tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16753586939030987912024-02-02T08:49:18.846+00:00Dominican Nuns IrelandDominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-11228483621782756302018-08-31T20:13:00.000+01:002019-08-02T22:16:05.654+01:00Notice - Our Blog is Moving<span style="font-size: large;">From now on our Blog posts will be available from the 'Blog' section of our Website: <a href="http://www.dominicannuns.ie/blog">www.dominicannuns.ie/blog</a> </span>Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-24409235884441094762018-08-27T16:15:00.000+01:002018-08-27T22:17:16.171+01:00Does God expect more from your life? (Vocation Discernment)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMh1nUNJEugeeCS_2rpSVHUQrcYNosm7opknasXdlt8ezT1RbKnIaIckkLGT3nm88Qzbvsz6nNyC9mKgEfFIGHW7DNl8TsLis8JKqBzyLnYNwx3qwANC6prdQ7p3ZBGS__VpTE1bQIMC7/s1600/Vocation+Poster+Sept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMh1nUNJEugeeCS_2rpSVHUQrcYNosm7opknasXdlt8ezT1RbKnIaIckkLGT3nm88Qzbvsz6nNyC9mKgEfFIGHW7DNl8TsLis8JKqBzyLnYNwx3qwANC6prdQ7p3ZBGS__VpTE1bQIMC7/s640/Vocation+Poster+Sept.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-27227734452871830492018-08-05T19:41:00.000+01:002018-08-07T21:24:08.094+01:00Novena to St Dominic - Day 7: St Dominic, a man of encouragement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDkIQW9JTCfuFOSLF7zUgr_6fpvPILe7lyVtAU3mWt9Wux0xF9sp5d_ocHcs5RT9v4BgiWaCQPpn-JC8N976W5As6-VBiLuG1GYpSMeBkrERrE07GnNnKWDz9D6D2uL3ry_56zSLEBQy4/s1600/St+Dom+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDkIQW9JTCfuFOSLF7zUgr_6fpvPILe7lyVtAU3mWt9Wux0xF9sp5d_ocHcs5RT9v4BgiWaCQPpn-JC8N976W5As6-VBiLuG1GYpSMeBkrERrE07GnNnKWDz9D6D2uL3ry_56zSLEBQy4/s1600/St+Dom+4.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bedini","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On
this 7<sup>th</sup> day of our Novena in honour of St. Dominic, I would like to
share just a few thoughts on St. Dominic as a man of <b>Encouragement.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bedini","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“When
your words came, I devoured them, your Word was my delight and the joy of my
heart” </span><span style="font-family: "Bedini","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">(Jr.15:16).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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How aptly this Scripture text from the prophet Jeremiah
can be applied to Our Holy Father Dominic – we can just see him in our mind’s eye,
contemplating from the depth of his heart with great joy and exultation, this
Scripture jewel, overwhelmed as he
always was, with an immense love of Holy Scripture.</div>
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‘Dominic showed himself a man of the Gospel in word and
deed’, we are told by those who knew him.</div>
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With his deep spirit of unceasing prayer and with the
Gospel as his weapon, he was fired with
zeal to be an apostle of encouragement among his Nuns, his Friars and all those
among whom he laboured. </div>
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Among his numerous virtues spoken of again and again by
those who knew him and by those who bore witness to his life under oath at his
canonisation process, his virtue as a man of encouragement,<b> </b>in one form or another,<b> </b>shines especially brightly – ‘Dominic was
compassionate and consoled people in time of temptation, he was a source of
strength (or we can say a source of encouragement) to all’.</div>
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In this day and age
the need for encouragement for every person at one time or another, is more
needful than ever before, St. Paul himself reminds us in his letter to the
Colossians <span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">(col.3:16))
– </span>‘Let the Word of Christ in all its richness dwell in you ……. encourage
each other’.</div>
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By abiding in God’s encouraging Word speaking in our
hearts we will truly be aware of his
Presence in our lives and the lives of others and thus amid misunderstandings,
disappointments, hurts, and frustrations, as well as times of happiness, love
and friendship, we will have many golden opportunities to be apostles of this great virtue – </div>
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‘Do not be afraid’ God tells us ‘I have redeemed you, I
have called you by name, you are mine’ – What greater encouragement could we
ask for than these stupendous words from God, our Father, himself? </div>
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Let us ponder this great virtue in the company of Our Lady
and St Dominic, Let us recall Mary’s words to the servants at the wedding of
Cana – ‘do whatever he tells you’ and
that is exactly what St. Dominic did ALWAYS.</div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-18687245538973973922018-08-04T21:17:00.000+01:002018-08-07T21:18:10.691+01:00Novena to St Dominic - Day 6: Exploring an Icon of St Dominic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG72SfxQLVvCrInD0gyYFttPQmx9TMGsjEGLKKqVJu8IUyV8HQQcPmz0g2IVyK9W6F4CN5Mmn0hVFQwS82dflEj-Nymu-lVK6kLud1w0Rr_i36EfvrtvHK9l9Yba-tnCvuvv-BotT8FBze/s1600/IMAG0332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG72SfxQLVvCrInD0gyYFttPQmx9TMGsjEGLKKqVJu8IUyV8HQQcPmz0g2IVyK9W6F4CN5Mmn0hVFQwS82dflEj-Nymu-lVK6kLud1w0Rr_i36EfvrtvHK9l9Yba-tnCvuvv-BotT8FBze/s400/IMAG0332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Every one of us is a living icon of God. He created us
in his likeness and in his own image.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">As you can see, this Icon of St. Dominic is not yet
finished. At first I was disappointed not to have completed it in time for his
Feast. Then it occurred to me that there was a message for me in this. Like
this icon each one of us is not quite finished. We are still on a journey from
darkness into the light. It is my hope that the image of St Dominic portrayed
or perhaps more accurately, <u>revealed</u> to us through this icon may help us
to enter the hidden, inner sanctuary of his heart and there discover more
deeply the depths of our Dominican vocation---WHAT WE SHOULD LOOK LIKE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">The first portrait of St. Dominic was a word picture
given to us by St. Cecilia, one of the first nuns of the Order, who knew him
personally. For a long time historians did not give much credence to St. Cecilia’s
description. Then, after World War 2, a scientific examination was done by
anthropologists on St. Dominic’s remains and the results confirmed the
authenticity of her description. Cecilia had said that he was of medium height-
the measurements taken of his relics show that he was five feet six inches
tall. She noted that, “His figure was supple; his face handsome and somewhat
ruddy; his hair and beard had a reddish tinge. He was not a bit bald; his hair
had a touch of grey.” At the bottom of the reliquary the examiners found some
shreds of Dominic’s hair. It was exactly as Cecelia had said it was. “From his
brow and his eyes” she continued, “there came a radiant splendor which won the
respect and admiration of all; his eyes were large and beautiful. His hands
were long and handsome and his voice was powerful and sonorous. He was always
joyous and smiling except when moved with compassion at the affliction of his
neighbours.” There are very few saints of so long ago whose personal appearance
is so well documented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">The face is the mirror of the heart. Those who are pure in heart, have faces that
are transparent, unprotected. In them we see the nakedness and vulnerability of
Christ. They have his freedom and spontaneity. Joseph Pieper has a lovely
insight about this. He says “Only he who has a pure heart can laugh in a
freedom that creates freedom in others.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">During the process of his canonization another very
beautiful word picture of Dominic is given. It was said of him that ‘he spoke
only with God or about God’. It is this particular depiction of Dominic that is
the inspiration for my icon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">If you look at the icon you will notice that only the
left hand of Dominic is visible. In his right hand he carries the Gospel of
Matthew and the letters of St. Paul.
These were his most loved books. We know
from Bl. Jordan of Saxony, that they were his constant companions and he knew
them by heart. We do not see his
hand. It is not important that he
carries the book in his hand but that he carries the Word in his heart. And it
is from his encounter with the Word of God in his heart that he goes forth to
bring that knowledge of God in Jesus to others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">His left hand is stretching up towards heaven. In this
is revealed his deep closeness to God. “He spoke always with God”. “O Lord,
have mercy on your people, what will become of sinners?” was his constant cry.
His soul, writes Jordan, “was a sanctuary of compassion where he offers God all
human misery.” Christ is the answer to the brokenness in each of our lives.
Dominic’s whole life and mission was given over to preaching THIS truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">The centrality of Christ our Saviour, in his saving
mystery made sacramentally present in the Church, lies at the heart of
Dominic’s spirituality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizS7J_H7PHyP3rRYsSr_QQ5Fu8QSrSFT6HM_eXfn78fepbzpyi2mcCaho1xv6M1A-39B3Yn_VTyERWPJHvqVmOkpYGK56fbZas34NT18o6pQ3Ek4kjEP-b1xWrAhj9J-aOnScQ_elJoJU3/s1600/IMAG0332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizS7J_H7PHyP3rRYsSr_QQ5Fu8QSrSFT6HM_eXfn78fepbzpyi2mcCaho1xv6M1A-39B3Yn_VTyERWPJHvqVmOkpYGK56fbZas34NT18o6pQ3Ek4kjEP-b1xWrAhj9J-aOnScQ_elJoJU3/s400/IMAG0332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">It is important to note that while stretching up to
God, Dominic’s left hand is also breaking through the frame of the picture. I
was not happy with this at first and kept attempting to change it- to keep his
hand within the contours of the outline. But it just wouldn’t work. Finally it
dawned on me. I wasn’t meant to change Dominic but rather to hear what he was
saying to me through what I considered to be a flaw in my icon writing. And
there it was. Because Dominic’s hand is stretched out towards God it is
automatically also stretching out beyond the boundaries of his comfort zone to
reach out to the peoples on the margins, just as Jesus did. This is the change
contemplation works in us. We become the icon of Jesus, acting as Jesus did or
allowing him to live through us. Last year Pope Francis wrote a letter to the
priests and consecrated persons and invited them not to sit comfortably in
their houses and churches but to go out to the fringes of society, to the
uncomfortable places and bring the evangelical message to the broken and
distant. Do we do that? Dominic did. He left his cloister in Osma, Spain when
he discovered that the people of southern France did not know the truth about
Christ. And when he heard about the pagan people of Prussia, Lithuania and
Esthonia, the Baltic countries, he had a huge desire to bring them the Good
News, the Word of Truth. Brothers called it “a dream of St. Dominic.” He never
in fact got that far in person but his desire and prayer went beyond all
boundaries, to even the most distant lands. I can say that my own vocation
speaks to the reality of this holy dream of Dominic. I am one of those Baltic
peoples that he so longed to bring Jesus to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Now we come to Dominic’s halo. His halo like his
prayer and zeal for souls is as large as his heart. It too goes beyond the
frame designed to contain it and encourages us to dream our dreams, big dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">But that is not all, Dominic has also feet, beautiful
feet! Feet with a fire in them! On Wednesday as we celebrate his Feast, we will
hear in the first reading at Mass. “how beautiful are the feet of those who
bring the Good News of Salvation”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Do we want to follow in his footsteps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-37656826036498302512018-08-03T17:24:00.000+01:002018-08-04T16:26:00.476+01:00Novena to St Dominic - Day 5: St Dominic and Body Language<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDfYEAw4_qQ-CfM92eN4g1wKzEqudkn0pgP2qKhV13j-a2W-8uwYO8AA2RcVqLMDEomNE2f8pZeBsWvbNVfkYrnNbXxCjqJXpim1OSWDjAyEs5Cx28FZrjjRRAHIHMBsVUdd5JpoeYaQp/s1600/nineways+prayer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDfYEAw4_qQ-CfM92eN4g1wKzEqudkn0pgP2qKhV13j-a2W-8uwYO8AA2RcVqLMDEomNE2f8pZeBsWvbNVfkYrnNbXxCjqJXpim1OSWDjAyEs5Cx28FZrjjRRAHIHMBsVUdd5JpoeYaQp/s320/nineways+prayer+2.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My
reflection is on the significance and importance of bodily posture in St
Dominic’s prayer. As we know from the ‘Nine Ways of Prayer,’ St Dominic used
his whole body when he prayed: bowing, prostration, reaching up to heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
struck me as odd that in our time, when there is so great an awareness of the
importance of body language in interpersonal communication and of how much of
what is communicated is through bodily posture etc., that there should be such
a widespread dismissal of any significance of our bodily posture when we pray. It
is said that bodily posture doesn’t matter because God looks at the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
think that this ignoring of bodily posture gives rise to a number of problems,
largely because it fails to consider the impact that my body language has on my
own perception of, and response to, the person that I am talking or listening
to. To give an example, if at a lecture I am slouched and looking off out the
window my body is telling my mind not to pay attention. If, on the other hand,
I sit up straight, keep eye contact and watch expectantly, my body is telling
my mind to pay attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our
bodily prayer postures act in a similar way: blessing ourselves as we enter a
Church reminds us that we are entering a holy place and is also a sort of
trigger (as is kneeling) that we are about to pray (like the way insomniacs are
advised to develop a ‘pre-bed’ physical routine that will trigger the mind to
prepare to sleep). Similarly, genuflecting before the tabernacle is the bodily
expression that Jesus (God) is truly present here. Kneeling and prostration
likewise remind us of God’s greatness and our littleness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
means that ignoring or removing bodily posture from our prayer-life actually
makes it harder for us to pray and also makes it harder for us to relate to God
as a real person, since by removing body language from our communication with
him we are no longer communicating as we would with a real person but only with
a thought in our head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">May
we continue to follow St Dominic’s example and pray with our whole selves (body
& mind).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-10410160270346201442018-08-01T16:00:00.000+01:002018-08-06T16:01:25.108+01:00Novena to St Dominic - Day 3: Dominic a man of prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rM5Juhyphenhyphen4I9cC8_oYEugjFiSsmBPcLur5uduZUuS0khYBR4OB3YFLO7KZi-skNamoWlgsjiEwG1cIjonxzRz0QET_nIJmFAtM6L6jy2DuEbHQ_z0zEUAfhVD13j1_8HNAbMamiKOLYVTW/s1600/Dominic001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="797" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rM5Juhyphenhyphen4I9cC8_oYEugjFiSsmBPcLur5uduZUuS0khYBR4OB3YFLO7KZi-skNamoWlgsjiEwG1cIjonxzRz0QET_nIJmFAtM6L6jy2DuEbHQ_z0zEUAfhVD13j1_8HNAbMamiKOLYVTW/s320/Dominic001.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As we continue the
novena to our Father St Dominic, I’d like to read an extract from the book <b><i>“15
Days of Prayer with Saint Dominic”</i></b> by Alain Quilici O.P.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All
of those who knew Dominic, either from near or far, as close friends of just
acquaintances, attested to the intensity of his prayers. Dominic prayed like he
breathed. He was not one of those who had time to write books, not even books
on prayer, he just prayed. He spent the majority of his time in prayer. He
entered into a state of prayer as naturally and rapidly as others fell asleep.
To spontaneously fall asleep is a childhood grace. Dominic was a child
according to the gospel, a child who dove into prayer whenever he had a moment,
most especially during the night. For him, the night was made for prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Even
when he was just a young religious, he already appeared to be a man specially
gifted for prayer:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Night
and day, like the olive tree that produces fruit or the cypress that reaches to
the heavens, he used the floor of the church, devoting his time to
contemplation, never appearing to leave the monastery. God had given him the
special grace of prayer for sinners, the poor, the afflicted: he carried their
maladies in the intimate sanctuary of his compassion; and the tears that came
boiling from his eyes manifested the ardour of the feelings that burned within
him. It was his habit to spend his nights in prayer. With the door closed, he prayed
to his Father. During and at the end of his prayers, he uttered moans which
came from his heart. He couldn’t hold back, and these cries, coming
spontaneously, could clearly be heard up above in heaven <b><i>(Libellus, 12).</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dominic,
like a beacon of light that burns in the night, realized the Lord’s precept: “Be
alert at all times, praying …” (Lk 21:36).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-18035921315744916212018-07-31T16:09:00.000+01:002018-08-04T16:05:13.057+01:00Novena to St Dominic - Day 2: The paradox of the Cross<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW463NGyF05ntYrEljdjl9Xuttj4eYcnLEDxCcj6RpWimBodF3u8m3A9JhPANKtYKn-nf2FxDIN5DCCALRmW1eUfT83I2wx_soNyfPw2GzGxvS20PVPt5CzuzvxxcO5atrYW4R5IIpaDun/s1600/angelico+dominic+and+crucified+Christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW463NGyF05ntYrEljdjl9Xuttj4eYcnLEDxCcj6RpWimBodF3u8m3A9JhPANKtYKn-nf2FxDIN5DCCALRmW1eUfT83I2wx_soNyfPw2GzGxvS20PVPt5CzuzvxxcO5atrYW4R5IIpaDun/s320/angelico+dominic+and+crucified+Christ.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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St Dominic<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">31<sup>st</sup>
July 2018, Day 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“For everything there is a season, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">and a time for every matter under heaven:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A time to be born, and a time to die; …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A time to weep, and a time to laugh; …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A time to mourn, and a time to dance; …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A time to love, and a time to hate …” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 10.0pt;">(Ecclesiastes, cf 3:1-9)</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">There is never, however, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">a time to despair, and no matter how challenging or <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">God-less the time in which we find ourselves seems to
be, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">we are called at all times to be creatures of hope.</span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">St Dominic’s time was not more desperate than ours,
yet more than anything it could be said of him that he was a man of hope
because of his amazing confidence in God and of his reverence for the length to
which Christ went, in order to save us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The paradox of the Cross:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A place of failure and of triumph;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A place of horror and also of indescribable love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Pope St John Paul II frequently spoke and wrote of J</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 11.0pt;">ESUS</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">
as the answer to all the questions man seeks an answer to, in order the better
to know and understand himself and how to be human.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We could say that the <i>shape</i> of all the answers
we seek, is the shape of the Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>… …
… Difficult to gaze upon, and difficult to understand, and extremely difficult
to reconcile with love – especially with divine love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, nevertheless, the shape of all the
answers we seek, and St Dominic knew and understood this so well, from the many
hours he spent contemplating it. For the Cross is, among other things, also the
shape of wisdom, which, when we put it on, becomes the shape of the freedom
which is so essential to enabling us to be truly human.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">To know that we are children of God is wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have the courage to live according to this
knowledge is holiness and a grace that we have only to ask for, to receive
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">St Dominic embraced this truth all his life and lived
it in union with the Lord whom he served so devotedly in his preaching and in
his unceasing prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The book of Ecclesiasticus encourages us with the
following ‘thought’:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“…
wisdom is like her name, and is not manifest to many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>… Put
your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Put
your shoulder under her and carry her, and do not fret under her bonds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Come
to her with all your soul, and keep her ways with all your might.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Search
out and seek, and she will become known to you; and when you get hold of her,
do<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 11;"> </span>not
let her go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
at last, you will find the rest she gives, and she will be changes into joy for
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then
her fetters will become for you a strong protection, and her collar a glorious
robe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her
yoke is a golden ornament, and he bonds are a cord of blue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You
will wear her like a glorious robe, and put her on like a crown of gladness”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Cf Sir
6:22-31 (RSVCE).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "perpetua"; font-size: 13.0pt;">This is the Cross Dominic wore: a Cross of wisdom and
of truth; of triumph and of glory; a Cross of Divine power and love: the Cross
of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-83463480998406904382018-07-20T16:27:00.001+01:002018-07-20T16:29:14.951+01:00Our New Card Catalogue is now available<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rViWBVLhIxQ5vJ0kaitDaX6nqCta4PZc5LyK8clvOYyw5_wccPInMxTXji3TJ2Grht-rV6UsCaUl1qYnFetQTe1qqfu3sjlCdgfQxNZTmHnIuuJJzBXsSXQvOHeeVbkvrC4qaeV4Hy6y/s1600/Catalogue+Front+Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1128" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rViWBVLhIxQ5vJ0kaitDaX6nqCta4PZc5LyK8clvOYyw5_wccPInMxTXji3TJ2Grht-rV6UsCaUl1qYnFetQTe1qqfu3sjlCdgfQxNZTmHnIuuJJzBXsSXQvOHeeVbkvrC4qaeV4Hy6y/s400/Catalogue+Front+Page.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Our Card Catalogue for 2018/19 is now available. It features a number of new cards; including, to mark the celebration of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin this August, a 'Holy Family Icon Card' by one of our Sisters.</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Please click <strong><a href="http://www.dominicannuns.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Final-Catalogue-2018.pdf">here</a> </strong>to download the full catalogue.</h3>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-35601454134314631712018-07-01T10:27:00.000+01:002018-07-03T10:28:06.143+01:00'Who touched me?' - A reflection on today's Gospel<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“Who
touched me?” (Mk 5:31)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8s77Ril96RqUnFZqmFIlDFk-sajCJiMwS_gm_K-aNj5Cyjxm_oEVBUmhnh9Oxv3vsGKVw8VYIMDjDrTyc1BmwfSW7j2-h1zl_xEpn4ytyxJiMMx5lggllKsVmPvB9668o2KhzPE6wzsZd/s1600/IMAG0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8s77Ril96RqUnFZqmFIlDFk-sajCJiMwS_gm_K-aNj5Cyjxm_oEVBUmhnh9Oxv3vsGKVw8VYIMDjDrTyc1BmwfSW7j2-h1zl_xEpn4ytyxJiMMx5lggllKsVmPvB9668o2KhzPE6wzsZd/s320/IMAG0324.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Seeing this wonderful
cross in the sky above our monastery reminded me of these thoughts in Pope
Benedict’s ‘Spe Salvi’ (par. 27-28):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Whoever is touched by love begins to perceive what “life”
really is. He begins to perceive the meaning of the word of hope that we
encountered in the Baptismal Rite: from faith I await “eternal life”—the true
life which, whole and unthreatened, in all its fullness, is simply life. Jesus,
who said that he had come so that we might have life and have it in its
fullness, in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10),
has also explained to us what “life” means: “this is eternal life, that they
know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3). Life in its true sense
is not something we have exclusively in or from ourselves: it is a
relationship. And life in its totality is a relationship with him who is the
source of life. If we are in relation with him who does not die, who is Life
itself and Love itself, then we are in life. Then we “live”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Yet now the question arises: are we not in this way falling
back once again into an individualistic understanding of salvation, into hope
for myself alone, which is not true hope since it forgets and overlooks others?
Indeed we are not! Our relationship with God is established through communion
with Jesus—we cannot achieve it alone or from our own resources alone. The
relationship with Jesus, however, is a relationship with the one who gave
himself as a ransom for all (cf. 1
Tim 2:6). Being in communion with Jesus Christ draws us into his
“being for all”; it makes it our own way of being. He commits us to live for
others, but only through communion with him does it become possible truly to be
there for others, for the whole. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-37933264547152021392018-06-01T21:11:00.003+01:002018-06-01T21:11:53.023+01:00The Visitation of Our Lady to St Elizabeth - 31st May<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 252.0pt; text-indent: -252.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Today is the Feastday of two of the most
courageous women who have ever lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Today is the feast of
the inviolable dignity of motherhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Today is a feast of
the celebration of the beauty and the gift of womanhood – and all that it can
be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Today, in the Church,
we rejoice and share in the joy of the whole host of heaven, at the visitation
of Our Lady to St Elizabeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Picture it</span></u></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A young girl and an
old woman: both of whom are offered and accept the gift of motherhood in the
most extraordinary and incredible circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who could believe that it should be God’s
will to allow these two – Mary and Elizabeth – to be subjected to the scorn and
derision of neighbours and community who may well have been scandalized at what
had happened to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all for the
sake of His glory?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 252.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Behold, Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Until this point in
her life, she had been a precious and beloved child of her parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They trusted her implicitly; delighted in her
goodness; were impressed by the depth of her faith and the way that her
friendship with God guided all her actions – so much so that even defined
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a joy and a privilege for
Saints Joachim and Anne to be her parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was truly a gift to them from God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And now this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A child – little more
than a child – with a plan and a dream for her life, in an instant taken from
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will people say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How they will talk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when they hear how it happened … … …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Behold, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">An old woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dream all her married life; her hope and
that of Zechariah was that their love and fidelity to each other and to God,
would bear fruit in parenthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be
given the chance of bringing a child into the world and to share with that
child the beauty of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it never
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through years of disappointed
hope, they had at last accepted their fate and were now too old even to wish or
to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And now this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Old enough to be
grandparents!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to have to begin: to
be entrusted with the care of a life so new and so dependent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will people say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How they will talk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when they hear how it happened … … …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In the chaos and
complexity of emotions they must have experienced, they nevertheless knew and
understood the joy of the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God had
extended to these two women, and to Joseph and Zechariah – an invitation to
consent to His will and to be sharers in His divine joy, by accepting the
invitation and gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They trusted in His
mercy: trusted that He was the source of the grace they would need – and the
courage and love they would need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And the world was made new.</span></i></b><i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">At the Visitation of
Mary to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city>,
two women found in one another the word of hope and comfort and of strength
they needed to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found
understanding, support and consolation and renewed faith in the Lord’s words,
‘Do not be afraid.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were not
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The L</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">ORD</span></i></b><b><i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> is my strength and my song.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As we draw near to the
solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, this feast of the Visitation seems
to have an even more powerful message for us, who have been baptised and have
received the sacrament of the Eucharist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When we were presented
to the Lord to be baptised, it was almost as though we were being offered to
the Lord as bodies that would be His very own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is my body, offered for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were offered to the Lord to receive the gift of faith – and in so
doing we, as it were, gave ourselves to Him in order that He might be able to
claim us for Himself, and say of us ‘This is my Body.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The wonder of our
faith is that in being claimed by God, we did not lose our identity: we did not
cease to be ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our baptism
incorporates us into the body of Christ,<i> as ourselves</i>, so that it is <i>as
you</i> and <i>as me</i> that we are made to be a place for Christ to call
‘home.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Do we dare to
believe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we have the courage and
insight to be able to say with Mary, that ‘He who is mighty has done great
things for me?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dare we even imagine the
truth that we have within our grasp, the ability to say ‘yes’ to the invitation
to believe that our very presence in the world has within it the seeds of
enhancing its beauty?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-29483354510736967802018-05-29T11:27:00.000+01:002018-05-29T16:07:34.766+01:00Through the Window of a Dominican Monastery<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAchOrRMF6rFjB1jqEVUaLhlnf5ewchhxVF7LPO36DkE6Sg1h8qz8dDqwuWo1UwP56pXqbzWPYJU7DnotbEm5C9_2af-1Na2P1lZcBhGg7nB5oabuxmg8tKMnB7J40r_-_XnD3HDGnd2G/s1600/IMAG0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAchOrRMF6rFjB1jqEVUaLhlnf5ewchhxVF7LPO36DkE6Sg1h8qz8dDqwuWo1UwP56pXqbzWPYJU7DnotbEm5C9_2af-1Na2P1lZcBhGg7nB5oabuxmg8tKMnB7J40r_-_XnD3HDGnd2G/s320/IMAG0239.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Last month there was a
little reflection on the beginning of our Constitutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A further word on it this month seems like a
good idea and given the way the world is turning so rapidly from faith and from
God – it seems even necessary to pose a question or two about the same article.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We are called to ‘live
in harmony …’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The question is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Do
we in fact <i>know</i> how to live?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Do <i>you </i>know how to live?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Do you have a desire to actually <i>live</i>
rather than merely exist?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Entering a monastery
is a real ‘shock to the system’ – especially in today’s world (which sounds a
bit like a cliché).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, so it
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No iPhones, or smart-phones or ready
access to social media … no radio or television except occasionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What are the benefits
of that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a very relevant question
for people who spend so many hours a day tuned into what people are saying
‘socially’ or ‘virtually.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What do you discover
when you turn off the noise; and stop filling your head with technological,
non-stop communication?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What might
happen?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Maybe … and in fact it
is something that we here would all agree on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>TRUTH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there’s one thing you
can be sure of, when you give yourself to the Lord in quiet and seeming emptiness
(remember it actually <i>isn’t</i> emptiness) the truth bubbles up and speaks
to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We are nuns of the
Order of Truth – Veritas is our motto – so we bear witness in our silence and
by our lives that TRUTH MATTERS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
than that, it can be known and lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can live the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
invitation is that you neither have to, nor are you expected to live that truth
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What did the Lord
promise His disciples before His ascension?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said to them:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Know that I am with you always; yes, to the
end of time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">KNOW – so it’s not
simply a question of feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He invites
us to use our heads and our intelligence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Know the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I am with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There again are the famous words which for
the Jews were too holy to be spoken, because they expressed God’s very
name:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I AM.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And ‘with you’
remember, is what the Angel Gabriel told Mary was the meaning of Jesus’
name:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emmanuel – a name which means,
‘God is with us.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And He said,
‘always.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That simple sentence is
absolutely <i>loaded</i> with meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And when the chaos around us seems to be too much to bear, He reminds us
that He is ‘always’ with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Do you have the
courage to believe Him???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-9542676688608591412018-04-22T18:14:00.000+01:002018-04-22T18:14:05.901+01:00Vocations Sunday<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIDZL7UtT4kB5TNRbigg9Xn6iAtvklCks8q4wTw3pELQZVEOvhN0oylpJ3VlgvcJNejg3R01QmfoEr-67mADj-SS0K-EvehrMywAWbU0-KZileMqK847HQfOryvmyOxTmbwHwT3Ta-1Kj/s1600/Vocations+Sunday+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIDZL7UtT4kB5TNRbigg9Xn6iAtvklCks8q4wTw3pELQZVEOvhN0oylpJ3VlgvcJNejg3R01QmfoEr-67mADj-SS0K-EvehrMywAWbU0-KZileMqK847HQfOryvmyOxTmbwHwT3Ta-1Kj/s400/Vocations+Sunday+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="height: 306px; left: 252px; position: absolute; top: -60px; width: 408px;"></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Happy Vocations Sunday!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Here we are
again, thinking about <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">the Lord
and how He draws people <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">like us –
or people like you??? – to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">desire to
do as He did, Who laid <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">down His
life for His sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So, today
is ‘Vocations Sunday.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Everyone
knows what that means, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">though
admittedly sometimes hearing <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">people
speak about their vocations as somehow feeling ‘called,’ can be a little
perplexing, especially if you don’t quite know how to make sense of that kind
of statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">On the
other hand, you might hear people speak of an experience of love that was
overwhelming and irresistible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Against
these statements, we encounter – and very frequently – people of tremendous
knowledge and intelligence and rationality, for whom a ‘call’ is too fantastic
and ridiculous to be credible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Feelings
come and go, and we know that we cannot root our identity in how we feel about
things or people, or even ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There must be something more, something that can transcend even our
emotions, so that we can depend on it and trust in it, somehow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So what is
the beauty of a vocation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can a
‘call’ be irresistible to all kinds of everyone?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I think the
answer must be that when God is calling/ inviting someone to a religious
vocation, He is inviting you to believe in His love not only on an emotional
level, but fundamentally and lastingly on an intellectual level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like God who is Trinity, He appeals to our
heart, mind, and will – the three are inter-dependent and complementary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows us better than we know ourselves and
it is only at His invitation that we can be ‘called.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So, what is
a vocation? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">An
invitation from the Lord of Love – from a Person to a person – a very
particular call, which none but you can respond to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is up to you to make the choice – He
won’t force a decision, or you wouldn’t be free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
question is, do you have the courage to explore the possibility, or even to
dare to say yes???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-44308005976162306622018-04-10T16:56:00.001+01:002018-04-10T17:49:47.026+01:00A Window into our life<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Welcome to a new
‘feature’ on our web-site …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB6alpg-u5VLpawUjQGOiBbogGpsKv9KbSf9An5JtctgZ2fAJpO2xstV9sFb6i5vKeXZ3kvsZtjBj9GX-UJYS9StyHnvjpx9EVR_gV2cptHo_U4m3T1kIKN96EEXg7WnnUEm7OwA4Gze1/s1600/window+wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB6alpg-u5VLpawUjQGOiBbogGpsKv9KbSf9An5JtctgZ2fAJpO2xstV9sFb6i5vKeXZ3kvsZtjBj9GX-UJYS9StyHnvjpx9EVR_gV2cptHo_U4m3T1kIKN96EEXg7WnnUEm7OwA4Gze1/s320/window+wave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We shall call it a
‘Window into the Life of a Dominican Nun,’ in a rather loose way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Through this ‘window,’
we hope to give you an idea of what the life of a contemplative nun of the
Order of Preachers consists in; to offer some food for thought; maybe also help
you to encounter God in a more personal way; and to help any young women who
might be discerning a vocation, to understand better who we are and whether how
we live, is how they also seek to live, for the glory of God and the salvation
of souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The beginning of our
Constitutions shows how we are so closely connected to our brothers and sisters
in the Dominican Family:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“… the first reason for which we are
gathered together in community<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>is to live in harmony, having one
mind and heart in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This <i>unity</i> transcends the
limits of the monastery and attains its fullness in <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>communion with the Order and with
the whole <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Christ</st1:placename></st1:place>.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One mind and one heart
in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a rare, rare gift, to live
in a community where everyone is intent on loving the Lord with every fibre of
their being, especially in a world in which He is for the most part ‘an
inconvenience’ and unwelcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here
we are, with like-minded and like-hearted sisters, and we each share the same
fundamental and consuming desire:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That the Lord may be
loved; and that everyone on earth might come to know Him and the immensity of
His love for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-57480687005148256112018-03-27T19:30:00.000+01:002018-03-27T22:50:01.998+01:00Preparing our Paschal Candle<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Paschal Candle: The Light of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">During the Easter Vigil, the Church reads the account of creation
as a prophecy. In the resurrection, we see the most sublime fulfilment of what
this text describes as the beginning of all things. God says once again: ‘Let
there be light!’ The resurrection of Jesus is an eruption of light. Death is
conquered, the tomb is thrown open. The Risen One himself is Light, the Light
of the world. With the resurrection, the Lord’s day enters the nights of
history. Beginning with the resurrection, God’s light spreads throughout the
world and throughout history. Day dawns. This Light alone – Jesus Christ – is
the true light, something more than the physical phenomenon of light. He is
pure Light: God himself, who causes a new creation to be born in the midst of
the old, transforming chaos into cosmos.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(Pope
Benedict XVI)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">11)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i></b><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The Cross</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">– “The cross
was the first Christian altar, where the first sacrifice was made”<i> </i></span></b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(Pope Francis)</span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_MA3R3cuoH33xVp_O09cQs9Z5mI-uPYSX_meGAxdVw5Eb-f3Nx8q-FQwTD-Xh1gR7MBCzWMjE-CJAVuJZsOxk5GiDeVlFHI1m7bJjKq8yFVACF5Ux152aDVHDffNyJNTUevS5kHib-_k/s1600/Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_MA3R3cuoH33xVp_O09cQs9Z5mI-uPYSX_meGAxdVw5Eb-f3Nx8q-FQwTD-Xh1gR7MBCzWMjE-CJAVuJZsOxk5GiDeVlFHI1m7bJjKq8yFVACF5Ux152aDVHDffNyJNTUevS5kHib-_k/s320/Cross.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christ
yesterday and today; the Beginning and the End<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Many of us today do not know God and cannot find him in the
crucified Christ. Many are in search for a love, or a liberty, that excludes
God. Let us open our hearts to him, Jesus is the truth that makes us free to
love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On the cross the Redeemer has restored to us the dignity that
belonged to us, has made us adoptive sons and daughters of God whom he has
created in his image and likeness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> 2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i></b><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Fear Not!</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvOWLWoa826yq1lfytCOaUslJakthEHgbmJsGAQzAZhrnP8t_NEWZZJDatlVhKE_Nlj2MDp4vQV0o8r8tkA9YrakSVkzGU76XE57vhoFoAgLUZv32FNDgGc84Jv4y2GBnLyBCusmuABr3/s1600/AlphaOmega.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvOWLWoa826yq1lfytCOaUslJakthEHgbmJsGAQzAZhrnP8t_NEWZZJDatlVhKE_Nlj2MDp4vQV0o8r8tkA9YrakSVkzGU76XE57vhoFoAgLUZv32FNDgGc84Jv4y2GBnLyBCusmuABr3/s320/AlphaOmega.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Alpha and
Omega<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The paschal candle represents our Risen Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Greek letters Apha above the cross and Omega below – the first
and the last letters of the greek alphabet – show that Christ is in truth the
beginning and the end of our salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“To each person, whatever his condition, even if it were the most
complicated and dramatic, the Risen One repeats: ‘Fear Not! I died on the cross
but now I am alive for evermore. I am the first and the last, and the living
one’ (Rev 1:17) </span><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(Pope John Paul
II)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> 3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i></b><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">2018</span></u></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">– It’s always Easter!<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztLLKhPzjDoeZ2m5gvXkhGkK-SEzRWUqDJkGAxQx9ybBEpGK6Up7KyVZpLPHfTs0xNyaLBd2RT_CtHdzrH-qAlYp1OZTOUCFH5Ywe3goyUQwbBH3JstTiKc-ePo7A47g3Oqg6Eza3tLNP/s1600/Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztLLKhPzjDoeZ2m5gvXkhGkK-SEzRWUqDJkGAxQx9ybBEpGK6Up7KyVZpLPHfTs0xNyaLBd2RT_CtHdzrH-qAlYp1OZTOUCFH5Ywe3goyUQwbBH3JstTiKc-ePo7A47g3Oqg6Eza3tLNP/s320/Year.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All time
belongs to him, and all the ages. To him be glory and power, through every age
and for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Between
the arms of the cross the numerals of the current year are inscribed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
Jesus Christ in his incarnation, in his Cross and resurrection, the face of God
has been revealed, that in Him God is present in our midst; he unites us and
leads us towards our goal, towards eternal love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rejoice
my soul. It is always Easter, for the Risen Christ is our Resurrection! </span><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(Sylvan of Mount Athos)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8R3Cat7ugWxjdWsSTqJm1JZ1mJ3GKkz-Gdes33eNEeQ7S1LD2Z_5Eu7wn3boaqIJXn0ncqW8DvRN2aj6FJM6gtZPewsVIcyFNyiQsVJovr4da9vEFrCos7o5YcDUg-ZrkbMOV_ujsWgs/s1600/FinishedCandle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8R3Cat7ugWxjdWsSTqJm1JZ1mJ3GKkz-Gdes33eNEeQ7S1LD2Z_5Eu7wn3boaqIJXn0ncqW8DvRN2aj6FJM6gtZPewsVIcyFNyiQsVJovr4da9vEFrCos7o5YcDUg-ZrkbMOV_ujsWgs/s320/FinishedCandle.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The completed Paschal Candle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-52896870710954358332018-03-26T19:30:00.000+01:002018-03-27T22:30:22.405+01:00Visit of the Master of the Order<span style="background-color: white; color: #747474; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Some photos from the recent visit of the Master of the Order, Fr. Bruno Cadoré, to our monastery during his visitation of the Irish Dominican Province. He was accompanied by Fr Alain Arnould OP and Fr Gerard Dunne OP, the vicar of the Master for our Monastery.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #747474; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcTxm5gpRIzm0kLHu5gXr8SGLL943AEEq98FK53hSfUgAuLACvM_H1kFwuLsBu89SxuDevOhxUQRVEaSEhaUcz7mv-djDDW-YuycGwDJGoQNumc1_WnoYrajwWPHFZLIClRZtbubnBUoa/s1600/IMAG0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcTxm5gpRIzm0kLHu5gXr8SGLL943AEEq98FK53hSfUgAuLACvM_H1kFwuLsBu89SxuDevOhxUQRVEaSEhaUcz7mv-djDDW-YuycGwDJGoQNumc1_WnoYrajwWPHFZLIClRZtbubnBUoa/s320/IMAG0147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyVtw1GTGGsZRm0Hs1QE2ByV_4zaqYh733EQORYY1D5M7eG2_ZdlngED2Etp3wIB1whg70inJRqUmyad-m3GMdUxGRT1odeUV7YWN3p_dzg23N-cwIYEVFW3INHbcmoRpvM0iN1tRAIm5/s1600/IMAG0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyVtw1GTGGsZRm0Hs1QE2ByV_4zaqYh733EQORYY1D5M7eG2_ZdlngED2Etp3wIB1whg70inJRqUmyad-m3GMdUxGRT1odeUV7YWN3p_dzg23N-cwIYEVFW3INHbcmoRpvM0iN1tRAIm5/s320/IMAG0149.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZX_BbAUwr3Cv2GZsFiBt8LBDBl0C4oxOsQs7CbZBZEft6esCgzG8SZHvz8MIYb1g4oEMphZemMfbPk6X2uCwQv-mtdMKNmFGrAlQKR0LqYcqQtAxWzI1g7Z0XX_7P_nLGUd-1SI_3Okv/s1600/IMAG0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZX_BbAUwr3Cv2GZsFiBt8LBDBl0C4oxOsQs7CbZBZEft6esCgzG8SZHvz8MIYb1g4oEMphZemMfbPk6X2uCwQv-mtdMKNmFGrAlQKR0LqYcqQtAxWzI1g7Z0XX_7P_nLGUd-1SI_3Okv/s320/IMAG0152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #747474; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-57588890775498471612018-03-16T15:56:00.000+00:002018-03-16T15:56:05.733+00:00Rosary for Life and Faith<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: blue; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Holy Hour on </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: red; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Sunday
the 18<sup>th</sup> of March</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: blue; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> here,
in union with all those praying the Rosary at Mass Rocks and Monastic Sites
throughout <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place>
for</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 22.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> <u><span style="color: red;">Life
and Faith.</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: green; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">5:15 pm- 6:15 pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Followed
by Vespers at 6:30pm <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: green; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">All very welcome<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-39586533348733100382018-03-13T10:21:00.002+00:002018-03-13T10:21:15.722+00:004th Sunday of Lent: Laetare Sunday<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“If I forget you, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>, let my right
hand wither. …”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“We are God’s work of art,
created in Christ Jesus to live the good life, which from the beginning He had
meant us to live it.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“… but the man who lives by
the truth comes out into the light, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">so that it may be plainly seen
that what he does is done in God.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Our Lenten journey has
arrived at its half-way point and today, we have been invited to rejoice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To rejoice, obviously,
in the Lord, Who is the source of all our good and of all the goodness around
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To rejoice, possibly,
in the fact that there are only three more weeks left of Lent – with St Patrick
and St Joseph to look forward to, who will enable us to break the journey for a
while, and thus help us to persevere … …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There may yet be
something else in which we are invited to rejoice, possibly less obvious, maybe
even unexpected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But today’s readings,
and indeed most of the liturgy we have been celebrating since Lent began, seem
to be calling us to rejoice even in ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">St Paul</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> reminds us that “We are God’s work of art,
created in Christ Jesus to live the good life, which from the beginning He had
meant us to live it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And during the
week we were commanded by Jesus Himself to love our neighbour as ourselves. …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It is easy to
understand such a command to mean that we must love others as much as, or in
the same way and to the same degree as we love ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But could it also dare us to love others <i>as
OURSELVES</i>? – that is, is who we know ourselves to be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if this is so, is the commandment not
then, even more challenging?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we are
now required to first discover who we truly are, in order that we may indeed
love our neighbour as ourselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
dared to set out on a quest for authenticity – not to spend all our time
self-absorbed by any means – but, nevertheless, to have that desire: to be
true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">All the saints
throughout history have understood that abiding in God: attending to His Word;
immersing themselves in His love, has opened their eyes to the truth about who
they themselves were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the world has
been a better place because of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We could perceive this
season of Lent to be a time when we set ourselves to giving things up; to
restraining ourselves from indulging in habits that aren’t really good for us
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A comfortable way to reassure
ourselves that we are making an effort, perhaps???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Maybe, after all, Lent
is more fundamentally a time for us to be more intent on knowing, on
discovering the truth, about who we really are, in order for us to truly <i>be </i>who
we are. … … … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And what might we
discover if we dare to travel along that path???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That you are God’s work of art;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That He delights in loving you;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That He has created you for
goodness, for joy, for Himself;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That He is waiting to be gracious to
you, if you will only take the time to welcome Him into yourself and allow Him
to speak to your heart (Who, after all, is the only One who truly understands
all that you have to bear – the good and the difficult, and sometimes the bad
and the awful)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Allow yourself to believe in all
that He has in His heart for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Abiding in this truth
enables you to see truly, for His love is a radiant light and you are a child
of that same Divine Light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By embracing
that truth and living from it … the world becomes a better place, because you
are in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What a very much more
wonderful world it would be, if we only dared to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A Hymn for Lent, by
Richard Baxter (1615 – 1691)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lord, it belongs not to my care<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whether I die or live;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To love and serve thee is my share, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And this thy grace must give.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If life be long, I will be glad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That I may long obey;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If short, yet why should I be sad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To soar to endless day?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Christ leads me through no darker
rooms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Than He went through before;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He that into God’s kingdom comes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Must enter by this door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Come, Lord, when grace has made me
meet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thy blessed face to see;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For if thy work on earth be sweet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What will thy glory be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My knowledge of that life is small,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The eye of faith is dim;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But ‘tis enough that Christ knows
all<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And I shall be with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-80791182886876244452018-02-12T11:46:00.001+00:002018-02-12T11:48:21.938+00:00Homily preached at Sr M Cathy's Solemn Profession<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk53kRfG2yCBWUV1eMbC0vcDANJb0o_8NbgYrE_f14v8ybAGWxfOALRjUZiC1m2kD7JqsO_28fNuDIWfYWL4HHLv8oOb_kEo5AyAD8-gdmFDmeKgvaSM68nDj2yYWLmlcOxIcuqEKkaG0P/s1600/profession+-ed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1014" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk53kRfG2yCBWUV1eMbC0vcDANJb0o_8NbgYrE_f14v8ybAGWxfOALRjUZiC1m2kD7JqsO_28fNuDIWfYWL4HHLv8oOb_kEo5AyAD8-gdmFDmeKgvaSM68nDj2yYWLmlcOxIcuqEKkaG0P/s320/profession+-ed.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In
the old vocations booklet for the Irish province from the 1950s the photographs
go through the various stages of the formation of novices and students. By the
second last page one arrives at pictures of the priest’s ordination and first
Mass, turning the page, the final picture on the last page was of the graveyard
in Tallaght. As if to say once you were ordained then the next major moment in
one’s life was the grave. I am not saying today is the last big day in the life
of Sr. Mary Cathy and the next stop is the community graveyard on the Chord
Road. Or am I? For today you will use those stark words: I promise obedience
until death.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">At
the end of today’s Gospel, we read: When they had done everything the Law of
the Lord required, they went back to their own town where the child grew to
maturity and he was filled with wisdom: and God’s favour was with him. </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And
we hear nothing more of him for 30 years, except for the episode in the Temple
when he was 12 - <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>the hidden years of
prayer and silent work. We call them the hidden years but also from a human
standpoint formative years, years in which in his sacred humanity he grew in
maturity.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today marks a phenomenal flowering, a maturing
of Sr. Mary Cathy’s journey of faith. Today <u style="text-underline: dash;">Sr.
Cathy offers herself totally to Christ</u>. This one sentence of eight words
sums up the Thomistic understanding of solemn profession. <u style="text-underline: dash;">Today Sr. Cathy offers herself totally to Christ.</u> Today is the
triumph of grace in the life of our sister. She is giving herself, consecrating
herself in a public act of worship in the Church, for the Church, to Christ. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The
prayers of the blessing of the veil and the blessing of the profession ring focus
us on the interior reality of today’s solemn profession. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> The prayer of blessing of the veil says that the veil is a
public sign of her consecration, her giving of herself totally to Christ making
her a house of prayer and a temple of intercession for all people. </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The
ring is said also to be a sign of consecration and fidelity pledged to God. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Both are signs of her consecration.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The
ring she receives today is a gift to her from her friends, a sign that
religious vocations are truly ecclesial, they are never simply between the
person making profession and her God, it is the activity of God’s grace in the
midst of the Christian community. At her simple profession I spoke of how
Cathy’s journey had begun on the day Imelda and John brought her to the church
to be baptised, today we all hold Cathy’s beloved mother Imelda in our hearts,
we all know how proud she was of Cathy’s decision to become a nun, how often
during the months of her final illness did Imelda say she was delighted for
Cathy. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Cathy was nourished both
spiritually and humanly by her friends in the Legion of Mary, friends who today
give her the ring of profession, a faith that has grown and matured here in
this community of Siena. We are all part of the story of Cathy’s consecration. </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But
as Dominicans how do we understand this act of consecration – for us it is
always to be consecrated to the truth. This is made concrete in the inscription
in the ring she will receive: “Do whatever he tells you” - These words come
from the last words spoken by Our Blessed Lady in St. John’s Gospel, at the
wedding feast of Cana. These words speak to Cathy of what her consecration as a
Dominican means. To be consecrated in the truth means that one will always
endeavour to do whatever he tells you, in a word obedience. It commits you to a
life of listening, lived in silence in the enclosure always striving to do his
will. Knowing that in his will is our peace. This is what you are consecrating
yourself to today Sr. Mary Cathy. You are giving yourself over freely to do
whatever the Lord tells you. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In
the formula of our Dominican profession there is none of the flowery language
of other profession formulae, there is the simple giving of yourself to God, to
Blessed Mary and to Blessed Dominic and to this religious community in
obedience. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">For
us Dominicans, obedience is not a giving away of our intelligence, it is not a
fight between two opposing wills, you and the prioress, or the community or
your spiritual directors. – I am sure that Fr. Eamon McCarthy will agree with
me, he who was the first priest to help her on her spiritual journey, that our
lives would have been a lot easier if someone had told her “do whatever he
tells you”, that’s not our Cathy. Cathy may be obedient but never subservient. </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Obedience
for us Dominicans is not a servile struggle between my freedom and someone else’s
authority. It is not a stunting of our giftedness from God rather it is an
openness to the truth of the Lord in the midst of the Church, in this
community, spoken through the voice of the prioress and the community and
indeed the Order with its long history. It is not a subjection of the intellect
- rather it is a loving embracing of the truth discovered in Christ. All of us
are at the service of this truth, the Master of the Order, his vicar, the
prioress, the conventual chapter, the individual obedient religious, all of us
are consecrated to the truth, to doing whatever Our Blessed Lord asks of us.
Religious Obedience for us Dominicans is not a struggle of wills but an
acceptance of God’s truth in ones’ life. A truth that challenges us to mature
and grow in wisdom as did the Lord when he went back to Galilee, to his own
town of Nazareth. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">For
the rest of your life Sr. Mary Cathy, until death, you, by your act of
profession, give yourself over to doing whatever he tells you, in this
community. You <u>together</u> with your community will endeavour to listen
deeply to the voice of the Lord in order to do whatever he tells you, as a
community and each of us in her own personal responses. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This common search for the truth is what marks
our Dominican obedience out from other forms of obedience. Ours is always a
searching after the truth, the truth in this particular situation in the life
of the individual religious in the midst of a religious community which
together search for the truth. Obedience can never be reduced to a war of wills
but a common listening to the promptings of the Spirit after the model of Our Blessed
Mother, to whom you also make profession, to do whatever the tells you. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">This
beautiful image of our Heavenly Mother encouraging you to do whatever he tells
us should always be the atmosphere in which we Dominicans live out our lives of
obedience with creative resourcefulness. It challenges us to a new maturity,
not a childish wanting of my own way. <span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Cardinal
Ratzinger explains to us what this mature faith entails: An "adult"
faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty;
a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship
that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to
distinguish the true from the false, and deceit from truth… as this friendship
with Jesus matures the more our true freedom develops and our joy in being
redeemed flourishes<a href="file:///C:/Users/Sr%20Breda/Pictures/Cathy's%20Profession/Sr.%20Cathy's%20solemn%20profession.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>.
</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Today
Sr. Mary Cathy you consecrate yourself to a life of Obedience lived as a mature
woman. Your offering of yourself in obedience to the truth doesn’t reduce you
in an act of humiliation but rather allows you to flourish into a mature
Christian during these years of your life hidden, here in Siena Monastery. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The
words of St. Paul to the Ephesians sum up my prayer for today Sr. Mary Cathy:
that you grow in maturity to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ… speaking the truth in love, that you grow up in every way into him, who
is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by
every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly,
makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What
you do today will be worked out in the years ahead, these hidden years, until
they come to light in the fullness of time. Until then may you grow to maturity
and be filled with wisdom and may God’s favour be with you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Sr%20Breda/Pictures/Cathy's%20Profession/Sr.%20Cathy's%20solemn%20profession.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="margin: 0px;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-IE" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"> From the homily at the election of a pope in 2005</span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-71266293225135941402018-02-06T20:00:00.000+00:002018-02-06T20:00:02.706+00:00Sr Mary Cathy’s Solemn Profession<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y_U_p3LC15ZbSD-KKvr-ueX4wQqI7SxHz_-V1uE5xsCWzykpFbpPzlQynyoWcQ45aPs9Dv0xoNFdtg3JsGF-A-omdTU5Fyl0sCxid_CKyjqZ_CMDxh3u6cAZ2QWQtUFUBnV1vOqq5B-Q/s1600/IMAG0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y_U_p3LC15ZbSD-KKvr-ueX4wQqI7SxHz_-V1uE5xsCWzykpFbpPzlQynyoWcQ45aPs9Dv0xoNFdtg3JsGF-A-omdTU5Fyl0sCxid_CKyjqZ_CMDxh3u6cAZ2QWQtUFUBnV1vOqq5B-Q/s320/IMAG0049.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">On
Friday last, 2<sup>nd</sup> February, although otherwise </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">quite a cold Spring
day, the sun shone all day in a beautiful blue sky – symbol of the Sun which
was shining in Sr Mary Cathy’s heart and which was visible in her eyes and smile
as the day of her Solemn Profession had at last dawned. She had prepared and longed for this day for
many months and now was the moment to make her final commitment as a Dominican
Nun until death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNv4w4YcyyVcjQrgAeX6BHSW-AOtApdAb13ajWRuTMxuuk5LJOvftj6T9ghj5_3YK3d1dxN_ut7cEuQ9CvsGGXlGDk3p00n2x_av_GMK3a7Cwe3uPIXjjoMp6YGFQxhvwCQ1STmwTYnoe/s1600/fr+ger+and+cathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNv4w4YcyyVcjQrgAeX6BHSW-AOtApdAb13ajWRuTMxuuk5LJOvftj6T9ghj5_3YK3d1dxN_ut7cEuQ9CvsGGXlGDk3p00n2x_av_GMK3a7Cwe3uPIXjjoMp6YGFQxhvwCQ1STmwTYnoe/s1600/fr+ger+and+cathy.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #747474; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">t was a day of joy and thanksgiving for our whole community, Sr M Cathy’s family and our Dominican Family in Ireland. Fr Gerard Dunne OP, vicar of the Master of the Order for our monastery, officiated and Fr John Harris OP preached the homily, Fr Eamonn McCarthy director of Radio Maria Ireland (a close friend of Sr M Cathy’s) was one of the chief concelebrants at the Eucharist with 16 other </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">of our Dominican Brothers; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Sr M Cathy’s family participated in the Readings and Prayers of the Faithful, many of her friends attended – several of whom are members of the Legion of Mary. Many of our local friends joined us for the Eucharist. The Dominican Sisters, Cabra Congregation were represented by Sr Marie Cunningham OP and our friends from the local community of Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal joined us.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "PT Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;"></span></div>
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Being the 2nd of February, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, the Eucharist began with the usual blessing of candles in the cloister and then the community and concelebrants processed to the church.<br />
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<b>More Photos available at this <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bwajcg9oflj21gi/AAA7W3N8a8xr-flBPp1wX-3Fa?dl=0" style="text-decoration-line: none;">link</a>, with thanks to Fr Luuk Jansen OP for his services as a photographer.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;"><b>The
Dominican rite of Solemn Profession</b> is quite simple - the sister making
profession places her hands in the hands of the prioress and pronounces the
words of profession:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">I, Sr NN, make profession, and
promise obedience to God, and to Blessed Mary and to Blessed Dominic, and to
the Master of the Order of Friars Preachers, and to you Sr NN , prioress of
this Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, Drogheda; and to your successors,
according to the Rule of Blessed Augustine and the Constitutions of the Nuns of
the Order of Preachers that I will be obedient to you and to your successors
until death.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">The
priest officiating then says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Sr NN by this solemn profession you
have given yourself to God and to His will: God Himself therefore has
consecrated you to Himself through the ministry of the Church, to be associated
through a life of prayer and penance, with the ‘holy preaching’ of St Dominic,
so that you may be His own heritage and that He may be your heritage forever.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Then
the veil is blessed with the following beautiful prayer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Lord bless this veil which Sr NN
wears for love of you and your blessed Mother Mary, ever Virgin, as a sign of
her consecration to you. Through your
help and protection may she always preserve the purity of heart that it
mystically signifies. In wearing it may
she be recognised as a house of prayer and temple of intercession for all
people. Clothe with your grace her
entire being, so that she may love you with all her heart. May she always live in this love and be
introduced one day to the joy of your kingdom, through Christ our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Then
the ring is blessed and presented to the newly professed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">Receive this ring as a sign of
consecration and fidelity pledged to God, so that wearing it, you may be
defended by the power of heavenly protection, and keep true faith with Him
until you come into everlasting joy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-63492342424516595182018-01-07T12:13:00.004+00:002018-01-07T12:13:45.048+00:00Solemnity of Mary Mother of God - 1st January 2018<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The great feast of Mary Mother of
God, the world day of peace, the first day of a New Year, New year resolutions,
all these came together for me this morning when Father began his homily with
this Scripture verse—Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her
heart. I have no idea what he had to say after that. For these words reached
me with great force and an immediate question. What things, events, situations,
do I treasure and ponder in my heart and why do I do it? As I was quietly
working in the kitchen I continued to reflect on this Word: “Where your treasure is there also will your
heart be.” What my heart has been most focused on during this past year will
reveal to me what my treasure really is. What do my inner dialogues reveal?
When I ponder the daily happenings in my life is it to bring to bear the Word of God on these
events, so that God’s plan for my life
may come to full fruition, as I gradually allow his light and truth to shine in
my darkness.? Is my focus on listening to the voice of the Lord and as a result
of that entering into His Peace. Do I treasure all the happenings of the day,
both positive and negative because I know that each of them is a gift through
which God is speaking to me if I have ears to hear? Do I believe that God is
bringing about His plan both for my salvation and the salvation of the world as
I willing assent and respond to His revelation to me moment by moment? I f I
did how I would hug to myself each happening, each encounter, excited by the
prospect of learning something new about God, about myself, about the needs of
others. I would be like a child on Christmas morning tearing apart the wrapping
to discover the enclosed gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Or do I
in fact ruminate deeply on hurts, on negative experiences, pondering
over grievances, blaming others, judging others, protecting myself from others.
Are these the things I treasure and ponder in my heart? Thoughts that serve to
reinstate me as the one in the right, thoughts that diminish others? And yet
even these inner monologues are stepping stones to grace if I can but listen to
them in truth and invite Jesus the light of the world to bring to light what
darkness is hiding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mary listened no matter who or what
God chose to speak to her through and because of her inner disposition “Be it
done to me according to your Word" she heard His voice; through the angel
Gabriel, through her cousin Elizabeth, the inn keeper, the shepherds, the wise
men, Herod, Simeon and Anna, Jesus in the temple, the wedding feast of Cana,
when Jesus left to begin his ministry, when she was told he was mad, when he
was persecuted and murdered and in all the events in between. No matter what
came her way, her response was to take it and ponder it in her heart. And
because of that she was there at the foot of the Cross, sharing with her whole
heart in His Passion and she was witness too to his Resurrection, and now
reigns with Him to “mother each new grace which does now reach our race”. To
paraphrase Gerard Manley Hopkins, may she who holds high motherhood, towards
all our ghostly good continue her work as this new Year begins so that our
hearts may become new Bethlehems, where she shall yet conceive Him and He be
born there , evening, noon and morn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-55637038130416992362018-01-07T12:08:00.001+00:002018-01-07T12:08:33.353+00:00Christmas reflection<div class="MsoTitle">
<i>It is customary that the prioress gives short reflection at First Vespers of Christmas - we share the following with our readers:</i></div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
<span style="font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The theme of my reflection, on
this Christmas Eve night, is <b>‘ Peace’.</b>
The Order has just established the month of December as the month designated
for all its members to pray for world peace and each year the whole Order will
focus on praying for peace in a particular area of the world. This year the
focus is on <st1:country-region w:st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region>, <st1:place w:st="on">South America</st1:place>, -that the peace agreement signed in 2016
will become a reality there. Conscious also of the lack of <b>inner peace in ourselves at times and in people in general</b>, I was led to
ponder the title given to <b>Jesus</b>
before his birth, that of <b>Prince of
Peace,</b> in the book of the prophet
Isaiah, which will be read tonight at Mass:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> For
there is a child born for us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> a son
given to us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> and dominion
is laid on his shoulders;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
and this
is the name they give him:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Wonder
– Counsellor, Mighty –God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Eternal-
Father, <b>Prince-of –Peace.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Wide
is his dominion <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> In a <b>peace</b> that has no end.( Is. 9: 5-6 )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We long so much for this <b>peace</b> that ‘<b>has no end’</b>.
We long for it for ourselves, our families, our communities, our friends and
for the world at large. We want Isaiah’s prophecy, which says;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> For
all the footgear of battle,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> every
cloak rolled in blood,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> is
burnt,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> and
consumed by fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">- we want that to be realised now, without further
delay. The Gospel tonight further reinforces this message of <b>peace</b> when it says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> And suddenly with the angel there was a great
throng of the heavenly host,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> praising
God and singing:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and <b>peace</b> to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> men
who enjoy his favour’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
This theme of peace abounds everywhere in the Christmas Liturgy
tonight and tomorrow. In the entrance antiphon, Jesus is personified as <b>peace</b> itself as it says:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> ‘
True <b>peace</b> has come down to us from heaven’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On the very first weekday of Advent, and on all
Mondays in Advent, I was very struck by the post communion prayer, again
referring to peace; it says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Come, O Lord, visit us in<b> peace, </b>that we may rejoice before you with a blameless heart.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="color: windowtext;">In all these quotes
humanity and God are linked together because <b>peace</b> is a gift bestowed on us by God the Father, through and in his son Jesus
Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The truth of Isaiah’s words come to mind:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> You keep
him in <b>perfect peace</b> whose mind is
stayed on you, because he trusts in you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Trust in
the Lord for ever for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. ( Is.26)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This is really to say that our <b>peace</b>, our <b>inner peace</b>
is dependent on our relationship of trust in God. It is the fruit of a personal
relationship with Jesus. We are not
alone. God, gentle and humble, is with us, watching over us and guiding us.
Jean Vanier teaches us in his book, <i>Finding
Peace, </i>when he says : “ As we learn to
relax and <b>trust in love</b> we
become free of the walls and barriers that imprison us in fear, prejudice,
hostility and guilt. We are filled with a new joy, a new life, the very life of
love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sometimes when I feel my own <b>inner peace</b> is disturbed I
remind the Lord of his promise in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">St.
John’s</st1:city></st1:place> Gospel, when he says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="color: windowtext;"> <b>Peace</b> I bequeath
to you, my <b>own peace</b> I give you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> A <b>peace</b> the world cannot give, this is my
gift to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In speaking <b>about
peace</b> <st1:city w:st="on">St. Thomas</st1:city> quotes <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">St. Augustine</st1:city></st1:place> in defining <b>peace</b> as the <b>tranquillity of order.</b> Peace consists in the calm and union of our
desires and is twofold in that there is <b>perfect
peace</b> and <b>imperfect peace.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Perfect
peace,</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> he says, consists in the perfect enjoyment of God
which causes all our desires and tendencies to be united and at rest in one.
This perfect peace is only possible in Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Imperfect peace,</b><span style="color: windowtext;"> on the other hand, is the <b>peace </b> which we can have in
this world. It is imperfect because, even though the soul’s principal movement
is to rest in God, there still remain certain obstacles, both within and
without, which disturb our soul’s peace. St. Thomas goes on to say that peace
is the effect of charity since charity means that we love God with our whole
heart by referring everything to him, all our desires become focused on loving
God in Himself and we know that <b>love </b>is
always a <b>unifying force.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I
have come to understand that ‘the <b>peace</b>
which God gives is not a freedom from the storms and conflicts of life, but a <b>mysterious</b> <b>strength</b> and <b>comfort</b>
amid the storms; not the removal of pain, but the bestowal of a precious gift.
The gift is God himself, the comforter, the one who stands alongside us.<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Also <b>peace</b> is not just the work of governments or armies or diplomats
but the task of each one of us. We can all become makers of peace. Peace must begin with myself, within my own heart
and from there radiate outwards. This is in fact possible because tonight we
celebrate what God, in his infinite love for us, has done by sending Jesus, the
<b>Prince of Peace,</b> to dwell among us
and in our hearts, as the teacher and source of <b>peace.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> is within us but there, it has to
grow and spread. In that process we may experience the apocalyptic chaos and
disruption and the Messianic peace and harmony – and everything in between! Our
lion may have to learn to lie down with
our lamb! And then after coping with my own lion what about coping with the
lions in everyone else around me!?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> The following
medieval verses recognised this <b>inner
world</b> and the <b>transformation</b>
Christ’s coming brings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> You
shall know him when he comes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Not
by any din of drums,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Not
by anything he wears,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Nor
by the vantage of his airs;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Not
by his gown,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Nor
by his crown,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> But
his coming known shall be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> By
the <b>holy harmony</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> That
his presence makes in thee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">May all of us experience this holy harmony, this
peace, fruit of the Holy Spirit, and true effect of charity, gift of God to be
received by faith, as we celebrate with
thanksgiving the great mystery of Christ’s incarnation, of his coming among us
and within us, as the <b>Prince of Peace</b>. Amen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div id="edn3">
</div>
</div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-66227239342744374262017-12-19T19:37:00.000+00:002017-12-19T19:37:16.352+00:00Advent Week 3 - O Wisdom<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">O Sapientia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">These are the last days of the Advent season, the days
of the “O” antiphons and this evening we will be calling upon the LORD who is
Wisdom – to come and to teach us the way of truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <i>“O
Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> You
fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> O come,
to teach us the way of truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We know that on the day of our Confirmation, we were
blessed with the gift of wisdom when we received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. So it may be truly said, that the way of
wisdom – the desire for wisdom – is nothing other than a desire for God. So, in these days of anticipation of the LORD
– God Himself, becoming even one of us – it is fitting to remember that wisdom
is very closely related also to wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When Christmas is held to be a season of wonder and
amazement at the incredible humility of God; when we enter into the mystery
with hearts open to receiving and believing in all that the LORD has in His
Heart for us – then also, our eyes, too, being to see everything more clearly:
we begin to see the truth and through the wisdom implanted in us – we can
discern the meaning of all life: the truth about our own lives; and to value
absolutely everything as a most precious and divine gift. It is possible at last, to hear the Word of
the LORD and to know that His word to us and for us, is a word of unimaginable,
wonderful and amazing love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">How does one respond to such love? We could not even hope to merit such a
tremendous gift, and yet it is ours unconditionally. So how can we, so to say, express our
appreciation to the LORD for all He has invited us to receive? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If we are moved to respond authentically to such a
great love, the words of St Paul in today’s second reading at Mass – taken from
his First Letter to the Thessalonians – seem to capture the essence of how to
live this life wisely:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <i>“Be
happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God. …<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> … Never try to suppress the Spirit or treat the
gift of prophecy with contempt;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> think
before you do anything – hold on to what is good <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> and
avoid every form of evil … … …”</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The wonderful thing about the gift of faith seems to
me to be that through it, we awaken in ourselves – or we are more disposed to
desire to live our lives authentically, and according to the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What better gift, then, could we ask of the LORD, than
the gift of wisdom … for ourselves and for those for whom we care? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We pray for the Church and all her members: on his
birthday, we pray especially for Pope Francis, that he may be guided in all
things by the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Truth, and that – together with
him, we too may grow in our love for wisdom and truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-81836537075069338122017-12-19T19:35:00.000+00:002017-12-19T19:35:10.756+00:00Advent Week 2<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During Advent the
Church brings us back in time to the centuries before the coming of Christ –
the readings allow us to identify with the sentiments, longings and hopes of the
people of the Old Testament who awaited the Messiah. We see how God was at work in their lives,
leading them to the truth about their relationship with Him and each
other. Last Sunday the Prophet Isaiah
presented us with the image of God as Father and the Potter who formed His
people. In today’s first reading God is
the Shepherd who gently leads His flock, feeding them and gathering the lambs
in His arms, holding them against His breast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This morning’s Gospel
invites us to prepare a way for the Lord in the wilderness of our lives – or
perhaps better to allow God to prepare a way in our hearts for His coming. We may ask ourselves for whom or what are we
preparing; who or what are we expecting? – as always the readings and prayers
of the liturgy are our best teachers – during Advent these focus on what God
would like to find when He comes – two phrases from the prayer for Monday week
1 stood out for me – it prayed that when the Lord knocks he “may find us
watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise” – I take it to mean not so much
that we must multiply our prayers but that we be alert to His Presence with us moment
by moment and respond with alacrity and joy to whatever He may ask – as Mary
responded with her <i>fiat</i> and <i>Magnificat.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Advent reminds us that
we are on a journey and that the Lord will come to each of us personally at our
journey’s end. We have come from the
hand of God – he loved us and called us into being – each one is personally
known and loved and we journey through life until the moment when He calls us
back to Himself. Advent strengthens our
hope that He will come - and invites us to be ready and on the watch. If we learn to recognise His coming at each
moment then when He finally comes for us we will recognise Him and surrender to
His embrace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Entrance antiphon
of this morning’s Mass expresses it very beautifully – which we will sing again
after Vespers at Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“People of Sion the
Lord will come to save all nations and your heart will exult to hear his
majestic voice, the people of God will sing songs of joy like songs in the
night. They will have gladness of
heart..... On every high mountain
streams will flow and there will be joy
for you are loved by the Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-17362045670928989252017-12-10T12:05:00.002+00:002017-12-10T12:05:41.690+00:00Graduation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQKkeZuPfcBI0weF55ktoySai8NnMvmpjqErR2BgH86DqAPWpCZpRQb3g864dpYRxGOxxxVNit60zQPHNAvX7fvnKc-2B9wZ1K4tBJWxhWDYEBIhfn5wxtHNfO8x-zeUM8gsbdOe6bLA0/s1600/Dobbie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1479" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQKkeZuPfcBI0weF55ktoySai8NnMvmpjqErR2BgH86DqAPWpCZpRQb3g864dpYRxGOxxxVNit60zQPHNAvX7fvnKc-2B9wZ1K4tBJWxhWDYEBIhfn5wxtHNfO8x-zeUM8gsbdOe6bLA0/s200/Dobbie.JPG" width="184" /></a><br />
For the past five years Sr Niamh and Sr M Teresa have participated in the distance learning programme from Maryvale University, Birmingham. They have been studying theology very diligently while participating fully in our daily contemplative life. So our whole community rejoiced with them when they recently graduated with first class honours in Bachelor of Divinity. Here they are shown with their certificates which they received in the post as they did not go to Maryvale for the Graduation Ceremony on the 21st November - Instead we had our own community celebration!<br />
Dobby one of our cats looks on approvingly from the roof top while the photo was being taken!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD3FLYqVTl_upTuHhq-y-wYrDCZr_Zp_z3ndifVG7d3dJ6S_dG9pi4gdg-y6PHJzP5lH-42C1lodLW_8ZhpfJ-nlXkltdOlM5W4to9_O9BIY6scXvId1LXr_3uZIE9_TDNugUnjJweHYL/s1600/Srs+N%2526+T+-+certs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD3FLYqVTl_upTuHhq-y-wYrDCZr_Zp_z3ndifVG7d3dJ6S_dG9pi4gdg-y6PHJzP5lH-42C1lodLW_8ZhpfJ-nlXkltdOlM5W4to9_O9BIY6scXvId1LXr_3uZIE9_TDNugUnjJweHYL/s320/Srs+N%2526+T+-+certs.JPG" width="320" /></a>Study is an essential element in the life of Dominican Nuns - Our Constitutions encourage "a methodical study of sacred truth, according to the capacity of the individual, as a fruitful preparation for<i> lectio divina</i> and an aid to human maturity" - study also "nourishes contemplation" and helps us live our life with a more "enlightened fidelity".<br />
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Being able to participate in a distance learning course is a greatly appreciated by us contemplatives who observe the law of enclosure. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">The sisters have found this study very beneficial. Maryvale also offer short courses for those who find 5 years too intimidating. </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.maryvale.c" href="http://www.maryvale.c/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">www.maryvale.ac.uk</a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Distance learning Theology courses are also on offer from our Irish Dominicans</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.prioryinstitute.com" href="http://www.prioryinstitute.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">www.prioryinstitute.com</a>.<br />
<br />Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675358693903098791.post-51753830812896028292017-12-05T19:20:00.000+00:002017-12-05T19:21:16.689+00:00Advent and Praying for Peace<div class="MsoNormal">
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As we sit here in this warm comfortable Chapel, feeling safe
and secure as we pray, people elsewhere are dying, people are being persecuted,
and people are being displaced. We could go on and on. Life is very different
for so many. Acutely aware of the need for peace, Fr Bruno, the Master of our
Order and the Commission for Justice and Peace have proposed that we make the
season of Advent, as we await the coming of the Prince of Peace, a period of
intense prayer for peace in our war torn world and of solidarity with our
Dominican brothers and sisters involved in preaching in situations of
injustice. This Advent our focus is on Columbia where there are Dominicans
working to support the implementation of the Peace accord that was signed
in 2016.</div>
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We know that peace can come about, that agreements can work.
We have seen it happen in Northern Ireland and in our lifetime we have seen the
fall of the Iron Curtain. Persistent prayer works. The holy rosary is a mighty
weapon against the forces of evil.</div>
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But a hymn I learnt as a child in school echoes in my heart,
challenging me. It goes ‘let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me’.
We have to be instruments of the peace we want to see reigning in our world. In
the light of this morning’s Gospel Chapter 11 of St. Luke’s gospel struck me
with great force. <i>Whatever house you
enter first say peace be to this house. And if a person of peace is there, your
peace shall rest upon him, but if not, it shall return to you.</i> Somehow we
have to prove the earnestness of our prayer for world peace by our willing to
work for peace wherever we find ourselves- in our families, our community, our
workplace, our neighbourhood. We have to come to each encounter with peace in
our hearts and a desire to share that peace with the other person. But if we
meet with hostility, coldness, indifference or any other negative response we
have to allow our peace return to us. We are not to allow ourselves to be
robbed of our peace. No one can do that to us. It is our choice, MY choice. If
I allow myself to be disturbed, what will happen, the next person will come
along, perhaps someone in great need of a smile, a kind word, a gesture of
peace and I will miss that opportunity to serve Jesus in a troubled person.
Jesus has come unexpectedly and I don’t see him because I am in a stupor,
preoccupied, wallowing in my self-righteousness, being a victim soul.</div>
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Before turning off the light these nights I am reading a
collection of memories that the Scripture Scholar Megan McKenna had of her
grandmother. By happy coincidence or providence I came to a chapter headed Cuba
1960 last night. Megan at the age of fifteen had her secure, safe, sheltered
life life turned on its head by the Cuban Missile crisis. It was her first
encounter with the horrors of war<i>. The
dawning reality in her peaceful childhood of evil, of death, intended,
immanent, planned and executed, of war intruding into her life, </i>as she puts
it,<i> </i>and it left her paralysed with
fear. She couldn’t eat or sleep. She lay on her bed in despair until her Nana
came to her. Her Nana’s wisdom is as pertinent now as it was 57 yrs ago and I found
it worth taking to heart a salutary reminder that if I am not part of the
solution then I am part of the problem.</div>
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She told her was that if she believed in God she had no
right to despair. God made us all. And we are all of us without exception made
in his image and likeness. God didn’t make us to give up on anyone He made or on any situation. She reminded
this fifteen year old that she couldn’t
blame anyone for what others do, without
taking a long hard look at herself first and realising that what was wrong with
the world was wrong with her too. We are all human beings and anything any one
else can do no matter how terrible , we are given the circumstances just as capable
of doing. But it is also true that we are also capable of doing all the good
that is being done in the world. If God hasn’t given up on me then I cannot
give up on the world. I look to myself, to his mercy to me, and hope is
restored. There can be peace on earth. Conversion happens.</div>
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Dominican Nunshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01741137603560393880noreply@blogger.com0