Archives 2011

Reflections 2011:

March: Reflecting on Our Faith | 2. Easter 2011 | 3. Pentecost 2011 | |

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The message of the Shamrock

Margaret Aylward was a Nationalist, influenced by the early family connections of her childhood. She loved Ireland but above all she treasured the faith brought to this nation by St. Patrick.

Legend tells us that St. Patrick used the shamrock to preach about the relationship of our triune God to the Irish people. In considering this God and the mission of building up the kingdom, let us ponder:

♦ GOD THE FATHER as holding the vision

♦ JESUS THE SON as putting this vision into action and

♦ THE HOLY SPIRIT as the guiding energy.

Our Holy Faith Mission

If someone was to take a shamrock to explain the beginnings of our Holy Faith mission in the world it might be explained something like this:

♦ MARGARET AYLWARD had the vision, a vision of a better life for the poor,
especially the children of the Dublin slums.

♦ ADA ALLINGHAM was the faithful companion who helped her to bring
her vision to fruition.

♦ This all bore fruit and was put on a firm foundation through the
guidance of FR. JOHN GOWAN.

In each of these three people we see manifest our God at work, the same God who inspired St. Patrick to return to Ireland bringing the faith. Margaret was deeply aware that poverty could damage this precious gift of faith which the Irish people had received and so she was moved to respond. Thus began a mission that continues today.

Faith in Christ

Let us pray:

We thank you, Lord, for the gift of St. Patrick
and the faith that he brought to our island.
Help us to grow in our appreciation of all
who work to keep this faith alive today.
May each of us treasure and nurture this gift
so it will be passed on to future generations,
that all may know
the deep love of God in their lives.
Amen

"The Deer's Cry" video:

There are several videos available on the internet which have lovely visuals to the magnificent music of "I arise today". The link below is sung by Rita Connolly, wife of Shaun Davey, the composer of this hymn, (from The Pilgrim CD 1994). There are other versions on YouTube with different artists. [Click on blue title to open link]

The Deer's Cry
4 min - 2 Feb 2011
Uploaded by 02021808
youtube.com

2. Our thanks to Associate Paul Higgins for providing the following
reflection for EASTER

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THE WAY

The final day of our Camino pilgrimage was the walk into Santiago de Compostela itself. We started off as we did on all of the previous days, out in the countryside along well-worn tracks through forests of pine and eucalyptus trees.

The forest path soon ended though. We had reached the outskirts of the city. We found ourselves at a very busy roundabout. Wire meshing had been erected along the roads entering into and leaving the roundabout itself.

Entwined in the meshing were thousands of crosses made from twigs and fallen branches from the nearby forest. The crosses had been put together by passing pilgrims which they had affixed into the wire meshing.

Tied to one of these crosses was a small piece of paper covered in plastic, to protect it from the elements. Inside there was just one word written in German -

"Danke” (“Thanks”)

3. Our thanks to Sr. Susan Jones for providing the following reflection for PENTECOST

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Pentecost has arrived. We celebrate not only the gift of the Holy Spirit which we have received but the beginning of our Church. This gift has been poured into our hearts, this same Spirit that was in Jesus. Imagine that!

* What are the implications for us? * Have we opened this gift fully yet?

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The Nuclear Energy of the Church
Fr. Raniero Cantalamesa describes the Spirit as the nuclear energy of the Church. Just as nuclear energy is found in every cell of uranium, the charisma of the Holy Spirit is found in every cell of the Body of Christ, the Church. If this energy was released the Church would certainly shake up the world!

By its very nature the energy of the Spirit is creative. It assists us in living life well. If we live well under its guidance we will positively influence the world round us by the fruits we produce. While fruit provides nourishment to people, it also contains the seeds of future life within it. This positive, creative energy will multiply if the conditions are right.

The Lord is at work in us!
As we witness to the love of the Lord in our own small way, in our daily lives, we are both tilling the ground and producing the fruits. It is not always easy but remember, the Lord is at work in us doing infinitely more than we can imagine. Let us rejoice in this wonderful gift we have, let us listen to it’s promptings and little nudges. Let its energy burst forth from within so that we can make Christ’s presence a stronger reality in our world!

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