Maryvale Catechist Church then there is the ‘Adult Studies in the Catholic Course which we can help you to study for at the Ogilvie Catechism’ course. Centre. You will find this very helpful for preparing the We have a huge range of books on all aspects of the faith, children in your parish for the sacraments. both for adults and children, as well as videos, DVDs, In terms of children’s catechesis there are two courses and other resources. You can also access our library online which we are offering at the present time. The first is the at www.ogilvie.ac.uk and if, for instance, there is Maryvale Catechist course which I’ve already mentioned something which you would like to borrow but are unable but for those who cannot commit to the hours to come in to Aberdeen then all you have to do is send an recommended for the Maryvale course we also have a email to: office@ogilvie.ac.uk and we can post the programme available called: ‘Our Lady’s Catechists’. If book/s off to you. you would like further information about either of these courses of study do get in touch with me here at the The Ogilvie Centre is at the service of the whole of the Centre. Remember, we are here to support the catechists Diocese of Aberdeen so please look out for the next of the Diocese and also to encourage those who feel called issue of the Light of the North when we will be bringing to help in the formation of our children to complete you more news about what’s happening at the Centre. some formal training. Until then God Bless. We shall also be continuing to run the ‘Listening to the Word’ course which is really helpful if you want to know Mary more about Scripture and for those who are interested in expanding their knowledge about the teachings of the MARYVALE COURSES OFFERED IN SCOTLAND Certificate for Parish Catechists Adult Studies in the Catholic Catechism Listening to the Word BA in Applied Theology Diploma in Evangelisation and Ministry Art Beauty & Inspiration in a Catholic Perspective OGILVIE WORKSHOPS Workshops on Spirituality Workshops for Readers
Workshops for Auxiliary Ministers of Holy Communion Workshops on Liturgy Workshops for Catechists Workshops on Catholic Social Teaching Workshops on Catholic Faith, Culture and History If you would like further information on any of the above courses contact the Ogilvie Centre, 16 Huntly Street, ABERDEEN AB10 1SH, Tel 01224 638675, Email: RI¿FH#RJLOYLH DF Xk www.ogilvie.ac.uk