Monday 6th July 2020

St Maria Goretti: A Forgiving Heart

The saint we remember today is Maria Teresa Goretti. Maria Teresa Goretti was born 16th October 1890 and died 6th July 1902 aged 11 years of age. Marie was born into a farming family, her father died when she was nine years of age. In order to supplement their income her mother had to take into their home another family. In this family there was a young man Alessandro. One day when Marie was alone Alessandro tried to rape her she pleaded with him and resisted him. He stabbed her fourteen times. Maria was taken to hospital where she underwent surgery without anaesthesia. She regained consciousness and was in great pain from her wounds. Before she died Maria told those around her bed she forgave Alessandro and was sure God had forgiven him too. Let us pause and take time to reflect on Maria’s forgiveness and forgiveness in our own lives. She was in agony and facing death. Yet, she could not only forgive but she would pray Alessandro for the rest of his life. Alessandro was sent immediately to prison for 28 years, where he was an exemplary prisoner. One night, in his third year in prison, Maria appeared to him in his cell. She smiled and offered him 14 lilies to represent the fourteen stab wounds. Alessandro described the experience as ‘being enveloped in a wave of peace’. He was released eventually from prison and his first action was to visit Maria’s mother to ask and receive her forgiveness. She said ‘Maria has forgiven you, and surely God has forgiven you. Who am I to withhold my forgiveness?’ As we remember this young girl today we pray for children in our world who are mentally and physically abused that they will receive all the comfort, help and support they need through Maria’s intercession. Image: wikipedia.org BACK TO TOP

Friday 3rd July 2020

Those who hope in Yahweh …put out wings…

(Is.40:31)

Cocooning is a time for growing wings. What emerges from the dark and restrictive shell of the cocoon, is something lightsome, bright and can fly! I was reminded of this when reading, and re-reading many times, a little reflection sent to us by our good friend and well-known presenter and broadcaster, John Quinn. John entitled his piece, written ‘way back in the early days of cocooning, "A Dream", and beneath his signature, ‘a little hope for happier days.’ Doesn’t John’s dream give wings to your spirit? Doesn’t it make you dare to hope for a happier future when we will have shed this cocoon time of uncertainty and fear? Dare we dream as John dreamt; share his vision? What do you want to bring forth and never forget from this transforming time: what are your little dreams and hopes for happier days? What will give you wings? Will we be blessed in knowing our need of God; our trusting faith deepened? What do we resolve never to take for granted again? What kindnesses and love will be engraved in our hearts forever? Do we resolve to live gratitude, counting our blessings every day of our lives? Will we reverence and listen to the wisdom and beauty of Creation? Will we live more simply, joyfully sharing with those in need? Have we ears to hear the cry of the poor, the groans of our Common Home? What dreams are awakening in you-do you feel your little wings unfolding? Above all, let us take heart ‘Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings’ (G. M. Hopkins) Image: https://www.peterpaul.org.uk/back-to-basics BACK TO TOP

Friday 26th June 2020

Cocooning!

There's a nettle patch near the house dripping with black caterpillars, and I won't let the men with the machines near them!! These black creeping things remind me of shoppers on Grafton St in the week before Christmas, all frantically pushing and shoving each other in a frenzy of consumption. They are focused only on getting as much as possible as quickly as possible!! But soon they will stop, as suddenly as children at the sound of the playground bell, or footballers at the referees final whistle. And then they are gone - overnight - cocooned for several weeks. We've heard a lot about human cocooning lately. Now, as we move towards what is called "Phase 3" here in Ireland, I imagine our human cocoons are starting to tremble and shiver... with little cracks and splits appearing. What will emerge?? Will we be changed? Can we learn from the black creeping things that cocooning means to change and to become something new?? Can we be transformed into people who are freer, lighter and unconstrained? Will we be able to dance and interact with each other joyfully and lightly? Will we be attracted by the flowers of Creation and the "Son"-shine of Jesus' love? Will the breeze of the Spirit carry us where it will?? Or will we insist on going back to the nettle patch of endless, frantic, greedy consumption?? BACK TO TOP

Sunday 14th June 2020

Corpus Christi: A hundred thousand welcomes

“A hundred thousand welcomes, thou body of the Lord,

Thou Son of the Virgin, the brightest, most adored,

Thy death in such fashion

On the tree of the Passion

Hath saved Eve’s race and put sin to death.

I am a poor sinner to Thee appealing, Reward me not as my sins may be; O Jesus Christ I deserve Thy anger, But turn again and show grace to me. Jesus who bought us Jesus who taught us Jesus of the united prayer, Do not forget us Now nor in the hour of death”. (This traditional prayer of thanksgiving after Holy communion was taken down from an Irish speaker in Connacht by Douglas Hyde and is published in his Religious us Songs of Connacht, reprinted 1972 by Irish University Press.) Christians form one body, the body of Christ. But this is a oneness in which each member retains her or his own identity and each one resembles Christ in his or her own particular way. The Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins expresses all this beautifully when he says that each Christian in God’s eyes is Christ; and all Christians together in unity reveal to the world the many- splendoured beauty of Christ and at the same time give praise and joy to God through the endless variety of their Christ-like features. Images: freestock.com BACK TO TOP

Sunday 7th June 2020

Trinity Sunday: The Dance of the Trinity

This mandala (Ed: painted by a Sister of the community) was the result of a meditation on the Holy Trinity. Such a rich doctrine is easier to grasp in symbol than in word. The mandala represents the life giving energising power of the Holy Trinity and the interactions of the three Divine Persons. The ideas are suggested rather than explicit, so here is an explanation. The Father is portrayed with green, suggesting creation and re-creation. The green circle at the base indicates the ground of our being, from which grows the Tree of Life, bearing leaves for the healing of the nations. The Son is portrayed with red, suggesting the fire of merciful love burning in His heart, indicated at the base, from which flames leap up to embrace the world. The Holy Spirit is portrayed with blue, suggesting fountains of living water, the ‘pool’ at the base indicates the source, from which the living water is welling up to eternal life. Each interpenetrates the others, as all share the same work of life giving, healing and renewing creation. All are everything showing unity in Trinity. BACK TO TOP Friday 29th May 2020

Pentecost

Our Sr. Mary Paul of happy memory who died in 2003 loved to write haikus. Her Pentecost one was: “For Power from on High, Wait in the city of Peace.” Could the Corona virus lock- down be backing us into a space where the glorious Power from on High can reach us in a new way? Monday last was the first day in our Country since March 21st. when no person died of Covid 19. That good news spread like wildfire and created joy and hope in us all. Remember, the first Pentecost came in the midst of a lock- down too! The disciples were gathered behind locked doors in the upper room with Mary the Mother of Jesus for fear, not of the Corona virus, but of the Jews. What good news story shook the City of Peace that day and transformed weak fragile people into apostles on fire to spread the message? It is this: The God of Love is ours. He has given us Himself. We are never alone anymore. He is with us, in us, for us, forever. He is here the Holy Spirit of Love, the One who can teach us everything. The great Enabler who can help us build a better world out of the pandemic. The Comforter, the One who answers our cry like the Mother lifting her baby from the cot. The One who will dry the tears of the world after the bitter suffering of the coronavirus. The Sanctifier, the One who can use this time of loss and confusion to make us Holy, full of Love, ready to tackle the other pandemics of hunger and war that afflict our world. The great saving actions of Easter are completed. Every man, woman and child now shares in God’s own life because the Father has given us His Son who died to bring us back to the Father’s House. Mother Earth is enjoying respite from the hardships we have inflicted on her. She is nurturing us all with her beauty during this lockdown. Two small foxes come to play in our field each evening. Watching them nose their way at top speed through the buttercups, taking dust baths, then up and off again, is sheer delight! Mary Paul has another haiku: Locked away they say, Those Kilmacud Carmelites, Happiness unguessed. It is the love of God poured into our hearts and yours too by the Holy Spirit. Image: Juan Bautista Mayno (1581-1649), Pentecost (Public domain) BACK TO TOP

Sunday 24th May 2020

Ascension Sunday

You might like to spend time with the poem or text below. Whatever touches your heart, stay with it and reflect on it during the day. A Sonnet for Ascension by Malcolm Guite We saw his light break through the cloud of glory Whilst we were rooted still in time and place As earth became a part of Heaven’s story And heaven opened to his human face. We saw him go and yet we were not parted He took us with him to the heart of things The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted Is whole and Heaven-centred now, and sings, Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness, Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight, Whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness And sing the waning darkness into light, His light in us, and ours in him concealed, Which all creation waits to see revealed. https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/a-sonnet-for- ascension-day/ And when [Jesus] had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11) Like the Resurrection appearances of Jesus there is so much to ponder and reflect on today. The images are very powerful and strong. Many questions arise and we may get stuck in the physicality of the event and try to work out, from our own limited knowledge, how this could be and where has Jesus gone? After all most of us have never seen anyone ascend physically into heaven. Since the passion and death of Jesus on Good Friday we have read in the scriptures about the highs and lows of these days. For those close to Jesus it was a roller coaster of experiences filled with emotions. As followers today we are also involved, we are not outsiders. When Jesus appears to his disciples it was difficult for them to recognise Him at first. On the road to Emmaus the disciples begin the journey downcast then they encounter Jesus, in the beginning a stranger, eventually they recognise Him and are no longer downcast. They experience new life and a renewed sense of mission. It was important for the disciples to realize that Jesus was and is risen in bodily form that it was the Resurrected Jesus they were meeting. By his Ascension in his physical body he has shown his disciples that he was forever united to his creation and to humanity as our divine - human Jesus Christ. He inhabits every atom of his creation and at the same time remains at God’s right hand. Jesus also reminds us that He must return to the Father in order for the Holy Spirit to come but this is another event which we will celebrate soon at Pentecost. The disciples stood looking up to heaven and the two people standing by said why? Of course they knew why. Maybe sometime we too are rooted to the ground after we have had some special experience of awareness that Jesus is with us. This gift is always given to us to affirm us but it comes also with a call to go out to serve or sisters and brothers in our world. While we ponder these things we continue to remember and prayer for those who have and are working so hard to save lives during the corona virus. We pray that the Risen Lord will be present and close as they attend those entrusted to their care. Image: wikidates.org BACK TO TOP

Wednesday 20th May 2020

May is Mary’s Month

Once again, the majestic hawthorn tree at the bottom of our field is donning her white finery and by the end of the month she will truly stand out as the Beauty Queen of May in all her glory. She always reminds me of that enchanting saying of Nikos Kazantzakis: “I said to the almond tree, ‘Speak to me of God’, and the almond tree BLOSSOMED.” Yes, does not the beautiful give us a glimpse of God? These past few months amid the suffering and hardship of Covid 19 again and again I have heard people enthuse about how they have availed of the cocooning and lockdown, and the beautiful weather, to spend hours tending their gardens, and about the great joy and healing for mind and soul they are finding in the beauty of Nature. Dostoyevsky wrote, ‘Beauty will save the world’, and indeed we have seen this happening too in no small measure as people are lifted out of the web of fear and demoralising uncertainty of this difficult time and given a taste of the wholeness and peace of our beginnings in another garden, Eden… Carmelites have a lovely title for Mary, Queen, Beauty of Carmel. The Early Hermits on Mt. Carmel saw in the natural stunning beauty of their locality overlooking the Mediterranean, a reflection of the loveliness of Mary. (The word Carmel means ‘garden’!) Gerard M. Hopkins has a similar meditation immortalised in his delightful poem; The May Magnificat, comparing the beauty of creation in this month of May to Our Mother Mary. May is Mary’s month, and I Muse at that and wonder why: …… Ask of her, the mighty mother: Her reply puts this other Question: What is Spring? - Growth in everything- Flesh and fleece, fur and feather, Grass and greenworld all together; …… All things rising, all things sizing Mary sees, sympathising With that world of good, Nature’s motherhood. Their magnifying of each its kind With delight calls to mind How she did in her stored Magnify the Lord. Well but there was more than this: Spring’s universal bliss Much, had much to say To offering Mary May…… This ecstasy all through mothering earth Tells Mary her mirth till Christ’s birth To remember and exultation In God who was her salvation. No wonder the little seer of Lourdes, Bernadette, kept repeating how beautiful the Young Lady was, and how she was prepared to die to see her even once again! BACK TO TOP

Wednesday 13 May 2020

Our Lady of Fatima

This feast day brings back a lot of personal memories for me of pilgrimages to Fatima with my late mother, who loved the simplicity of the shrine, compared to busier places like Lourdes. It was always packed with people, however, on the night of 12th and morning of 13th May... mostly Portugeuse who would camp overnight on the streets of the town. It's hard to imagine that today the streets and big square in Fatima are probably empty of people... Our Lady of Fatima certainly must be close to our world today. She appeared to the three little shepherds when the First World War was raging across Europe. She was a sign of hope and comfort. Today I like to think that instead of all the people coming to her, that she comes to us instead, with a mother's love and care, and that she is praying with and for us all during these difficult times of the pandemic. Our Lady of Fatima, hail! Immaculate Mother of grace Oh, pray for us, help us today... Thou hope of the human race! BACK TO TOP

Sunday 3rd May 2020

4th Sunday of Easter: The Good Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, Bringing honour to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love Will pursue me all the days of my life, And I will live in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 22) “Like a good shepherd, with a whistle so gentle that even they themselves almost fail to hear it, He makes them recognise His voice and stops them from going so far astray so that they will return to their dwelling place. And this shepherd’s whistle has such power that they abandon the exterior things in which they are estranged from Him and enter the castle. I don’t think I have every explained it as clearly as I have now!” (St. Teresa of Avila - Interior Castle IV: 3. 2-3) BACK TO TOP