CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT YOUFRA CLEAN UP ROSIA BAY
Editorial selected by Fr. Stuart Chipolina
Did you know you too can become a Matthew’s Gospel chapter five, verses one to twelve, show how we can all be deserving of saint’s wings, with good deeds and a clean heart.
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saint? T he Association of Catholic Priests published an excellent teaching last year, highlighting the way in which Jesus shows us how to be good people, we have reproduced it here so our readers can meditate on and share this good news. With The Beatitudes, Jesus tells us, in fact, how to be the best people we can be, and about the qualities he wants to see in us, his followers. A quick focus on those qualities shows us that they are the very opposite of common and accepted standards and values: – The world around us says, ‘Blessed are the rich, because they can have anything they
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want.’ But Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit.’ By ‘poor in spirit’ he means those who put their trust in God rather than money; and those who admit that it is not their income, possessions or bank account that makes them rich in the eyes of God, but what kind of people they are. The world says, ‘Blessed are those who live it up, and never stop having fun.’ But Jesus says, ‘Blessed are those who mourn.’ He means those who let themselves feel the misfortune, pain and sorrow of others, and who respond to them with understanding, sympathy, kindness, compassion, and practical assistance.
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The world says, ‘Blessed are the assertive and aggressive that talk tough and act tough.’ But Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the gentle.’ Gentleness is not weakness, but a form of strength. St. Francis de Sales used to say that you can catch more flies with a spoon full of sugar than a barrel full of vinegar. In Jesus’ book there’s just no place for bullies and bullying. The world says, ‘Blessed are those who hunger for power, status, and fame.’ But Jesus says, ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right.’ The only power and status we really need is to keep living in God’s way and to keep doing the right thing. More satisfaction and contentment will be found in living with a good conscience than in hanging out with the movers and shakers and wannabes of this world. The world says, ‘Blessed are those who show no mercy and who take no prisoners.’ But Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the merciful.’ Happy are those who make allowances for the faults and sins of others, and whose greatness lies in their ability to
forgive. They will receive mercy and forgiveness from God for their own sins. The world says, ‘Happy are those with clean fingernails, sparkling eyes, gleaming teeth, and unblemished skin.’ But Jesus says, ‘blessed are those with clean hearts.’ It’s from the heart that all our thoughts, words, and actions flow. If the heart is clean, then everything that flows from it will be clean, as clean as water flowing from an unpolluted spring. The world says, ‘Blessed are those who get even and exact revenge.’ But Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ Happy are those who spread understanding among people, those who welcome strangers, and those who work for a more just and equal society. They are truly the children of God. The world says, ‘Blessed are those who lie and cheat and get away with it.’ But Jesus says, ‘Blessed are those who make a stand for what is right and true.’ They may suffer for their stand, but the wounds they bear will be marks of honour and integrity. Jesus practised what he preached. In his own person he was the beatitudes. Living them day after day made him the thoroughly good person he was. It’s the same for us too. Today’s Feast of All Saints is less concerned with the canonised saints than about all the good and holy people who have ever lived. None of us, I feel sure, is aspiring to be or expecting to be a canonised saint. We don’t fantasise that one day the pope will tell the world what saints we were. We don’t kid ourselves that our picture is going to pop up one day on the walls of churches. Not for a moment
do we imagine anyone saying prayers to us or carrying around pieces of us as relics. We don’t foresee any statues of us being carried high in processions. But in its document on the Church, the Second Vatican Council wrote a chapter called The Universal Call to Holiness. So surely our Feast today is reminding us of our deep-down longings to become better people than we currently are! Surely too it is reminding us that Jesus Christ can and will empower us to practise what he preached and to live what we believe! Surely, then, we won’t ever want to stop receiving him as our Bread of Life in Holy Communion!
Who is a saint?
Many of us have weird notions of what a saint looks like. Years ago, at the funeral in England of Princess Diana, Diana’s brother cautioned against making her into a kind of saint. Addressing his dead sister he announced: ‘indeed to sanctify your memory would be to miss out on the very core of your being, your wonderfully mischievous sense of humour with the laugh that bent you double, your joy for life transmitted wherever you took your smile.’ But is it really true that the saints never broke the rules (St. Augustine?), never experienced the dark night of the soul (The Little Flower?), never had a sense of humour? (‘God save us from sullen Saints’ — St. Teresa of Avila), never broke into a great smile? The answer is, ‘of course it is not true.’ The saints were fully human. They struggled with temptation; they savoured life’s joy. On All Saint’s day I think of all the good people
who have crossed my path and enriched my life — parents, class mates, parishioners here in the parish. They were not perfect, but they were in their own way great human beings. The priest asked the class: what do you have to do to become a saint? One hand shot up: ‘die, Father’ said the little boy. I disagree. I know many living saints!
Sainthood starts now!
When we celebrate the feast of all saints we are not celebrating those who have died. This way of thinking causes us to believe that sanctity can only happen after a person has died. No, we are celebrating all who have experienced the gospel message and know that God dwells with them now. Death is not the
criterion required for sanctity. Neither is perfection. Often, in fact, the road to wholeness/ holiness is through imperfection. Sanctity isn’t something we achieve. It is something with which we participate. It is much too big, as is sin and death, for us to experience alone. As we participate in sin and death, so too can we participate in holiness and life. We each have within us at this moment the power of God. The only thing that prevents us from living the power of God is that many of us are not aware that we have it. We are all children of God, not later when we die, but now, this moment. https://tinyurl.com/UTRallsaints ‘Saint’s Kit’ image: wings, a halo and a clean heart © Liudmila Bakakina | Dreamstime.com
Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by EuropeAxess Media, Gibraltar. Editor: Fr. S. Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.gi. Production Editor: A. Sargent: angela@europeaxess.com. Upon this Rock magazine is entirely supported by advertising and donations. It is run in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar by EuropeAxess Media Ltd. as a not-for-profit project. For Advertisers: This magazine is handdelivered to homes, churches, hospitals and many businesses around Gibraltar every month. To discuss your advertising requirements, or promote your church group or charity, call Tel: +350 200 79335 email: angela@europeaxess.com. Editorial is selected by EuropeAxess Media in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar. Neither of these parties is responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor do the views and opinions expressed herein necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either party. Advertisers are not endorsed by virtue of advertising in this magazine. EuropeAxess Media Ltd. reserves the right to refuse space to any submissions or advertisements. Efforts have been made to establish copyright owners of images, but if we have used your material, and have not credited you, please contact us to discuss restoration. The magazine is online at uponthisrock.gi. Cover Photo: YouFra Cleaning up our world. Courtesy of Gibraltar OFS
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THE CONVENT
CHRISTMAS FAIR 2018
On Thursday 29th November, the Convent will once again host its Christmas Fair. This annual event, held in the historical setting of the Convent, raises money for locally registered charities.
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his year, it has been decided to support Special Olympics Gibraltar to help fund their participation in the World Special Olympics in March next year, and the Gibraltar League of Hospital Friends so that they can continue to improve facilities in the family rooms at St. Bernard’s Hospital. The doors open at 12 noon, and once inside, you will find 40 seasonal stalls, many run by local Charities as a part of their own fund-raising effort, offering an array of crafts, gifts, Christmas cards and decorations. In the Cloister you will find a cafeteria offering soups (one of which will be a vegan gluten free option), sandwiches, savouries and cakes. The choir of Prior Park School will be singing in King’s Chapel at 4.30pm. Mulled wine and mince pies will be provided by the Red Cross Committee. Santa will also be in his Grotto from 2pm offering gifts for the children.
Entrance is just £2 for adults and children 12 years and under will get in free. Look for updates and follow us on Facebook (ConventChristmasFair) and Twitter: @Convent_Gib.
Great Raffle Prizes
The fair will host two great raffles. The first, a Honda Vision 100cc motorcycle kindly donated once again by Bassadone Motors; Tickets cost £2 each and will be available at the Fair, at The Piazza on Wednesday 14th November between 9am and 3pm and at the ICC on Saturday 17th November between 9am and 2pm. The second, on the day, will offer many prizes donated by local businesses. Both raffles will be drawn at 6.30pm on the day. There is something for everyone, so come along and join us and get into the Christmas Spirit whilst supporting local charities.
Images Clockwise: Honda Vision ©thebikemarket.uk, St. Bernard’s Hospital ©UTR, Special Olympics Abu Dhabi 2019 Photo courtesy https:// www.thenational.ae
Gibraltar League of Hospital Friends
1000’S SUPPORTING B ish op Ca rm e l Zammi t as k s t h at we co nt i nue. . .
The needs of thousands of babies, children and other young people are the focus of a fresh package of urgent aid for Syria being rolled out by Action to the Church in Need, a charity which supports suffering Christians.
ACN
is helping young people by rebuilding schools, supporting pastoral camps, and providing food parcels for the most vulnerable, as well as shelter and medicine. These are just some of the 32 projects approved by ACN over the past three months and being rolled out in 2018-19. Next year ACN is providing more than £210,000 (€240,000)
for a year’s supply of milk for 2,750 children and 125 infants. The UK office of Aid to the Church in Need is assisting with pastoral camps for 910 young people in the Lattakia region – as well as five pastoral camps for 205 youngsters in Aleppo and support for Catholic youth groups in the city. Other ACN projects for young people across Syria include:
• Running costs for a 240-pupil school in Aleppo run by the Missionaries of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
• Pastoral camps for 500 children from the Melkite Greek Catholic community in Aleppo • School supplies for the Virgin Mary Kindergarten in Aleppo which supports 40 infants and children • Musical equipment for 20 children in the youth choir of Saint Maron’s Church in Bayadia, near Lattakia • Emergency aid, medicine and accommodation for 250 students in the Valley of the Christians, near Homs Archimandrite Moses Alkhassi, Vicar General of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo and Alexandretta,
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spoke to the charity about the education of 160 children as well as supporting 24 families with employment at St. Elias
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Kindergarten. He said: “Education is a priority for us, because educating children is the way to secure the future.” Describing how there are 16 teachers spread across six classes with a psychologist also helping the children, the priest said: “Unfortunately, their families cannot afford to send them to other kindergartens and our Archdiocese has no resources to continue without your support.” With ACN assisting for a second year, Fr. Alkhassi added: “Your support is a message of hope and consolation in these difficult days, and a living testimony to the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. “On behalf of our needy families, we gratefully thank all the benefactors and workers of God in your honourable organisation for your helping hand to the families and their 160 children.” Thanking ACN for helping to repair Aleppo’s La Source Centre for autistic children run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, Mother Superior Siham Zgheib
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said: “Because of the war, and because of the impossibility of heating, moisture has damaged the walls. This is bad for the health of the children. “Your support will ensure we can continue to welcome autistic children in a suitable building for educational and religious activities… May the Lord bless you in your service to Christians and others in great difficulty.” Rebuilding three symbols of hope for Christians in Aleppo, the charity is also repairing St. Elias Maronite Catholic Cathedral, the Syriac Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption and Our Lady of Pity (also known as St. Rita) Armenian Catholic Cathedral – all of which suffered bomb damage. Main Photo: Mother Superior Siham Zgheib with disabled children and carers, La Source Centre, Aleppo; Insert photos left to right: St. Elias school children with teacher; Archimandrite Moses Alkhassi, children and teachers, St. Elias
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Text by Murcadha O Flaherty
OF YOUNG CHRISTIANS
IN NEED
Kindergarten All Photos © ACN Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation.
The world is largely silent in the face of Christian persecution. The scale of the problem is so great, silence is no longer acceptable. Persecuted Christians need YOU - and all of us! Together our prayers and actions can make a difference. You can PLEDGE YOUR SOLIDARITY by: • Praying ACN’s Prayer found in leaflets in your local Church, or your own prayers for Persecuted Christians in danger. • Sharing this article and Christian Persecution facts with others so that all understand the need.
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Donation Details:
Bishop Carmel Zammit Lenten Appeal for‘Aid to the Church in Need’, Gibraltar International Bank, Account Name: ‘Trustees RCC/CAN’ Account Number: 00812022, Sort Code: 60-83-14.
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Anne Mesilio writes
LIVING ON BORROWED TIME
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ou will be all too familiar with the following description: Primitive conditions where thousands desperately try to find shelter from floods and famine, genocide, war. A grim picture of matchstick limbed potbellied children, family groups sitting listless and bewildered from sheer despair. Children’s eyes unfocused instead of dancing with life and mischief. The cycle continues as climate change wreaks havoc on an almost daily basis. The effects of climate change are converging in dangerous ways as rising sea waters, more frequent and stronger hurricanes, typhoons and storms as well as spells of more extreme heat and cold assail our planet. In 12 years time my grandson will be fourteen years old. That
is the time scale laid out for us to save our planet. 12 years! Laudato Si: On care for our common home. Pope Francis, in his encyclical letter, calls for our responsibility to care for God’s creation and protect and care for the most vulnerable, a call to action for individuals and governments to tackle our planets woeful plight.
“LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces
various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs”. This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rm 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (Gn 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe
her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters”.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) released a major study in October, having been convened by the United Nations. The report warns the world has just 12 years to halt climate change and avoid devastating consequences such as rising sea levels, extreme heat and flooding. Produced by 90 scientists and review editors from over 40 countries, the report warns “rapid and farreaching” changes are needed in how we use energy and land in order to halt CO2 (carbon dioxide) production and limit global warming. After weeks of discussion in South Korea, they gave dire warning that up to half of plant
FUNDING AVAILABLE
The Christian Mission Trust provides local Christians with donations for evangelistic initiatives and outreaches. The Trust is ecumenical and has provided money to many groups, individuals and churches during the last 12 years. It is run by a Board of Trustees.
We invite applications for funding from anyone who wishes to launch an evangelistic initiative or who needs support for an existing Christian missionary activity. Please write to: The Chairman, Christian Mission Trust, 4 South Pavilion Road, Gibraltar. 8
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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Global_Temperature_Anomaly.svg
and animal species could face extinction by the turn of the century, due to climate change, if carbon emissions continue to rise unchecked. A stark warning has been issued that we need to cap rising temperatures at 1.5C (2.7F) a goal they tell us is exceedingly difficult but not impossible, and goes on to urge awareness of the 12 years in which we have to do this. 12 years!! Does that not make you sit up and think! What will my grandchild, and yours, be facing in 12 years time if we ignore this call? Are we ready to connect the dots between climate change, clean water shortage, energy depletion, global health, food security and flooding which wipes away crops and homes and spreads diseases. People get pushed into poverty, as the timing and magnitude of rainfall becomes unpredictable. It is leading to hunger and want on a scale hitherto unimaginable. Limiting warming to 1.5C is possible within the laws of chemistry and physics, and not having much knowledge of either sciences, this is surely comforting, but perhaps the
bigger question while we await guidelines and action from respective Governments, is exactly what you and I can do to help, now, today, as we race down 12 years. I have an obligation to my grandson, as you have to yours and indeed to all the grandchildren of the world. Will we be able to look this vulnerable generation in the eye 12 years from now and hand on a planet where humans, plants and animals live in harmony, clean and safe? David Attenborough is worth quoting here; “It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement, the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much life that it makes life worth living”. Take a moment or two to absorb that. We have not inherited this earth and indeed the mighty oceans, to do with as we will. It is lent to us for our future generations and we have 12 years to put a stop to this spiral into destruction. They must inherit a planet where carbon emissions, the primary
cause of climate change, are down to what we are led to believe is an acceptable level of 45%.
WE MUST DO IT!
Climate change is not a distant threat. Far too many world leaders have refused to listen but our collective voices, raised in defence of our grandchildren’s inheritance, can change all that. It is not a problem waiting to
happen, it is all around us and we share this common destiny. Everyone, everywhere, is at risk from climate change. “To care is to act, so act like you care” are wise words we need to take seriously. Saint Mother Teresa: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin”
We have 12 years!
Rubbish collected by YouFra at Rosia Bay. PTO for more information
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YouFra in Action
Clean Up The World T
his is the third time that the OFS (Franciscans) and YouFra (Young Franciscans) have taken part in this campaign. We feel strongly that with Saint Francis as our founder, we are duty bound to care for creation. Indeed Pope Francis, in the encyclical “Laudato Si” reflects on how we should take care of our “common home” (the earth). We have a commitment to consider our natural resources as gifts that God gives us, to administer wisely and offer to subsequent generations. A group of us met early on Saturday 29th in Rosia Bay, which was our allocated area. We had already been well supplied with gloves, first aid kit, bin bags and pickers by the ESG team (Environmental
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Safety Group). We split up into 3 teams to tackle the pier, the beach and the flat ground below Parsons Lodge. Although at first glance the area seemed relatively clean, we collected 9 bin bags of general rubbish, plus an assortment of broken umbrellas, wheelbarrow, mesh, ropes etc. Rosia Bay’s seabed also got cleaned up by a group of volunteer divers. All in all we enjoyed the experience of working towards a common goal, especially as we had some of our children and grandchildren helping out. A small effort on our part, but every little bit helps. I encourage groups and families to join next time around. Pax et Bonum Natasha
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Gibraltar Pro-Life Movement
OUR BELIEFS
• The pre-born child is a unique, living, human being with the equal human rights as the rest of us. (This is supported by advanced scientific evidence which confirms that the child has: Human DNA; has his/her own unique genes; is alive and growing; foetal heartbeat that can be detected (currently) at approximately 22 days from conception.) • The right to life is the most fundamental of human rights and protecting human life at all its stages is the hallmark of a true, caring, compassionate and progressive society. • The fundamental role of every government is to provide security for its citizens and to maintain public order. This cannot be done without legislating against certain choices. Any legislation which goes against the protection of human life therefore undermines the foundation of the rule of Law. • Abortion is a direct violation on the right to life of the preborn person. • Abortion poses serious risk to the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing of the mother. • The life, dignity and rights of the mother and child are equal and need not be mutually exclusive. • Improved understanding of the reasons leading women to abort is required in order to best provide an infrastructure which supports women and their families effectively. • Alternate positive, life-affirming options and support need to be provided for women in ‘crisis pregnancies’ during pregnancy, birth and beyond. • Fathers are parents too and their needs and views are also to be considered. • Parents who have in the past lost a child through abortion need to be treated with understanding and respect, and have counselling and support offered to them if required. • Responsibility for the protection and nurturing of life lies with the whole community and not just Government. Working together, much can be achieved.
OUR AIMS
• To promote and protect the value of the human life at all stages, beginning from fertilisation. • To work together with all sectors of our local community in order to find ways of embowering and enabling women and families to make positive and life affirming choices as well as provide practical assistance to them as and when required on an on-going basis. • To ensure that appropriate and timely mental health assistance and counselling is offered as and when required, to pregnant women in distress (and their partners where appropriate) and to parents who have suffered the loss of a child (including as a result of abortion). Contact us via:
The wording of our petition comes from the UN’s declaration of the rights of the child. At time of going to press we have 4645 signatures on our petition, showing that Gibraltar is a pro-life community.
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A Story by Manolo Galliano to be serialised over the coming months. Illustration by a Religious Sister who wished to remain anonymous
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SAMUEL - God’s Special Gift This is the story of Samuel, a child with a mental disability and his encounter with Jesus, who became his very special friend.
Chapter 2
Previously Samuel lost his carer Hanna and his sister Rachel had to break the news. After running away in distress, Samuel met Jesus, who shared food and his own story of loss with him before returning him home to his father and sister. From that momentous day onwards, Samuel’s family life began to change drastically. He no longer found himself isolated or rejected and his father, instead of seeing his son as a burden or as an embarrassment, finally opened his eyes and his heart and slowly began to appreciate the precious gift that God had given him. For the first time in years, the sound of laughter and singing was constantly heard in the house and the whole atmosphere became relaxed and peaceful. Even the servants could not but notice the rapid transformation that was taking place and the sheer joy was so contagious that they themselves were changed by the new warmth and happiness. Every day, Jacob would sit with his son and daughter and tell them stories just like old
Continuing from Issue 208
Hannah had done. They played games, walked in the garden, shared their meals and even said their prayers together. Samuel became the happiest of children, but he could not forget the kind stranger who had looked after him and had brought him back home when he had gone off and got lost. One morning, he approached his father and told him, “Papa, Papa, I want to see Jesus, my friend!” Jacob looked at him and replied, “Yes, my son, I think that it is time that we should both go and visit him and thank him properly for bringing you back safe and sound. I have an idea”, he added, “Why don’t we take him some fruit as a small gift?” “Yes, Papa, lots and lots of lovely grapes!” exclaimed Samuel, jumping up and down excitedly. So Jacob took some bunches of the dark purple grapes which grew in his own vineyards and placed them in a wicker basket together with dates and figs. Then, taking Samuel’s hand very firmly, they set off for the town. They walked hand in hand through the shady country lane until they reached the carpenter’s
little workshop, situated halfway up the town, just a few doors away from the synagogue. It was quite gloomy inside, but they knew that somebody was there, as the sound of sawing could be clearly heard. Samuel left his father’s side and rushed into the workshop, trampling over the aromatic wood chips and shavings strewn over the floor, shrieking “Jesus, Jesus! It’s me, Samuel, come to visit you!” But instead of finding Jesus, another man, completely unknown to him, holding a saw and part of a wooden frame, appeared from behind some planks which were leaning against a wall. For a moment, Samuel was quite startled, but he bravely held his ground. “You are not Jesus!” he snapped, “What have you done with him?” The man began to laugh, “Of course, I’m not Jesus, little fellow, and I haven’t done anything to him - he’s just gone away”. Then noticing that Samuel was not alone, but was accompanied by his father, whom he recognised, he continued, “Master Jacob, my name is Tobias and I’m telling you the truth, Jesus left Nazareth
last week, saying something very strange about going about his father’s business”. He scratched his head, “As you know, sir, his father has been dead now for well over a year. Anyway, to make a long story short - he’s rented the place out to me, as I already know the trade; and from now on I will be paying the rent to his mother, Mary.” Jacob was rather surprised to hear this news and made up his mind to find out more about it. “Could you please tell me where his mother lives, as I have something for her?” Tobias led them round the corner to an alleyway and pointed to a whitewashed house surrounded by a low wall covered with verbena and bougainvillaea. Jacob thanked the man and, taking Samuel by the hand, made his way up to the house. He immediately noticed how small it was, possibly consisting of only a couple of rooms. There was a tall ladder propped up on one side of the building which gave access to the flat terrace which was covered, in part, by a framework of dried palm fronds. What really astonished him was the great profusion of flowers growing in the enclosed garden - hibiscus, iris, daisies, lilies and many other blossoms spread their colours under the weight of the myriad of bees and butterflies. Pigeons and sparrows flitted above or perched on the branches of a tall cypress tree, cooing and chirping. He could well imagine that this was how the Garden of Eden must have looked, but his fanciful thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of singing coming from somewhere behind the house.
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“I long to be in the Lord’s Temple. With my whole being I sing for joy to the Living God. Even the sparrows must have built a nest, And the swallows have their own home.” Jacob recognised the beautiful verses of the 84th Psalm, but he was certain that he had never heard them sung more sweetly nor with such feeling. His curiosity finally got the better of him and clutching Samuel and the basket of fruit, he opened the gate and ventured into the garden. As they turned the corner of the house, he stopped, entranced, for sitting on a rustic wooden bench under the shade of a huge elm tree, was a middle-aged woman, dressed in a long blue linen robe, singing and working at a loom, totally unaware of their presence. All of a sudden, Samuel wriggled free from his father’s grasp and rushed headlong towards the woman. “Mama, Mama!” he exclaimed as he threw himself on her. The woman stopped her singing in mid-sentence, turned her face to him and half-surprised,
smiled warmly and immediately enveloped the boy in her embrace. Samuel clung to her tightly, sobbing and laughing at the same time as she rocked him to and fro, almost as if he were a small baby. “Hush now, little boy, don’t cry. I’ll be your mother if you want me to”. Samuel looked at her plaintively and cried, “Yes, oh yes, please say you will!” Then turning to his father, who looked quite speechless he told him, “Come on, Papa, give the nice lady the grapes”. Jacob stammered nervously, “Please do forgive us for this intrusion. We just came by to ask about your son and to bring this small gift of fruit as a token of appreciation. However, I never expected Samuel to react in this matter”. He stared at his son who was now sitting on the ground tentatively poking at a ladybird with a twig. “His mother” he continued, “died shortly after he was born and I always tell him stories of how she loved being in the garden working at her loom, just as you were doing now. So, I suppose, for a moment, he must have
imagined that you were his mother”. Mary smiled at him and said, “You do not have to apologise, Master Jacob, I quite understand. My son, Jesus, told me all about Samuel and, anyway, I had a distinct feeling today that I would be getting some visitors, and of course, it makes me very happy to have you both here with me”. She got up, and taking Samuel’s hand, she told Jacob, “Please sit down here in the shade and make yourself at home, whilst Samuel and I fetch some refreshments”. Jacob watched them as they disappeared into the house and then took the opportunity to look around him. He saw that this corner of the garden was mainly devoted to the growing of vegetables and herbs. These were laid out in neat rows and he also noticed that there was even a chicken coop behind a large laurel bush at the end of the garden. The sound of laughter and of a musical instrument being played came to his ears, and the next moment Mary appeared, carrying an earthenware jug and
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some goblets, followed close on her heels by a very happy Samuel playing a reed flute. She poured some clear cool water into the goblets for herself and Jacob and then sat down on a heavy wooden stool opposite him. “That flute belonged to my son when he was a little boy”, she said, “and I’m certain that he would very much like Samuel to have it”. To be continued
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A poet’s music N ovember is the month of remembrance, when, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, the guns on the western front fell silent after four brutal years of continuous warfare. The dreadful years had claimed the lives of over 20 million soldiers and civilians. We commemorate this day by wearing
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an artificial poppy in place of the delicate and vibrant red flower which has become synonymous with the appalling loss of life in the great war, the war to end all wars, or just World War One. By whatever name, it is remembered at this time, and now just one hundred years later there is no living memory, no one we can look to with respect
who survived this time and salute their courage. So we do it with ceremony, music, bell ringing, poetry, cycling, parades, all focusing on hope, reconciliation and forgiveness. Of those three, forgiveness is the most difficult. In August 1914, an ecumenical conference was held in Konstanz, southern Germany (near Switzerland) by
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Christians seeking to prevent the outbreak of war in Europe. Before the conference ended, however, World War I had started and those present had to return to their respective countries. Pius X, pope at the time; “Now that almost the whole of Europe is being swept along in the maelstrom of this frightful war whose dangers, destruction
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and consequences nobody can contemplate without being stricken with grief and horror”. The Holy Father called on Catholics, “to implore God that he may have mercy on His people by putting a speedy end to this catastrophe and by inspiring the leaders of the peoples to peaceful thoughts and actions.” There must have been a feeling of being really let down by God as this horrific man made war spread globally. So, we remember. On 11 November there will be a series of events to mark the centenary of the Armistice, including a commemorative service at St. Symphorien Cemetery near Mons, Belgium. Where the war began in 1914 and where the first and last casualties of the battle lie. The National Service of Remembrance at London’s Cenotaph will follow traditional lines, as it remembers the fallen of all conflicts, but the march-past which follows will be expanded. Bells in churches and cathedrals in the UK will peal out to mark this day. They were rung in celebration when armistice was declared in 1918 having been silent during the four years of war. It is estimated that 1,400 bell ringers are being recruited to commemorate the 1,400 who are believed to have died in the war. I hope for 1,400 peals for every life lost as they live again in that moment of remembrance. Do you cycle? We hear a lot these days about cycling and indeed are encouraged to do so for the health benefits, both to the body and the environment.
Lest we forget
During the Great War bikes were an essential mode of transport, precursors to the jeep and even the plane. They were reliable, fast, silent, could cover almost any ground and could go where horses could not. Horses had played a crucial role thus far. Humans share an ancient relationship with them since they galloped into the lives of man and became domesticated in 4,000BC. In 1914 the British Army owned only 80 motor vehicles, so the dependence on horses for transporting goods and supplies was significant. They could travel through knee deep mud and very rough terrain. During the course of this war horses were invaluable as a way of transporting materials to the front. But, horses needed feeding, watering, rest, they could be heard coming and would have to be hidden,when the situation demanded it, with bated breath as a snort could be heard up to 30 feet away! From his poem Dumb Heroes; T.A. Girling. “They are shell shocked, they’re bruised and they’re broken, they are wounded and torn as
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they fall, but they are true and they’re brave to the very grave and they’re heroes, one and all”! Back to cycling. I understand that cycling is a popular option today, for visitors to journey through Flanders Fields. This must be an emotive ride through what was once “murdered nature”, the churned up earth and ravaged woodlands of savage war. Graves marked the resting places of the fallen and wild poppies bloomed between the crosses because nature must have felt bereft at this senseless loss of life. Soldier and poet Major John McCrae gave the dead a voice forever; “if ye break the faith with us who die, we shall not sleep,
though poppies grow in Flanders Fields” Another poet, Wilfred Edward Salter Owen, MC (18 March 1893 – 4 November 1918) was an English poet and soldier. He was one of the leading poets of the First World War who was killed in action a few days before Armistice day, aged 25 years. The previous year (1917) suffering the torment of shell shock he was sent for treatment to Craiglockhart, a military physiatric hospital in Edinburgh. My research for this piece led me to what I consider a heart warming, very 21st century tribute to this tragic poet. It has actually led me back to a favourite childhood memory which I bet will resonate with many of you too. The sycamore
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is a robust tree with a life span of four hundred years. In the Autumn, its seedlings, two green wings spiral down like helicopter blades and as children we had endless fun making these ‘fly’! The poets time at Craiglockhart has been commemorated in a rather special way: a unique violin has been fashioned from a limb of a sycamore tree that was there when he was a patient. The Wilfred Owen violin, made by Edinburgh-based instrument maker Steve Burnett, has already been featured in concerts, with others to follow. Owen was a self professed lover of the violin; “I love music, violin first, piano second”. His powerful war poems live on in this centenary year. A poet’s music. The annual service of remembrance, held in the Royal Albert Hall, sees as its culmination the release of approximately 800,000 crepe paper poppies, falling softly, falling in blood red tribute into the solemn silence, when you remember me, how can any heart be unmoved?
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