Light of the North Issue 29 Summer 2015

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Light of the North

Light I am the Light of the World “ Sing g a New SSong” ong” LLetter ettterr fr from rom Bishop Bisho op Hu Hugh gh Gilbert Gilb errt OSB Page P age 2

Is s u e 29, S u m m er, 2015 Communion in Communion ‘Middle ‘M iddle EEarth’ ar th’.

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FFrr D Domenico omenico Zanrè Za n rè Page P age 20

Mary, the Mary, golfing queen, que en, ttees ees off at Bla Blairs irs Museum.

Page P age 28 Each copy of the Light of the North costs over £1.00 to produce and we would ask you to consider this if you wish to make Ă ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶ͘

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Z͘ ͘ ŝŽĐĞƐĞ ŽĨ ďĞƌĚĞĞŶ ŚĂƌŝƚĂďůĞ dƌƵƐƚ͕ Ă ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ^ĐŽƫƐŚ ŚĂƌŝƚLJ ŶŽ͘ ^ ϬϬϱϭϮϮ

Light Ligh igh t of the N North orth th

diocese d io occes oc ese ese e

Frr Piotr’s F Pio otr’s pas passion ssion ffor or Polonia Poloniia FC

F

r P Piotr iotr R Rytel ytell may consider himself an av average verage playe player er but team-mates tes at IInverness's nverness's newly-formed newly-for y med dP Polonia olonia FC definitely see him as a G Godsend, odsend, rreported eported O Olivia livia ivia B Bell ell in an April A pril edition of the IInverness nverness Cour Courier. rier.

Piotr, 35-year-old Frr P F iotrr, the 35-y e ear-old parish assistant at the city's ciity's St St Mary's Mary's Chur ch, rrevealed evealed in n an inter view with the Courier reporter, reporterr, that Church, interview he had just signed up as secr etary of the team which hich fields all secretary P olish play ers in thee SSecond econd D ivision of IInverness nvernesss and District District Polish players Division League.

H oweverr, the priest est who learnt his skills at school hool alongside However, Celtic goalkeeper Ł ukasz Z ałuska, is only too happy py to slot in as Łukasz Załuska, a defender if need be. e.

"Although w w team ther have already alreadyy been jokes," wee ar aree a ne new theree have F ather R ytel admitted. ed.

Father Rytel "They say they like ke the fact that l am ther ause they will theree because hav od on their side!" ide!" havee G God Although it is too early for long-term predictions, predictions,, they recently recently won their first match h 3-l against SSam's, am's, the local team am sponsor ed sponsored bbyy SSam's am's IIndian ndian rrestaurant. estaurant. taurant.

F ather R ytel mo ved to IInverness nverness two years years ago a Father Rytel moved and tries to balance his passion ion for football with his chur c duties and ch church celebrating M ass. G rowing up in the nor th east of P oland, he was Mass.

Growing north Poland, a goalkeeper lkeeper in the same high school league as Z aluska l k and luska d was Zaluska later a school coach..

“H ounger than me. H ear and I was in “Hee was yyounger Hee was in first yyear thir d,” he rrecalled. ecalled. third,”

“I n one game, me, wher “In wheree I was perr, it was in the ggoal-keeper goal-keeper, the last minutee and w ere wee w were winning until he got another 3-3.” goal, making itt 3-3.”

“It was pr etty tty fr ustrating, “It pretty frustrating, particularly for me, the particularly goal-keeperr, but but w goal-keeper, wee ar aree still laughing aboutt it. it.”” ries to meet up The priest tries Załuska when he can with Załuska me for a quick and found time player at Celtic snap with the player Park before before a E uropean Park European Barcelona. match against Barcelona.

“It’s obvious obvious us he made a “It’s Rytel yte ytel demonstrates demonstr onstrrat atees his ball ll play er than FFrr R better football player c ontro ol and d , inset, with old control and, me,” he laughed. ed. me,” scho ol friend d , C eltic goalk eeper school friend, Celtic goalkeeper love football. tball. I’m I’m not a “I love Ł uk k as asz sz Z ałusk k a Łukasz Załuska great play er but ut I hav great player havee mor moree heart than skill. l.” heart skill.”

Fr R ytel el believ es he could rise abo ve any pr oblems with And Fr Rytel believes above problems h players play l ers or the h rreferee efer f ee on the h pitch. i h other you can nev er tell until the “I hope I would be patient but you never moment,” he added. moment,” Polonia team is made up of workers workers and students in the The Polonia Inverness and D ingwall ar ea and the squad ranges fr om age 18 Inverness Dingwall area from Mar a cin D utkiewicz as team coach.. O ne of their main to 40 with Marcin Dutkiewicz One grate into the local sporting sporting community mmunityy. aims is to integrate community.

Fr R ytel said d that the cr edit for forming thee club had to go to Fr Rytel credit Jakub O lubek and D ominik SStudzinski, tudzinski, ki, and also praised both Jakub Olubek Dominik Highland hland Cash for Clothes for helping ping P olonia to get sponsors Highland Polonia started in the IInverness nverness football ranks. started support and nd equipment fr om The club hass also had an offer of support from Football in the Community munity pr ogramme Caley Thistle under its Football programme oss County unty but ar and R Ross aree still looking for sponsorship and a regular pitch too be able to play on. regular Repor t from fro om Olivia Olivia Bell Bell and photo-montage photo o-montage ge courtesy cour teesy of the Report Inverness Co ourier rierr.

Inverness Courier.

Anyone who would would lik to help the te eam with th sp onsorship etc c.

Anyone likee to team sponsorship etc. can ccontact ontact FFrr Ry R yteel b rytel1@gmaill.com. can Rytel byy email: pr prytel1@gmail.com.

Polonia FC FC / Facebook Facebook Polonia

Page P age 2

Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

diocese dioc d o occces ese e

ccontents ontents diocese d iocese ocese oce ocese ese se 3 urg ur gy y liliturgy litu itturgy urgy rg rrgy g 13 faithinaction faith aith ith thiina i naction n a ction c tion t ion i on 15 witness w tness tness ess ss 16 educationandformation educa education educationand cation ation tion on ndfformation formation rma rm attion ation on 17 faithandculture faith ithand ith dculture lture tu u re 20 20 humour h m our mour ur 34 crossword cr cro ro ross ossw ssword sw word word rd 35

Light Li Ligh i gh ht Managing Editor Deacon T Tony ony Sc Schmitz chmitz

Editor Cowan Co wan W Watson atson 07816344241

07816344241 editor@lightofthenorth.org

editor@lightofthenorth.org enorth.org

Editorial Advisor Canon Bill Ander Anderson erson

Advertising Manager er Skwarek Jim Skw arek 01233 658611

01233 65861 1 jim.skwarek@geeringsprint.co.uk eeringsprint.co.uk North Light of the t North Ogilvie e Centre 16 Huntly tlyy Street Aberdeen rdeen AB10 0 1SH

www www.lightofthenorth.org .lightofthenorth.org ofthenorth.org

The T he dog a att the e door

T

he feast days of the Chur Church ch ar are re not just a way of serve commemorating the past; they ey also ser rve to give givve present us an insight into our oown wn pr p esent rrelationship elationship fu For with God God and a glimpse into the future. uture. F or example, grreat F we will be Feast east of the Assumption which we the great celebraation of O Our Lady’s celebraating soon is not only a celebration ur Lady’ ’s celebrating heaven serrvees to remind Assumption Assum mption into heav veen but it also serves reemind us of mortality give we, own ee, too, will our own w mor tality and to giv ve us hope pe that w follow Our Our Lady when our life is ended. endeed. follow Thatt, in a nutshell, is the good news news w of our Christian That, faith— —that G od is on both sides of thee grav e, and nothing faith—that God grave, sep parate us from from him. SSometimes ometimes that’s t ’s all w that eally need to kno w. can separate wee rreally know.

John Baillie, Baillie, aillie a Scottish theologian and past principal of N ew College, Colllege, llege E dinburgh, John New Edinburgh, undersscored this in one of his books. H tor who, when he underscored Hee tells of an old countr countryy doct doctor h rounds rounds in his horse-drawn ca arriage, was always accompanied d by by his dog. O ne made his carriage, One went to visit a man who was critically ill. day thee physician went “How am I, doctor?� the man asked.. “How replied, “I’m “I’m afraid it doesn’t doeesn’t look good. ere quiet for a while.

The doctor replied, good.�� Both men w were n the patient said, ““What’s What’s it like ke to die, doctor?� As the old physician physician sat ther Then theree trying to t think of some words words of comfort, comffort, he heard heard his dog coming up p the stairs. Then, trying because the door was shut, the dog began beggan to whimper and scratch at the he door. door. because “You hear h that? That He’s never nev n er been in this The doctor said to the man, “You That’s’s my dog. He’s b e. He befor He doesn’t doesn’t know know what’s what’s on this side of the door. door. But But he h knows knows that his house before. here. And because of that, he knows knows that everything everything is all right. ght. Now, Now, death is master is in here. thaat. We’ve We’ve never never been there, there, and we we don’t don’t know know what’s what’s on the other otheer side of the door like that. we know know our Master Master is there. there. It’s It’s because beccause of that, we we know know that everything everything y right.� but we is all right.�

Fortified by by this wise old doctor’s doctor’s words woords and, while we we wait for that particular particular door to Fortified d take a look at some of the inspirational irational summer rreading eading in this issue’s issue’s L ight of the open, do Light N orth, not n least B ishop H ugh’s letter en ncouraging us to “be in tune with h the music that is North, Bishop Hugh’s encouraging Christ � Also, for fans of T �. olkien’s “H obbit� and “The Lor d of the Ring gs�, F omenico Christ�.

Tolkien’s “Hobbit�

Lord Rings�, Frr D Domenico Z anrè looks l at the E ucharistic theologyy in the author an F orbes fr om B lairs Zanrè Eucharistic author’s’s wor workk and IIan Forbes from Blairs M useum m rreveals eveals the museum quisition, a por trait of the first rrecorded ecorded woman Museum museum’s’s latest aq aquisition, portrait ggolfer r, M ary, Q ueen of Scots! IIn n additio on,, F eter B arry p pr ovides somee light g rrelief elief as he golfer, Mary, Queen addition, Frr P Peter Barry provides rreports eports on his latest expedition, this time me to M ongolia, wher ugggles to get to grips Mongolia, wheree he str struggles with a black b vultur e. vulture.

H ave a gr eat summer!

Have great C owa an Cowan

O

n the front fr ont cover co v er of this issue we w e ffeature ea tur t e a painting titled “Regina “ egina Caeli “R C aeli Laetare�

L aetar e � (Queen ( Q ueen en of Heaven, H ea v en, RRejoice). ejoice). ). It is the work w ork of the well-known w ell-k no wn and respected r espec t ed American Americ ric an botanical botanic al artist ar tist Margaret M ar gar ar et Farr F arr ASBA whose botanical botanic al a paintings are ar e to t o be found f ound in a number of prestigious pr estigious collections collec lec tions including the Huntt Institute Institut e for f or Botanical Botanic al Documentation, Doc umenta menta tion, the Shirley S hirle y Sherwood S her w ood Collection C ollec tion and the Smithsonian S mithsonian onian Museum.

Margaret Marr gar et FFarr arr ak akaa Betsy B etsy was w as in Scotland S c otland and recently r ec en tly where wher e six of her paintings pain tings w were er e being shown sho wnn at a t the annual BISC BISCOT O T (Botanical (B otanic al Images Scotia) S c otia) show sho w in Edinburgh.

E dinbur g h.

The T he artist, ar tist , who was w as awarded a w ar ded the silver-gilt silvv er- gilt medal at a t the exhibition, e xhibition,, told t old the Light North of thee Nor th that tha t she and her immediate immedia dia t e family were w er e received r ec eiv ed into in t o the he CChurch hur ch in 1992 that paintings so,, though and tha ha t she has been doing Madonna pain tings “on “on the side� side � for f or 20 years y ears ars or so always plantt life she alw w a ys ccompletes omplet es the plan lif e in a painting pain ting before bef or e turning to t o the figure. figur e . She finds thatt plan plants aree her “security she’s’s spent tha p ts ar “ sec urit y blanket.� blank et .� Once O nc e she spen t a hundred hundr ed hours of working w ork ing on the botanicals, botanic ic als , she won’t w on ’ t dare dar e mess up the “harder “ har der part!� par t!�

There tradition T herr e eexists xists a long tr adition of botanical botanic al and religious r eligious painting. pain ting . Every E v er y Flemish F lemish ““Annunciation�

A nnuncia ncia tion � paid homage ttoo the least ast little weed w eed in the scene. sc ene . The T he plants plan ts portrayed por tr a y ed works aree fr frequently days. in her oown wn w orks ar equen tly seasonal nal ccues ues ttoo Mary’s Mar y ’s feast f east da ys . For F or instance, instanc e , Regina private March CCaeli aeli LLaetare aetar e (in a priv a t e ccollection), ollec tion), rrefers ef ers ttoo the FFeast east of the Annunciation A nnuncia cia tion on Mar ch 25, so all of the plants plan ts are ar e ones that tha t bloom oom near Betsy’s B etsy ’s home in Northern N or thernn Virginia V ir ginia in very v er y spring.. early spring

up front

Page P age 3

Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

diocese dioc d o occces ese ese e

A Letter fr from om ugh O .S.B S.B. Bishop Hugh O.S.B.

D ear F riends, Dear Friends, The world is a noisy isy place. I’ ’ve said this befor re. e B ut her I’ve before.

But heree I’ m not just thinkingg of physical noise: the constant ant hum of I’m traffic and all that. I’ ’m thinking of the many ‘‘voices’ voices ces’ that fill I’m the world and our ears, ars, vvoices oices adv vocating what w advocating wee should or shouldn’ w others to do, vvoices oices vvoicing oicing opinions o on shouldn’t’t do or allo allow countless subjects, vvoices oices ices claiming our allegiance; angr ngrry, bitter r, angry, bitter, sad or ex cited vvoices. oices. S o much noise! IItt becomes impossible mpossible to excited So har rmonise what w earr, or to pick out the right note. e W e. harmonise wee hear hear, Wee hav havee a sense of cacophony y, which hich literally means ‘‘aa bad sound’. sound nd’. We We have have cacophony, a sense of fragmentation ion and fractur re and discor d. IItt is like an fracture discord. or chestra for evver tuning ng up, endlessly waiting for that hat moment orchestra forever of silence and the opening pening gestur re of the conductor tor and the gesture sudden glor ry of a symphony mphonyy, ‘‘coherent coherrent noise ’. glory symphony, noise’.

IImagine magine then that in the midst of this noise, G od himself mself speaks.

God I’ ’d rather say ‘‘starts starts to sing ht, which C. I’d sing’.’. Ther Theree is an ancient thought, S. Le wis recalled recalled in onee of his Narnia Narnia books and J.R.R. R. T olkien in Lewis Tolkien the SSilmarillion, ilmarillion, that the he C reator sang the universe universe into being. Ther Creator Theree is a p primal harmony y, which w we hav marred. B ut the ggr eat songg of harmony, we havee marred.

But great G od, the tr ue note, is Christ himself f. IInto nto the world he was slipped, God, true himself. vvery ery quietly, quietlyy, bbyy way of a V irgin’s womb still small vvoice’, oice ce’, like that Virgin’s womb,, a ‘‘still hear d bbyy E lijah on Mount Mount unt H oreb. When the time camee and moved moved heard Elijah Horeb. bbyy the SSpirit, pirit, he began to sing himself f. H Beatitudes, himself.

Hee intoned thee Beatitudes, he composed parables, he coined the rhythmical phrasess of the O ur Our F ather. ‘N er spoke poke like this man. ere was a new new sound, Father.

‘Noo man ev ever man.’’ H Here a neo-phony y. IItt was music usic fr om abo ve. IItt was G od’s music usic and also neo-phony. from above.

God’s ours, the melody w d been secr etly waiting for therr vvoices oices rrose ose wee had secretly for.. O Other up against it: ‘C rucify him! C rucify him!’ ‘I ou ar ‘Crucify Crucify ‘Iff yyou aree the Christ, sav savee yyourself, ourselff, come do wn fr rom the C ross!’ IItt ended in a ‘loud oud cr y’ and down from Cross!’ cry’ then was wrapped in silence ilence in the tomb But it didn’t didn’t end. It It is as tomb.. But if in the R esurrection, G od the F ather str uck this note with a gr eat Resurrection, God Father struck great gong, and it rang out again. gain. O r: the trumpet trumpet sounded as a dead man Or: was raised.

R esonare Christum - to ‘r esonate Christ ho him, to Resonare ‘resonate Christ’,’, to echo perpetuate the music that hat he is - is a phrase found in the writings

HUGH

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of SStt P aulinus of N ola (c. 353-431). A w ell-kno known American Paulinus Nola well-known Car dinal of the second econd half of the 20th c., JJohn ohn J. Wright, Wright, took it Cardinal as his episcopal motto serve as a motto for or ev ery Christian. motto.. IItt could serve every IItt is what Pope Pope Francis Francis means when he tells us to be ‘missionary ‘missionary disciples aith comes bbyy hearing aul. F aith is a hearing, disciples’.’. ‘F ‘Faith hearing’,’, says SStt P Paul.

Faith w y. Before Before someone is baptised, the priest touches their ears, wee can say say. and says ‘E phphatha atha / B ‘Ephphatha Bee opened opened’.’. The ear of our hear heartt is opened bbyy faith to hear that tr ue note, that good sound, thatt beautiful melody true which is Christ. B ut then our lips ar well. It’s It’s as if we we are are But aree touched as well. asked not just to hear r, but to sing ourselves, ourselves, to ‘resonate’ ‘resonate sonate’ this music, hear, to keep it in the air amid all the noise of the world. P erhaps this Perhaps is especially the gift of the SSacrament acrament of Confirmation. mation. The H oly Holy SSpirit pirit giv es us thee courage to add our voice voice to the choir which is the gives Chur ch. W gin to speak proclaim the mar arvels of G od’ like Church.

Wee ‘begin speak’’ to ‘‘proclaim marvels God’ the apostles at P entecost ntecost – understood bbyy St St Irenaeus Irenaeus aeus as a singing.

Pentecost ‘S ing a ne w song ng to the Lor d.’ W salm lm vverse erse often. W ‘Sing new Lord.’

Wee hear that P Psalm Wee sing it at M ass. There There can be much feeling about and nd many differ ent Mass. different vie ws on the kinds ds of music best for liturgy and pray rayyer. But But to judge views prayer. rightly her e, w he music which is here, wee first need to be in tune with the Christ. The music ic of Christ is a vvery ery distinctiv It has all distinctivee sound. It the sorr ow of thee world in it, rather like the music sic of M ozart, but sorrow Mozart, something else ass w ell, something irr epressibly hopeful opeful and jo yful, well, irrepressibly joyful, heav enlyy. It It gives gives us the ear to judge what is in harmony rmony with it and heavenly. what not, both in n our oown wn liv es and in the world d ar ound us. IItt is a lives around music which lodges ges in our hear wells up as prayer pray ayer at unexpected heartt and wells moments. IIt’s t’s a music m which heals and soothes; it calms the beasts within and without. out. IIt’s t’s the music of mercy, mercyy, P o Francis ope Francis would Pope say y. IIt’s t’s the music of ‘compassion, ‘compassion, kindness, humility, humility ityy, gentleness and say. patience 12). patience’’ (Col 3:12).

W esonating on many different differ erent instruments, instruments, Wee can hear a lot of it, rresonating in this edition of The Light of the N orth. B irds, d hymns, saints, North.

Birds, apostolates, books ks and buildings –all the wayy to the E ditor’s Editor’s E oligarry G ong! And may w esonate Christ!’ st!’

Eoligarry Gong! wee too ‘r ‘resonate Y ours dev otedlyy, Yours devotedly, +H ugh h OSB Hugh

I

f yyou ou ha have ve aaccess ccess to to the in internet ternet do take take a lo llook ok aatt ssome ome of of the ma many ny in inspiring spiring ta talks lks aand nd ho homilies milies ggiven iven bbyy B Bishop ishop H Hugh ug h G Gilbert ilbert aand nd oother ther me members mbers ooff the cle clergy rgy aand nd dw which hich aare re no now w aavailable vailable oon n ““You You T Tube”. ube””. The These se incl include ude vvideos ideos ooff the Dio Diocesan cesan F Faith aith F Formation ormation SSeminars eminars le led d bbyy B Bishop ishop H Hugh ug h w which hich ccover over a w wide ide rrange ange ooff ttopics opics ssuch uch as ““Why Why do does es G God od aallow llow eevil?” vil? ” aand nd ““The The SSeven even D Deadly eadly SSins” ins” . T Too aaccess ccess the these se vvideos ideos o jjust ust ggoo ttoo the Y You ou ttube ube ssite ite aand nd d ssearch earch ffor or the Dio Diocese cese ooff A Aberdeen berde d en cha channel. nnel.

Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

diocese dioc d occes oc ese ese e

Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia at Greyfriars SSrr A Anna nna C Christi hristi

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rrecent ecent rreport eport fr from om England England and Wales Wales sho shows w that the ws numberofvocations numberofv n vocations ocaationsintheUKtowomen in the UK to women women’s n’srreligious eliggiousor orders ders has incr h increased eased iin the past year. yearr. This is encouraging encourraging news during the Year Year for Consecrated Co onsecrated Life, celebrated from from m November November 2014-February 2014-Februarry 2016. What is it that inspir inspires res yyoung oungg people to givve their lives lives to the lo ove and service serrvice of G od in this day d and age? give love God Sister Caitriona Kav vanagh, O.P P., a yyoung oung IIrish rish woman w who Sister Kavanagh, O.P., professed her vvows ows two tw wo years years ago with the Dominican Dominicaan Sisters Sisters of professed St. St. Cecilia in Nashville, Nashvillle, T Tennessee, ennessee, answ answers ers this question quesstion in her personal testimony: “The call to holiness is not ex exclusive. clusive. We We are are all called d to be holy!

This was the message that t captured captured my heart heart as I returned retu urned home from from a pilgrimage to Medjugorje Medjugorje in 2006. Growing Growing up p on a farm in County Wexford, Wexford, Ireland, Ireland, I was blessed to be surrounded surrounded by by both family and community comm munity whose faith was an integral egral par partt of their lives. lives. Although I was faithful to my Catholic traditions, traaditions, the lure lure of worldly distractions distracttions diverted diverted my attention from from m developing developing a deeper relationship relationship with w God. God. It It was only in moments momen nts of silence that I realized realized that I was waas searching searching for something that only o the love love of God God could fulfil.

Like the disciples who wh ho were were instructed instructed to ‘Go ‘Go out too the whole world and proclaim proclaim the th he Good Good News’, News’, I began to discern disceern that the Lord Lord was calling me to t become more more involved involved in His His mission.

However, I began Howeverr, little did I know kno kn now what the path ahead might hold! h to study theology but I soon realized realized that, as with any relationship, relationship, truly truly knowing knowing God God involves invvolves spending time with Him. Him. As, A in prayer prayer and adoration, I discovered discoovered my call to religious religious life, a beautiful peace descended on myy heart. heart. I prayed prayed to be open to His His will for me and to have have the grace grace to accept this wonderful wonderful invitation in nvitation of love. love.

During my discernment, discernm ment, I was enraptured enraptured by by thee life of St. St. During Dominic, whose heart heart burned with zeal zeal for the salvation salvatiion of souls Dominic, through preaching. preaching. I longed loonged firstly to come to know know thiss Truth, Truth, and through share it with others. oth hers. As I continued to study theology, theeologyy, I had then to share realization of this fundamental interrelationship interrelationsh hip between between a deeper realization prayer which whicch St. St. Dominic Dominic so reverently reverently lived. liived. Prayer Prayer study and prayer Truth which w necessary to carry carry out God’s God o ’s mission leads us to the Truth is necessary evangelization in thee world. of evangelization heard aboutt the Dominican Dominican Sisters Sisters of St. St.. Cecilia in I first heard Nashville from from the Irish Irissh Dominican Dominican friars. When I looked loooked at the Nashville sisters i ’ website, website, b i I was attracted d to their h i community i life life if founded f dd sisters’ prayerr, fidelity fid delity to their charism of teaching teachiing and the on common prayer, wearing of the habit. When W Nashville, the overwhelming overwhelming wearing I visited Nashville, love and joy jooy of the sisters in community was w tangible, sense of the love felt at home! The two-fold tradition tradiition of the and I immediately felt Dominican charism; ‘To ‘To contemplate and to give give too others the Dominican fruits of this contemplation’ contempllation’ encapsulates the integral relationship relationship fruits

“Religious should be men and women who are able e e to wake the world up”

The Year of Consecrated Life November November 2015 No v ember 2014 2e and- active No 2 I experienced between thee contemplative coon con ne ntemplativ activ vveember whiich e between life which w the sisters. duringg myy stayy with entered the Dominican Dominican Sisters Sisters of Saint Saint Cecilia ilia in 2011 and I I entered prrofession of vows vows in July July of 2013.

2013. I am currently currently made my first profession preparing to teach h in the apostolate, to share share with h my students the preparing “fruits of my contemplation.” con ntemplation.” Through Through the teaching hing apostolate, I “fruits love of truth, truth, beau utyy, goodness and will seek to instillll in them a love beauty, gral part part of their lives. lives. Our Our vocation voccation as teachers unity as an integral allows us to serve serve the Church Church in her mission off proclaiming proclaiming the allows Good News.

News. Ass the meaning of the call to make ake a total gift of Good Divine Spouse Spouse continues to unfold, unfoold, my vocation vocation myself to the Divine allows me to come com me to the true true fulfillment of what whaat the Lord Lord desires desires allows coould be more more exciting?!” exciting?!” for me. What could Sister Caitriona’s Caitriona na’’s testimony echoes themes that at are are commonly Sister by young young people p God’s call too consecrated life cited by embracing God’s todayy. The call off God God comes in the silence, often n as a surprise, and today. by the th he sacramental life and personal prayer, prayerr, especially is nourished by before the Blessed Blesseed Sacrament.

Sacrament. Often Often a love love for for the founder or before foundress of a specific sp pecific community, communityy, and for its charism ch harism1 begins to foundress burn in a yyoung oung person p person’s’s hear heart, t, as the desir desiree to give giive all to the Lord Lord finds a par particular ticular expr expression. ession. The experience off visiting a jo joyful yful which livee its charism faithfully community whic ch is seeking to liv aithfully rresonates esonates with i h the h yyoung oung person, p giving i i him hi or her h the h grace race to take k a step against everything which goes again nst ev erything the current current culture cultu ure says will make happy. joyy and peace radiate from one happy y. An infectious jo te fr om one who surrenders God’s During Year surr enders to G o ’s call. D od uring this Y ear of Consecrated C Life, Pope Francis givee witness P ope F rancis hass challenged consecrated persons ns to giv joy, thereby to this jo y, and ther eby to ““Wake Wake up the world!” worlld!” Let us pray fervently many answer fer vently that ma any more more yyoung oung people will hear ar and answ er the consecrated havee alr already call to consecrate ed life; and that those who hav eady embraced from God this call fr om G o will be faithful witnesses to the joy od joy of giving everything everything - even even n their very very selves selves - to Him. Him.

1 A chari charism ism is ““the the spirit and aims of each h founder…” (The SSecond econd Vatican Vatican Council Council’s C ’s D Decree ecree on the Adaptation Adaptattion and R Renewal enewal of R Religious eligious Life, W WĞƌĨĞĐƚĂĞ ĞƌĨĨĞĐƚ Ğ ĂĞ Ăƌŝƚ ĂƌŝƚĂƟƐ, ĂƟƐ, 2). F For or exam example, mple, the charism of the D Dominican ominicaan O Order rder is to shar sharee with otherss the Truth, Truth, JJesus esus Christ, who has been b encounter encountered ed in prayer prayer and study. study s y.

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Over three quarters of a century at the Sacred Heart parish

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argaret Napier Hopkins has been a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church, Torry, Aberdeen for seventysix years. Born in July 1936, she moved into the parish with her parents, Charles and Jessie-Ann at the age of three. The last child in a family of four she was born to a Catholic father and a non-Catholic mother. When her father served abroad in the forces during the Second World War Margaret’s mother took up the responsibility of bringing up the children in the Catholic Faith, making sure they attended Mass every Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation.

Margaret later got married to William (a non-Catholic) and they had a son and daughter, Billy and Maggie who were brought up as Catholics.

Margaret has been a very devout Catholic from her childhood. She has special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and recites the Holy Rosary every single day. She believes that many of her prayers have been answered through the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She recalls an incident in her childhood at the age of seven when she woke up one morning and was unable to see. She was taken into hospital where she stayed blind for fifteen months, during which, Margaret says she never stopped reciting the Rosary, and subsequently her sight was miraculously restored. Margaret’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary appears to be infectious in the sense that she is unflinching in recruiting others to join her in reciting the Rosary in church. Furthermore, she takes it as her personal responsibility to see to the crowning of the statue of Our Lady in the months of May and October. Margaret is an excellent singer with a golden voice and has an incredible talent in choosing the right hymn for every occasion.

In the seventy-six years Margaret has lived in Sacred Heart parish, she has seen more than thirty priests pass through the

L’Arche celebrates joy of 40 years of community living

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“In the seventy-six years Margaret has lived in Sacred Heart parish, she has seen more than thirty priests pass through the parish” parish; and has served them in various ways as sacristan, housekeeper, cleaner or flower lady. Margaret has always been at the forefront every initiative in the parish and has served as a member of the parish council on many occasions.

Her fundraising ingenuity is unparalleled, and she would not spare any of her personal or family’s resources in raising funds for the parish. Margaret has devoted her entire life to Sacred Heart Church Torry, and she says it herself: “Sacred Heart Church has been my life, it is part of me, and the place where I come to pray to God for comfort and consolation”.

Fr Patrick, Parish Priest , Sacred Heart

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’Arche Inverness celebrate 40 years of community life in Inverness this year.

Our founding house, Braerannoch, was gifted to us in 1975 by Jean Graham, who offered her family home to L’Arche, to found a new community. We have been able to offer a home to adults with learning disabilities ever since, and are delighted, 40 years on, to have a thriving and happy community, spread over three houses, some independent flats and a very busy workshop.

Braerannoch now requires some renovations to upgrade it to suit mobility and age related needs. To do this, we are launching a fundraising appeal “L’Arche Inverness Appeal” .

We aim to ensure we can offer support to those already with us, as they age and their needs change, and to offer a home to more people. Braerannoch shall be renovated, to make it fully accessible, with a lift and ensuite rooms. We shall build a new house within the grounds of Braerannoch, and add a small shop and sales area to our workshops.

We have faith that we can raise the money needed to do all of this, and already have had some very generous donations. There shall be local and national fundraising events, and we hope not only to raise money, but to raise our profile locally.

We have been in Inverness for 40 years, but we so often hear people saying they have never heard of us. Now we want our local community to know of the joy of Community Life within L’Arche.

Helen Peattie, Community Leader, L’Arche Inverness

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Gaynoll Craig

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he first World Youth Day (WYD), the brainchild of John Paul II, took place in Rome, and since then it has occurred every few years in places as varied as Argentina, France and Toronto. Since its first celebration in 1984, it has evolved into a vibrant week-long pilgrimage where young Catholics from all over the world come together to join with the pope to pray, celebrate and reflect.

Next year Pope Francis invites young People to celebrate World Youth Day in Kraków with the message, “The Church today wants you to be the People of the Beatitudes. So, we make our way to the city of Mercy.”

But, why go to WYD? Well for many it can be an eye-opening experience. It is impossible to attend one and not to feel your faith strengthened and affirmed. It’s easy to feel alone and isolated in the secular western world, which can seem so indifferent to Christ and His Church, but WYD proves beyond any doubt that the Church — and especially the Church in Europe — is not dead or dying. It is vibrant and full of life.

Be prepared then to have a powerful encounter with Christ in the Sacraments, to listen to thought-provoking catechesis delivered by Bishops from all around the world and to experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation with priests from every country in the world. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in the Stations of the Cross on a large scale and Adoration with Pope Francis and millions of young people at the Overnight Vigil in Brzegi Park. And let’s not forget the WYD Mass with Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and

young people from all over the world.

It’s an occasion to encounter Christ in the people we meet and make friends with the families we stay with. There will be visits to the Divine Mercy Shrine, Jasna Góra Sanctuary in Częstochowa etc. It is a very happy, positive faith experience.

Young people who have attended WYD in the past have found it a life changing experience while clergy are recharged with a new enthusiasm through the faith of the young people from all around the world.

WYD can be a step in the maturity of Faith and for many a defining moment in deciding their path for life and vocation.

So - Parishioners , I would urge you to help your Parish Priest to contact young people who might like to prepare to make the pilgrimage journey to WYD 2016 Krakow.

To arrange a WYD presentation in your parish, please get in touch with Gaynoll, email: gaynoll.craig@gmail.com. Gaynoll Craig is the WYD Kraków 2016 Co-ordinator.

Craig Lodge Retreat Centre

Craig Lodge 1/4 Page

HOW TO GET THERE Aberdeen Diocese gives you three options to choose from: 18-35yrs - 19th July - 2nd August (2 weeks by Air) G. Craig: gaynoll.craig@gmail.com 16-35yrs - 25th July - 2nd August (1 week by Air) Sr. Christiana: dominican.sisters@dioceseofaberdeen.org 15-17yrs - 18th July - 4th August (2 weeks by Coach) St. Andrew’s Community: standrewscommunity@cathedral-abdn.org Registration Forms are available from: www.dioceseofaberdeen.org or from the above contacts.

Retreats Prayerful Breaks Spiritual Holidays The perfect place to recharge spiritual batteries!

Find out more at www.craiglodge.org Parish groups, families,

young people, clergy – all welcome Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer Dalmally, Argyll, PA33 1AR, Scotland T: 01838200 216 E: mail@craiglodge.org www.craiglodge.org

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Appointment of Evangelisation and Communications Officer by Bishop Hugh

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ishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, has appointed Pennan resident Dr Glen Reynolds as a Consultant in a newly created post, that of Evangelisation and Communications Officer. The Diocese covers approximately one third of the land mass of Scotland and is served by 32 priests and 7 deacons in 44 parishes.

Dr Reynolds has a background as a lawyer specialising in media and libel law, and has been a consultant with Victim Support and Age Concern, along with having worked as a freelance and investigative journalist. He has also tutored in Christian Studies at Aberdeen University, and works in Community Safety for Aberdeenshire Council.

Dr Reynolds said “This is a challenging and exciting time for anyone involved in communicating a Christian message in an increasingly globalised world where the media plays such a critical role. I am delighted and humbled by the task that faces me. The Roman Catholic Church in the 21st century has a Pope in Francis who is pushing forward open and transparent change. It is a message that needs at a local level to be conveyed in a meaningful way through forums that evolve on an almost yearly basis, from voice to print and digital media.

It is a wonderful challenge addressing a desperate need in

our society for knowledge of what the Church is truly about, locally and internationally.”

Bishop Hugh stated “The Roman Catholic Church has just celebrated the 49th World Communications Day, and it is right that Dr Glen Reynolds the Diocese of Aberdeen should appoint Dr Glen Reynolds as Officer of Evangelisation and Communications. Catholics have been urged by a succession of Popes, and not least the present Holy Father, to fulfil the command of Jesus to preach the Good News of the Gospel to the whole world. A key to communicating with “the whole world” is the world of the media and its demands for news relating to every aspect of the life of the Church and its people. It is a demanding role, and in Glen we have someone equipped with the experience and ability to make a positive contribution to the role of the Church in what is a very large Diocese with diverse communities. I look forward to working with him.”

Pilgrimage to Deer Abbey for the Year of Consecrated Life

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n the 11"‘ June, to mark the Year of Consecrated Life , the Religious Sisters of the diocese went on pilgrimage with Bishop Hugh to Deer Abbey, the Group photograph in the beautiful grounds of the ruined abbey 13"‘ century Cistercian abbey near Mintlaw. We made our way in small groups from Portlethen ,Ellon, Elgin, and be limited by sickness or old age.

Aberdeen.

After Mass we went to The Episcopal church of St Drostan As Bishop Hugh offered Mass in the ruins of the abbey we were united with all those who had worked and prayed in where three members of the congregation gave us a warm this holy place over the centuries. The sun shone down upon welcome and had prepared refreshments for us in a small us and the birds in the trees around seemed to join in our room at the back of the church.

Refreshed, we then congregated in the church to listen to praise. In his homily Bishop Hugh reminded us of the value of our life, consecrated to God, even when our ministry might an inspiring talk given by Mary Stevens, who is completing a doctorate at the university of St Andrew's. Mary's talk was based on the subject of her thesis which was the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul ll, Redemptionis Donum 1984, to men and women religious on their consecration in the light of the mystery of redemption. Mary focussed especially on the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience.

After a visit to Aden Country Park where we shared a snack lunch we returned to Deer Abbey where we completed our pilgrimage by praying First Vespers for the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

Bishop Hugh celebrates Mass for the pilgrims

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Sr Catherine Laughlin RSCJ

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Double celebration at Marydale

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t the church of Our Lady and Saint Bean on Sunday 7th June, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, a large congregation of parishioners and relatives gathered to see five children make their First Communion - a joyous occasion in itself, but more was to come.

The ‘Bene Merenti’ cake

Congratulations to the five new communicants Father Colin Davies, parish Priest of Marydale, in one of his last acts before leaving to serve further north in the Aberdeen Diocese, presented Nan and Tom MacGeady with Bene Merenti medals in recognition of over forty years service to the Parish.

Nan had been active in the Parish in many ways, but especially in the preparation of young people for Sacraments.

Tom has been an ardent supporter of the Guild of Saint Stephen, helping to train many altar servers over the years and

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himself fulfilling that office up to the present time. He had also been called to participate at many Deanery and Diocesan events since arriving at Marydale Father Colin Davies presents Nan and Tom MacGeady with their Bene Parish.

Merenti medals A very pleasant social gathering in the Parish Hall rounded off the day, where a beautiful 'Bene Merenti' cake baked by Mrs Janette MacPherson took pride of place among the many delights provided by the parents of the First Communicants.

The Apostleship of the Sea invites you to

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For more info information contact Doug Duncan dougduncan@apostleshipofthesea.org.uk or 07757 042722 Page 9

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Queen awards good Samaritan the BEM

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ifelong Aberdeen Cathedral parishioner and Samaritans volunteer Margaret Smith, had her many years of service recognised recently in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, when she was awarded the British Empire Medal. Margaret has worked at the Aberdeen branch of the Samaritans since 1987 and is still an active volunteer, supporting callers on a weekly basis. Bishop Hugh spoke of Margaret’s work and offered his own congratulations at a recent Mass.

The award came as a complete surprise to Margaret.

“I nearly died of shock when I heard about it!” she said.

Margaret’s long service to the community means she inevitably has some very valuable insights regarding the issues she has had to deal with at the Samaritans.

“However,” reflected Margaret, “ while I’ve seen lots of changes, basically many of the problems are much the same.”

Margaret is unsurprisingly the longest serving member of the branch. Her wealth of experience means volunteers are often keen to seek out her advice and she is always happy to share her thoughts and give practical guidance, whether to new volunteers or longer serving staff.

Margaret is encouraged that, “A lot of young people, including

students, are now coming in to volunteer.”

Margaret has previously served as chairwoman and vicechairwoman of the Aberdeen branch of the Samaritans and she is currently running the recruitment process, with responsibility for all the paperwork. She says that her volunteering was made worthwhile by the mere fact of being able to help someone and she has certainly no intention of stopping now.

“I’m going to keep going as Margaret Smith BEM long as I can,” she said.

Well done and many congratulations Margaret – What an inspiration you are to us all.

Glen Reynolds

Bishop Hugh appoints new Oblate’s surprise award to mark parish priest for Culloden 40 years of faithful altar service

Fr Domenico Zanrè will be St Columba’s first parish priest

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ishop Hugh has appointed Fr. Domenico Zanrè as the New Parish Priest for St. Columba's, Culloden. The announcement was made at the St Columba’s Station Mass during Lent.

The Bishop also announced full parish status for St. Columba's, Scotland's newest Catholic Church, which until now has been served and supported by St. Mary's Parish, Inverness.

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n Trinity Sunday, Robert Johnston was given a great surprise at the end of Mass when he was awarded the silver medal of merit of the Guild of St Stephen in recognition of 40 years of being an altar server. Since the age of eight Robert has faithfully served at St Joseph's, Woodside, Aberdeen with great enthusiasm. Robert is very proud of his membership of the Guild of St Stephen as well as his connection with Pluscarden Abbey as an Oblate. Fr Stuart Chalmers, parish priest of St Joseph's, said that it was "great to celebrate Robert's dedication to serving."

ocese diocese d ioc o oce ces ese e

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Pluscarden Abbey Monastic Experience Weekend A chance for young Catholic men in the Year of Consecrated Life to experience Monastic Life at Pluscarden Abbey

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he Benedictine monks of Pluscarden Abbey offer an opportunity to see at first-hand what monastic life is about, during the weekend Friday 11th to Monday 14th September 2015. The invitation is extended to single young men, Catholics who practise their faith, aged 18-35.

We hope that all participants will feel welcome and at ease. To this end, the following points should be noted: Arrival is best timed between 3pm and 4pm on Friday 11th September, to allow for allocation of rooms and settling in. An introduction to the weekend programme is scheduled for 4.30pm.

All meals are provided. Breakfast is self-served in the guest house, where tea and coffee is always available. If participants have any important dietary requirements, please let us know in advance. Bedding and towels are provided, and the individual rooms each have a wash basin.

Showers and toilets are on each corridor. Participants should bring with them whatever they need for an overnight stay. It would also be useful to bring some extra clothes, suitable for outdoor work, as this will feature in the programme.

As far as possible, an environment of quiet and recollection should be maintained; so it would be best if participants are prepared to forego their internet and social media contacts for the duration of the weekend. After the final prayer service of each day, silence should be

maintained and all conversation avoided if possible.

The Abbey is six miles south-west of Elgin. Taxi from Elgin costs ÂŁ16.00 Elgin has bus and rail stations, with regular services from Aberdeen and Inverness. The nearest airport is Inverness (Dalcross), which is served by a range of cheap flights available from Bristol, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester.

There is a good bus service between the airport and Elgin.

Anyone interested in taking part is invited to contact Fr. Benedict Hardy OSB: novicemaster@pluscardenabbey.org Pluscarden Abbey Elgin IV30 8UA. 01343 890257 www.pluscardenabbey.org

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I 50th Anniversary

n this the 50th anniversary year of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), director Alistair Dutton and a small group of volunteers and staff made a Cycle Pilgrimage of Scotland to thank supporters for changing the lives of millions of people in some of the poorest countries in the world.

The pilgrimage started on the north coast in Thurso on 29th April, and covered 700 miles before finishing in Oban on Sunday 31st May. The route took in some of Scotland’s main pilgrimage routes and most sacred places including Pluscarden Abbey, Carfin Grotto and Iona.

During the event the pilgrims cycled for several hours each day before visiting schools and parishes, including more remote areas such as the Western Isles, attending Mass, and speaking at special events including a travelling exhibition of SCIAF’s history.

In addition, a Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen to mark SCIAF’s anniversary in our diocese.

The Mass began with a procession of flags from many of the countries SCIAF has worked in over the last 50 years, carried by school children, supporters, volunteers and staff.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB presided. After Mass there was a reception and a chance to look at an exhibition on the charity’s history and meet staff and volunteers.

Pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School and the Polish Saturday School in Inverness joined in SCIAF’s Cycle Pilgrimage

Alistair Dutton (SCIAF) with Bishop Hugh Gilbert, Kaziek Culpa, Malachi Ezeh and Gemma Lamarra (SCIAF)

Gemma Lamarra and Alistair Dutton (SCIAF) meet up with monks from Pluscarden Abbey

Aberdeen Mass celebrates SCIAF’s 50 years of helping some of the world’s poorest

The Rt Rev Peter Moran, Bishop Emeritus of Aberdeen caught up with the SCIAF pilgrims in Fortrose

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Rain couldn’t dampen spirits of Keith pilgrims

around 900 people enjoyed a splendid and inspirational Mass with bishops and priests from all over Scotland. The principal celebrant was Archbishop Leo Cushley while Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB was the preacher.

Parishioners from every corner of the Diocese and from further afield were there to enjoy this once in a life-time event which will remain in memories for many years to come.

Ron Smith

St John Ogilvie statues installed

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hree new statues of St. John Ogilvie have “taken up residence” in the Highland Deanery, in this year of the saint’s 400th Anniversary.

St.Lawrence’s Church Dingwall, St. Columba’s Church, Culloden and St. Mary’s Church, Inverness have each installed a statue of Scotland’s only post - Reformation Saint. The statues were dedicated and blessed by Bishop Hugh Gilbert at the Station Masses during Lent.

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he 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie was marked in Keith on Saturday 4 July. This National Pilgrimage for the Church in Scotland celebrated Scotland's only post reformation saint, Saint John Ogilvie, who was born at Keith in 1579, and executed at Glasgow Cross on the 10th of March 1615.

For this special day Keith football team's Kynoch Park was transformed with a stage, stalls, and all was prepared - when the weather turned nasty. In the morning, gales and torrential rain caused the cancellation of the bands and entertainment. However, with Mass due to start at 3pm - the sky cleared, the sun shone, and

Duncan Macpherson

Here’s How to ...........

Make a Power of Attorney

A ne whi w serie c som h looks s e pr at issu actica con es and l eve cerns o ryda f y life .

Douglas Crombie

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ower of Attorney – It’s never too early ….. but it can be too late!

No one likes to consider a time when they may not be able to make their own decisions as a result of a loss of capacity.

However as people are generally living longer, and care in one form or another will be required by many of us in later life, sadly this is a reality, but with careful consideration and forward planning many of the problems which can arise in the event of a loss of capacity can be alleviated.

A Power of Attorney is a simple but powerful document which appoints someone else – a trusted family member, friend or professional adviser – to look after your financial and personal affairs in the event that you are unable to do so personally.

It is important to be aware that a Power of Attorney can only be granted while you have capacity to do so. In the event of a loss of

capacity, the ability to grant a Power of Attorney is also lost. A loss of capacity can arise suddenly and unexpectedly – for example as a result of an accident or stroke, or more gradually over time as a result of the onset of dementia or alzheimers.

A Power of Attorney should be professionally prepared by a Solicitor and requires to be signed in the presence of the Solicitor.

It is the duty of the Solicitor to make an assessment of capacity at the time the Power of Attorney is signed, to ensure that you fully understand the nature of the deed and that you are not being Page 13

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put under any undue pressure by anyone to grant the Power of Attorney in their favour. If there is any doubt whatsoever as to your capacity, a Doctor may require to be consulted.

In that situation, if the Doctor considers that you do not have sufficient capacity and understanding, then the Power of Attorney cannot be signed, and it may therefore be too late to appoint an Attorney. The alternative then is to petition the Court to have a guardian appointed. This involves a lengthy consultation process, and medical and Social Work reports require to be obtained. This process is both expensive and cumbersome. Furthermore, the Court-appointed guardian is subject to onerous duties, including providing Annual Reports and Accounts to the Office of the Public Guardian. For these reasons the appointment of a guardian is to be avoided wherever possible, and the simple way to achieve this is to put a Power of Attorney in place while you are able to do so.

It is important to note that a Power of Attorney need not come into effect when it is first signed. When the Power of Attorney is signed it can be placed in safe storage, and brought out only in the event of it needing to come into effect.

There are two types of Power of Attorney available:The Continuing Power of Attorney, which empowers 1. the Attorney to deal with your financial, property and business interests. The Continuing Power of Attorney will come into effect in the event of a loss of capacity arising, but can also be brought into effect at an earlier time if you find it convenient to do so. This can be useful, for example, for those who work away from home for extended periods of time.

2.

The Welfare Power of Attorney empowers the Attorney to make decisions about your personal welfare in the event that you are unable to do so. Matters covered by the Welfare Power of Attorney include issues such as what medical intervention may be appropriate, where you should stay, and who should take care of

you. The Welfare Power of Attorney will only ever come into effect if it is established by a Doctor that you lack legal capacity and are unable to make your own decisions about your personal welfare.

It is possible to incorporate both forms of Power of Attorney in a single document, known as a Continuing and Welfare Power of Attorney, and this is what most people choose to do.

An Attorney has wide ranging powers to deal with your personal and financial affairs, and it is therefore essential that you have complete trust in your Attorney. For peace of mind there are certain legal safeguards. The Power of Attorney requires to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian to come into effect, and the Public Guardian has a code of practice which has been established to apply to all Attorneys in Scotland. Further information is available on the Public Guardian’s website at www.publicguardianscotland.gov.uk.

If you do not currently have a Power of Attorney in place speak to your Solicitor as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements. The process is relatively simple and inexpensive, but is as important as making a Will.

Most importantly if you have a relative or friend who may be suffering from the onset of dementia or alzheimers, DON’T DELAY. Contact a Solicitor right away as it may be possible to set up a Power of Attorney whilst there is still sufficient capacity to do so. It’s never too early to speak to a Solicitor about setting up a Power of Attorney – sadly it can be too late.

Douglas Crombie has over 25 years of experience in legal practice in Aberdeen and is a Partner in the law firm of Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace

Asse Asset s t protection pr o t ec t i ion Raeburn Christie Clark your y o ur & Wallace 1/2 page ffamily amil mily We can We can help help p protect rotect y your our a assets ssets fr from rom in inheritance heritance but you need act now.

These ttax ax and and care care ccosts, osts, b ut y ou n eed tto oa ct n ow. T hese need ass ffar ass 1 10 years tthings hings n eed to to be be cconsidered onsidered a ar a 0y ears in advance never early. a dvance so so iit’s t’’s n ever ttoo oo e arly.

Private P rivate C Client lient ent S Services ervices ffrom rom mR RCC CC W Call D Call Douglas ouglas C Crombie rombie o on n 0122 01224 4 332 40 400 0 or visit www.raeburns.co.uk www w.rraeburns.co.uk Page 14

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MY F A V O U R I T E HYM N S My Favourite Favvourit ouritee Hymns Hymns ymn ns – The The Very Verry Reverend Revereend Alan Main, M former My Modera ato or of the General Gen nerral Assembly Assembly of the Church Churcch of o Scotland Scotland Moderator chooses some of his best-loved best-lo e ved hymns. hymns. chooses

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y choice ce of hymns is influenced b byy my m jour journey ney through thr ough h life and my dev developing veloping theolog theology, logy, which began simply imply but has become incr increasingly reasingly gly complex.

Att a yyoung A oung age I was influenced bbyy a strong strong parental presence parents were Church par ental pr esence as my par ents w ere Chur ch members ers and they w ere also musical. I play ayed the organ and was ther efore sensitiv were played therefore sensitivee to both music and wor words ds in hymns fr from om being very very young. young. ng. Perhaps Perhaps the hymn that made the earliest impr impression ession was P Psalm salm lm 23 ––The The Lor Lord’s rd’s my S Shepherd hepherrd - to the tune O Orlington rlington (a metrical rical vversion ersion of the P salm fr om The Scottish P salter of 1929, set to a nineteenth Psalm from Psalter centur ohn Campbell). F rom my earliest yyears ears comes centuryy tune bbyy JJohn From P raise my soul, the King of H eaven which sets out a lot about Praise Heaven my journey of faith – ‘it was a hymn that spoke to me me’. e’. (This is a paraphrase of psalm 103 03 set to a tune bbyy the 19th centur ntury British British century composer SSir ir JJohn ohn G oss). ss).

Goss).

A niversityy, O C ome, O C ome, E mmanuel Att school, and then U University, Come, Come, Emmanuel is a hymn with str ong words words and music which seem to match each strong other.. (The wor other words ds are are based b on ancient A Advent dvent antiphons ns translated bbyy JJohn ohn M ason N eale and the tune appears to hav n based on a Mason Neale havee been 15th centur centuryy plainchant nt melody but harmoniz harmonized ed at some me point in the 19th. centur y.) century.)

After I was or dained dIw ent to the Chapel of G arioch, och, a rrural ural ordained went Garioch, P arish in which nature nature and agricultur n ev eryone’s Parish agriculturee loomed large in everyone’s liv es. F rom this time I to the hills will lift mine eeyes yess – a paraphrase lives.

From of P salm 121 set to one of the old melodies fr om the Scottish Psalm from P salter of 1615 – was a par ticularly fav ourite hymn. P erhaps this Psalter particularly favourite Perhaps was entir ely understandable ndable in a Parish Parish that was ooverlooked verlooked e bbyy entirely B ennachie. A ll things bright b and beautifull and F or the he beauty of Bennachie.

All For the ear th w ere also par rticularly rrelevant elevant to life in the country. countr ountry. earth were particularly IIn n the 1970s, as the yyoungest o oungest M inister in the P resbytery of G arioch Minister Presbytery Garioch of the Chur ch of Scotland, land, it was natural that I had rresponsibility e esponsibility Church for gathering together yyouth outh members of the Church.

Church.. From From this time I became familiar with the ne w wav uch as those new wavee of hymns, such bbyy SSidney idney Car ter. W erre yyou ou there therre when the ey cr ucified ed my Lor rd?

Carter.

Were they crucified Lord? an African-American spiritual piritual and B ernadette F arrell’s Longing L for Bernadette Farrell’s

Verry Reverend Revereen nd Alan Main (Trinity ( Trinitty Hall Portrait, Po Portrrait, ait Ab a erd deen) Very Aberdeen) L ightt, which speaks aks of our present present condition, with h a rousing rousing chorus, chorus, Light, ht! SShine hine in our hearts, hearts, shine thr o ough the dar rkness, Christ, be our light! through darkness, very singable.. has a tune which I like and which is very ppointed to the University University as Chaplain, ideas of When I was appointed developing theology ogy and faith, in a specific community munityy, suggested developing community, Almighty l Father of all things that at be, be, with wor ds other hymns: Almighty Father words

by Ernest Ernest E. Dugmore Dugmor gmore and a rousing rousing tune by

by George George C. Martin; Martin; by St P atrick’s Breastplate Breastplate astplatee with wor ds that come fr om SSt. t. Patrick Patrick St Patrick’s words from presenting good theology and finally Lor rd off Creation Creation to the presenting Lord tune SSlane. lane. All these hymns belong to creation creation theology and are are characteristic of the early Celtic Chur ch. They ar Church. aree all concerned with ho ww dicate ourselv es and our liv es, and speak of our how wee dedicate ourselves lives, calling, and whatt w w that. They all hav wee should do to follo follow havee good, stur dy tunes as befits efits the sentiment of the wor ds. sturdy words.

JJumping umping sideways sideways w Father was a Captain of for a moment; my Father the Bo ys B rigadee organization and so it was natural ural that I became Boys Brigade inv olved and w ent nt thr ough all the grades as a youngster. youngster ungster. F or a long involved went through For time ther eafterr, h hooweverr, I had nothing to do with h the organization, thereafter, however, but I was then invited nvited in 2004 to become B rigade de President President of the Brigade whole h l organization i ion in i G reat B ritain i i and d IIreland reland l d for for a 2–y 2 ear period. i d Great Britain 2–year An ‘‘anthem’ anthem’ of the he Bo ys B rigade is the hymn W ill yyour our anchor hold Boys Brigade Will in the stor rm of life? ife?? The wor ds bbyy W illiam JJames ames es Kir rkpatrick to a storm words William Kirkpatrick tune bbyy P riscilla JJane ane Owens Owens make a formidable hymn, one which Priscilla ev en bo ys who had ad no close connection with either her chur ch or faith even boys church would sing. Thiss has become one of my firm fav o ourites. favourites.

N ow I am rretired etired and once again am living in a small community Now in the countr y, in n an ar ea dominated by by agriculture. agriculturre. N ow the green grreen country, area Now blade riseth h wor ds bbyy JJohn ohn M acleod Campbell bell C rum and set riseth,, with words Macleod Crum to a traditional F rench melody by

by M artin Shaw, Shaw w, speaks s French Martin naturally of a setting in which h a rrural ural congr egation can contemplate mplate the passing congregation of the seasons. The Easter season with its sense of rrebirth ebirth and plants and flo wers beginning nning to gr ow again, giv es a living ing quality to the flowers grow gives hymn which is entir ntirely relevant relevant to that congr egation ion’s experience. entirely congregation’s M lgrimage thr ough life thr eads itss way thr ough my Myy musical pilgrimage through threads through dev eloping theology ogyy. Christ triumphant ev ver rreigning, eigning gningg, with wor ds developing theology. ever words

by Michael Michael Saward Sawarrd and tune by

by John John Barnard, Barnard, is a hymn following following by Christ’s life - which hich w Th S aviour died, Christ’s wee celebrate in worship worship.. The Saviour Page P age 15

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but rose again, has words that are a paraphrase of Romans chapter 8, and a tune from the eighteenth century. This hymn seems to me to have a most complete expression of Christian faith. It has a particular association for me as it was sung at the Worship of the final Assembly gathering, marking the end of my Moderatorial year.

Though simple in outline this hymn expresses everything that I believe in.

I would like to make just a couple of other observations. As an organist and a Minister, I am very conscious of the two aspects making up a favourite hymn – good words and good music. Sometimes a good text can be set to inadequate music, and sometimes it can be the other way round. Adaptations of hymns, perhaps with tunes often sung to other words, or using Scottish tunes, can work, but great care needs to be taken with any associations that those tunes might have. The choice of hymns is influenced by many factors including place and context. Hymns chosen for a service in a city centre church might not have much relevance in a more rural setting. One needs to think these things through.

Hymns are a critically important part of the worship situation.

Though certain services may be designed to do without hymns, these are somehow different. The choice of music at a service, whether it is sung or whether it is played should be thought through. The appropriateness of a hymn, or a piece of music, must be considered carefully. Music can offer both a vehicle for active participation but also an opportunity for contemplation. A good hymn possibly does both.

The Very Reverend Professor Alan Main TD, DD, was talking to Dr. Roger B. Williams, M.B.E. In our next issue Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti will be sharing his favourite hymns with Dr Williams.

In the meantime, if you would like to comment on the Reverend Main’s choice or, if there’s a particular hymn which has a special significance for you, why not write to us about it: editor@lightofthenorth.org

Discovering and using the spiritual gifts Fr Gabor Czako, Parish Priest of St Peter’s and St Columba’s churches in Aberdeen, has been encouraging parishioners to take part in a programme specifically designed to help Catholics discover and then use their spiritual gifts (charisms). In the following article he outlines how the programme works.

Fr Gabor CzakÓ

T

he “Called & Gifted” programme was devised for the Catholic Church in 1993 by the St. Catherine of Siena Institute in the US, a Dominican ministry.

The co-founders of the Institute, Sherry Anne Weddel and Fr. Michael Sweeney O.P. developed the Called & Gifted discernment process which has been used since 1993 by over 75,000 lay, ordained, and religious Catholics and other Christians around the world to enable them to discover and use the spiritual gifts (charisms) they have received from God (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).

All of us have received charisms from God which we can use to help build up His Kingdom. When we use the charisms something happens that is greater than our own abilities because it is God who works through them.

This programme helps you to discover which spiritual gifts you have received. It consists of two series of five sessions (ten sessions in all). Each session takes two hours to complete. It is essential to do the first five sessions but the second five sessions can be replaced with individual or group discernment which is highly recommended.

The first five sessions help you to narrow your focus to six charisms. Once you have completed these, groups are formed (optional). The groups meet on a regular basis and, in between the group meetings, participants are asked to choose one of their six charisms and then use them and assess their experience of using them. At the group sessions participants then share their experiences of using their chosen charisms and reflect on various questions. The purpose of these group sessions is to confirm which of the six charisms you have. Most people have received a maximum of two charisms.

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Programme participants enjoy a meal as well as sharing their experiences It can take from one month up to a year to discover and be affirmed in which gifts you have. The length of time depends on how much opportunity you have to use or experiment with a particular charism. It will also depend on how sincerely you live your faith, how sincere is your desire to follow Jesus, and how much effort you make to grow in your faith and your knowledge of God. You must also be prepared to take part in the group sessions and to prepare for them conscientiously.

The purpose of discovering your charisms is to know what your particular Christian vocation is and what is God's plan for you.

The overall purpose of this project is to help every parishioner to know his or her specific vocation in the church so that they may contribute in the way they are called and gifted rather than simply because they want to do something to help.

This programme is based on the scripture, experience and practical research among thousands of Caatholics in the US where the church is very similar to the Church in Western Europe. In Britain it has been used in the Diocese of Portsmouth and our own diocese.

When I first spoke to Bishop Hugh back in July 2014 about the Called & Gifted programme he was encouraging.

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Witness

“Just do it!' he said and so we have! St. Peter's and St. Columba's parishioners in Aberdeen had the opportunity to do the first five sessions in September 2014, November 2014 and June 2015. Another two workshops are taking place over the summer months. Three groups have been formed which meet on a regular basis to continue their journey of discovery.

Some of us are now coming close to being affirmed in one of our charisms.

I pray that eventually most of our parishioners will discover which gifts they have and will use them for the sake of the

parish and beyond so that the Lord's living and transforming presence will be felt more powerfully both in the Church and in the world. I believe that this whole programme is in accord with the Church's great mission: 'Go and make disciples of all nations...' (Mt 28:19, RSVCE) For more information: www.siena.org/Called-Gifted/called-a-gifted

No map for the road less travelled Tina Harris

F

rom time immemorial it has been one of the deepest longings of the human heart to strain against the erosions of one’s life, to learn a way of living and being that manages stability over time, and affords remembrance after our mortal disappearance.

This is what we all strive for: permanence, belonging and remembrance. When we arrive on earth we come with no map.

We learn as we go along, and gradually our identity evolves, and the future calls. What we do with our lives is a weighty decision.

The challenge is to find a way through it which is in harmony with our own gifts and needs.

Life, as they say, is what passes us by when we are busy making plans. But we are not the master of our plans, we are the executors.

It is up to us to listen to the call, the unfolding of intuition, and make the changes necessary for fulfilment. To be born is to be chosen. Choose life is a slogan we are familiar with, but it does not mean life in the fast lane, it means life in the chosen lane; the lane in which we belong.

Sometimes we are well into the realms of maturity before we acknowledge that we are in the wrong lane, and when we find ourselves on the off-ramp, it is too late to correct our mistake.

No amount of travel on the wrong road will lead us to our destination. Our guide here is wisdom, an acquired skill.

When we find what we are called to do, our life takes on focus and purpose. Unfortunately what we are called to do in life does not always offer worldly value, but instead there is a wealth of satisfaction, inner peace, and no stress to live up to the expectations of others. We may have used up a lot of life time, not in the wrong lane, but in the slow lane.

To make a fast lane choice early in life, and to remain successfully in it, depends on self-discipline, sound learning and a wisdom possessed by very few.

We are pilgrims on a journey. We navigate as we go along, arriving at one place at a time, investigating, listening, and then moving on. Listening in itself is a vocation, a masterclass in attentiveness.

We meet other pilgrims along the way, but their aspirations may be different to ours.

Mocking the indecision of those who habitually seem to waste energy in regret, Robert Frost (in 1916) rejected the attractive alternative and wrote, ‘I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.’

We travel from childhood to adulthood, and our thinking reflects this transition. We have more roles as an adult; we begin to consider relationships – as partners, parents, workmates, teachers, comforters, negotiators and managers. If we practise humility in all these things we are living the beatitudes.

We are on the way up the seven storey mountain!

But not to become complacent. God’s infinite love has nothing to do with good works or deservedness, writes Richard Rohr.

We have to move the soul from the performance principle to the realm of pure grace.

Wisdom is a mix of eternal light and earthly learning. It is a joyous thing to learn something new, understand it and your place in relation to it. Our belonging, and our peace at arriving at our destination. We have found, as Gavin Maxwell once said, our ring of bright water.

In that water we see our own reflection, and how it ripples out to those who are on the edge – the rejected, the homeless, the prisoner, the hungry, the poor and the doubtful.

And as sure as sunshine follows rain, unsettled waters will calm and we will see clearly.

The ripples will be of our own making.

As St Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, the soul is gradually transformed into the image it reflects.

Contemplate stillness.

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educationandformation

Light of the North

The Continuity of Language Eileen Grant

I

n the Gospels, the Evangelists scattered throughout their accounts, eventually set down in Greek, occasional words and phrases in Hebrew, the liturgical language of the Jews, or Aramaic, the everyday language of the first disciples. We do not know why they did this; perhaps it was one way of showing whence the Church had come, by way of Jewish liturgy and the Old Testament recounting of salvation history. In the same way, the Church to this day has retained words and expressions in these ancient languages – Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek – as a way of reminding us of the origins of our faith and worship and of keeping continuity with our ancestors in worship. This is more immediately apparent to us when we use the original languages rather than translations and, although the Second Vatican Council decreed that the texts of the Mass should be rendered into the vernacular, they permitted the option of singing the chants of the Mass in Latin or Greek.

Hebrew and Aramaic words are still left, as originally set down, in translation of the Gospels or have been incorporated into popular hymns and chants. We sing of Emmanuel at Advent and Christmas – Hebrew for “God-with-us”, from the prophecy of Isaiah quoted

by Matthew. Our worship still rings out with many a “Hosanna!”, the cry of the Hebrew children at the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem – Hosanna! “Save, we implore”, an ancient invocation of God: “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!” (Ps 118:25) We find the following line incorporated into the Sanctus, preceded and followed by Hosannas: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

It is Jesus himself who introduces us to the homely Aramaic of his childhood when, in Mark’s account of the Agony in the Garden, he cries out to his Father “Abba, Father”, the word he would have used as a little child, seeking the comfort of fatherly arms – Abba, Daddy, help me. And St Paul twice reminds his spiritual children that we as Christians are all now entitled to use this intimate address to God: “When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:15-16). “And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal. 4:6) – a truly awesome and consoling legacy.

On Palm Sunday each year, as we listen to an account from each of the Synoptic Evangelists in turn, of our Lord’s Passion, we hear in

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Hebrew or Aramaic, the words of Psalm 21, that Jesus would have learned as a boy, now applied to himself: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”

(Matthew) or “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (Mark), that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” words that have been left, to greater effect, in the original, in the Gospels.

The Church began by worshipping in the liturgical Hebrew of the first Christians, then as it expanded throughout the nations, adopted Greek until the centre of the Western Catholic church became officially established in Rome when liturgical language became Latin, which it was right up until the Second Vatican Council approved the use of the vernacular. I mentioned earlier the use of Hosanna and lines from Psalm 118 in the Sanctus – the first lines, Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra Gloria tua, are lifted directly from Isaiah (6:3) and became part of the already established text of the Roman Canon comparatively late in the first half of the 5th century. Incidentally, in keeping with the retention of the different liturgical languages, the word Sabaoth is Hebrew, transliterated into Greek but derived from the Hebrew word for an army ready for war!

The chant we sing during the fracture of the host – Lamb of God, the Agnus Dei – has been one much beloved of composers throughout the centuries, from Byrd, Palestrina, Hildegard of Bingen to Beethoven, Schubert, Elgar and even the occasional modern rock band. Mozart, for example, loved it so much that he set it to music again and again and again, each one exquisitely beautiful. He would have known it in the Gregorian, of which we still may use 18 variations. Not normally remembered for his humility, Mozart never felt he could surpass the beauty of the Gregorian chants; indeed, he once confessed that he would have given everything he had written to have been the composer of the Exsultet! There is a yearning quality to the Latin chant which, I think, expresses more perfectly the desire we can feel at this point of the Mass, to be embraced by the mercy of God and to be truly at peace.

More unusually, in our liturgy we have retained the Greek form of the earliest of these chants to be incorporated into official liturgy and, again, there is a beautifully yearning sound in the traditional chants we still occasionally use in our Sunday worship: the Kyrie eleison. It too has its origins in Scripture, in pre-Christian use in the Psalms and other books of the Greek Old Testament – in Jewish worship and writings the actual name of God is never used; instead in the Hebrew Scriptures we find the word adon (Lord, master) or adonai used, the plural form adonai being what is termed a “plural of majesty” (rather like a monarch referring to him/herself as “we”).

When translated into Greek, the scribes kept this tradition by using the word Kurie, the vocative form of Kurios, in our own time used in the modern Greek form of kyrie. When applied to Jesus in the New Testament, it indicates his divine Sonship and affirms that Christ is indeed God. St Luke describes how the lepers, recognising him, cry out to Jesus “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” and how the Tax Collector, all too aware of his sinful humanity, beseeches “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Lk 17:13; 18:13).

It was extensively used from early on in Orthodox and Coptic liturgy as a repetitive response in litanies and is first mentioned in the 4th century in the Apostolic Constitutions and by St John Chrysostom. The pilgrim nun Egeria wrote in her diary (also 4th century) of hearing it sung in Jerusalem in litany form but it was unfamiliar to her. While being retained in this litanic form in the Eastern Church, at some point it was adopted into the Western Church as “a sweet and most pious custom”, but with some changes including adding the Christe eleison and thus, in the 6th century, we find St Gregory the Great commenting: “Someone has told me that some friend having great zeal for the Holy Roman Church, has grumbled about my changes, saying: ‘Why do you wish to amalgamate with the Church of Constantinople by

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Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

(referring Kyrie). yyrie). B But wee following its customs?’ (r following eferring to the K ut to him I say: w hav we singg the K yrie eleison as the G reeks do, o, for among havee not nor do we Kyrie Greeks Greeks whereas the G reeks all sing it att the same time, wher eas among us the clergy Wee all sing Christe eleison sing it and the people rrespond. espond. W son as many wee omit the other things which aree usually times. IIn n daily masses w h ar Kyrie wee might sung, and sing only K yrie and Christe eleison, so that at w

M

any will rreccall any eccall that that famous line of Ale Alexander xander PPope: ope: ““To To err is human, ttoo fforgive orgive divine.” divine.” How How true that that is, is, although a in a completeness. sense it lackss complet eness.

CCertainly ertainly GGod od is the onee who alone forgives forgives our tr espasses butt in the perfect perfect trespasses pr ayer his SSon on taught taught us we we plead: “Forgive “Forgive us prayer our debts as w orgive ourr debt ors." wee fforgive debtors."

AAss W illiam TTemple emple poin nted out; ““Only Only one William pointed petition in the LLord’s ord’s Prayer Prayer e has any any condition condition aattached ttached h d to to it: it is the h petition petittion off forgiveness.” forgiveness.”

In the gr eat penit ential PPsalm salm sometimes called called the Miserere Miserere the thhe author begs great penitential GGod: od: “O “O purify me ash me h whit er than me,, then I shall be clean; O w wash me,, and I shall he whiter sno w.” HHee sees tha it’s essen ess sential that that the sinner be aatt rights rights with his Maker Maker first snow.” thatt it’s essential first..

OOnly nly then will he be able to to go out ttoo others and be rrenonciled enonciled wit th those he has with off ffended ended. offended.

Pleading ffor or GGod's od's par d should not be an ar don chaeological eexercise, xer e cise, a frfrantic antic pardon archaeological digging ttoo unear th past sisins. ins. It shouldn't shouldn't spring from from anxiety anxiety or lead us into into itit.. unearth AAway way with scr upulous sear rching and worried worried analysis. analysis. We We should go to to the Lord Lord scrupulous searching with humble contrite hea rts, str aightfforward in our eagerness to to apologise, apologise, like like humble,, contrite hearts, straightforward childr en ffor en, or wha e’vve done d wr ong. GGod od is not an ether eal ac o tant, eager oun children, whatt w we’ve wrong. ethereal acountant, ttoo ccatch atch people out in the eir indebt edness and ttoo rrevel evel in itit.. HHee isi in terested in their indebtedness interested the cr edit side of a person n's lif fe, and wants wants above above all to to set folk folk afresh a esh on their afr credit person's life, pilgrimage eneewed and strengthened. strengthened. pilgrimage,, their spirit rrenewed YYet et FForgiveness orgiveness frfrom om GGod od still depends upon our rreadiness eadiness ttruly ruly to to fforgive orgive

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spend a little more prayer supplication.” morre time in this pray yer of supplication. ion.” (Epistles (Epistles 9). through! afterthought Not, therefore, a chant to be rattled thr Not, therefore, ough! An n after thought – it has remained everyday Orthodox centuryy better remained in ev eryday O rthodox use, in the last centur known known also in thee West, West, in the Jesus Jesus Prayer: Prayyer: “Lord God, sinner.”

“Lord Jesus Jesus Christ, hrist, SSon on of G od, have have mercy mercy on me, a sinner .” wr ongs done ttoo us h t's the sticking ha sticking point. point. There’s There’s no way way around arround it, it, no possible wrongs us.. TThat's substitut e. substitute. oorgiveness is in may be deep and SSometimes ometimes fforgiveness e tensely diffic ult, ffor or the hur intensely difficult, hurtt may dreadful. It ccan an he ffound, ouund, ffor or eexample, xample, in the tterrible, errible, silen mity within families dreadful. silentt en enmity that ccan an mar christenings, christenings, marriages, marriages, or funerals. funerals. that TThe he off ffenc ence’s originn ma have been blurred blurred with the passing ing of time. time. It ccould ould offence’s mayy have have been somethingg gr ave. It could could ha ve been mer ely a though tthoughtless tless rremark, emark, have grave. have merely tanding bbyy the victim, victim, br ooded upon angrily grily and rresentfully esentfully perhaps a misunderstanding brooded to a festering festering e sore. sore. tillll it turnedd to Even a jocular jocular word, worrd, spoken spoken innocently, innocently, may may through through misinterpretation missinterpretation have have Even bitterr. Long Long live live silence silence and foresight. foresight. turned sour and bitter.

How is the personn genuinely seeking seeking a healing settlement settlemeent to to act? act? A letter, letterr, How craffted with sincerity sincerity and love, love, might might help, help, or possibly a telephone telepphone call, call, carefully carefully crafted rehearsed but free free from from o artifice. artifice. rehearsed Howeverr, a heart-to-heart heart--to-heart meeting in private private might might be best, best, an encounter encounter However, between two two souls whence whenc w e charitable spontaneity spontaneity may may arise. arise. Where Where it occurs occurs between joy and affection affffec ection will banish dislike dislike and disharmony; disharmony; and even even e when attempted attempted joy reconciliation fails, fails, ann honest endeavour endeavour has been made, made, perhaps perhhaps to to work work for for the reconciliation better later later on and to to lead to to mutual peace. peace. better love, dearr Love, Love, like as we we ought, So let us love, Love is the lesson which the Lord Lorrd us taught.

Love (Edmund Spenser) Spenseer) Ca anon n Bill Anderson Anderson (Edmund Canon

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Tolkien’s T olkien’s E Eucharistic ucharistic Theology ology y Frr D F Domenico omenico Z Zanrè anrè ““Out Out of the dark darkness ness of m myy life, liffe, so much frustrated, frustrated, I put ut before yyou before ou the one g great reat thing tto o lo love ve on earth: earth: the e Blessed ed Sacrament…

S acrament… There There yyou ou will find rromance, omance, glor glory, y, honour honour, urr, fidelity, fidelit y, and the true ue w way ay of all yyour our lo loves ves upon on ear earth”. th h”.

Thus T hus wr wrote ote the English glish poet poet,, philolog philologist, ist, and academic ic John R onald R euel T olkien (1892-1973) in a lett ter to to h is Ronald Reuel Tolkien letter his sec ond son M ichaell, da ted 6-8 M arch 1941. J.R.R. J.R.R. R. Tolkien Tolkien en second Michael, dated March is k nown all o ver the he w orld ffor or his mast erpiece, The LLord ord rd known over world masterpiece, Rings, which has sold o ver 250 million copies, copies es, not to to of the Rings, over mention his other fan tasy works works such as The Silmarillion, Silma marillion n, mention fantasy and, of course, course, The e Hobbit The latter latter book has recently recently and, Hobbit.. The adapted into into a hugely successful successful trilogy of films (as been adapted (as,, indeed, has T he LLord orrd of the R ings) b y the rrenowned enowned ned Ne w indeed, The Rings) by New Zealand film-maker film-maker Peter Peter Jackson, Jackson, whose M iddle dle-Earth Zealand Middle-Earth cinematic franchise franchise e has so far grossed grossed almost $6 billion cinematic worldwide. worldwide.

All of Tolkien’s Tolkien’s lit erary w orks bear witness to to the e author’s author’s All literary works devout Catholicism, Catholicism,, and are are interwoven interwoven with numerous numer umerous devout Christian themes, themes, such uch as the importance importance of supernatural super ernatural Christian grace, divine pr ovidenc idence, and self-sacrificial self-sacrificial love. lo ove. One grace, providence, particular theme that thaat does not seem to to have have received receiv e ed the particular attention that that it rightly righ htly deserves, deserves, however, howeverr, is the Eucharist, Eucharist, attention “the source source and summit summit of the Chr istian lif fe” ((Lumen Lumen “the Christian life” Gentium, 11). The The EEucharist ucharist has often often been discussed ussed b Gentium, byy spiritual wr iters in tterms erms of three three principal principal elements elemen ements – spiritual writers sacred meal, meal, sacr ificce, and rreal eal presence presence – and all of these sacred sacrifice, are present present in the works wor o ks of TTolkien. olkien. are The Hobbit begins begins ns with its protagonist, protagonist, Bilbo Bagg ins, The Baggins, unexpectedlyy visited visited b cession off hung ry being unexpectedly byy a suc succession hungry dwarves, whom he has tto o ffeed. eed. TThe he impr omptu u meal is dwarves, impromptu enjoyed b he rravenous avenous diners much enjoyed byy the diners,, if not b byy the host alleled ed in the opening sequenc e of TThe he LLord ord himself.. IItt is par paralleled sequence Rings, when Bilbo w cconsiderably onsiderably older and wiser, wiserr, of the Rings, Bilbo,, no now organises his o wn bir thday party. party. B oth st ories commence commenc o e organises own birthday Both stories gatherring, an ekklesia, ekklesia, which unites unitess various various with a social gathering, communal nal celebration. celebration. This This feature fe eature callss to to mind people in a communal following w ords of P ope John P aul II: ““There There is no doubt the following words Pope Paul that the most evident eviden nt dimension of the EEucharist ucharist iss tha that thatt it is meal” ((Apostolic Apostolic Letter Letter Mane Mane Nobiscum Domine, Dominee, 15, of 7 a meal” October 2004). Indeed, Indeed eed, the structure structure of Bilbo’s Bilbo’s unexpected une expected October party in The The Hobbit, Hobbit bit, with its speeches, speeches, feasting, feasting ing, and party subsequent discussion ion of a mission, is analogous in some subsequent ways to to various various elements elemen ments of the Mass: Mass: the liturgy liturgy of the t word, word, ways consecration, and nd the mandatum, mandatum, the sending ng forth forth the consecration, Page P age 20

est). of the ccongregation ongregation on ((Ite Ite missa est).

FFurthermore, urthermore, the songs per formed performed aatt Bilbo ’s dinner – ““chip chip the glasses Bilbo’s and cr ack the pla tes!”” and “F ar crack plates!”

“Far o ver the misty misty mountains moun ountains cold” cold” – over Pope Paul ar e rredolent edolen d l t off Pope o John J h P aull IIII’s ’s are A postolic Letter Letter D ies D omini, of 5 Apostolic Dies Domini, J July 1998: “[…] it is impor tant tto o important dev ote aattention ttention to to the songs used devote b y, sinc e sing ing is byy the assembly assembly, since singing particularly way express a par ticularly apt w ay tto o e xpress a jo yful hear t, ac ccentuating the joyful heart, accentuating solemnit elebration and solemnityy of the ccelebration ffostering ostering the sense se of a ccommon ommon f faith and shar ed lo ove.” TThe he primary primary shared love. rrecipients ecipients of Bilbo ’s lar gesse in TThe he Bilbo’s largesse Hobbit ar e the rrather ather unc outh are uncouth dw arves, who ccomprise o ompr ise simple dwarves, simple,, rrough ough and rready eady labour ers, labourers, mer chants, miners rs, and w orkers, merchants, miners, workers, w ha who ve been called alled ttogether ogether b have byy G andalff, in some rrespects espects a Chr istGandalf, Christlike figur e. TThe he dw a ves ar ar e unlikely figure. dwarves are her oes, ar gumenta t tive, stubbor n, heroes, argumentative, stubborn, and quick with their eir fists yet pr ove fists,, yet prove themselv es w orth hy when put tto o themselves worthy the ttest. est. EEven ven their eir number – 12 plus TThorin horin Oakenshield nshield – recalls recalls the disciples . disciples.

Bilbo Bilb o Bag Baggins gins - O On na IItt must not be e fforgotten orgotten tha thatt Pilgrimage P ilgrimage off Gr Grace race ““the the EEucharistic ucharistic meal also has a pr offoundly and primarily prrimarily sacr ificial profoundly sacrificial meaning Manee Nobiscum D omine, 15). FFor or Bilbo meaning”” ((Mane Domine, Bilbo,, this takes the fo orm of a long ng and hazar dous jour ney tto o the moun tain of form hazardous journey mountain Er eborr, tto o regain regain n the tr easure of the dw arves; its equiv alent in Erebor, treasure dwarves; equivalent TThe he LLord ord of the R ings g is the q undertaken b Frodo and Sam Sam Rings quest undertaken byy Frodo G amgee (the ‘‘beloved belo eloved disciple oM ount D oom, m, a ‘‘Middle-Earth Middle-Earth Gamgee disciple’)’) tto Mount Doom, G olgotha’. B oth of these jour neys ar e fr augh ht with cconstant onstant Golgotha’ Both journeys are fraught per ils, and call tto o mind Chr ist’s o wn V ia D olorrosa sa, his W ay of the perils, Christ’s own Via Dolorosa, Way C ross. A ginning of The The Hobbit, Hobbit, Bilbo is depic ted as selfCross.

Att the beg beginning depicted ccentred entred and complacent, complac mplacent, and his desir e ffor or cr reature comforts comfforts desire creature and un willingness ess tto o lea ve his seden tary e xistenc e e behind and unwillingness leave sedentary existence sacr ifice himself ffor or others is ttested ested tto o the e xtreme me b ney sacrifice extreme byy the jour journey tha undertakes kes. TThe he jour ney is sympt omatic ic of the one tha thatt he undertakes. journey symptomatic thatt w e all make in the he Chr istian life e as pilg rims ‘‘through thrrough this bar ren we Christian pilgrims barren land n this rrespect, espec pect, Bilbo rrepresents p epr p esents each one ne of us is task land’’. IIn us.. H His is essen tially a pilg rimage of g race, in which he e ‘‘dies dies tto o himself essentially pilgrimage grace, himself’’ and his o wn selfish fish needs; it is only in this w ay tha rows own way thatt he g grows in the vir tues off wisdom, lo yalty, prudenc e, and a ccourage. ourage. His His virtues loyalty, prudence, cconfusion onfusion and ffear ear e in the dar k, tr eacherous rrealm ealm alm of M irkwood dark, treacherous Mirkwood (‘(‘murky murky w ood’) rrecall ecall Dan te the pilg rim’s jour ourney fr om the wood’) Dante pilgrim’s journey from ““selva selva oscur a” orr ““obscure obscure w ood” of personal sin, thr ough Hell oscura” wood” through Hell,, P urgatory, and Hea ven, when he finally ccomes omes fac e to to face face with Purgatory, Heaven, face the B eatific V ision, on, ha ving rreceived eceived a clar ity off inner sigh Beatific Vision, having clarity sightt and self-k nowledge in the pr ocess. A esult of hiss own own jour ney tto o self-knowledge process.

Ass a rresult journey Er eborr, and his abilit o withstand the detr imen mental eff ffec ects of Erebor, abilityy tto detrimental effects ‘‘dragon dragon sick nesss’, Bilbo is changed fforever, oreverr, as indeed ndeed w e all ar e sickness’ we are when w e ffollow ollow the carpenter carpenter from from Nazareth.

Nazareth.. Like Simon, son we of Jonah, who became P eterr, the R ockk, w e ar e all tr ansfformed Peter, Rock, we are transformed in Chr ist, bec oming ming mor e than w e ccould ould possibly bly imag ine. Little Christ, becoming more we imagine. w onder that that Gandalf Gandalf ndalf remarks: remarks: ““My My dear Bilbo! SSomething omething is the wonder ma tter with yyou! ou! u! Y ou ar e not the hobbit tha you were!” were!” TThese hese matter You are thatt you w ords are are an echo ho of SStt P aul’s declar ation tto o the eC orinthians: “S o words Paul’s declaration Corinthians: “So

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share it with Frodo. Sharing, or communion, is, as we know, a fundamental part of the Eucharist. A further characteristic is that the smallest amount of lembas can strengthen and sustain the traveller for an entire day. In this respect, it reflects the words of the prophet Elijah: “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you” (1 Kg 19:7). The papal document Dies Domini reiterates this feature: “Receiving the Bread of Life, the disciples of Christ ready themselves to undertake with the strength of the Risen Lord and his Spirit the tasks which await them in their ordinary life” (45). During their pursuit of the Uruk Hai, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli “often in their hearts […] thanked the Lady of Lórien for the gift of lembas, for they could eat of it and find new strength even as they ran”. Merry sums up perfectly the beneficial effects of the Elven waybread: “Lembas does put heart into you!” Similarly, the Eucharist also strengthens and even heals moral weakness, and is repulsive to ‘unbelievers’.

When Gollum tries a piece of lembas, he is unable to consume it, Lembas bread - More than a passing resemblance to the crying: “Lembas – dust Blessed Sacrament and ashes, we don’t eat for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old order that!” Once upon a time, Gollum was known as is gone and a new being is there to see” (2 Cor 5:17).

Sustenance on the journey is available in the form of lembas, Sméagol, and he was not a life-giving food that has more than a passing resemblance so very different from the to the Blessed Sacrament. Interestingly, both lembas and the Hobbits, but after his fall Eucharist are known by the title of ‘food for the journey’. J.R.R. from grace – when he is The Ring of Power “takes your Tolkien pointed out that a critic “saw in waybread (lembas) = no longer ‘in communion’ life, your blood ...” viaticum and the reference to its feeding the will and being more with his own people – potent when fasting, a derivation of the Eucharist” (letter to he becomes wretched, bent over and deformed. These are Deborah Webster of 25 October 1958). Lembas is a special kind the degrading effects of sin. Tolkien’s own views on this were of dried bread, nutritious and lightweight. Like the consecrated clear: “I find it for myself difficult to believe that anyone who host, it can be broken easily and shared with others. These two has ever been to Communion, even once, with at least the characteristics are underlined by Tolkien in specific instances in right intention, can ever again reject Him without grave blame” The Lord of the Rings. First, when Pippin finds broken lembas, (letter to Michael Tolkien, 1 November 1963). he shares them with Merry. Later on, Sam breaks a wafer to ‘Bread for the journey’, sacrifice, and agape, or sacred meal – it is clear that there is an overt Eucharistic theology in the works of Tolkien. For him, the Catholic Church is a ‘fellowship’, and its treasure of great price is not a ring of power, but a small, circular wafer. This wafer is not empty, or hollow, like the ring; rather, during the celebration of Holy Mass, its substance is transformed at the moment of consecration, and filled with the greatest power imaginable: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. According to Peter Kreeft, “The Ring takes your life, your blood […] a perfect opposite to Christ, Who comes to give His blood […] the two symbols are perfect opposites: the Ring of Power and the Bread of Weakness, the Lord of the Rings and the Lamb of God” (The Philosophy of Tolkien: “Bilbo’s unexpected party in The Hobbit, with its speeches, feasting, and subsequent discussion The Worldview Behind the Lord of the Rings). of a mission, is analogous in some ways to various elements of the Mass” Page 21

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unfortunately time has obscured the details, we know that the boss is engraved with the Chi/Rho monogram, so we understand that he is, in fact, a “soldier of Christ”. This monogram was first used when Emperor Constantine had it inscribed on the shields of his soldiers after the vision of the Cross which foretold his victory at the Milvian Bridge where he defeated his rival Maxentius in 312 AD. It seems likely that Poussin intended to set the scene at the time of the First Christian Empire, after the persecutions of Diocletian (d. 305). Constantine (306 – 337) was firmly established in his throne around 324 AD. The soldier was most probably one of Constantine’s officers, a member of the equites class, the second rank of Roman citizens, for only they were allowed to display arms in their houses. The painting is now so darkened by time and exposure that we cannot really make out the symbol in the centre of the shield but the contemporary artist and biographer Gian Pietro Bellori knew the painting well and comments on the shield in the Continuing our series on Nicolas Poussin’s 2nd set of paintings section on Poussin in his Lives of the Artists. It is the only one of the on the Sacraments, we take a look at the Sacrament of Extreme Sacrament paintings (second series) on which he does comment Unction. and it obviously made a very profound impression on him.

“The sick man lies in an abandon of both spirit and strength … death is imprinted in his sunken, half-closed eyes”; his mouth A. Philokalos is partly open to take his last breaths; his beard is uncut and he e now know this sacrament as the Sacrament of already has the pallor of death – Bellori went into a great deal of the Anointing of the Sick. In Poussin’s time it description of the efforts Poussin made to depict so accurately the had become known as Extreme Unction, being nearness of death: not only the expressions of the family members given only when someone was on the point of but the room darkened by the curtain keeping off any draughts, the signs of weakness in the body (the limp hands and feet, the dying, although this was never official Church doctrine.

This scene owes much to the details found in classical funerary cadaverous chest) – no one is in any doubt that this man is on the reliefs and is set in the early centuries of the Church, as we discover very point of death.

The priest anoints the dying man’s palm with his right hand, from the costumes of the characters and the furnishings. holding the little container with the sacramental oil in his left. The A step in the foreground leads us into the scene; there is, in fact, deacon holds a candle to light proceedings and has a book under his a series of step-like layers. The background is a space enclosed by other arm, presumably containing the prayers of the rite. Poussin curtains and the back wall. In between is the space occupied by the group circled around the dying man. It is a scene that finds an echo was an early pioneer of the effective depiction of artificial light – in Newman’s great poem The Dream of Gerontius, about a Christian a device that would come to a new perfection in the chiaroscuro who has lived a good life and is dying in the presence of his family, work of artists like Honthorst.

Bellori then takes us on a tour of the figures around the bed, fortified by the sacraments of the Church.

The step leads us to the kneeling figure on the left and to the according to their age and sex. He saw this scene as an image of a priest resting his foot on the stool – death is not a matter of close-knit, loving family.

“Next to the deacon is a virgin with her hands in prayer and her unrelieved darkness; the brightness of the priest’s robe directs us to the light to come. The shield, prominently displayed in the face gazing devoutly up to heaven, so that truly one can imagine background, indicates that the dying man is a soldier. In the first the efficacy of her prayers to save her father. Next is the mother, series, it was the plain shield of an ordinary soldier; here, although holding her arms out in front of her; sad and weeping, she puts one hand to her veil and the other to her eye, holding back the tears, so as not to disturb her dying son.”

In front of the praying girl is a little boy standing on tiptoe; he is curious, not yet touched by grief in the presence of death, but eager to see what’s going on. Next is the dying man’s brother, leaning forward with one arm outstretched, holding a candle, the other shading his eyes; the candle’s purpose may be to afford more light, but there is another suggestion: the flame from the deacon’s candle is being blown towards him; that of the brother is practically upright and still; a contemporary beholder might assume he is checking for a breath which might move the flame. On the other side of the bed the wife holds up a little boy, for, suggests Bellori, “her near-dead husband to recognise, to console him and to Nicholas Poussin, Extreme Unction II (1637 - 1640) restore his senses to him. The child laughs and

The Seven Sacraments of Poussin

Sacrament of Extreme Unction

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towards holds out his arms towards towaards his father’s father’s chest, and his hands hands to wards embrace.”” his face, asking in vvain ain for the usual paternal embrace.

Next doctor, servant N ext to them is thee doctor r, passing to a ser vant a plate with longer Next two the medicine, no lon nger of any use. N ext stand tw wo women, unidentified, ““one prayerful eyes one pray yerful and grieving, with her ey e turned up es her crossed, h en, and heav ith he h th other th crying cryin copiously to t heaven, d with er arms cr ossed, d the ing copiously, i ly, covering eyee rrevealing covering her hands in h her cloak, one hand raised to her eey evealing her profile profile wild with weeping.” weeping.” But But next, he tells us, is the elder daughter who “in her abandon, a has laid her arm on thee edge of the bed, and her cheek rests restts on her arm in the great great commotion commotion of her the s sits a woman, a picture picture of weariness, weariness, sobbing.” sobbing.” Right at the side e nurse of the sick man and ““she, she, grieving like the others, rs, is resting resting after her long vigil and work”. d her wor k”.

Bellori B ellori also draws attention to a window window behind behin nd the bed,

“falls feebly on the top edge of affor ding naturall light which “falls affording the cur tain and on the shield, and bey ond thatt on the wall and curtain beyond as far as the end d of the rroom, oom, wher eary nurse is sitting. wheree the w weary sitting.””

“N icholas,” he w writes, “lays out so many emotions ns and passions in “Nicholas,” this dolor ous and d pathos-filled composition thatt it draws the ey dolorous eyee with ith it, it and th hear h d the th emotions ti t the to ff t and d allll along l d the th affects heartt and the consideration ns of it. considerations it.””

W ack to the two central images: the priest in his Wee ar aree led ba back luminous rrobes obes pointing to the light of Christ ist in which the dying man will rreawaken; eawaken; and the gr eat shield d dominating the great backgr ound, the shield symbolising a life of ser rvice to the Lor d, service Lord, background, after which the so oldier is going to his just rreward. eward. ““Well Well done, thou soldier good and faithfull ser vant!” servant!”

The T he Tain Tain P Papal apa al Bull - a rrare are survival surviv v al ha ve been ccelebrated elebratedd in the sain t’s honour. honour. Such Such was was the growing grrowing fame of this have saint’s shrine tha even Kingg James II and King James III endowed endowed chaplaincies, chaplaincies, paying paying thatt even f or Masses t o be said id f or dec eased r o y a l family .

Incr easing for to for deceased members of the royal family.

Increasing t the time of the rreformation, eformation, all documents documents from from Rome Rome held numbers of cler gy w e er e r ecr uit ed a t k ing ’ s insist sist enc e , B ishop clergy were recruited and in 1487, at the king’s insistence, the Bishop churches, would have bbyy chur ches, ccathedrals athedrals and rreligious eligious houses w ould uld ha ve been of Ross , T homas Ha y , changed the c onstitution in t o tha t c ollegia t e chur ch.

Ross, Thomas Hay, constitution into that of a collegiate church. destroyed destr oyed bbyy the t rreformers, eformers, as representing repr p esentingg Papal Papal ppal authority. authority.

T his ga v e the cler gy gr ea t er po w ers independenc e .

T he e w as This gave clergy greater powers and independence.

The leading cleric was Yet Burgh Yet in the Royal Royal Bur gh of Tain Tain in Easter Easter Ross Ross the unique ue document document the pr o v ost , assist ed b y fiv e c anons , t w o deac ons or sub deac ac ons , a sacrist with provost, assisted by five canons, two deacons sub-deacons, acknowledging importance acknowledging the impor mportance of the pilgrimage church chur urch housing thr hree singing boys. boys. All All that that was was needed to to complete complete this new assistantt clerk and three the Shrine survived intactt ttoo this da day.

Shrine of St. St. DDuthac uthac hac has sur vived intac ay. TThe he PPapal apal assistan sta tus w as t o obtain r ec ognition fr om Rome . status was to recognition from Rome. bull of 1492, presently presently in the ccare are of Tain Tain Museum, is however however in frail TThe he request request ffor or thee PPope ope ttoo cconfirm onfirm the ccollegiate ollegiate sta tus w as gr anted on 17th status was granted condition and needs urgent conservation. achieve this,, the trust trustees urrgent conser vation. TToo achie ve this ees J uly he ac ts P ope Innoc en t VIII, who w as t o die just eigh July 1492 in one of the last acts of Pope Innocent was to eightt of the museum have have tthis his yyear ear raised the funds rrequired equired bbyy appealing da ys la t er .

T he s addr essed t o W illiam S p ynie , pr o v ost chur ch of days later.

The bull is addressed to William Spynie, the provost of the church for supportt on the internet scheme.. for suppor int nternet through through the ‘Crowd ‘Crowd Funding’ Funding’ ding’ scheme T ain, b y t P ope ’ s C ar dinal-S ecr etar y , A le xander r F arnese .

T he la tter Tain, and signed by the Pope’s Cardinal-Secretary, Alexander Farnese.

The latter This interest survival This has aroused aroused muchh int erest in the sur vival of the PPapal a Bull and apal w as a t the time ime but w ould ev en tually t o bec c ome P ope was just 26 at would eventually go on to become Pope himself its importance history church importance ffor or thee hist or y of Tain Tain and for for the medieval medieeval chur ch in Paul III. The The document, documen u t, inscribed on as Paul Scotland.

Scotland. v ellum, llum, h by hes by nine i andd hhas vellum, is just 14 inches prominence arose TTain’s ain’s rreligious eligious pr ominenc ence ar ose frfrom om P ope ’ s a ttached ttoo it bbyy a the Pope’s lead seal attached the life life of St. St. Duthac, Duthac, the he 11th ccentury entur y silk en c or d r ed y ello w strands, silken cord of red and yellow strands, Christian missionary, Christian missionar y, whose hose travels travels in to t o indicate indic a t e that tha t it contains c on tains matters ma tters of the north west well nor th and w est of SScotland cotland as w ell justice justic e as well w ell as gr grace. a ac e .

T The he term t erm ““bull” bull” as IrIreland establishment eland led to to the establishmen ablishment and comes c omes from fr om the Latin L a t tin “bulla”, “ bulla ” , referring r ef f erring growth growth of many many ccentres entress of faith. BBorn orn to to the lead seal. seal. at at the beginning of the ccentury entur y in TTain, ain, With W ith the status status us of the shrine and cr credited miracles edited with a number mber of mir acles fully recognised, r ec ognised , the popularit popularityy in his early life, achieved life, Duthac Duthacc had achiev ed t o T ain increased of pilgrimages to Tain increased ee of popular devotion dev evotion bbyy the a degr degree c onsider ably ese y ears .

The new considerably in these years.

The time of his dea th in AArmagh r rmagh in 1065. death King , IV V , w as par tic ularly dev oted King, James IV, was particularly devoted NNearly early 200 yyears ears la ter inn 1253, the Irish later t o this sit e , almost t c er tainly visiting to site, certainly chur ch was was persuaded ttoo send rrelics elics of church ever y yyear ear of his rreign. e eign.

TThe he last time every SSt.t. Duthac Duthac back to to his home — head c ame w as only shor tly bef ore he came in 1513 was shortly before and br eastbone, plus personal ititems: ems: breastbone, his un timely dea th a t F lodden.

T his untimely death at Flodden.

This staff ff,, bell up. TThese h bec hese ame staff, bell,, shir shirt,t, ccup. became gr ea t r eligious ious pr ominenc e for great age of religious prominence for TThe he P Papal apal bull of 1492 is a unique do document cument in in Scotland Scotland the ffocus ocus ffor or local local piet pietyy and news of T ain c eased af t er 1560 when the Tain only ceased after mir acles attracted attracted man e pilgrims miracles manyy early eformed chur ch ended ded the practice practice of pilgrimage, pilgrimage, the shrine ine was was dismantled dismantled church ttoo the shrine uthac w a ccommonly as ommonly held ttoo be a sain ore official rreformed shrine.. DDuthac was saintt long bef before and the r elics lost . relics lost. gr anting of such status status by

by Rome in the early 15th ccentury. entur y. granting FFortunately or tunatelyy the church church buildingg survived sur vived and is now now the focus focus of “Tain “Tain BByy the la ter 14th ccentury entur ur y the number of pilgrims w as incr easing sing and ther later was increasing theree T hr ough T ime ” , loc al c en tr e . w elc omes t o ourists Through Time”, the local heritage centre.

It welcomes tourists and perhaps w ere plans to to replace replace thee modest chur ch with a gr ander and mor ore appr opriate were church grander more appropriate easing numbers of modern pilgrims, pilgrims, as interest interest in opening ening up Scotland’s Scotland’s increasing str ucture to to house such a major shrine he destr uction of the eexisting xisting chur ch incr structure shrine.. TThe destruction church mediev al pilgrim r out ut es dev elops .

B ishop Hugh will lead a deaner y pilgrimage medieval routes develops.

Bishop deanery in a clan ffeud eud in 1427 made ade it all the mor omplete tthe new lar ger moree vital ttoo ccomplete larger to Tain Tain on 22nd August August this year, yearr, a fitting tribute tribute to to the history histor y of the Church Church dayy to building was achiev eved in the ne xt few few years. years. Tain Tain was was now now set ttoo en ter its da building,, which was achieved next enter in this Ro y al B ur gh.

Royal Burgh. golden age as a pilgrimage ge sit e. The The new pilgrimage church church of SSt.t. DDuthac, uthac, built site. in the dec orated st yle, w as an impr essive setting ffor or the ser vices e which w ould decorated style, was impressive services would

Philip P hilip W Ward ard

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When mercy seasons justice Sr Janet Fearns FMDM ‘“Curiouser and curiouser!” cried Alice. (She was so much surprised, that, for the moment, she quite forgot how to speak good English.)’

Again quoting from Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, “What matters it how far we go?... Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?”

Those lines often seem to apply to our media. Some journalists virtually trip over each other in their search for a scoop. Any snippet of information is another nail in the coffin of one man or woman’s previously golden reputation. As the White Queen declared to Alice, "Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Might the same consideration apply to one or more news items and the willingly gullible? How many journalists have considered the worthy advice of the Red Queen, to “Always speak the truth, think before you speak, and write it down afterwards.” Would some of their stories have been different had they not been in search of the next headline?

Again quoting Lewis Carroll, “What I tell you three times is true.” People tend to believe stories in the newspaper or on radio or television news bulletins. They trust that there has been serious and unbiased research before the presentation of the report. Even whilst acknowledging some scandalmongering and a desire to feed a seemingly insatiable appetite for the spectacular, the general public still places a huge amount of confidence in its media. It is easy to believe a story is credible when it is repeated several times by different sources. Yet how often is a single report picked up by several journalists and tweaked to give the impression of a unique and factual account?

When do we say, as Catholic Christians, that “Enough is enough!” We are not here to indulge in collective muckraking. Victims merit justice, mercy and compassion, but, as Shakespeare’s Portia declared, “That mercy is most like to God’s when mercy seasons justice.”

Some years ago, when I was nursing at a major London hospital, a young man was admitted with acute pancreatitis, the result of prolonged abuse of drugs and alcohol. He was a rough sleeper, frequently found occupying space in shop doorways in the search for somewhere sheltered to spend the night. He was not a pleasant patient and most of the staff were happy when he was discharged. Two days later, he and his brother sat near the hospital with their latest assortment of cans and bottles, drinking themselves to oblivion. I was not the only person to be extremely judgemental – until I heard his story. This same young man was the son of two alcoholics. His father drank himself to death. His aunt was a local prostitute.

I had also dealt with his uncle, a well-known vagrant, and his younger brother, also a homeless drinking companion. What chance in life did my patient ever have as a member of such a dysfunctional family? Yet so many of us did not see that he was the victim in circumstances which we could never imagine but which, for him, were a daily reality. We offered condemnation without realising that his most urgent need was for mercy.

During a recent visit to a men’s Category C prison, I talked to an inmate who still has six years to serve of a fourteen-year Page 24

sentence. He positively glowed as he described the difference that finding God has made to him. “Once upon a time I could hurt people without a second thought. It just did not bother me because all I could think of was myself. Now I know that when I behaved in that way, it was not me who was doing those things. Now that I have found God, I can see that what I do and the way I live happens because I have found the real me. If I had known God earlier, I would never have ended up in prison. One thing I have done recently and had previously never thought I could do such a thing – or even think of it – was to write a letter to apologise to the family of my victim.

I read it out to other prisoners before sending it so that they could check it out – and, do you know, in sending that letter, a whole weight was lifted off my shoulders and I felt that I could begin again; that a new life is possible. I never thought that I would have the courage to speak out about my faith, but now, I find I can talk to anybody who will listen.”

Another man, someone who had spent most of his adult life in prison, commented, “I have had enough of prison and can see how I have wasted my life. When I get out of here – and I have only another 18 months to serve – I want to get a job mentoring young people so that they do not make the same mistakes that I made. I want them to have a life that is worthwhile and means something.”

For sure, these men committed serious crimes and are paying the price. They are the first to admit that they deserved their sentences. Yet, whilst society exercised justice, God practised mercy. The cross on the altar in the prison chapel is covered with small keys, signalling that each of us has only to pick up the key given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus in order to find the freedom that each of us wants. I freely admit that I had not expected to encounter the honesty and openness which I found behind the high fences, barbed wire and locked doors of a prison. Yet it seems that in reaching their very depths, some men had encountered a different sort of depth: the loving mercy of God – and discovered that their lives have changed beyond all recognition.

Whereas some of our media maximise their opportunity to practise injustice without mercy, God’s ways are different: behind bars and in the midst of long-term prison sentences, some people discover that life is worth living and will never again be the same.

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Light of the North

Department – on the basis of his language skills – there were three civilians working under a general to no great effect.

Major Hay made all the difference. He left the War Office corridors and set up quarters in Cork Street. At the Armistice the premises accommodated a staff of eighty-four, including thirty women. In what was the first world war Hay emphasised the interception of wireless telegraphy. His first success was in deciphering the code used by the American ambassador in Berlin. Cork Street was made responsible for constructing safe codes for the Army, but Hay’s Malcolm Hay (1881–1962); the last Laird of Seaton in warnings about the final German assault were ignored by the top Aberdeenshire was Director of Military Intelligence in World brass.

War1; fundraiser for the relief of prisoners of war in Germany and Back at Seaton he turned his attention to history, King’s College Italy; a historian and author responsible for a ground breaking library becoming a second home, and A Chain of Error in Scottish book on anti-semitism. In the following article Alasdair Roberts History was published in 1927. In it he showed that Scots historians and Ann Dean outline the career of this extraordinary man. had too readily accepted the evidence of William Forbes Skene (another Aberdonian) that there was a Celtic Church independent of Rome. Skene had used a small part of a long letter by St Columbanus Alasdair Roberts & Ann Dean of Bangor to demonstrate his defiance of Pope Boniface IV, although the whole text clearly showed the opposite to be true. Hay’s opinion alcolm Hay, Laird of Seaton beside Old Aberdeen, and his young brother Cuthbert lost their mother of scholars who failed to check sources matched his contempt for when Malcolm was eleven. Sadness was lightened Army high command.

An early article in this series had Father McRoberts obtaining access when the chamberlain to popes sent them a tutor, to the Muniments Room of Blairs College to find Malcolm Hay’s Frederick Rolfe who had been expelled from the Scots College Rome. cigarette ash piled high among clergy letters. His next book was He turned that experience into fiction, his alter ego in Hadrian the about them.

Bishop Kyle and his priests had done the cataloguing at Seventh becoming a reforming pontiff. The brothers appreciated him: Preshome, but Hay was first to make use of this remarkable archive.

‘He told them wonderful stories, taught them to carve pictures and The Jesuits and the Popish Plot (1934) put Blairs papers alongside symbols on trees, to make waterfalls and cook picnic lunches over other material far from Aberdeen, using documentary evidence to wood fires. Those holidays were made magic by the imagination overturn assumptions about the maligned Society of Jesus. A hostile that was Rolfe’s, and Malcolm remembered everything and greatly secular priest John Sergeant set Titus Oates on the path of deception admired him.’ Here speaks his wife Ivy Alice Hay whose biography which brought innocent men to the gallows. Hay used his wartime Valiant for Truth describes the man well. One tree-carving which experience to show cryptology in action, easily decoding a key letter the tutor left at Seaton was a chalice with the initials F. R. Trees which defied the scrutiny of Charles II’s advisers. surround the house shown here, which was sold to the Council by Amongst the ‘material far from Aberdeen’ were letters sent to Hay’s son and then destroyed by fire.

Francesco Barberini, Cardinal Protector of England in the lateWhen the Kaiser’s war broke out Malcolm Hay crossed the seventeenth century.

In 1931 Malcolm Hay went to Rome in order to Channel as a major in the Gordon Highlanders. Badly wounded at Mons, he was a prisoner of war before being included in an exchange consult Barberini Latini in the Vatican Library. He was hospitably of officers. The German authorities rightly judged him unfit for received by his godson George Ogilvie-Forbes, Britain’s Chargé military service, but he was to play a more important part in their d’Affaires to the Holy See. An audience with Pope Pius XI began well defeat. When he was given charge of the War Office’s Cryptology when Hay praised the cipher used by the Pope when he was Nuncio in newly independent Poland. The codes used by other Nuncios were child’s play to crack, he revealed, and should be scrapped. The wideranging audience lasted three-quarters of an hour.

When the Holocaust’s horrors were revealed after Hitler’s war Malcolm Hay turned his attention to Europe and the Jews - the title of a second 1960 edition of Foot of Pride published ten years before in Boston USA. His future wife had Zionist friends in Palestine through her son-in-law Orde Wingate. Chaim Weizmann, the country’s first president, welcomed them to Israel. Malcolm wrote to him in Hebrew. The book charted ancient Catholic anti-semitism which strengthened in modern France as well as Germany. Britain’s guilt lay in ignoring the death camps, Church guilt extended through centuries. Malcolm Hay’s faith never wavered but many Catholics dropped him. One who did not was the diplomat who intervened after A fine watercolour by Ann Dean of Seaton House, the family home of the Lairds Kristallnacht, George Ogilvie-Forbes. of Seaton which was demolished in 1963 after being destroyed by fire.

Malcolm Hay– code breaking laird and moral historian

M

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faithandculture

Finding Saint John Ogilvie at Minster Abbey Determined to track down the manufacturers of a plaque representing St John Ogilvie, hanging on the wall of the presbytery of St Thomas’ Church, Keith, Ron Smith finds himself at Minster Abbey – the oldest continuously inhabited building in England.

Ron Smith

I

t started with an innocent plaque of St. John Ogilvie hanging on the wall of the presbytery of St. Thomas’ Church, Keith.

It is about 5.5”, (14 cms) tall, and 4” (10 cms) wide at the widest point, and is a very attractive representation of the Saint, with the traditional rope around his neck. It has been hanging there for so long nobody knew where it came from, or when. We would like to have some more, to sell in our “shop”. On taking it down to look closer, a circular paper disk on the back said that it came from the Nuns of St. Mildred, Minster Abbey. A little detective work located the Abbey, and by one of those coincidences in life, I was going down that way soon, so a visit was arranged.

Minster (the old word for Monastery) is on the Isle of Thanet, not far from Canterbury. Driving in to the Abbey grounds was to enter a place of calm, even on the stormy day that it was! The old buildings are not tall, grand, imposing structures, but warm coloured ancient and almost random in their positions – due to much of it being destroyed at various times over its long history. We were met by Sister Bernard, and together with Mother Nikola we were shown around. It has an amazing history.

When Pope Gregory sent St. Augustine to bring Christianity to the English in 597, he arrived near here, and established his Cathedra at Canterbury. Christianity rapidly spread. Queen Ermenburga of Mercia was granted land by her cousin, Egbert, King of Kent, to build a monastery, and the extent of the lands was determined by her pet deer! This deer was taken to the shore and set free, and all the land that it covered between sunrise and sunset was given to her and she built the first abbey. This was consecrated in 670, with herself as the first Abbess. She took the name Domneva. Minster at that time was a port, but today all that remains is the river Stour. Domneva died around 690 and today is a Saint. Her daughter, Mildred, was elected as the next Abbess. She gained veneration as a wise, loving and generous Abbess, and after her death around 725, many people started making pilgrimages to Minster to pray at her tomb, and she was made a Saint. The third Abbess was Edburga, who today is also a Saint. It must be a record to have an Abbey founded by three Saints!

By now the congregation had grown so much that new buildings were needed, and so a new Abbey was constructed close by, in 751, and this is the present Abbey today. Edburga died in 751. After this, hard times came. The Viking raids and invasions started in 753 and continued on and off for three centuries. The nuns often had to flee to Canterbury, defended with its walls, and return to rebuild the Abbey again and again once the Vikings departed. At the end of the 10th century, the Danes took Canterbury, and there is no trace of what happened to the nuns after that.

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One of the new, limited edition, St John Ogilvie plaques In 1027 King Canute (a Dane) granted permission for the Augustinian monks at Canterbury to rebuild on the site at Minster.

Then came the Normans, and they allowed the construction of more buildings and greater land holding. For the next 500 years the monks served the people of Thanet, with agriculture, salt works and dykes to prevent flooding. This thrived until Henry Vlll and the dissolution of the monasteries. The Minster Abbey was partially demolished, and all the property and land sold off. It continued in private hands right through to 1937. At that time the owners wished to sell it and move to a smaller house, and so they put it on the market.

Dom Bede Winslow, a Benedictine monk and parish priest at Minster’s small Catholic Church started a campaign to make it an Abbey once again. He approached several UK communities, but none were interested or in a position to take it on, so he spread the word through his Benedictine links. One of his letters arrived at the Benedictine Abbey of St. Walburga in Eichstatt, Germany.

By coincidence, on that same day, a Nazi SS officer had arrived and requisitioned part of their Abbey to house SS Storm Troopers.

The Abbess, Benedicta, saw this as an omen and determined to do something about Minster, if she could. At that time, the Nazi grip on Germany was tightening. People could not travel abroad much, money could not be taken out of the country, and religious houses were viewed with suspicion. However, Mother Benedicta had obtained permission to visit a sister house in the USA. On her return, she clandestinely landed at Southampton and made her way to Minster, and promptly fell in love with it. She quickly returned to Germany and set about her plans to buy it. As money could not be taken out of Germany, the Americans started a trust fund and raised enough to buy it. The American lawyer would come over to England to complete the purchase, but how could one of the nuns be there? The answer was in Sister Columbana, in Eichstatt. She was originally from Cornwall, so permission was obtained for her to make a “home visit” – but she never got as far as Cornwall, she came

faithandculture faith aith ith th h and hand a nd d culture dculture c ulture lture ture ure re

Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

to M Minster inster and the salee was concluded on the 25th of M March arch 1937. problem how The next pr oblem was w ho w to send oover ver some nuns to start start the b ss of the A bbbey at East B Abbess Abbey Bergholt, community. community y. The A bbess ergholt, t, in SSuffolk, uffolk, invited the E ichstatt community ommunity to send oover ver some nuns to help Eichstatt new Abbey, Permission given group establish a ne wA bbeyy, P ermission was giv en for a small all gr oup of nuns to trav ell to “assist” “assist i t” and d so they h set out ffor SSuffolk. uffolk. ff lk. k The k.

Th sisters i travel theree for some months befor beforee mo moving Minster. stay ed ther ving to M inster ter. This was stayed from Nazis. a subterfuge subterfuge to hide the he trail fr om the N azis. Officiallyy some nuns fr om SSuffolk uffolk had come me to M insterr, although of course rse ev eryone from Minster, everyone knew were Germans. do.. M Mother locally kne w that they w ere G ermans. They had a lot to do other Columbana, the first A bbess, died of consumption in 1938. Then Abbess, came 1939 when the sisters, sters, being G erman nationals, would ould have have to German war.. W With from be interned for the duration ration of the war ith a little collusion llusion fr om the local police, this was delay ed until a suitable placee was found, delayed at the B enedictine SSisters isters ers of P erpetual A doration at T eignmouth gnmouth in Benedictine Perpetual Adoration Teignmouth D evon. This period i d allo llo l wed lo d the sisters i t to t learn l E nglish lish h and d many Devon. allowed English gar dening skills. IItt wass N ovember 1944 befor ere allo wed gardening November beforee they w were allowed back to M inster. IIn n the he interim the building had been n used as an Minster.

RAF Officer nd was in a mess! The gr ounds had ad not been Officer’s’s mess, and grounds touched, it was a jungle gle and ther ere vvermin. ermin. The sisters set to theree w were with determination and d turned the place ar ound. around.

IIn n 1954 the no viciate ate was formally opened, and a yyoung oung lady y, noviciate lady, Car oline Scott was thee first postulant, becoming SSister ister Concor dia.

Caroline Concordia.

They had many pr oblems lems in the late 1950s with the he buildings problems needing a lot of money ey for rrepairs, epairs, which ev entuallyy was found eventually and M inster gradually expanded. IIn n 1984, the Community unity elected Minster SSister ister Concor dia to become ecome the next A bbess. SShe he already alrready had a Concordia Abbess. high rreputation eputation as a sculptr culptress, both in the UK and abr oad, and sculptress, abroad, she continued a pr olific fic and highly talented output ass she led the prolific community for the next xt 15 yyears. ears.

IItt was M other Concor ncordia who had made the JJohn o ohn O gilvie Mother Concordia Ogilvie plaques! SShe he had also been at the Canonisation of SSt. t. JJohn ohn O gilvie Ogilvie in R ome in 1976 – and nd she came originally fr om G lasgo asgow – the Rome from Glasgow Scottish connection that hat no doubt gav hment to SSt. t. gavee her the attachment JJohn ohn O gilvie. Was Was this the chance to ask for some more more to be made?

Ogilvie.

LET LE T YOURSELF YOURSELF BE B LED Don't be scar Don't scared ed and dg grab rab m myy hand hand...and ...and sta stay. y. through unhurt.

I'll guide yyou ou thr oug gh life e unhur t.

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Don't scared...

D on't be scar ed...

A And nd in those mome moments ents of hur hurt, t, hide yyour our hear heartt in n mine and shar share e the hur hurt. t.

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TTherefore herefo ore put yyour our trust in me and let yyourself ourself be e led

Aneta A neta S Siemka iemka

n tunately no. noo. Mother Mother Concordia Concordia retired retired in 1999, and passed U nfor Unfortunately February away in F ebruary 2014.

M other N ikolaa was elected to succeed Mother Mother Concordia.

Concordia. M other Mother Nikola Mother N ikola is originally ally German, German, and so continues the international Nikola Minster, different tradition of M inster nsterr, as she leads 13 sisters from from eight differ ent countries. The A bbey continues to be a place of worship in the Abbey B enedictine or derr. IItt is an oasis of peace and tranquillity nquillity with such Benedictine order. chequered history. a chequer ed histor ory. It It is a fascinating place to visit, isit, and the story story Au continues. F or example, xample, in August ugust 1987 the chapel pel burned do wn, For down, and ther grreat storm that brought brought down down a number umber of venerable venerable theree was a great trees. tr ees. In In 1993 thee new new chapel was opened, with the he trunk trunk of a vvery ery old Y ew tr ee forming ming the base of the altar n the he outside wall ar Yew tree altar.. O On aree thr ee plaques (made made bbyy M other Concor dia) commemorating mmemorating the three Mother Concordia) event, ev ent, with one off these plaques having the names of all the builders car ved on it. F o more or more information have have a lookk at their web web site carved For www w.minsterabbey eyy.org, where where there there is also a videoo clip. clip. www.minsterabbey.org, Ogilvie Mother Nikola As for the JJohn o ohn O gilvie plaques – M otherr N ikola gave gave us permission to rreproduce epr produce them – and so we we set about bout finding a way to do so fr om the one original that w ortunately natelyy, this is wher from wee had. F Fortunately, wheree from Keith great modern technology ogy helped. A yyoung oung man fr om K eith has a gr eat Hee talent for modell making, and is studying at Bournemouth. H vvolunteered olunteered to use se the technology available available to pr o oduce an accurate produce mould, and star ted ed pr oducing a small batch of plaques. aques. P laced side started producing Placed bbyy side to the original, ginal, you you cannot tell any difference. difference. nce.

IIff you you would would like likke one of these inspiring plaques, plaquess, which are arre hand limited wee aree selling them made in a limite e edition, w ed m for £11.00 each (plus p ostage of £2.80 to to any any UK destination – by by the peculiarities peculiarities postage of the UK p ostage ge rrates, ra ateess, this £2.80 w ould also o ccover over up to o te en postage would ten are available from Rhus, Road, plaques!) and ar ree av vailable fr rom Ron Smith, R huss, Banff Road d, K eith AB55 5ET T, eemail: ronald-smith@lineone.net. ro ronald-smith@lineone.net. et. All pro pr oceeds go Keith 5ET, proceeds Church, Keith, funds.. to o St. Thomas’ Thomas’ Ch hurrch, K eith, funds

DAJ D AJ SIĘ PROWADZIĆ PROWADZIĆ A Wiec już nie lękaj Wiec lękaj a się i chwyć chwyć moja dłoń... i takk zostań. zostań. przeprowadzę A pr zeprowadzę cię przez przez życie życie nieporanionym. nieporanionym.

Bo przeprowadzę B o pr zeprowadzzę cie bezpiecznie, bezpiecznie, po szlakach szlakach h które które znam.

Które zawsze Kt óre za wsze prowadza prrowadza do domu. domu.

Nie N ie lękaj lękaj się się... ... ukryj swe serce I uk ryj sw e ser ce w Moim, Moim, zawsze zawsze wtedy wtedy gdy cierpisz. c pisz. cier Byy tte cierpienie B e cier pienie rozłożyć rozłożyć na pół, pół, a Ja zabiorę zabiorę i twoją twoją polowe! polowe!

Nie się...

N ie lękaj lękaj się ...

I uk ukryj ryj ttwarz warz w Moich Moich ramionach, ramionach, zawsze zawsze gdy płaczesz. płaczesz.

A Ja cie pociesz pociesze, e, otrę otrę łzy, łzy, napełnię spokojem, uśmierzę uśmierzę ból.... ból....

TTo o będzie ttylko ylko Moje Moje i ttwoje! woje!

Nie się...

N ie lękaj lękaj się ...

I pr przyjdż zyjdż do Mnie Mnie z każdą każdą drobnostka, drobnostka, słabostka, słabostkka, najmniejszą rradością. adością. sprawie byy tto male-- stało się wielkie!

A ja spr awie b o cco o male wielkie!

TTo o cco o jest ttwoja woja słabością słabością- stało się ttwoja woja siłą.

A z dr drobnej obnej isk iskierki ie erki rradości adości - rrozpalę ozpalę płomień, kt który óry będzie w wydobywał ydobywał się na zzewnątrz ewnątrz twej twejj duszy. duszy.

PŁ PŁOMIEŃ-który OMIEŃ-który nie zgaśnie zgaśnie..

PŁOMIEŃ któremu nawet wichryy nie będą st straszne, wody PŁ OMIEŃ - kt óremu e na wet wichr raszne, a w ody zabraknie byy go ugasić.. zabr aknie b o ugasić W Wiec iec zaufaj M Mii i daj się pr prowadzić. owadzić.

Page P age 27

Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

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News from Blairs Museum

On O n the e ttee ee … M Mary, ary, Q Queen u ueen of S Scots! cots!

TThe he Blairs Mem Memorial morial P Portrait ortrrait of Mar Mary, ry, Queen Queen off Scots Scots

IIan an Forbes Forbes

T

he famous Bl Blairs airs M Memorial emorial P Portrait, ortrait, pain painted ted ar around ound 1600, has no now ow been a att Blairs ffor or o over ver 180 yyears, ears, part part of a nationally nationally t and in internationally ternationally important important collection collection of Catholic Catho olic heritage gathered gathered together together at at Blairs College, College, the fformer ormerr na national tional junior seminary. seminary.

The day, Mary The Princess Princess Diana Dian na of her da y, M ary rremains emains a char ccharismatic ismatic figure fi e today. figur toda d y. This This hi life-size liffe-siz i e portrait, portrait it, and d she h w was ass near nearly l six ly i feet fe eet tall, tall, shows shows Mary Mary entering entering the hall aatt FFotheringhay othering ghay C Castle astle in Northamptonshire Northamptonshiire for for her execution execution in February Febrruary 1587, dressed dressed as a queen n and holding a crucifix and a book of hours with rosary rosary beads beads worn worn as a neck necklace. lace.

Her execution execution marked m marked the end of a nineteen nine eteen yyear ear imprisonment imprisonment in England E during dur ing which Mary’s Mary’s fr freedom eedom

Page P age 28

Mar Mary, ry, Q Queen ueen off SScots cots playing golf b byy Cher Cheryl ryl LLord, o d, 2014 ord

would have been w ould ha ve bee en limited. limited. Mary Mary is known known to to have have enjoyed enjoyed manyy vvaried man aried activities activities t during during her earlier earlier life e including in ncluding golf..

Mary M ary is the first fi named w woman oman to to be recorded reccorded playing playing golf an anywhere ywhere in the w world orld – in the TThe he B Book o of A ook Articles, rticles, presented pr esented to to the t Commissioners Commissioners of Queen Queen n Elizabeth at at Westminster W estminster by by the Earl Earl of M Murray urray on the 6 D December ecember 1568, it is used as evidence evid dence of her involvement involvement in the e murder murder of her second sec ond husband husband, d, Lord Lord Darnley Darnley whom she married maarried 450 years years July. mourning ago on 29 JJuly l . IInstead nstead d off mour ning i she h is i said id tto o have h ve been ha b seen pla playing ying croquet croquet o and golf aatt SSeton eton House in East LLothian othian just da days ys aft after ter th the he mur murder: der: “F “Few ew da dayes yes e eftir fttir the murther murther remaning remaning at at halyrudehous, halyrudehous, seytoun, she past tto o sey ytoun, exercing exercing hir one day day richt riccht oppinlie at at feildis goif,f, … …”” (F (From Hopetoun the fe eildis with the t palmall and goif rom m the Hopet oun MS.)

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Some have suggested that this evidence was fabricated but even if this was true, it would have been very risky to have said Mary played golf if she had not. And indeed the Seton Necklace is believed to have been a gift from Mary to Mary Seton when the latter was victorious in a match of golf between the two at Musselburgh.

Mary may also have given us the word ‘caddie’ as when she was in France the golf clubs for the Royal Family were carried by military cadets and the French pronunciation of ‘cadet’ sounds very like ‘caddie’.

It is hoped that the golf course, part of the redevelopment of the Blairs College estate and to be designed by the 1999 Open winner Paul Lawrie, might be named after Mary, Queen of Scots. It would seem to be very appropriate.

An artist, Cheryl Lord, who attended art classes held at Blairs Museum, has donated a painting of Mary playing golf to the museum. The club, ball and clothing were researched with experts. Golf at this time may have been more akin to pitch and putt. The face on the portrait is based on facial reconstruction by staff at Dundee University to show Mary during her reign and based on the portraits of Mary.

Ian Forbes was a student and teacher at Blairs College and is manager of Blairs Museum.

Blairs Museum, South Deeside Road, Blairs, Aberdeen AB12 5YQ; tel.: 01224 863767; email: manager@blairsmuseum.com; website: www.blairsmuseum.com

Mysterious tale of the Eoligarry Gong

Derek Vaughn, one of our regular readers, spent a week on Barra last year where he came across this curious account of the “Eoligarry Gong”. This is what he told the Light of the North:

Derek Vaughn

I

n July 2009 an English couple from Surrey, on holiday in Barra, appeared at Canon MacQueen’s house at Northbay and presented him with a bell or gong. They explained to him that they had last holidayed in Barra in 1960 and on that occasion visited Eoligarry House and whilst there came across the bell (the exact location where they had discovered it they didn’t reveal). At that particular time part of the lower floor of Eoligarry House was used as a Catholic Church so it’s thought that the “gong” the couple found was probably an “altar bell” or “sanctus bell”which had originally been used in the church.

The English couple returned home to Surrey with their “Barra souvenir”. It was of course very discoloured and dirty, but in totally undamaged condition, so they cleaned it and polished it until the brass gleamed. It had a beautiful ring and took pride of place in their dining room. When they had guests to dinner the gong was rung and was admired by all.

However, in 2008 the brass gong suddenly became tarnished and

no amount of cleaning would restore it to its former condition.

Reluctantly, it was put away in a cupboard and forgotten about until one evening when the couple were sitting quietly, they both heard the bell chime. At first they thought they had imagined it, but some weeks later they heard it again. Over the next few months, and on countless occasions, despite the bell being in a cupboard, its distinct ring was clearly heard by the people in the house. Their friends heard it too and several times they rushed to open the cupboard and found it still vibrating.

After much discussion the couple decided that they should never have removed it from its location in Barra. The bell was “telling” them that it wanted to go home. The best thing they could do would be to return it to the exact spot where they had found it.

Some weeks later on arriving at Castlebay they immediately drove north to Eoligarry only to discover that Eoligarry House had been demolished. Further discussion followed which led them to visit Canon MacQueen and they presented the gong to him. He did not really want it, so instead offered it to the Heritage Centre where it was readily accepted. Subsequently it was polished until once more the brass gleamed brightly and not once has it been heard ringing independently.

It is not every day that one comes across a gong that has had such an unusual history!

You can see the Eoligarry Gong at the Barra Heritage and Cultural Centre (local name Dualchas). The Centre is situated in Castlebay and houses an excellent collection of local photographs and artefacts pertaining to the history of the Isle of Barra.

JERICHO BENEDICTINES Combine the Spiritual Life with the running of ‘Jericho Inns’ for those being passed by on the other side’ The Drug & Alcohol Addicted Victims of Domestic Violence Homeless Men & Women Holidays for those on low income Enquiries & donations gratefully received

Jericho Inns 1/8 Page Fr. James Monastery of Jesus, Harelaw Farm KILBARCHAN Renfrewshire PA10 2PY

Page 29

Light of the North

faithandculture

Shelagh Noden’s Musical Memories

M

any readers will remember that last August saw the commemoration of the first High Mass to be celebrated in Scotland since the Reformation. This Mass had taken place at St Peter’s, Aberdeen, in 1804. Although few of us nowadays have the chance to attend a High Mass, it was rather different in the early 19th century when Scottish Catholics were enjoying their new-found freedom of worship. Clergy from the northeast of the country were at the forefront of these developments, starting with Rev. Charles Gordon, who organised the High Mass at St Peter’s, celebrated by Bishop Alexander Cameron.

Research carried out by Christine Johnson of the Scottish Catholic Archives has shown that by 1820 High Mass had been celebrated at least once in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Paisley and Preshome. Further research has added Kirkconnell, Tombae and Tynet to this list. It is interesting to note that the majority of the clergy associated with the celebration of High Mass at this period had a connection with Aquhorties College, near Inverurie, and/or were born in the north-east region.

Clergy letters of the time reinforce the view that High Mass was regarded not only as an important service of the Church but an opportunity for impressing both the Catholic faithful and their Protestant neighbours. The trouble taken over the arrangements for a High Mass at Dumfries to mark the opening of the new chapel serves as an example of the importance put on the ceremony. This celebration was arranged by William Reid, a priest originally from the north east, who acted as chaplain to the Maxwell family. The

Dumfries chapel was served from Terregles, the ancestral home of the Maxwells, so the presence of one of the leading Catholic families in Scotland was felt to add further lustre to the proceedings and justify particularly careful preparation. William Reid wrote to Bishop Cameron in April 1813, inviting him to preside at the opening of the chapel on the third Sunday after Easter. He recruited three fellow priests, all originally from the north east: Andrew Scott [Glasgow], John Davidson [Greenock], Alexander Paterson [Paisley], plus John Cameron, an Aquhorties student, known to be a good singer.

Andrew Scott had to decline the invitation, saying flatly that ‘I do not understand anything about the ceremonies of High Mass and cannot sing’. Fair enough, one feels! The others duly attended and the Mass appears to have been a success. Bishop Cameron followed it with another High Mass and Confirmation the very next day at nearby Kirkconnel.

High Mass was also celebrated in north-east Scotland at Aberdeen in 1807 and 1810, and at Tombae in 1818 when Bishop Paterson, formerly the priest at Paisley as mentioned above, travelled there to officiate at Confirmation. Surviving clergy correspondence shows what importance was given to this event. Bishop Paterson first made the suggestion of High Mass in a letter to the incumbent, James Gordon, an Aquhorties alumnus, in which he pointed out that he had already recently said High Mass at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock. Perhaps a little pressure was being applied; if so, then it had the desired effect. After the occasion the bishop commented that the Mass had been ‘celebrated in grand style, with great effect, and the choir, all of them, men and women, sang with exquisite taste and feeling.’ The officiating clergy, besides the bishop, were named as ‘Messrs Mathison, George Gordon and Donald Carmichael’, the priests at Tynet, Auchindoun and Tomintoul respectively. George Mathison’s account of the occasion was rather more restrained; he felt that it had gone ‘tolerably well’.

There was definitely a feeling of pride amongst the clergy with regard to High Mass and it was not undertaken lightly. If it could not be done properly it was not done at all. Bishop Paterson mentioned one occasion where ‘there was no High Mass as we could not exhibit with sufficient éclat’. His visit to the north east in November of 1818 also included George Mathison’s chapel at Tynet where Confirmation took place with a High Mass in which George Gordon and William Reid assisted. Similar events took place at Huntly and then again at Aberdeen, where the ceremony must have been particularly impressive since Bishop Paterson described it (surely with tongue in cheek?) as ‘the most grand and solemn High Mass ever celebrated in Scotland since the Reformation or creation of the world’.

It is rare that any mention is made of what music was used for these ceremonies, but such information as is available suggests that there was a mixture of plainchant and newly-composed material.

It surely must have been very inspiring for the early nineteenthcentury Catholic congregations to hear such music in their chapels after centuries of silence.

In the last article in this series I rashly supposed that no one would be singing ‘Terra Tremuit’ at the Offertory on Easter Sunday. Thanks are due to Fr Benedict Hardy OSB, who assured me that this would indeed be sung at Pluscarden. Anyone else?

Feedback of any kind is always welcome.

A Catholic High Mass Page 30

faithandculture faith aith ith th h and hand a nd d culture dculture c ulture lture ture ure re

Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

Margaret M arrgar aret Br Bradley’s radley’s Food d and Faith aith

T

he g great reat ffestival esttival of August August is the Feast Fea ast of the A ssumption off the Blessed Virgin Virgin Mary, Mary, also o known known in Assumption the East ern C hu urch as the Falling Falling Asleep, Asleep, or Dormition, Eastern Church when M ary is belie ved tto o have have been taken taken up bodily b in to Mary believed into hea ven after after her death. dea ath. The The belief dates dates from from early early Christian Christian heaven times wever, it w asn’t un til No vember 1, 1950 0 tha ope times.. Ho However, wasn’t until November thatt P Pope P ius XII in the A po ostolic C onstitution, Munificentissimus Munificentissimus Pius Apostolic Constitution, Deus exercisin ng the doc trine of papal infallibilit y Deus,, and exercising doctrine infallibility defined ““The The A ssum mption of M ary” as an ar ticlle of faith.

Assumption Mary” article IIn n Munific entissimuss Deus (it em 39) Pope Pope Pius Pius XII X pointed pointed Munificentissimus (item tto o the Book Book of G ene esis (3:15) as scriptural scriptural support supp port ffor or the Genesis dog ma in tterms erms of M ary's victory victory o ver sin and de eath as also dogma Mary's over death rreflected eflec fl ted d in i 1C orin i th h hi hians 15:54: ""then then h shall h ll ccome ome to to pass the h Corinthians sa ying tha en n, Dea th is sw allowed up in victory". viictory". saying thatt is writt written, Death swallowed TThe he FFeast east of the A sssumption is ccelebrated elebrated on A ug gust 15 and Assumption August is a Holy Da gation. IItt is a time ffor or jo elebration Dayy of Oblig Obligation. joyy and ccelebration in C atholic ccountries ountries thr oughout the w orld all of which w ha ve Catholic throughout world have their o wn par ticular ccolourful olour ful cust oms. own particular customs.

TTraditionally, raditionallyy, it is a time ffor or the blessing of flo wers, her bs flowers, herbs and fruits vest fe estival of thanksg iving tto oG od ffor or H is fruits,, a har harvest festival thanksgiving God His g reat boun ty. P eople e w ould br ing sw eet-smelling bunches great bounty.

People would bring sweet-smelling of flo wers and her bs tto o chur ch fo or blessing ng them on flowers herbs church for blessing,, placin placing the altar hap ps under the altar -cloths, tto o be b close tto o altar,r, and per perhaps altar-cloths, the EEucharist ucharist so as tto o rreceive eceive an extra extra sacramental sacramentaal blessing. blessing.

IIn n England ore the R efo ormation, her bs car ried tto o the England,, befo before Reformation, herbs carried Chur ch on this day day for fo o the priest’s or priest’s blessing w ere la ter used ffor or Church were later medicinal uses nP oland the da nown as the FFeast east of O ur uses.. IIn Poland dayy is kknown Our Lady of Her bs or O ur Lady of FFlowers. lowers.

Herbs Our IIn nA rmenia bunch es of the first g rapes of the season ar e Armenia bunches grapes are taken tto o the chur ch tto o be blessed and then distr ibuted among church distributed the ccongregation ongregation tto o take to to their homes. homes. C elebrrations and Celebrations fe easts ar e also held in n the viney ards. feasts are vineyards.

IIn nP ortugal the sta atues of Mary, Mary, Q ueen of the Angels, Angels, ar e Portugal statues Queen are cr owned fo ollowed b estival with the pla ying of br b ass bands crowned followed byy a fe festival playing brass and drums drums..

TThe he FFeast east of the SSoul, ou ul, dedica ted tto oM ary as the g rea e t cconsoler onsoler dedicated Mary great is held aatt Q uimper in n Br ittany, when blessings ar e asked for fo or Quimper Brittany, are yyoung oung people who ar e betr othed. D uring the da d ary ’s are betrothed.

During dayy M Mary’s sta tue is car ried in p rocession thr ough the str eets and in the statue carried procession through streets ev ening ther e is a pa arty when a special dish of shrimps sh hrimps with evening there party onion and parsley sauce, sauce, is served served in scallop shells. shells. ((Crevettes Crevettes à la B échamel) Béchamel) IIn n Siena, Siena in IItaly, talyy, a spec sp pectacular race race called the Palio Palio o (Standard) (Standard) spectacular is held in the mag nificent main squar e. TThe he su urrounding magnificent square. surrounding buildings ar e dr aped d with br ight banners and m man are draped bright manyy of the par ticipants w ear me edieval ccostumes ostumes and car ry ban nners. Each participants wear medieval carry banners. par ish en ters a rracehorse, acehorse, which first rreceives eceives a blessing ble essing from from parish enters the Bishop aatt the Cathedral Cath hedral door. door. TThe he bar eback riders riderrs then race race bareback fur iously rround ound the squar ssquare e watched watched by by cr owds sea ated in tiers furiously crowds seated and in balc onies o ver e looking the squar e. A fterwarrds ther e is balconies overlooking square.

Afterwards there

Siena’s Si ena’s sp spectacular ectacular Pa Palio alio horse rrace ac a e a celebration celebration when w the tr aditional Italian Italian dish dissh Scaloppine Scaloppine al traditional M arsala is ser ved e .

Marsala served.

SScaloppine caloppine al M arsala is sautéed sautéed veal veal served served with a Marsala Marsala Marsala sauc e. M arsala is i a fo ortified wine made in Sicily ily but Sher ry or sauce.

Marsala fortified Sherry M adeir d i a can be be used d instead. inst i tead d. The The h dish di h is i easy eaasy and d quick i k tto o Madeira make hy not tr t y it? make.. W Why try Ingredients 1-1/2 lbs. veal cutlet thinly sliced salt and pepper flour 3 oz butter 2 cups sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup Marsala Scaloppine al Marsala 1/2 cup of stock chopped parsley (and perhaps thyme or oregano) P lace the vveal eal bet ween ttwo wo sheets of cling film and pound Place between tto o ttenderise. enderise. R e ve fr emo om the cling film, cut c in to ser ving Remove from into serving piec es, season with salt and pepper and dust with flour. flour. pieces, SSautée autée the mushrooms, mushr shrooms, remove remove from from the pan paan and put aside ffor or la ter. A dd the he vveal eal pieces pieces to to the pan and sautée sautée on both later.

Add sides un til ligh tly brown. brown. Remove Remove from from the e pan and keep until lightly w arm. Do Do not o ver ccook. ook. A dd to to the pan the M arsala (or Sherry Sherry warm. over Add Marsala or M adeira) and d the stock stock and mix with the e existing existing juices. juices.

Madeira) C ook un til rreduced educced b n tto o tast e. R eturn Cook until byy about half and season taste.

Return the cooked cooked mushrooms musshrooms to to the pan and whiskk butt er in to the butter into sauc e tto o thicke n it ut the vveal eal back tto o the pan as w ell and sauce thicken it.. P Put well tur n the hea ff so the vveal eal can cook cook in the sauc auce. Finish Finish with turn heatt off sauce. chopped parsle eyy, thyme thyme or oregano. oregano. Serve Serve with wiith a selection selection of parsley, vegetables. vegetables.

Page P age 31

faithandculture faith aith ith th h and hand a nd d cu dculture c u lture ture ure re

Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

On a Wing and a Prayer with Father Peter Barry

I

’m standing in a boggy marsh, ill clad and wet through.

My guide is a young man of 24 years, a graduate in Ecology. I keep forgetting his name! “ It’s Baino”, he says.

Fr Peter with a Mongolian nomad family “Just thing of the first two syllables of the word Binoculars, Why did Peter become a Catholic? He always wanted and that’s it”. to learn the piano, and was told that the church next door Suddenly, in the distance, wet taught lessons free of charge! He wanted to learn English, and shivering in a marsh, we and was taught by Fr. Herve. After 2 years instruction, he hear the most mournful of became a Catholic, he sings in the choir and is the I.T. man cries, haunting and poignant. for the church.

We scan the skies for the Most memorable moment: A nomad family invite us into author of this sad sound. their yurt to drink fermented mare’s milk. The beverage It’s unbelievable: a fly past of is 2% alcohol and is a new experience to my taste nine Siberian Cranes, in perfect buds. They prepare some food for us. The fire is echelon. lit with cattle dung, and the same hands prepare Baino has never seen these a mix of cheese and strips of dried meat. These before, and whoops with pleasure. are kindly people and any show of disgust is a great insult.

These are on the list of critically I was reminded of Abraham’s visit to his tent by three divine endangered species (C.E.S). There persons: we entertain angels when we give hospitality to are 4,500 birds in this particular strangers. population, and there are fears that these stately One freezing morning, warming ourselves birds will become extinct. Their haunting cry goes with mugs of steaming coffee, I meet two straight to the heart. They seem to be saying: S.O.S. scientists from Lafayette University. They “Save our Species, Save our Species”. record all the sounds from a particular area: the Baino, with a driver Batta, had met me at the airport in buzzing of bees, the bird-song, the barking of Ulan Bator, the capital city of Outer Mongolia. For the next deer, the chirrup of insects, etc. Next year the eight days we drove in a 4-wheel drive jeep and slept in same exercise will pinpoint any species that are Yurts, tented structures with no toilet or electricity. missing. The loss of a single species ultimately In the night it’s bitterly cold. I sleep fully dressed, with indicates the health of the planet. I ask if they have several layers of blankets, but that’s barely enough. It’s ever recorded the flutter of angels’ wings! also pitch black, and when I leave the Yurt to try to see By now they’ve guessed I’m a Priest. The Professor what the time is, a futile gesture, and wander off a little volunteers some information: He was an altar boy, in the dark, I can’t find my way back. and loved the thurible, the heaps of incense, and I do stumble upon a Yurk, but it’s the wrong one! The clouds of smoke. Now he’s lapsed, but hopes to interior is lit by a candle. Startled eyes look up. With my return to the practice of his faith. pale features. I must have looked like the Yeti.

I met some clever people. Baino was doing a On our journey of 1200 kilometres, we cross numerous Master’s Degree on the impact of wind farms on streams, see packs of wild Przewalski horses, doublebird-mortality. Large birds which migrate at night humped camels, yaks and horned sheep. Most of all we see can be literally chopped to pieces.

102 different bird species, twenty nine of them lifers. No, a That night I have a dream. Baino is showing lifer isn’t someone in prison till they drop dead! It’s a species me a photograph of the carnage: Swans, Geese of bird seen by the observer for the first time. and Cranes lie dead beneath the blades. As At the end of the journey, I visit the Catholic Church of St he condemns this slaughter, and pleads for Peter and Paul in Ulan Bator. The Priest, Father Herve, comes other energy technology, I imagine someone from Cameroon in West Africa. He is trained as a professional musician and teaches dance. This is an infant church, with 60 listening intently, and nodding in agreement. people attending Sunday Mass. He has one or two converts In my dream, he comes closer. Who can it be? every year, no more, and I meet one of them, Peter, an The hair, surely, gives it away. It must be Struggling to get to grips Donald Trump!

I.T. specialist. with a black vulture!

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Light Ligh gh t of the N North orth h

faith faithandculture aith ith th h and hand a nd d culture dculture c ulture lture ture ure re

Poetic Licen Licence nce Canon C an non Billll A Anderson nders d on delves d l es in delv into to some s o his fa of favourite vourite inspir iinspirational ational vverse e erse

JJames ames Thomson, Thomso on, ‘‘A AH Hymn ymn on the S Seasons’ e easons ’

A

s standard standar d school-book schoool-book unflatteringly unflatteringly intr introduces o oduces our aauthor thus: "Thomson can c hardly hardly be called a great great poet, p yet yet in the history history ofliterature ofliteraturre he is unusual enough to be b regarded regarded (chronologically) (chronologically) as a freak. freak. As such he is impor important, tan nt, and it is necessary to give give him some s pr ominence." necessary prominence."

We should perhaps be kinder r, for within "The SSeasons", e easons", an We kinder, uneven and long work, workk, k there there may be found passages about rural rural uneven w bring out the beauties and d changes in scenes and practices which nature with admirable freshness freshness and simplicity. simplicityy. nature Kelso, the th he son of a minister, ministerr, he was to t study at Born near Kelso, Edinburgh University University before before mo ving to London in 1725, and Edinburgh moving there he found literar ons. Ther eafter he trav elled d in E urope there literaryy patr patrons.

Thereafter travelled Europe wealthy family, family f y, obtained Government Government emoluments, em moluments, as tutor to a wealthy years at his cottage in Richmond.

Rich hmond. and spent much of his later years Patchily meritorious,, his descriptions of nature nature are are generally geenerally real, real, Patchily imp pressions gained from from his youthful youthfful times in indebted often to impressions Borders; and, an nd, coming when it did, the poe m ex erted a the Scottish Borders; poem exerted Lines 1-36 of Thom mson n’s H ymn on the S easons Thomson’s Hymn Seasons Almighty Father!

Father! these These, as they change, Almighty Are but the varied varied God. God. o The rolling rolling year year Are Is full of thee. Forth Forth in n the pleasing Spring Spring Is Th beauty b t walks, lk thy thy tenderness tender t d ness andd lo llove. ve.

Thy Wide flush the fields; the softening air is balm; Wide Echo the mountains round; round; the forest forest smiles; Echo And every everry sense, and every ev e erry heart, heart, is joy. jooy.

And glorry in i the Summer-months, Summer-months, Then comes thy glory With light and heat refulgent. refulgent. Then thy sun With Shoots full perfection perrfection through through the swelling swelling year: year: Shoots And oft thy voice voice in dreadful dreadful thunder speaks, dr And And oft, at dawn, deep deeep noon, or falling eve, eve, And By brooks brooks and groves, groves, in hollow-whispering hollow-whispering gales.

By Autumn unconfined, unconfined Thy bounty shines in Autumn And spreads spreads a common commoon feast for all that liv es.

And lives.

In Winter Winter awful thou! thouu! with clouds and storms storms In Around thee thrown, thrown, tempest o’er o’er tempest rolled, rolled, Around Majestic darkness! darrkness! On On the whirlwind’s whirlwind’s wing Majestic

Dear Lor Lord, d,

Ap portrait ortrrait of th thee p poet oet James Thomson Thomson and as d depicted depicteed on the SScott cott Mon ument, EEdinburgh dinburrgh Monument, strong counter-influence counter-in nfluence against the sparkling sparrkling artificiality artificiality t of Pope Pope strong circle. Disagreeing Disagreeing therefore therefore with Coleridge's Colerridge's vie w that and his circle. view Thomson’s style "was was as mer etricious as his thoughts though hts were were natural", Thomson’s meretricious we may rejoice rejoice too recall recall that he was greatly greatly admired admirred by by the painter we J.M.W W. T urnerr, who w deriv ed inspiration from from his work. worrk.

J.M.W. Turner, derived i i you you to shar h e with i h me an unfor f ced d pleas l sure in i these h lines I invite share unforced pleasure approach h to nature nature is spiritual and uplifting, ing, and yyou ou may for their approach more than a slight debt therein therein to the creation-story creaation-story in the detect more Genesis. book of Genesis. ld ador re, Riding sublime,, thou bidst the wor world adore, A nd humblest nature n re with thy northern natur northern blast.

And M ysterious rround! oun nd! what skill, what force force divine, Mysterious D eep-felt in these theese appear! a simple train, trrain, Deep-felt Y et so delightfull mix ed, with such kind art, art, Yet mixed, SSuch uch beauty andd beneficence combined, SShade hade unper ceivved so softening into shade, unperceived A nd all so forming forming an harmonious harmonious whole And That, as they sti ill succeed, they rravish avish still. still B ut, wanderingg oft with brute brute unconscious gaze, gaze, But, M an mar rks nott thee, marks marrks not the mighty hand Man marks That, ever ever busy, busyy, wheels the silent spheres, spheres, W orrks in the secr seccret deep, shoots steaming thence Works secret The fair pr ofusiion that o’erspreads o’ersprreads the Spring, Spring, profusion F lings li fr f om the h sun direct di ect the dir h flaming fl i day, d y, day Flings from F eeds ev erry creature, creaaturre, hurls hurls the tempest forth, forth, Feeds every A nd, as on ear thh this grateful grrateful change revolves, revolves, And, earth W ith tr ransport touches all the springs of life.

With transport

A Pr Prayer ayer for for Pries Priests ts from from Fr John Allen

I don’t think much off yyour our pries priests ts KƵƌ ƉƌŝĞƐ ƉƌŝĞƐƚƚ ŝƐ Ă ĚŝƐ ĚŝƐƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ĂĂƚƚ DĂƐƐ I muse on wha whatt I’ I’d d lik like ke to to do tto o him.

He mirr mirrors ors my my o own wn weaknesses weaknesses And I judg judgee him un unworthy. worthy.

ĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƉĂƟĞŶĐĞ͕ ƚŽůĞƌĂŶĐĞ ŽůĞƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌďĞĂƌĂŶĐĞ͘ ĨŽƌďĞĂƌĂŶĐĐĞ͘ A constant challenge to loyalty loyalty A perverse way to holiness. ess.

You send the priests we deserve deserve And in judging them wee condemn condemn ourselves. ourselves.

YYou ou ccall all the mos mostt unlik unlikely likely men ƌŝŐŚ ƌŝŐŚƚƚ ŵŽƚůĞ ŵŽƚůĞLJLJ ĐĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽůůĞĐĐƟŽŶ

Father, I am completely perplexed perplexed For I am the parish priest. st.

Page P age 33

Light Ligh igh t of the N North orth th

humour h mour o urr

Humour from the Vestry "It is a curious fact "It fact that t people people aree never never so trivial as when they takee themselves tak themselves seriously. seriiouslyy." - Oscar Oscar Wilde Wilde Bishop ake-up CCall all Bishop’s’s W Wake-up young priest, priest, trying trying to to wake wake up his sleepy sleepy congregation, congregation, suddenly sudddenly in terrupted A young interrupted worrds, “I remember remember the time when I was wass in the arms of his homily with the words, man’s wife!” wife!” Everyone Everyone sa as the wif fe of m therr,” he added ttoo another man’s satt up up.. “She w was wife myy fa father,” from his parishioners. parishiooners. The The bishop hear a decided tha chuckles from heardd of this inciden incidentt and thatt joke would would make make an excellent excellent introduction introduction ttoo his ne xt sermon n. HHee st ood up in the joke next sermon. stood Cathedral before beffore a large large congregation congregation which included the Lord Lord PProvost, rovost, CCity ity the Cathedral councillors and other civic dignitaries. dignitaries. councillors remember the time when w I was was in the arms of another man’s man’s wife,” wiffe,” he began, “I remember great aplomb. aplomb. Then Then there thhere was was a long pause. pause. The The bishop stammered, stammer mered, “But “But for for the with great liffe of me I can’t can’t remember remembeer whose wife wiffe she was!” was!” life Isay, ay, I say, I say ...

Two Eskimos sitting tting in a kayak were chilly, hilly, but when they lit a º

sank, proving once and

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have your kayak k and heat it.

So I rang up British ritish Telecom and I said, “I want to report ort a nuisance caller.” r.” He said, “Not you again.”

I went to the Chinese restaurant and this duck came up to me e with a red rose and says, “Your eyes sparkle le like ŜŪ

ř ũ ř

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a-ROMATIC duck.” .” ř ũ

Ş ŜŪ

Ş ŜŪ ř ũ Ũ Ŝ Ū

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because the other her day I entered a competition petition

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Ŝ ŜŜŜŜŜŜŜŜ Ũ ŜŜŜŜŜŜŜŜŜ one jar.

I said to the Gym instructor “Can you teach me

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ũ Ũ Ŝ Ū ŜŪ A cura curate atee had suffer suffered ffereed a difficult w working orking relationship reelationship nship with his parish priest over over the three threee yyears ears of his first posting. posting sting. When When it ccame ame time for him im to to leav leavee he preached prreached his final nal sermom nwith n with the text: teext: “Abide ““A Abide A ye ye heree with the ass, asss, and nd I will go yyonder” onder” (Genesis (Genesis 22:5).

A yyoung oung boy boy runs runs into into the house and excitedly excitedly sho shows ws his m mother other a ttwenty wenty pound not notee he found found in the t park. park. “Are “Are you you sure sure it was was lost?”” the mother m asks. asks.

“I’m “I’ m positiv positive,” e,” the boy boy replies. replies. “I even even saw saw the man looking looking for for it.” it.”

Page P age 34

Make M ake sure sure to to be be here here next next week! week!

Members Members off a Pentecostal Pentecostal church church were were having haaving a particularly particularly lively lively meeting. meeting g. Amidst Amidst the sound of tambourines, tam mbourines, drums, drums, shouts of joy joy and the stream stream of prayers prayers mounting mo ounting to to heaven, heaven, overcome with emotion. one old man was was overcome “Oh dear Lord!’

Lor o d!’’ he cried. cried. “Thou “ Thou canst see se ee we’re we’re having having a “Oh here tonight, tonight, but this is nothing. nothing. Thou Thou shouldst blessed time here have been at at the t meeting last Sunday!”

Sunday!” have arate Kid Karate K D anny decid ded to o tak arrat atee lessons so th hat he ccould ould kkill ill a Danny decided takee kkarate that man with hiss baree feet. On On his way way home one on ne night, he was was m ugged d, butt by by the time he got his shoes shoes and an nd socks socks off... off ff... ... mugged, Business as usual p tells tells e how how he visited visited a church church and an nd talked to to a man A bishop n sacristan sacristan there there for fo or forty fo orty years. yearss. who had been “You must have ha h ve seen plenty plenty of changes in n your your forty fo orty years. years. “ “You certainlyy have, have,” replied replied the sacristan, sacristan, “and “and I have have opposed “ I certainly every single one o of them!” every How Ho w is imitation lik like ke a plateau? plat plateea au?

They h ’rree both both the highest form of flattery fl erry flatte They’re Taking T king k in ng g the he bait ba ait it

It was as raining raining iining ning ing g hard hard rd d and nd a big big ig puddle puddle ddle dlle dle e had ad formed formed ormed ed d in front ront ont nt of an a n Irish Irish issh h pub. pub. b. b An old A ld man ld an stood stood tood od d beside beside ide ide d the he puddle h puddle ddle dle le holding ho olding lding lding ding g a stick stick ick k with ith h a sstring tring tring ing on the h end he nd d and nd d jiggled jiggled ig ggled gled le ed d it up p and nd down down in the he water. h ater. ter. err.

A c curious urious u rious io ous us gentleman ge enttleman leman man an asked sk ked k ed e d what h hat at he h was ass doing. doing. ing. g. 'Fishing,' F Fishing,' sh shing,' hing,' ing,' g,' replied replied plied p liied lied ed e d the th he e old old man. ma an. n n. ''Poor Poorr old old ld fool' ol' thought ol' th hought ought ug ght ht the h he gentleman, entleman, nttleman, leman, man, n,, so s he h invited in nvited vited itted ed e d the he h old ld man ld an to have have ha ve a drink drink rink ink in the th he p pub. ub b. F Feeling eeling eling eling ling in n h ng he should should hould uld ld start tart art r rt some ome me conversation onversation nversation versation ersation rsation rsation io on n while wh hile illle ile e they hey ey were ere rre sipping siipping pping pping iing ng their heir ir whisky whisky, wh hisky isky ky ky, the h he gentleman entleman ntleman tlleman eman man an asked, sk ked, ed d, ‘And And how And how many any ny have have ve y you o caught?' ou aught?' ught?' gh ht?' ? ?''

'You're You're Y u're u 're re the h he eighth.' eighth.' hth.' h h h.'

Swinish S winish b behaviour ehaviour A divinit divinityy lecturer lecturer was was speaking speaki aatt a famous univ university. ersity. On the stroke stro of twelve, twelve, students students rudely began to snap their fil files les shut and lea leave. ve. ““Wait, Wait, ladies lad dies and gentlemen! gentlemen!

Wait, W ait, please please!” !”” said the elderly elderly professor profe essor commandingly. commandingly.

“I still ha have ve a few fe ew more more pearls pearls to to cast!”

B Bear-faced Cheek!

Two Two nuns ar aree running running away from from a bear, bearr, who iss gaining on them them. m.

“Do “Do yyou ou thinkk w we’ll e’ll be able to outr outrun un him, Sister?”

Sister?” one of the nuns asks the other. other.

“I don’t don’t have have too outrun outrun him, Sister.

Sister. I only have have to outrun outrun you,” you,” said the other nun.

Excess Baggage A portly gentleman approached the ticket counter at United Airlines and asked for a reservation from Los Angeles to New York. The clerk knew that the plane was very full with baggage and passengers.

“How much do you weigh, Sir?” asked the clerk.

"With or without clothes?” the passenger asked.

“Well,” said the clerk, “how do you intend to travel?"

Light of the North

crossword

WORD No. 29

This issue’s competition winner will receive a copy of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings”. Just send your completed entry by the 1st October to the Light of the North, Ogilvie Centre, 16 Huntly Street, Aberdeen AB10 1SH. First correct entry drawn out of the hat is the winner.

cloth who invited Paul into her home.(5) 7. Used to indicate the maiden name of a married woman.(3) 12. Protestant reformation religion founded in 16C Germany. (9) 14. The Romans would use this lash on a condemned criminal before he was put to death. (7) 15. To appoint a bishop into

a diocese. (7) 17. A Zoroastrian sect known for their sky burials in Towers of Silence. (5) 18. Poet who wrote, ‘ Tread softly because you tread upon my dreams.’ in ‘He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven’ . (5) 21. In psychoanalysis, the division of the psyche that is the conscious self. (3)

Answers to crossword No. 28 Across 1. Aqua 4. Ethiopia 8. Caesar 9. Boleyn 10. Bier 11. Diaspora 13. Monastic Order 16. Horse 19. Quad 20. Strife 22. Osiris 23.

Rossetti 24. Meek Down 2. Quasimodo 3. Assyria 4. Erred 5. Hebraic 6. Oxlip 7. Ivy 12.

Reexamine 14. Tempest 15. Requiem 17. Skies 18. Naomi 21. Two

Little Horror Sudoku No. 16 If you prefer sudoku to crosswords then you still have a chance to be a prize winner with our super tough sudoku puzzle.

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

Address ......................................................................... ..........................................................................................

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

Across 1. 'Ecce ----' Latin phrase used by Pilate as he showed the scourged Jesus Christ, bound and crowned with thorns, to the crowd. (4) 4. Cooking eggs by heating in water just below boiling point. (8) 8. Master (anagram). (6) 9. 'And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will ------ thee out of the hand of the terrible.' from Jeremiah. (6) 10. Also known as anima in Latin. (4) 11. In a non-clerical manner.

(8) 13. The festival celebrating the Eucharist as Christ's body.

(6,7) 16. The Turangalila -------- is a large-scale piece of orchestral music by Olivier Messiaen.(8) 19. 'But ---- ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness' from

Matthew. (4) 20. 'Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us; Jesus, ------ of our sins, have mercy on us.'

(6) 22. Samuel Barber composed a famous one for strings. (6) 23. 'O worship the Lord in the beauty of --------!' (8) 24. The foolish virgin had no oil for hers. (4) Down 2. Teaching adhering to the accepted or traditional and established faith. (9) 3. A plover. (anagram) (7) 4. ‘It is easier for a ----- to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.’ (5) 5. A member of the Sufi Muslim sect, known for their extreme poverty and austerity, and trance like whirling dance.(7) 6. A noble lady from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple

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

Address ......................................................................... ..........................................................................................

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

Congratulations to our last competition winner, Mr James Myles, Aberdeen Page 35

Light of the North Rainbow Glass Studio LTD is a family company, which specialise in the design, manufacture and installation of Ecclesiastical, Public and Residential stained glass. Last year we had the pleasure of installing a scheme of 8 windows in Cumnock Parish Church depicting CREATION.

CREATION - the new windows in Cumnock Parish Church designed by Moira Malcolm and made by Rainbow Glass Studio.

The window was designed by Moira Malcolm of Rainbow Glass. It was a joy to have such a wonderful subject as the creation and the chance to re-glaze 8 full windows. The stained glass windows were made using traditional methods of cut glass, lead and solder. The hand blown glass is bought from France, Germany and England and is of the highest quality. Each process is carefully executed by hand, and the detail is created by a combination of glass painting and acid etching.

Rainbow Glass

Rainbow Glass Studio also specialise in the conservation / restoration of historic stained glass windows. All work carried out will be of the highest standard by skilled craftsperson’s using traditional methods and high quality materials. We do not compromise the quality or finish of our work. All work carried out followed CVMA guidelines, which promotes minimal intervention and maximum retention of original materials.

Our Directors include a PACR accredited conservator and an Accredited artist of the Church of Scotland. Please feel free to contact us if you require any future advice regarding architectural stained glass windows. We cover all areas of Scotland but we would welcome any enquiries from further a field. **ICON ACCREDITED STUDIO Page 36

OBC

Stained Glass Artists Contemporary windows Conservation of glass Church, Historic, Public