From the Editor

“Lord, for your faithful people, at“Lord, for your faithful people, at death, life is changed, not ended.death, life is changed, not ended.

When the body of our earthlyWhen the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain andwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling place ineverlasting dwelling place in

Heaven.” (Preface of the Mass forHeaven.” (Preface of the Mass for the dead)the dead)

“I am the Resurrection and the life.“I am the Resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in me, evenThose who believe in me, even though they die, will live, andthough they die, will live, and everyone who believes in me willeveryone who believes in me will never die.” (Jn. 11:25-26)never die.” (Jn. 11:25-26)

Jesus said to the man on the crossJesus said to the man on the cross beside him: “This day you will bebeside him: “This day you will be with me in paradise.”with me in paradise.”

“Keep your gaze fixed on the cru“Keep your gaze fixed on the crucified and Risen Christ: “He givescified and Risen Christ: “He gives us hope and life. With him evil, sufus hope and life. With him evil, suffering and death do not have thefering and death do not have the last word. The Cross is now a signlast word. The Cross is now a sign of love, hope and life.”of love, hope and life.” (Pope Francis)(Pope Francis)

❑❑ “Through death, we go into the in“Through death, we go into the in2 visible kingdom where there is novisible kingdom where there is no

more darkness, suffering or sadmore darkness, suffering or sadness, and where we are one with allness, and where we are one with all those that we love in the seenthose that we love in the seen world and in the unseen world.world and in the unseen world. Death in that sense is a time ofDeath in that sense is a time of great homecoming, and there is nogreat homecoming, and there is no need to be afraid.” (The late Johnneed to be afraid.” (The late John O’ Donoghue)O’ Donoghue) “O, you are not lying in the wet“O, you are not lying in the wet clay. For it is a harvest evening nowclay. For it is a harvest evening now And we are piling up the ricks ofAnd we are piling up the ricks of hay against the moonlighthay against the moonlight And you smile at us And you smile at us eternally” (From Patrick Kavanagh’s eternally” (From Patrick Kavanagh’s poem about his mother)poem about his mother) “Fold our loved ones, O Jesus, in“Fold our loved ones, O Jesus, in your arms, and let them henceforthyour arms, and let them henceforth be messengers of love betweenbe messengers of love between our human hearts and thee. Amen”our human hearts and thee. Amen” “May you discover that your loved“May you discover that your loved one has not really left you, thatone has not really left you, that there is a quiet presence that susthere is a quiet presence that sustains you, that there is a hiddentains you, that there is a hidden strength that will help you. Amen.” strength that will help you. Amen.”

Autumn 2020

November: honouring the memory November: honouring the memory o f the dead o f the dead

During the month of November each of our priests throughout the world offers During the month of November each of our priests throughout the world offers Holy Mass for all our deceased members and benefactors. In our Mill Hill St. Holy Mass for all our deceased members and benefactors. In our Mill Hill St. Joseph’s House in Dublin, Holy Mass will be celebrated each day of November Joseph’s House in Dublin, Holy Mass will be celebrated each day of November for deceased members and benefactors, especially for all those whose names for deceased members and benefactors, especially for all those whose names are recorded in our ‘List of the Dead.’ You are kindly invited to send in the are recorded in our ‘List of the Dead.’ You are kindly invited to send in the names of your dear departed loved ones. names of your dear departed loved ones. Prayer for a happy death Prayer for a happy death May God support us all day long, May God support us all day long, till the shadows lengthen till the shadows lengthen and evening comes and evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and the fever of life is over and our work is done. and our work is done. Then in his mercy Then in his mercy May he give us a safe lodging May he give us a safe lodging And a holy rest and peace at last. And a holy rest and peace at last. Amen. Amen.

The photos show two sections of a stained glass window. The text at the base

The photos show two sections of a stained glass window. The text at the base of the window reads: ‘St. Joseph, Patron of a Happy Death, pray for us’ The of the window reads: ‘St. Joseph, Patron of a Happy Death, pray for us’ The window depicts Joseph on his deathbed. Jesus is holding his hand and window depicts Joseph on his deathbed. Jesus is holding his hand and blessing him. Mary is praying and grieving close by. You may want to blessing him. Mary is praying and grieving close by. You may want to reflect on the scene and enter into it with hope and prayer. The same gentle reflect on the scene and enter into it with hope and prayer. The same gentle loving Jesus is with each person on that final journey from this life to the loving Jesus is with each person on that final journey from this life to the heavenly peace that awaits us. At death ‘life is changed, not ended.’ The heavenly peace that awaits us. At death ‘life is changed, not ended.’ The scene depicted in the window can bring much comfort, when we have to scene depicted in the window can bring much comfort, when we have to turn our thoughts to death or perhaps find ourselves grieving the loss of turn our thoughts to death or perhaps find ourselves grieving the loss of loved ones. loved ones. Autumn 2020 3

From the

Editor

Fr. Jim O’Connell, mhm

A Year like No Other

It has been a year like no other - a dark and difficult time for everyone as the Coronavirus swept across the globe. For a long period, we were told to ‘stay at home and stay safe’. Holy Week and Easter were right in the middle of the most severe restrictions, when the numbers of confirmed cases and deaths were climbing at an alarming rate. The churches were empty. People relied on the television coverage of Masses and Easter Ceremonies which helped and brought some comfort.

Spring was in the air, but…

On Palm Sunday, April 5, I watched the Mass on television and really liked it. Of course, the absence of a congregation brought home the strange and awful situation at that time. After Mass, I ventured out into the garden at the back of our house. It was a lovely day. Spring was in the air. The garden is small yet so much was happening. In a few places, daffodils and bluebells were in bloom. The two cherry blossom trees were in

Our garden in April

full colour – white and pink. Some of the trees were already in leaf while others were on the way with small buds on them. There was silence in the garden with just the sound of the waterfall in the Dodder River down below us. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. There was a great sense of life and light about the place. Spring was at work and nature was graciously unfolding as it always does and always will.

It was, however, a very different story in our human world at the time. You could say we were experiencing a terrible winter. The Coronavirus was causing fear and panic. Some people suffered more than others but it was a strange and difficult time for everyone. There was anguish and distress for those who contracted the virus and the loved ones who were caring for them. The hospitals and healthcare workers were stretched to the limit, working draining hours and even risking their lives.

A cruel time

It was a cruel time. There was no chance to hold and hug loved ones who were ill in their hour of need. And those who died had to travel a very lonely road. The bereaved were greatly distressed because they could not be with dying loved ones as in normal times. ‘The pain of those who have died without saying goodbye becomes a wound in the hearts of those who are left behind’. (Pope Francis). Funerals and burials had to be carried out with just immediate family present, without the kindness and support of friends and neighbours that is so important at these times.

We all have stories to tell about how the virus affected us and our loved ones. A number of our Mill Hill Members here in St. Joseph’s House contracted the virus and selfisolated patiently and faithfully for the prescribed fourteen day period. Two members became seriously ill and were admitted to hospital. Sadly, despite the best efforts of the medical staff, they both died in lonely circumstances. You can read the obituaries of Fr. Fachtna Staunton and Fr. Jim O’Donoghue in this Advocate. Their families, friends, and Mill Hill colleagues were greatly saddened by not being with them in their final hours and not being able to have the normal funeral Mass and burial.

Holy Week and Easter

It may be that this year through their own suffering and isolation, people could enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s passion as he travelled a dark and lonely road. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was already deep into the darkness; ‘he was in anguish and great distress’ - his ‘soul was sorrowful to the point of death.’ Judas betrayed him, the other disciples deserted him and ran

Our chapel – with distancing!

away, and Peter denied and disowned him. The soldiers humiliated him, mocked him, spat in his face and hit him with their fists. He was scourged and crowned with thorns before his journey to Calvary and crucifixion. What awful suffering, humiliation, disappointment, loneliness and isolation he must have experienced. But with his Resurrection, we move on from all he endured during his passion and crucifixion as we celebrate the triumph of life over death, light over darkness, and love over hatred.

The light dispelling the darkness

The April 2020 Calendar photo shown here was taken by Pat Cummins of the Tyndall Mountain Club in Kilkenny when climbing in the Atlas Mountains, North Africa. In the early morning, as the sun was rising, there is a tremendous burst of light dispelling the darkness of the night. Beneath the photo in the Calendar, there was a prayer taken from the Easter Vigil Liturgy: ‘May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.’ – And rid us of this awful virus, we could add.

When we chose the photo and the prayer for April and Easter we had no idea how deep we would be into darkness when April came. More than ever before, we needed to experience the light and new life of Christ rising in glory, and to hear his greetings: “Peace be with you” and “Do not be afraid”.

I will finish by noting that throughout that awful time we experienced the goodness and kindness of others in a very special way. The love and support of family, friends and healthcare workers, (and in our case Mill Hill colleagues and staff) helped us to stay at home and stay safe.

‘Mary, show me your Son; Jesus, show me your Mother’

‘This is your son ... This is your mother’

Devotion to Mary is part of the great heritage of the Catholic and Eastern churches. It takes many forms and expressions. According to Vatican Two, it ‘proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to recognise the excellence of the Mother of God and we are moved to love towards our Mother and to the imitation of her virtues.’

Devotion to Mary aims at a relationship. If we can somehow get inside the relationship of Jesus and his mother, then we would find a genuine devotion that is profoundly enriching. This prayer ‘Mary, show me your Son; Jesus, show me your Mother’ can be very helpful. It is ascribed to St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Who knows Mary better than Jesus? As a boy and as a man he came to see her beauty, her holiness, and the gifts that his Father had showered on her. He can show us her attitudes, the secrets of her heart; he can show us her tender love and concern for all of us. He can in particular show us how Mary loves him and how she is the beloved daughter of the Trinity. He can show us how we are to be his disciples patterned on his Mother.

‘Mary, show me your son; Jesus, show me your Mother.’ This gentle prayer can help people at any stage of their spiritual journey and can open up great spiritual treasures and graces.

(From ‘Mary Mother of God’ by Fr. Chris O’Donnell, O. Carm., - Columba Press)