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BY Daniel Harkins | September 18 |  0

BY Daniel
Harkins | May 22 |  0 COMMENTS      print

Our Lady of Paisley icon on tour

Event
part of preparations for Easter 2016 diocesan synod

An icon
of Our Lady of Paisley will travel to every parish in the diocese over the next
year in preparation for the Easter 2016 diocesan synod on laity and
evangelisation.

Beginning
its journey during the month of Devotion to Our Lady, the icon (right) has
spent a week each in St Paul’s and St Peter’s churches in Paisley, and moved to
St Cadoc’s in Newton Mearns on Thursday. The icon will finish its journey in St
Mirin’s Cathedral on Holy Thursday 2016.

The
life-sized icon features Mary standing on a carpet of Paisley pattern and
holding the baby Jesus in front of Paisley Abbey and St Mirin’s Cathedral.
Above Our Lady are the Greek letter abbreviations for Jesus Christ and The
Mother of God and this, along with the halo, are what make the painting a holy
icon rather than a work of art.

The icon
began life five years ago when artist Bernadette Reilly and Denis Murphy, who
would later become a deacon in the diocese, discussed the idea for an icon of
Our Lady of Paisley that would tour parishes.

Once Fr
John Keenan was appointed Bishop of Paisley, some new ideas were incorporated
into the work, including a Latin phrase ‘Hac ne vade via nisi dixeris, Ave
Maria,’ which was once written on the walls of Paisley Abbey and translates to
‘Go not this way unless you have said Ave Maria.’

The Canon
law that guides diocesan synods requires a preparatory period of catechesis,
consultation and prayer, and the pilgrimage of the Our Lady of Paisley icon
will form part of that for the diocese. The icon will be welcomed with a Mass
as it arrives in each parish and will be sent off at the end of the week with a
short parish devotion.

Bishop
John Keenan said he believes the icon pilgrimage is the most important part of
the upcoming diocesan synod.

“Synod is
a great word which means ‘travelling together,’” he said. “So this journey is
one that the whole diocese has embarked upon…

“Pope
Francis says in Evangelium Vitae that it was Mary’s presence that made possible
the Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church. So we consecrated
the synod and the whole diocese of Paisley to Our Lady for the bringing in [of]
the certainty that She would make possible a new outpouring of the spirit of
evangelisation on the whole diocese, clergy and people.”

“Our
devotion to Our Lady is under the patronage of Our Lady of Paisley,” the bishop
added. “This was a pre-Reformation devotion that arose from the Paisley Abbey,
dedicated to Our Lady from the 14th century, that reached to the whole diocesan
area.”

—daniel@sconews.co.uk

—This
story ran in full in the May 22 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes

Eastertide, a treatise by Saint Gaudentius of Brescia, bishop (d. 410) 8 May 2015

  COMMENT: Patristic Readings, 
This is the flesh of the Lamb; this is his blood.

From a treatise by Saint Gaudentius of Brescia, bishop (d. 410)

LastSupperJUAN-DE-FLANDES1560

Saint Gaudentius of Brescia (d. 410) was a native of Brescia, Italy, and studied under Saint Philastrius there. He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and then became a monk at Caesarea in Cappadocia. He was elected to succeed Philastrius as bishop of Brescia, despite his own objections, and was consecrated by St. Ambrose about 387. Gaudentius wrote many pastoral letters, and ten of his sermons have come down to us. They show his desire to educate his listeners, and present them with good examples for living.

He was one of three bishops sent by Pope Innocent I and Emperor Honorius to Constantinople to defend St. John Chrysostom before Emperor Arcadius in 405. The bishops were imprisoned in Thrace and were offered bribes in an unsuccessful attempt to get them to denounce Chrysostom. Eventually, they were freed and forced to return to Italy. They were put on a ship but their ship sank near Lampsacus. They eventually reached home safely. Gaudentius brought back many precious relics of St. John Baptist. of the Apostles and of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. These he received at Caesarea in Cappadocia from nieces of St. Basil. Gaudentius was known for his oratory and exemplary life. He died of natural causes in Italy in 410.

Universalis

Thursday 7 May 2015  

Thursday of the 5th week of Eastertide

---

First Reading
Apocalypse 21:9-27 ©

One of the seven angels that had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. The walls of it were of a great height, and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

  The angel that was speaking to me was carrying a gold measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and wall. The plan of the city is perfectly square, its length the same as its breadth. He measured the city with his rod and it was twelve thousand furlongs in length and in breadth, and equal in height. He measured its wall, and this was a hundred and forty-four cubits high – the angel was using the ordinary cubit. The wall was built of diamond, and the city of pure gold, like polished glass. The foundations of the city wall were faced with all kinds of precious stone: the first with diamond, the second lapis lazuli, the third turquoise, the fourth crystal, the fifth agate, the sixth ruby, the seventh gold quartz, the eighth malachite, the ninth topaz, the tenth emerald, the eleventh sapphire and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate being made of a single pearl, and the main street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. I saw that there was no temple in the city since the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were themselves the temple, and the city did not need the sun or the moon for light, since it was lit by the radiant glory of God and the Lamb was a lighted torch for it. The pagan nations will live by its light and the kings of the earth will bring it their treasures. The gates of it will never be shut by day – and there will be no night there – and the nations will come, bringing their treasure and their wealth. Nothing unclean may come into it: no one who does what is loathsome or false, but only those who are listed in the Lamb’s book of life.

Responsory

Jerusalem, your streets shall be paved with pure gold and within you a song of gladness will be raised, and Alleluia will be on the lips of all who dwell in your homes.

You will shine with a very great splendour, and all the ends of the earth will revere you, and Alleluia will be on the lips of all who dwell in your homes.

---

Second Reading
From a treatise by Saint Gaudentius of Brescia, bishop

The Eucharist is The Lord's passover

One man has died for all, and now in every church in the mystery of bread and wine he heals those for whom he is offered in sacrifice, giving life to those who believe and holiness to those who consecrate the offering. This is the flesh of the Lamb; this is his blood. The bread that came down from heaven declared: The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. It is significant, too, that his blood should be given to us in the form of wine, for his own words in the gospel, I am the true vine, imply clearly enough that whenever wine is offered as a representation of Christ’s passion, it is offered as his blood. This means that it was of Christ that the blessed patriarch Jacob prophesied when he said: He will wash his tunic in wine and his cloak in the blood of the grape. The tunic was our flesh, which Christ was to put on like a garment and which he was to wash in his own blood. 

  Creator and Lord of all things, whatever their nature, he brought forth bread from the earth and changed it into his own body. Not only had he the power to do this, but he had promised it; and, as he had changed water into wine, he also changed wine into his own blood. It is the Lord’s passover, Scripture tells us, that is, the Lord’s passing. We are no longer to look upon the bread and wine as earthly substances. They have become heavenly, because Christ has passed into them and changed them into his body and blood. What you receive is the body of him who is the heavenly bread, and the blood of him who is the sacred vine; for when he offered his disciples the consecrated bread and wine, he said: This is my body, this is my blood. We have put our trust in him. I urge you to have faith in him; truth can never deceive.

  When Christ told the crowds that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood, they were horrified and began to murmur among themselves: This teaching is too hard; who can be expected to listen to it? As I have already told you, thoughts such as these must be banished. The Lord himself used heavenly fire to drive them away by going on to declare: It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  

BenedictElevatingEucharist

The Eucharist is the Lord’s Passover

0.21696806326508522

Narrated by Patrick O’Neill, Newport Beach, California

One man has died for all, and now in every church in the mystery of bread and wine he heals those for whom he is offered in sacrifice, giving life to those who believe and holiness to those who consecrate the offering. This is the flesh of the Lamb; this is his blood. The bread that came down from heaven declared: The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. It is significant, too, that his blood should be given to us in the form of wine, for his own words in the gospel, I am the true vine, imply clearly enough that whenever wine is offered as a representation of Christ’s passion, it is his blood. This means that it was of Christ that the blessed patriarch Jacob prophesied when he said: He will wash his tunic in wine and his cloak in the blood of the grape. The tunic was our flesh, which Christ was to put on like a garment and which he was to wash in his own blood.

Creator and Lord of all things, whatever their nature, he brought forth bread from the earth and changed it into his own body. Not only had he the power to do this, but he had promised it; and, as he had changed water into wine, he also changed wine into his own blood.It is the Lord’s passover, Scripture tells us, that is, the Lord’s passing. We are no longer to look upon the bread and wine as earthly substances. They have become heavenly, because Christ has passed into them and changed them into his body and blood. What you receive is the body of him who is the heavenly bread, and the blood of him who is the sacred vine; for when he offered his disciples the consecrated bread and wine, he said: This is my body, this is my blood. We have put our trust in him. I urge you to have faith in him; truth can never deceive.

When Christ told the crowds that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood, they were horrified and began to murmur among themselves: This teaching is too hard; who can be expected to listen to it? As I have already told you, thoughts such as these must be banished. The Lord himself used heavenly fire to drive them away be going on to declare: It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings

Responsory

As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me, alleluia.

This is my body, which will be given up for you, so whoever eats me will draw life from me, alleluia.

---

Let us pray.

Lord God,

  we were sinners and your grace made us holy,

  we were without hope and you filled us with joy.

Stand by us in your saving work,

  and stay with us in your gifts of grace.

May we never fail to persevere

  in the holiness that comes from faith.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

  one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Saint Anselm: 12 April 2015

Patristic Readings

 Ninth Centenary 
of the death of St Anselm, 2009

   _{BXVI - General Audience, Wednesday 23 September 2009 - © Copyright 2009 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana}

Benedict XVI's Letter on the 9th Centenary of the Death of St Anselm
_{- in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish}

To Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, Special Envoy to the celebrations for the Ninth Centenary 
of the death of St Anselm

Venerable Brother, in view of the celebrations in which you will be taking part as my Legate, in the illustrious city of Aosta for the ninth centenary of the death of St Anselm in Canterbury, on 21 April 1109,   

 Totus2us.com/vocation/church-fathers/st-anselm/

   For the Memorial of Saint Anselm:

 12 April 2015   

SECOND READING

From the Proslogion by Saint Anselm, bishop
(Cap. 14, 16, 26: Opera omnia, edit. Schmitt, Seccovii, 1938, 1, 111-113, 121-122)

Let me know you and love you, so that I may find my joy in you

My soul, have you found what you are looking for? You were looking for God, and you have discovered that he is the supreme being, and that you could not possibly imagine anything more perfect. You have discovered that this supreme being is life itself, light, wisdom, goodness, eternal blessedness and blessed eternity. He is everywhere, and he is timeless.

Lord my God, you gave me life and restored it when I lost it. Tell my soul that so longs for you what else you are besides what it has already understood, so that it may see you clearly. It stands on tiptoe to see more, but apart from what it has seen already, it sees nothing but darkness. Of course it does not really see darkness, because there is no darkness in you, but it sees that it can see no further because of the darkness in itself.

Surely, Lord, inaccessible light is your dwelling place, for no one apart from yourself can enter into it and fully comprehend you. If I fail to see this light it is simply because it is too bright for me. Still, it is by this light that I do see all that I can, even as weak eyes, unable to look straight at the sun, see all that they can by the sun’s light.

The light in which you dwell, Lord, is beyond my understanding. It is so brilliant that I cannot bear it, I cannot turn my mind’s eye toward it for any length of time. I am dazzled by its brightness, amazed by its grandeur, overwhelmed by its immensity, bewildered by its abundance.

O supreme and inaccessible light, O complete and blessed truth, how far you are from me, even though I am so near to you! How remote you are from my sight, even though I am present to yours! You are everywhere in your entirety, and yet I do not see you; in you I move and have my being, and yet I cannot approach you; you are within me and around me, and yet I do not perceive you.

O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find my joy in you; and if I cannot do so fully in this life, let me at least make some progress every day, until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their plenitude. While I am here on earth let me learn to know you better, so that in heaven I may know you fully; let my love for you grow deeper here, so that there I may love you fully. On earth then I shall have great joy in hope, and in heaven complete joy in the fulfilment of my hope.

O Lord, through your Son you command us, no, you counsel us to ask, and you promise that you will hear us so that our joy may be complete. Lord, I am making the request that you urge us to make through your Wonder-Counsellor. Give me then what you promise to give through your Truth. You, O God, are faithful; grant that I may receive my request, so that my joy may be complete.

Meanwhile, let this hope of mine be in my thoughts and on my tongue; let my heart be filled with it, my voice speak of it; let my soul hunger for it, my body thirst for it, my whole being yearn for it, until I enter into the joy of the Lord, who is Three in One, blessed for ever. Amen.

RESPONSORY

We honor Anselm, an outstanding doctor and a disciple of Lanfranc.
While an abbot he was greatly loved by his fellow monks, 
but he was called to serve as bishop.
– He fought strenuously for the freedom of holy church, alleluia.

He steadfastly asserted that the Church, the bride of Christ,
was not a slave but free.
– He fought strenuously for the freedom of holy church, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Father,
you called Saint Anselm
to study and teach the sublime truths you have revealed.
Let your gift of faith come to the aid of our understanding
and open our hearts to your truth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Sant 'Anselmo d'Aosta Bishop and Doctor of the Church April 21 - Optional Memory

Aosta, 1033 - Canterbury, England, April 21, 1109 Was born around 1033 in Aosta mother Piedmont, both noble and rich. Troubled relationship with the family that sends it from a relative for education. Only with the Benedictines Aosta that Anselmo finds its place: at fifteen feels the desire to become monaco. Thwarted by the parents decides to leave after three years between Burgundy and Central France, goes to Avranches in Normandy, where the abbey of Bec with the school, founded in 1034. There he met the Prior Lanfranco of Pavia who cure the course of study. Anselmo in 1060 entered the seminary Benedictine Bec, which will become prior. Here you will start its activities theological research which led him to be counted among the greatest theologians of the West. In 176 the public "Monologion." In 1093 became archbishop of Canterbury. Because of disagreements with the political power is forced into exile in Rome twice. He died in Canterbury in 1109.(Future) Etymology: Anselmo = protected by God, God is the helmet, from the German Emblem: Stick pastoral Martyrology: St. Anselm, bishop and doctor of the Church, who, born in Aosta, was first monaco in the monastery of Bec in Normandy in France; divenutone abbot, taught his brothers to pursue their quest for perfection and to seek God with the intellect of faith; then promoted all'insigne headquarters of Canterbury in England, fought valiantly for the freedom of the Church, for enduring this suffering and exile.  Listen to Vatican Radio:     Listen to RadioRai:     Listen to RadioMaria: