by Vincent | Aug 14, 2014 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion
Someone asked me the other day about attending a wedding Mass on August 15th. He was wondering if this would fulfill his “obligation” to attend Mass for the Feast of The Assumption. I told him I felt it would! I don’t know whether he was convinced or not. I said it would not be the Mass of the Holy Day but that he would be in church and at Mass on the Holy Day and that, in my opinion, was all that was asked of him.
It makes me think a bit about Holy Days. There aren’t too many left in the Church’s Calendar that we are asked to treat as Sunday – in other words, attend Mass. Most Holy Days have been moved to the nearest Sunday and only a handful of Holy Days of Obligation remain, e.g. Epiphany (January 6th) The Assumption (August 15th), All Saints’ (November 1st) Immaculate Conception (December 8th), Christmas Day …
So what are they about? Why have them? I suppose their purpose is to focus our minds and root our prayer on days set apart. Like the birthday or anniversary, days like these call us to a place of recognition, respect, reverence and renewal. They are days when we’re asked to give something back.
When I was growing up my father would close the garage at home on Holy Days. Only what absolutely could not be avoided, in terms of work, was done. We’d go to Mass on the day and, to all extents and purposes, it was as Sunday. In later years that changed a little and the garage would not close but the Faith dimension of the day would be honoured through attending Mass. Schools would be closed too and children would be at home.
For many now, it seems, the significance of the Holy Day has all but disappeared. There is no apparent connect, for some, between the day being celebrated and the call to join the community in prayer. Of course this is not just limited to the Holy Day but can also be the story of Sunday. Yet, the Church maintains these days and, in so doing, calls the Faithful to pray – to come to church and to mark the day as special; as Holy.
Today, for example, we celebrate the Feast of The Assumption. It is that day when Our Lady was drawn into the Heavens and into the presence of God whom she so faithfully served from that first “yes” during Gabriel’s visit through all the “yeses” that followed – up to and including Calvary and all it stole from her. It is surely right that we mark such a day, draw inspiration from it and seek to imitate the woman it celebrates.
So likewise, all our Holy Days. It was reassuring the man felt the need make contact to see if the wedding celebration would mark the day. I feel certain Our Lady will rejoice with the couple and all gathered on the day. Prayers will be said, time together shared and a major step taken on life’s journey. God blesses this occasion and all gathered. I believe Our Lady will take that as fitting recognition.
How will we mark the day? Will we let the day “mark” us?
by Vincent | Aug 12, 2014 | General Interest
I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel alone.
Sad to hear of the death of Robin Williams. Sad to think that one who made so many laugh seems to have ended life in the darkest of moments. May he find the peace for which he must have searched and reap the rewards of the happiness he brought to others along his way.
This quote has featured a bit over the past few days. I’m not sure if it’s from one of his movies or a personal reflection but there’s a truth in it – possibly a truth for himself.
I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel alone
May he rest in peace Amen.
A reminder and journey back in time ….
and an inspiring role …
and someone’s TOP 10 of his performances
by Vincent | Aug 10, 2014 | General Interest, Reflections, Songs, Video Clips
I love this song! Mary Black does a fine job but thought I’d include the Sligo Man! I am never fully sure what the first verses refers to but think the second verse is class
For all of you must discover
for all who seek to understand
for having left the path of others
you find a very special hand
and it is a holy thing
and it is a precious time
and it is the only way
forget-me-nots among the snows
it’s always been and so it goes
to ponder His death and
His life eternally ….
Jimmy MacCarthy wrote this song and I’m told was never forthcoming about its meaning. He seemed to want people to take their own meaning from it. I always felt the verse above and the closing lines refer to Christ. Recently I heard Jimmy interviewed on a morning radio show and when asked directly if the song was about faith he replied “I have never had any difficulties with the faith”. I thought it a powerful reply. He wasn’t, I imagine saying he never had questions about it but that it had remained with him through his life. How refreshing to hear someone say that.
This notion of “leaving the path of others” seems very at home in today’s Gospel passage when Peter asks Jesus to call him from the boat and to walk towards him on the water. “Come”, replied Jesus. Peter left the boat – the path of others – but quickly lost faith and hope and became fear-filled. “Help me”, he cried. Jesus offered him that “very special hand” and stabilized him again. “Why did you doubt?”
The “boat” we are told, when mentioned in Scripture, refers to the Church. In this gospel the “church” is battling with stormy waters and heavy winds. It is thrown from side to side and its occupants are full of fear. How close we might feel to that image at this time. Our Church too continues to battle with heavy winds and swollen waters. In parts of our world, this is certainly the case today. Into all of this walks Jesus, seeking to bring calm with every step on troubled waters. Often we don’t seem to see or hear him though.
With Peter then, maybe it’s a day to call out to him – to ask him to draw us closer to him, to move towards him. Even if we feel we are sinking, an outstretched arm and a cry for help is enough. He will not let us sink. Stepping into our church, being allowed and welcomed into our circle of existence, can only bring calm. “It’s always been and still it goes ….”
(On Good Friday, I used these lines in Urlaur Church at the Stations of The Cross. I made a little recording that I had posted on the blog but forgotten about til now so am going to share here as well!)
by Vincent | Aug 9, 2014 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion
Friday was the Feast of St Dominic. I couldn’t help but think of our gathering at Urlaur Abbey on Monday last. Bishop Brendan mentioned that the Abbey was founded in 1430 – about 200 years after Dominic founded the Order of Preachers. He died about five years after founding the Order. Two hundred years later, men came to Urlaur in his name and memory and set up a Monastery there. Again, Bishop Brendan told us that the Monastery flourished for about two hundred years and was then supressed by Cromwellian’s soldiers but it survived due to a supportive local man, to whom the land was given, and continued until the mid 1800’s.
I was taken by Dominic’s initial intention in the setting up of the order. He wanted to win Souls – save Souls – through preaching and persuasion.
Maybe it’s time to give persuasion another chance!
Bishop Brendan’s Homily at the Urlaur Pattern (Courtesy of iCatholic.ie)
by Vincent | Aug 7, 2014 | General Interest
Thinking of the Gospel about feeding the 5000 reminds me of the Post Communion Reflection used at my father’s Funeral Mass in Cloonloo. It’s elsewhere on this blog but thought I might post here again.
They asked me why I did it?
The truth is I don’t know – it just seemed the right thing to do. We had been standing there for hours. He had spoken so much, said so much – time just went by. People were hungry. You could see it in them and yet nobody wanted to leave. There was a muttering through the crowd – “he wants to feed us” – “With what?” someone said – “there’s no food here”.
That’s when I heard myself saying “I have something” – my voice seemed so loud. I was only a child but my voice rose above all others. “I have something”. A man asked what had I and I said “five loaves and two fish” – he smiled. I suppose now I would think it was a dismissive smile but that day I thought he was pleased. He passed on the message “There’s a small boy here with five loaves and two fish” – my heart sank when he added “but what is that between so many?” I blushed and even with my childish counting of two and two making four, I could see he was right. The man who had been talking to us did not agree. “Bring it to me”, he said and they took my food. I’ll never know how it happened but the feeding began. Bread and fish fed to five thousand.
“Why did you do it?” I’ve often thought about that. I did it because my father would have done it. He was always sharing bread with people at home. I grew up seeing him do that. Truth be told, it was he who had given me the few loves and fish before I left the house. I did it because he would have done it. It was the right thing to do.
There’s nothing to beat a father’s good example. Thanks Bill! We will not forget.
