Year 1 - Number 12 - Drcrr , tern 2007

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l : l i t tr iul

lsI r l I u, l iosor l oI t I l t , . F.r ' l t l l :n (JnI l f i )

' l hough i t has bccn cclebratcd rv i th-out urtcn'rrpt i t - rn fbr l l lore than tuothousartc l \ cal 's throughout thc( 'hr ist ian [ : .ast arrd \ \ 'cst . Chr istrr tas. r r )s nluch as i t is l l l l of sncct l tcss al tc lpoctn ' - rcntains al l unf 'athol l lablcN4rstcn to thc l tu l l la l l l t l i r td. - fhc-- l 'aclt l rat lhc Orlh Sort of ' ( iocl . " t r l ' l t , t ts t t thc l i l t tont t t l t l t t ' l ' r t l ln ' ' ( . ln I lX)rcl tc i tut l l l t l l l l e t r ' t ' l ) i l r . l lsst l t t , . ta I l t t t tut t t Nl t t t t l 'e ts cet ' t l t t t t l r l ti \ ' l r stcr l lh l t t s l t t le I ' r r 's l l r tthc lact t l r l t l l t ' cot l tcs lo t l r t 'uor ld ls t l t r , l l ) l ( 'ss ( ' l t I l t l r l rneed oi c\c[ th ine i t l t t l l , i las a pcr lcct lv lan in the l i r l l - , ir lcss of l l is sl.rcrtrrth. rs u '\ lI4rstcry bclorc uhich i t is ". t ,rr,-'ccssiry onll to knecl arrcl ',1edorc-. Aclanr ras ilttroduced b.

. ' . / t ' . i

( iot l to crc{r t ior l in thc splcndot i r oIi r is r l r r srcal r t ratur i l . r . Adarr l nc\ crhncu [hc, rnrpotcltcc of- inf atlcr ltor t lteclcrc lorr t tcnt lnd s lou ctolrctr tct t t of-a hrnrart orqlnrsrn ulr ich ncccssi ta l .csi l tu- supt t ' r r t o l - t l thcrs. Ol l t l tc col t t ran-thc Wrrrd ol- God u arttcd to passthror igh th is phr s ical cr o l r crucrt t -starting l l 'onr thc first instant o1- Hisconccpt ion- in uhich thc l ruutat t crca-turc- ltot har ing autoltotttous esis-fcncc. l ivcs in thc r l rothcr art( l o l - thci i lb ol- t l rc ntothor. u l to I tour is l tcs r tu i th hcr bloocl . God did r to[ cot tst t l t ' tI t u l tbcccl l l l i t tq l tor u l l r t t l l . l l t r o l ' l l r '

" I)'/,/cr /tc//Ll.f c,rt nolri,f'l \

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Dir in i t r to subrni t Himsc. l l - to suclrnrtut ' l I Iau s.

\ 'or \ \u r u\ t ) \ \ l r l . . r r l t l . t . , l l2)I r t l ts r t t r te l t l ts \ \ ( - i t t r I t l r l t ' t t I t l t r cS-

I l r ' . : t l r ' : r l : t , I r r lu, l r t ' . \ ( ) t t t t r t r t t : - thcl l i r t l r to t l r . r ' , , r r l r l r r l l l r r ( ) l r l r Sott oft l tc l r ; t t l t . . r r ( r r r ,ut t ' . . r l t l r l t lut t Nlrstcnrr l l rc l r r ' l t ' l l l , , ( r r

' , I , r r t r l r r rs l l ' t tCtS l l lCtr .l r r l l r r - ( l r r l , l o l l ' , , l l r l . l t t t r . l r t lhct- thclrPlr ; r r r l r l l r r r l r r r r l , , , . t l r lc t l ls tat tcc bc-

l \ r r ' r n l l r , l ) l t l lu l r a l ld thCI lurrr , r t t l r r ' , ( l \ ( t r ' ( r t t lo. ln that

I t l ,ur l \ \ l r , r r ' r ) t l lCS tO thCrr r , r l r I r r r l l r . s l l r ' l lCc' Of- thClrrr , , l r l rn l l r i lorortr of a, , t , r l '1,

.ur , I nr t l re obscur i t , ,1 , l , , r t l l t l t r r r l l l l t l t l l g lOry ' -. i l ( ur i l l r r l l r r , r Nl . l r t t f fCS: that

rr l r , l r r ' . l l r r rn,rrr r t r rd thatrr l r r , l r r ' , | ) r r r r r r ont ' l l l t l i tcd

; t r t l l rn l { . ; r r r r l l l r , r ' t l l , . l utcf l ta ll ucl r r t f ' t t t i tc I I r : r t ( l r r l , l t l r . . ' r . ' l i l t 'c .

is tnc God and t tuc \ ' l r t t l t rs l l r r ' \ l l t l tWho has l rccd ol- t l latc l l la l l l l t l l ' to : ' t ts-tain l l is l i fc. I lc is thc God \\ ' l r ' sus-tains the Univcrsc. l t is thc l \{alt ult trl ics in a poor nlalrgcr and Flc is lhc Cotl\ \ 'ho rcigus i t t t l ic FIcar cr)s i trr( l r ' , () \ -cnls thc Unircrsc f l r ' s l r ' t l r ' , r l r l l lcantts c l f His N{t ' t t l r \ ' t ; l r l ( l t t , l r ' . : , r ' \ cnl l ta l l . Hc is t tot t l . , l l . . , l . r ,1 l , , l . r ' , l t lx tbrancl J lc is ( ior l \ \ l r , , I t t ' , t t ' , t r , t t l t i t t tgQs.I l . ' r , , l ) ( ) r n r l l l r , . r , r , l r r r ' r ' \ lStS al ll l r r r r , , l l , l r , , r l l r r r r ' , r l l ' to thc(,1, ,1r , r , l r r , , l l l ' r t l , { r t ' : t l t l l 'Ol- thC' , , ' l , l '

Wc rrc trcatirrg ol- a N{rstcry uhichis unlhthonrablc. but alsc-r lr.rl lofjor andini in latc tctrc lcnrcss ' ' \Mrat c locs r tnrcAn' Yttt u' i l l

.f ind u ('hldl" St.Anthonr ol- Padua asks hinlsclf "Whatdocs it l l lcan i l- not. \ 'ou u i l l f lndWisdonr stuttcrinp,. Poucr rcndcrcdu.'eak. the Vlastcr lou,crsd. thclrurrrcrrsc bcconring a l itt lc Onc. thcRich bcconring poor. thc King of thcAngcls Who l ics rn r statr lc. t l rc Fooclof 'thc , \nqt : ls l lnr t ls( u l r [ , inr , I f r r l rscl l 'hrrlb l ' t l rc bertsts t l l ' l r r r t l t ' t t l r t l ' r t l r r r r l t ' t lrccl i rurrq in r t loor ' nr :ur1 ' , t ' r ' ' ' . '

Trr , , lu i \ \ . \s, \ ( ) Pr. .v ' r , . r ,on l l r r (c l ' l . l . '27)

Thc Evalrgclist L.ukc. in thc e\ an-gclical nanatiou. sadl notcs that forthis Dir-inc Child Who carlrc to sar ethllcrr rnanliind "thcr v'es tlo ploc'a.^'St. John. uith analogous expression.all lrrrrs |hat --rh l.tgltt" canlc. but'-r/,durknr:.s.s diil tut v't'lcnc Hin'' (JnI :5 ) . Thc srr cctnc:ss rncl . io) o f -Chr istnras u'c rncr i f r[ rh or cr .s lurc l -ou cd br t l rcsc t l l l r n l t t t t lns r i luclr t r . 'f adcrr n it ir sachlcss " l ' lrrr ' l l 'r/\ t ' t()t lace'." is a clranrrtic crltrcssioir uhiclrgenerates bittcrncss. it is thc c\prcsscolldcnlnation o1- hunranitr touards itsGod Who colncs to salc it. This salr a-tion rs lucidll rcluscd bccausc hunran-itr ' . in thc lacc of thc cntrancc into thc\\'orld of its Sar iour. prclcrs to contin-ue to bc -'r pcr4tlc: lltul v'ul|',s in durk-nes:.\ (Is 9. | \. '- l'/rcra \l't:r.\ t'to tltr

. ' , \iMP ?:)Mar, rt'Iost llolyIvThe Birth of lcstrs at Bctl-rlchem

l lethlel ' t , l t Ll \ / t r /, ' t r l l t ' t t t lL ' t ' t t t ' .s, t t t tr l r t f o.t : . t i f .strt ' t ' l t t t ' t .s t t t t t l r t l l r t t '

#{e"s,"d",ia..{.,,*..,*.,,*-,*.,"{f.,{&.,,*..*..n?" The Mother with Baby fesrrs

f r . ( ' l r r ' rs lnr( t \ \ \ ' ( s I l r , - r . losl l r r , . r r i l$i i r t l . t , | , , i ' l r r l l r , ' . . , i 11, ' (

d l , ,sus, i 'k ' r 1.1, , l i t t l , 'Nct , r , I rorr t , kt , l r r i 'u l l l t t l r r r t i t vrr i l inal lv in t l r t , st . r - Fg lr l , . ,r i Bt:r.hl, . .h,,ur and pl iu i- t l i rr . l F5 rnist , r . r l , l t , r ) ) i r ) r , , t , r ' . ' .Ft ivl , . i *1., . . , f i in tht [)()()r st i)- $3 I ' i t . a l Bcrhicht , l l , nr th Ll l , , to l r l 'Fq 'J:l i:';,tr' flll :.::;::lll :ririi F

t , r r t r l l l r ' l l , r l , r 1, ,* i r . . l I r . " , s t l t r ' R"* l , ' , r ' .1 ) , r r ' ( \ r r ' l l , ' l t r l r ' l t l t t ' [ ) i r r r r t ' kt i \ l , , t l r l r ' . tnt l r ' l I i , ' r [ i i r ' l t ( .5() l t k

d "( "

r D" '1"'"', '"1

." .1::l_ ::" ..1 :l l: l Fi . t t t t l l , r ' r r l I l l . r I D,, \ ( 'nth{ ' r n i r ' , l l t l k l - iut , , r l l l t i ' - . r r r r t ' t i r r r , ' . r r l r . t 5 l - l t ' r r h-X tLrr l ' i t ' l l l t t sr . t l r r r 'Pcrsrrr ts; o l K [ ] l r1r l lsus, Ih, ' !n( , l l l t , lLt ' lVorcl , oI iF; .F t l r , ' [ ) iv i r t r ' \ l , r1 l 1 ' , lht . Virr ' , i r r F{ \1,r ' r ' . , l ) t l t r l Sl . 11r51'r11, thr ' r ' i r r l i H{ l t , r l l , r t l l l r . t r l l . l , 1r1, lcsusl KSt! | l i , ' l t r , rs l s\r ' r , r , l t ' l I r l> i r r l I r , l t l t i , Rtt l r . r t t ' r l , r l k i .s, 's r r l i l r t ,Virr , , i r . k

$ ' i , ' i1, , ' ,1 i , , ' ' g. , t ' , , l r ,>.s, Ihr . t ' r r r i r l ' , [ 3 ruri ' , l .rrtt t 's ..,1' St. l irst,rl t thiri tr$ b'',",,"'ii'i,.i, ,i,', i;;;'l;,' ,; ';i;:: trt culry ' l i t ' r i l * ' in ' in thr : hr ' , l r rs l , l - roa hd Vr 'ns t r l & ' thk ' l 'nr : rv l r . ' . . r l r i l la i l i - k lt(r c'ut(l ,-11's l[-ri ' this rlretl it-v ol strirl i- kd nt(r l l , rt(c t ,v ' l r i th lhc i l ,hoi t t o l ' Fd Prr.rrscwrtr ' l l rs i . t ' i t l t .u l rrzcn' lc l t t l K* i l 'Vt . r ls i r lnrsI l r r t r l i c l I L. l t r is tnr ; - ts Fq i r - i [h is \ \ /r,v: , r r l l i r r r . . r 'o l srvc 'c[ l ] r l FE r ' , t ' r ) l l t ' .1, i [ , ' ' r i . i . , r , , , . t t r1 i ' , t l l , r l FE \1,r , ' , , , , Nl , , l l l . r ' \Vlr , , , . l i rs[-" t t , Ht ' fE, 1.r , , , ; - l t l r , , l l t , . r r ' , .n lv Cl l l l . l . lnt l ' f

( ( l ' r , r ' \ Hirr t r i t l , k i ' * ' , ' t : r l : i ' ; ; t ; 'n: : f ;. ' r r r ks I l t , 'nr , r t t 'nt , i v i r r ' , i r r . r l r r i i lk i &'

!" t . ; . i i t ' . t tn,t t \ [ i t r t t i : \ ! , tnei | . fr*-r"'4f -.4"'4l'44r9l' +oA"tx*#x.',2.+.'dtr

lllagisteriunr V t r l l t Sl ,otrst \ f(. 'tn {rcqt t I t ot t f i ' l lc I t gi r t tt.t

A \ t ( ) t ' t1, . l ) t { ( ) t i ( ) t \ t ) t ' t { t , . \ l ' \ ( l ' ( } l '( ' ( ) \ ' l ' l , l \ I I '1, \ ' l ' l \ 1, . s() l l s l , ( ) l t l l l l\ \ ' ( ) t { r . r ) . \ \ r ) | i l r , . ( ' l t r r r l r

I t u lust not bc t l rought. houcrcr-[hat rlronks and nurls- bccausc tltev arcscparatcd froru thc rcst of' nrankind.arc cut oll-- as it ucl 'c- l-ront thc norldancl thc ChLrrch and arc alool- l iornthcnr. On thc contratr. thcr arc ulritctlu rth thcnt - ' in a nlorc prolbund scrlscin thc hcar l of- Chnst.- ' ' s i l tcc \ \c Arcal l onc in Cl i r is t (c{ ' i Cor l { ) :17- Jnl7 2(t-22\

. , \ r i r r t f ionr t l rc t radi t io l la l contr ibu-t ion of ' ' ' ' , ' 15[{- : r ics in t i rc cul t r r ra l andsocir l c lonut in- conclusrr c rulc l un-slraklhlc t r i r lc t tce cr ts ls bcru' i r rq t r t t -t tcss to t l tc grc l t l l r l t e t r r t l r r r luclrnlcr t arrc l \ \ ( )nrcn t l t ' t l re rr tet l locort tcru l l l t rorr l lont ' . l r :n -bour i r t t l tcr t ' l rc;r ' ts t l tc srr l -f -cr ings and nu,u is l l o l ' l I Il i lcn.

I 'r4orcor cr. it is cr iclc'rrtthat it u as in thc dcscrt or inmountain sol i tudc that Codrcrcalcd hidclcn tlutlrs to rttAttTlresc in fact arc nlaccs in

ni tc lo i c. l 'h is. in a u orcl . is thc pr i r \ crul i ich is l ikc ar l i tpc\ tor iards uhichcol l \ crgcs thc uni i 'crsal act i r i t l o l ' thcChurch. In this tr-Ar

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contcnrplativc rc-l ie ious bcar ing ui tncss to lhe int inratcl i lc of ' thc Churcir . u'c indispensablc1o thc lu l lncss of i ts prcscl lcc.

Furtircnnorc. br r ir i f\ ing thc crr-tirc l\ ' lr stical Bodr br thc f 'cn our of-thcir lorc and hr l ro lstcr inu. thc r urr-ous c: l ' lbr ts of ' lhc l r roslolrte (rr l r i r : l irrr- . i t tc lu i :c l r to( l g rr r t l rout e lurrr t r )(c l - i ( 'or ' . l - l l - "1) ct ' r r terrr l l l r r t i rcsr isc thc lcr c l of ' thc sprt ' r t r r : l l r l t ' o lt l ic uholc Chul 'ch. ' - f n t l tc hcurt o l ' t l rc:Churrch. mv lV{othcr- I shall bc loi c-"crc la iu lccl thc saint u l ro. u i thout cvcrhai ing stcppcd outsidc of her con-r cnt- \\ AS ncvcr"thelcss dcclarcdb Popc Pius XI- Patronessol al l thc l \4issioirsDid not Cocl through lJ is

char i t r -

n l l n i f 'cstcd insuch rrol lor t i t ln ls l t l en-tai l thc Sacr i l icc ol ' I I isSon on Ihc cross- dcl i l cr i l l lr l rcn l roul s in ' l Thcrcf 'orc-uhcn onc stccps hirnscl f - in th isPaschal tnr stcn of thc suprcntc lo., cof Cod lb i nran (c i . . ln l i : l : l i :13)-l ic ncccssaril parlicipatcs in thc re-denrpt i rc ni ission of Chr ist 's Passion.uhrch is thc bcginnine of crcn apos-tolatc.

Final l r . thc rc l i r, ious cnguee,cl incontcrnplat ior t a lorrc. sustr i r r througlrihcir r r l r crs l l rc nr iss ioniu ' \ 0ct i \ i t \of- t l ie Clhurch- --lbr it is God Whoscllds u'orkers into His harr cst u hcnF{c is asked to do so. Who opcns tl icnr incls of 'non-Christ ians to i rcar thcGospcl- and \\"ho nraircs thc uord o'sair at ion lh l i t f u l in their hcarts " In

sol i tudc. uhcrc thcr arc dcrotcd topra\ cr- conl.cnrplatir cs arc ncr er fbr-gctl ir l ol ' their brothcrs. if thc,r har cuithdrann fionr frcqr.rcrrt contact uiththcir lb l lou nreu. i t is not bccauscthcr \\ erc sccking thcnlsclr es andthcir oun conr lbr t - or pcacc alrd quietfbr thcir or i r r sakc. but bccausc- on thccontr 'trr- thcr \ \crr ] intcnt on sharrngItr r nr()r 'c rur i ic lsal c lcgrcc- thc fa-[ ru ' r rc. l l r t ' nrscrr lurc l thc l ropcs ol 'a l lr r r l r r t l . r r r l

' l ' t t i ; l i ' ' r . ' l ' l \ .1 ' i . l )

Nr, l l

' \? t ican i f . const. Lt . tnten ( ' icnl iunt-No.-l(r. CF. Evagrius: "The rnor is hc ri ho

is scparalcd fion-l all and unitcd to all"(l)t: ()ratiotte 12-l: for Frcnch s.rl

.t(,(' [. Htusltcrr. .c.: l at',n.s rl'ttn('()ntcntpl(i l i1. p. l. i8). St. PctcrD: lnr i t r r r . - 'Thorrglr t r c sccnl totrc scl;u' lt lccl f irr l-ronr tltc( ' l rurc l l t lu 'ouqh pin s ical sol i -

l l r r lc nc iu 'c lbrcrcr lurd l l roslnrf i rn; lc l r i r r lJcr [ ) rcscl tcc

l l r r r l r rg l r l l lc inr io l i b lc nnstcn ofrrnitr " (()trr.s't'. .\7 1.. Oui trttt:!latut'i,)on i n t t.s' tt h t,:'r: t.t t t . l (). .\, / 1 . l -l-5- 23 9 )St. Teresa: "Oh nr-r sistcrs rn ClrristlHcllr nre to cntrcal this of lhc Lord.Wlto ltas brougltt orr togelher lrcrc forlltaf vcn purpose (to prat ftrr thc pcaccof rll nrtions uld for lhc nccds of thc( ' l l r r rch): t lus is \ our \ ocl l ion. th ls nrustbc r orrr busincss: l l tcsc nurst bc r orrrdcsircs. thcsc I our lcrrs: thcsc ] our pc-t i l ions . . " ( l / u. t ' t t f l 'er l t , t ' t i r t t 1.5).r For thc conrparison of- thc nonilstcnrr ith Pandise. cf. St. Jcronrc: "\bu haver ccll lbi pandisc: pick ihc r arious fnritsof tlrc Scripturcs" (.1"1, l)5 od llu,stiuun.7 Nl l - 22. l ( )75 CSEL

- i ( r . 125).

Fundament al principte sof the cloister

l )v i r IV

( 'onlent lat i re, t . due l t t fu0t ' .s : tg ' i i i \ 'otr t l t t n t t t ' t ' l l t , l t , ' i t t l ' , ,1 t l t , ' ( ' l t t t r r l t t tnt l lhc.r t t tptr l o{ fhe vtr l r l . ' l 'ha. l ' . i t l i t t t , v i t l t t l t , ' r t ' t ' t r t rut i l r ' t , f t i , t t t l l t ' t t t l l t l l t t ' i t ' part i t ' i - t t t t iot t i t t l l te, \ucr i f i t t , r t l ( ' l ts ' i . t l in l l t , ' l t t , t ' t , t t i , . l ( tn, i t t t l t l l t , ' t t l t ' l t r r t l i i t t r l t l tc l ) iv i r taOi/ ice, . f i l l . / ) l in lhc ( ' l t t t t r l t t l , ' nt , , \ t ut t ! ' t t t t t tnt l t tnt t tot t t rh ich t , : t l c glr r i l icat i t t t t t i f{ itxl.

Ire lrr cn arrd carth sccltt to ntcrge-rr l rcrc thc nor id- in r i r tuc o1- Chr ist 'spr 'oscncc- r iscs l l 'onr i ts condi t ion ol"arid cafth and bccorrrcs paradisc attcn(cl . lv{k l :13) ' . i lou thcn cnrt coutetn-plat i r es bc consi

6i:\ --_z

')'r,r1 ,ri ilrrtrft: ,(11

I I ' i th thc !Jtr th ol ' t l ta [ . tn l ,Jt ' .s t . t . \ ' . t ] t ( r i t l t r t t l t , t ( ! t ) t (" ' ( t ( l : ( t1 o. f l I t :avt ,n" nt l "a l i ianr lr l ' fhe.lngt, l .s." ( lraul l .r /1. ' r l igt i t t ' . t t ' l t t t i t l , ;ut.s!

.1;t t trr lvt l l t ht: hr l inr:, : ,s t l 'an irre-nrehcn,sihla l i lb. mint l { i t l t l t t t t lor l tut t " t , t ' , lv t t . ' nt t t t l ( \ l r t t t . "

Futhers oJ the ('hurch

ig i t t l r thc l .ot 'c l r r ts [ r r inr r t rBcthlc i rcnl . s inc,- ' l lc l l r l t ' l r r ' r r rl l lcal ls I lorrsc rr l ' l i rc l r t l I le . .

i l r fhct t i rc Onc \ \ ' l to sr t r : ; l t l t t t l t , i t ' ,i t t ,q hrarul l l t t t l t ' t ) t t t ( ' \ (hnt t t f t t t t t t l t t t l 'c t7 (Jn 6.- t l I I hc r l ; rce I l r r ' r t ' l i r t .uhcrc l l rc [ , r l rc l is l rot ' r t r l le l tch l lc lor t 'F ic u as bor-r t . r r l s cr l lcc l I lousc ol 'Llrcad. bccausc Hc \\ 'ho uould satiatcthc clcct n i th sprr i tual l i rod. had lonlani l-cst Hi lnsel l- to r.rs in t lrc l lcsh.,{nd Hc r.r'as bornnot in His o\\ 11housc- bu1 alongthc * ar s ic lc. inorclcr to undcr-stancl that Hc. as-strnr i ru l a htulrrnnalr i rc. uAs bonri r r a garrnc:nt t l ir tu As not I l is I h ti t \ \As rrot l t is .n lcans that bcrrr ! . ( ior l I l rs l ) t ( ) l )crNaturc is [ ) i i nrc l lunr iur n lur t ' l rc-longcd to l lu l r t rccrrrstr ( iod rs t l r t 'l \ {astcr o l - a i l . a i r t l t l rcrcf i r rc i t is n rr t -lctt ' . Ha c(ultL' ttnto l l is ott 'n (. lrr l l l )ln His Dir inc Naturc I lc u us thcrc bc-fbre tinrc- in otrrs Hc corncs tcl us in rncpoch ol 'our histon. Tlrcrc lbr-c- i f - l lcWho is ctcnral n lakcs lJ inrscl f ' ourconrpaniot t i r t t inrc. \ \ . nra-\ sar that

/ ' r . \1. , l . ' \

,\ ( irc',gtt'.t' Iht' (,it't 'ctt

I l r t ' t )nrcs to a s thcrc uhich is al ien toI l r r r r \ r r r l s i l lcc thc Proplrc l sa\ s:/ r i l l nt tut t . : l t t t . t \ ls J( l ' ( r ) . thc Lord.\ \ l r r

' l r : r . , I r t ' . 'onlc \ , lat t - c l tar tqcs ot t r

l r ; r r r r lo r , , l : r i r r . srrec l lc : sa\s r i l -I lnrs,- ' f l ' l t t l t t ; : t ' (ut t t t l t t ' l t t ' t r l t l rx ' . : nolI t t l l l , t l l t ( ' , t : t 'oi l i l i l tui t l t l t t ' i l ramutn.tt t l tutt ' ( . ln 12.24). Thcrclbrc as soon asFlc nas bonr. Hc uas placecl in thcnlangcr. so that [Jc u'oulcl nourish al lt l rc hithl ir l . rcprcscrl tccl b\ t l ic ani-

t i rosc r iho r iatchthc l lock ol ' t l rc l i l i thf u l u i t i r lorcl l l r t ' nr()r 'e lhrn thc t l t l tcrs- thc ' pr i r i - lcu,e 1o see l rc t rer t l r t l r rngs' . ) Whi lstt l rcr r totrs l r uttr- : l r thc f lock- dir incrlr.ucc r-lcncrouslr shincs uporl thcnr. i

' I hc Arrgcl Annc-runccs thal t l rc Krngis lronr and choirs ol-Angcls ccho Hinr Isirrgirrg. ()lrr.t ' tr Gt{ in lha Hi,qltr ' .st Itttld x'ttc'a upon corlit lt tnt't t./ ,grit.l ,u'l/ Bclorc orlr Rcclccnrcr'1\ as bonl i lr I

,/t-7

nr als. n i th thcr ihcat cf" Hisf:lcsh And u hatdocs thc appari-t icn ol- thc Angclto thc shcphcrdsulro natchcd endthc l ight ihat sur-roundcd thcnrrr lcan- i l ' not t i rat

tirc l lcsh. thcrc \\as not ltarntonr bc-tueen thc Angcls and us. thc nrark ol 'orir original sin scparatcd Lrs fionrtheur and our dailr sins kcpt us lhrl ionl thcnr. Sincc. br sur- \\c \\crc cs-trangcd lionr God. thc Angcls. citizcnsof God- hcld us to be strangcrs to tl icirsocict\. But u-hcn \\c rccogniscd ourKing. thc Angcls rccognisccl us asthcir co-ci t icns Sinr:c lhc Kir tq l rastal icr t r r l tor t l lurrse l l ' t l rc c l r ' t l r t l l ' outl - lcsh. thc Art i le ls ni r l r l t r - , . t ' r ( l ( ' \ l ) rsr ' ( )urucakl lcss ' fhc. \ t tqcls rctunr to nur l ' r 'peace u ith us- no lortu,cr scr: l l te nro-tir es of discclrd ard uclconlcr rs asso-ciatcs all thosc u'ho tho' harc alrcadrdcspiscd as contcntptiblc. ThcrcfbreLot (Gn l9. l )aud Joshua (Josh 5.15)adorc thc Angels and arc not rcpulscd.John. thcugh. in thc Apocai-r psc. pros-trates hinlsclf- in lrdoration bcfbrc arAngcl- r i ho t 'q:pulscs hinr sar i r tg.Jhtn^ | t lr t l , I tut t i .\(t 'r 'ut ' l l l\L' \ '()ttctnc,l

.\ 'ottt ' lxtl l tcr.: (.Ap 2J ()) .,\rtclu t r rat tk lcs i t nrcur th l t l rcAngcls. hclbrc t l tc cotung ol ' thc

Rcdccrlcr l loucd thcnlsch'cs to bcadorcci- ultcrcas alicr His couting [hcr'pcnrlittcd it no longcr. if not that thcrarc alraid to placc thcnrsclr cs abovcour naturc. aftcr har ing scen it broughtb thc Lord abor c thcm'/ And lhcv nolongcr clarc to dcspisc as infinn. thaiNaturc uhich thc scc in tlrc King of-Ilearcn. Nor do thor- n'ho adorc a\4an-God. disdain 1o har c nlan as as-soci tc. [ -c l us scc t l rcu- brothcrs- thati re r l r r t t< l t st i i l t l t r rsclrcs tx at t r nrb-[rs l r . srn,- 'c ' in t l ic ctcrnt l lorcsigl i t . uci l rc cr t rzerrs ol ' ( jod arrd cqual to IJ is, ' \nscls. Lct us rcstorc dignrtr to ourcustonrs. nrA\ no lust n lar us. r1osiranrcfi l l thought accusc us. no rrtaiicccat into our nrind- the rr"rst of cltr-r ' notcorrods us. pride not inflate us. thcconcup'risccncc ol- caflhlr pleasurcs notlacc-ratc us. augcr not in[lanlc us. N4enhrrc trccn callcd {ods. Dcfbnd. thcrc-

firrc. O n1All. thc honour of- God.surco lor rou I ' lc uas ntadc Mart .\ \ 'ho l i r cs rrc l rc i r lns f i t rcr cr ar tdcr c l - . ' \n lc ' t ' t . t

'&i$-,it?p_p{i,tilirrit{i?,#qi,siijl;i-IFirIi?qi4li\ri'.{r;i,iiiifi'ilt,j;irff i$;i'ii,iir,li''i;i ij;'$ ii'i.li$Xii;+.:.fqg*{Qi+s-*qxr3fri#--s-i.*.ir"+fdfilfr+

The poverty of ChristmasOh, i l o l r lv I roulr l hrv(, sr . ( -n t l rat nrerrrr l i r in rv l r i r h Ll-rer Ltrrc j r . r 's la ic i l

N, ,11' , rvt 'Clrr ist i:u)s, rs.r I r i l ru[ t ' r t i hrrrrour, l rrvc r t ' r 'nt ' l \ r i t t l ihrt of lnut l utcl[ . l . t tcr l 1r i ' l r l s i lvr . r . l r t r t l t r r nt ' t l t t ' r r l t r r Iht \ r ' . ls t . tkt ' t t L l \ \ 'c l_\ / is t t l i r rc ] . r t ' -i iot . ls . T" l t t , r r l \ , ( ' r ' ,ur t l r ' t r l r l r l f t ' i r [ - r ] r roPr i t l t ' t r l I l l t . ' ] r . r l ' , i l t l lv t r r l t l : t l l l l r rChl ' i>[ i . l l l l i i t l l t l l , ' t l l , r l )1 ' r ' l ' t l l t r l t 'o l l l t t t t l is . t1t , 1

' l ) r i , . i t r ' . I l t ' lVho \ \ / . )s l ' r ) r l li l r th is l t tct t t l ' , ( r t ' . l t 'sr ts1. . - ' t t i . l . r t l r l s t l t ' , ' r . I t lo l t t r t . l is . t r l t r i ty t ' t r l ' thtrst ' t r , ' l l i c l ic l thrs t r r r t ' l r r l r ' r l l i r r l l r t rntrrrr (n i r r in I r t r th i r l Ihr 'st ' t r l r r ' t r ] t ( r (1( ' \ '] : ;cs olt lo lc l lor I l r t . t r - rnPl i ' ) : [ r r r t I n l , r r - r , , r ' l inst , ' . r t l th, , t th l Lrr l ' i l , Crt ' . r t t r r o i tht tlgrr l j , 1rrts l r i ) r l t , l r [ i l l t l t r ' l t r i t ls t r ' l r ' . t t l t l . l t ] sr l \ . , ( r , i )L l I t r l lnut l .

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Lif urgy

@o irrh /";fosu, Ghnst' [ i celabrat t , / t t , lJ i r t l t r l ' l l c l t r t l , t l tc ( ' l t t ' t . ' t t ( tn. \ ( ) l l l t ( ' l i t ' l ( ( t t lut ' iL ' . \ ( :ho.st th r lotart f I )ec:emht:r ) - i " ' . ( )n thot t l t t . l t l t t ' t ' , ' t t r ts l l t t ' l ' t t . ' . : t r t t f t ' t r : l ! t t f t " t t " t t t ' t l t l t t ' " l t t t ' int ' i l ' t le, \ ' 2, " whi t 'h t ra. l / t t t . .s ' t th. : l i l t t t t ' t / l t ' t l t r \ ( ) i ( t t t , 1, ' f t ' l r t t t , l l l t , l l t r t l t t l ( ' l t r i . r t . l l t t 'Sutt r / ' ,Just tc ' t ' . Ab i t t t t t - tct t tor l t t t l l i , . ' ' l l l ' t ' t t r . ' t f t t ' i t , f t t \ / \ r ' \ / r t l ' l t l t , ' ,1 I l t t ( l t \ l ( ) l l tl i r ( \ 'erv l t r ie. t t t t t t lc l t t ' t t t< ' l l t t ' i ' , l i , , l t ' \ , / ,rr , r

I tc- ' l t tost l l tc ict l s i t ' , t t , r l ' l l l tFcast ol . ( ' l r r is tnr ts r- ' r ' l t ' l rnttcd in l { t l lnt , ( )n f ) t 'cunt l rct

25' ' ' - is rc latrrr . l n) lhr , r ' l l . : r t t l l r t i lF i localos ol ' thc r crr l . rJ- [ iu l t l rc nrtct ' -nal ar ta l rs is c l l - t l lc c locrnlcnt s l t t tusthat thc Fcast uas rlrcach cclcbl'atcdbcfbrc thc ) car 336. l 'hc dal o l 'Dcccrubcr '2- " ' \ r as choscn- s inccon that da1 a pagan f-cast ri ascclcbratcd ill ltonc'rut' of thc-- lnr inciblc Sun." Thc ( 'hr i -stiarts- thcrclbrc- su bsti tutc-dthc pagan ccrcnlon\ u i ththc solcnrtr i t r r l l ' t l re l l r r th ol 'f 'hr ist- t l rc Surr r t l ' . l r s l r t 'eAlrcaclr in t l ic l \ ' ( cr t tur . \ \ ! 'f incl thc t tcu l :casl in . , \ l l r . : r . ' \ r t l roe l tConstant i r t r - rp lc i t r t l i r t l ' .11r r l l ru l ot t l rin thc Vl ar td Vl l ( 'c t t lut tes rrr l l r t t readnr i t tcd in Palcstrnc

According to a Rr i l t l i t t t t t ' : t t l t l ror t of 'the Vl Ccntun. c\cr \ r r icst e iur ee l . ' -brate thrcc Nlasscs oll thc i lrn of'Chnstnras Thc or ig in of- th is crrstonr rssimplc cut-rr,rglt. Thc l irsl ancl onlrI\lass \\as cclcbratcd b thc Porc inthc I\ centun at thc usual t inrc in tltr-:Basil ica ol' St. Pctcr (currcutlr t ircl\,[ass "of thc dal ") hr lhc V Ccntuntrcgan thc ccicbration ol" thc rright

\ l r rss rr ( l rc Basi l ica of ' St . Mary\ luor f ' }opc Sir tus i i t r { ' i - { .16). af tcrlhc rroclanrrtion of thc clogrtta of thcN4alcrl itr of i\ ' lan. cnlargcd and cur-bcl l ishccl thc Basi l ica. crccl i t rg in i t thccharc l that inr i tatcd thc stablc of thcNat i r i t of- U., ' ' loht :nt ln [h is chapcl .

on Clhnstnlas nisht . thc Popc cclc-bratctJ t l rc solcnt t Nlass (cur-

ront l \ tht ' l \ l rc l r t ieht I \4ass- ' ) .' Iorrrrrds thc nl iddlc of thc\ ' l ( 'cntun bcgart thc cu-stonr ol 'cc lct l rt t ing thc lh i rd\1irss l r r thc Porc. Closc tcr

t l ru la lacc ol ' thc B 'zant incnr lcrs (Palat inc Fl i l l l is l i r rurd

t l lc c l r ru 'ch i r nhich Arc col lscr-rccl t l c r-c l ics of- Saint Anastasia.nlar ' t r r - rcnclatc,d in r srccial r tar at( 'onstrnt inoplc- u l rosc rncnlor ia l t 'c l l r 'ccrsch r ln l )ccct t t t lcr ?. i ' r ' . l r r rcspcctol 'secrr l r r r l lorrr : r . . t i rc Potcs - stopr i r ru,: r lorry t l rc r txr l l i r rnr thc l -atcrart at thcI jus r I rcl o f ' St l)ctcr cclcbratcd l icrcthc \ l : rss nr l ronour- o l ' thc Saint (cLrr-rcnth thc -- [ )arrn Nlass'-) . Thc l i turgi-t: l l l{onrur books containcd thc lbr-nrulas ol' ihcsc tl ircc papal Masscs. andthcrclbrc thc uholc Church acquircdt l rc custonr of cclcbrat ing thcELlchar is l thrcc t inrcs on this c lar .

Taking thc cuc l ionr t ltc, Fcast oIChristrlras- r arious cLrstoll ls arosc suchas. for craruplc. that - inauguratcd brSt Francis ofAssisi * ol ' thc Christnrascr ib.

Thc Fcast of'Christnras has its octa-i 'c uhich is celcbratcd lbr thc uholeri.cck. Alrcadr thc oldest calcndarsioirr thc conul lcnrorat ion of scr cralSaints to t l rc solcrnrr i t r of ' ( ' l r i is tn las.ancl thc Nlrdcl lc . , \scs st ' t ' i r r t urr i l l r r -str iorrs qt ' ( )u l ) t lur t re()rnrr t t i t 's t i lcC l : i ld . icsus ' l l luse rut ' I l r r ' Srut ts r ' r ' l t ' -bratccl in thc l {o l tu.ur l t t r rsr l l t t ' I ) ro lo-nrarh r Stcphcn- St. John thc l . r ln-gcl ist and thc FJol lnroccnts kr l lod inBcthlchenr J'hc pcriod of- Clrristnrasgocs bcvond thc octar c- rp to thcSrurdar after Epipltanr. u hich is cclc-bratcd as thc Fcast of'thc Baptisnr ofthc Lorcl

On t l ic dal o l 'Chr istruas- thcChurch col l .nncnl(r ' l t tcs r l I that uhichharrcncd in [Jcthlc l rcrn- [ r r t c locs notl imi t I lcrscl l ' to t l tc c ' r tenor s i r le ol 'crct t ts. Shc coutcrt t l l l r r tcs l l lc N' l rstcnol- thc Son ol 'God- \ \ /hcl - - [ rorn rr l ' theFaihcr bclbrc tinrc bcgan- Gorl l j 'oruGocl. l, ight l ionr I-ighl- truc God ll 'onrtruc God." for "Lls ulcn and lbr oursalr ation"' dcsccnclcC ltonr Hcaven.Gocl. Who in a u onclcrfir l u ar crcatcdnran" in a st i l l l l rorc nrancl lous \ \A\bcgan thc uor l . . of ' His salr at iot t .Chr ist bccor l rcs N1rn. s inrr lar to us inci 'crything crcc i t s in , { " rnarrc l louscxcl iange" is rcachcd, ( 'hnst uclco-nrcs our hunlat t t taturc- u cak and l in l i -tcd. to makc Lrs partrciratr- in I-l isDir inc Naturc.

\\ ' tat docs thc corrring ol- Clu'rstnrean fbr rnan'l \4an lras sccn (iod irr ar is ib lc fbrnl . [ 'hr ist br in 's ncrr h l 'c to

rlren. He has rcstorcd them to thc di-gnitl of sons of God. has irrtroduccdllrortal nlarr to ctcnral l i l-c. l ias l iccclhunrani t r f ionr thc old s larcr l ' c l f s inartd has r l i rc:n t l rcrrr f l 'ccdonr.

( ' l r r is tnrrs t l rus cortccir cd. is l in l icdirrscpunr[rh to t l rc Mrstcn of thcI)c l ( l r lur t l l {cstn ' r 'cct ion o- Chr ist .. ' \ l t l lorr ! ,h t l rcrr i - f r l r ' nr ur \ ( 'hr is l " ians-( ' l r r is tnurs rs r. lo\ f ' r r I rcnlcntbrl tcc of-t l tc cot l l i l ts o l ' ( 'hnst WlLo br ings l lLra-cc and liatcrnitr. [hc C'hrrch sccs tl i isFcast in str ict rc lat ion to His f i r lLrrcDcath- Jcsus i laccd in thc trtangc-r' iscallccl. in prar crs. the Rcdccnler. Tocclcbratc Cirristuras nlcans to crprcssin l if-c thc nql realrtr of rnan. rcuclc-rccl sinri lar to thc Son ol- God. uhoopcns l r inrscl l ' to thc act ion ol- gracc.to searclt tbr thc things nhich arc abt-r-\ c and to grori in l l 'atc:nral loi c.

Lct us praisc God bccausc in thcsclast t inrcs Hc has spohcn to us b-rnrcar ls ol 'His Son- and in l - l rnr Hc hasgir cr t us c i crr t i t ing. ; i !

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.

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.:lr.

'l'he Desert F-uthcrsf roa,uirrroaro,rr*rrrr.iori"!;i.ili: :ii:" J+,iu,;

Sayin gsHumility Charity

Thc Abbr l t . ' \ r t l l rot t r : ; r t r t l Is tn al l thc rre ts ol ' l l te r '1 lot lcsprctc l t t t t t t r t u l . l l le t : l t l t l t . i t t l r lI sarcl gr() l lnr t l ! \ \ l l t ) r ' i l t lcvcr Lrscater f i ' t l r r r t l tcnl ' ) ' , \nclI hcard a roicc uhrcl l s .ut l tcrlnL): 'F{unr i l i t r ' - '

l l r . ' \ l r l rot l ' . r lqnrs said.I l r r [ l t ' r , rn i l rng 0l 's l t i r l t ion

ls t ( ) C() l l ( [ ) t l l l i t lnCSClf ."

An olcl nran said. " lnu'hat:;ocr cr tcst. clo not

i t t rcuse l ln\ ( ) r lc butrorrrscl l ' u lor tc. Sa1 ." l 'h rs hur t r lurcd tonre bccl tusr- , of mr '

: i tns "

,,\ brothcr qucstionedthc Abbot Sisocs: - ' l sccr thattl lc rcnrcnibrancc of Ciod re-nrains i r r nrc " Thc old mansurt l to l r inr ' l l is r )ot l l gruJatt l r r r r i l r I ' rorrr t l rorrght is n ' i th( i t r r l l t rs r . r u,rc l t t l r i r tg. o i tl l re ol l r r : r ' l renr l - to scc onc-sel l ' bcncath cvcn crcaturc.' l 'his in fact- togcthcr n'iththc l l t iguc of thc bod. lcadsnran to htrnr i l r t r . "

- l l rc, \bhrt , ' \nt l tor t r srut l - l

do t tot t l ( ) \ \ l r ' lu ( ior l l rut I kr 'vc lJ l l t t . l i l r ' krr c c l ls ls ( )uIfi:ar.''

l i ; : : . , :4. : :1: ! . : ' ; : ;_ i : j . : . r r . r .1. i : : . .1.r1 : r . , . , : i : . : j_. - . : . t i '

l

shal i dt l goot l t t rGtrr i btr t i l ' \ \ rscandl l isc 0urbrothcr- \ \ c s inagainst [ ]hnst ."

Thr: Abhot i\rsc-nius said. - - l har, 'e ' ne)\ 0r go-nc to s lccp l rar ing i l l l ic-lng against anr onc. al lc l usfar as possrble- I ncrur l tcr-mit tcd au\ ouc to go tcts lcep l taving i l l f -ccl ingagain*st n lc.

\ t orre (uncr t i rc \bboi Jc-rhir\ \ i t \ t ' l ln l l r rn l u l ) l l 'o ln Scctcrr r l l l o l l l t : r l l l i i thcrs. l tc l hcir l lo u us grr id inr l fhcnl l r is tookthc uar lbr i [ r ras night. Andthc brcthrcn said to thc AbbotJohn: " \ 'hat shal l \ \c do.Fatlicr- for thc brothcr has mis-scd the \ \a\ . ancl nc nrar loscoursclr r-:s and dic'.)"- ancl thcolr i nxrn saic l . " l l ' \ \c sav An\-

th inc to hi t t l . hc: r r i l l bcdoir ncust l lut I shal l r ' , ta-1..r . ' l t s l r r r i r r r f ' l rc i r tg \ \ot ' l turt l tnrJ sri that I canrtotr i u lk. but nrust l ic hcrc t i l lnrorning." , {nd hc did soA nd thc othcrs said." 'Ncithcr shal i \ \c go on-hut shal l si t dou n bcsidc

thcc " And thcr sat doun unti ll l rorning. so AS uot to nrort i frthcr r. brothcr.

Abbot Anthonv said."With our ncighbour thcrcis liflc ancl dcath fbr if ucdo qoocl t t l our ' l l rcl t l rcr- \ \cOnc dar thc .{bbotMoscs asl

Homiletiu l lor t i t . ' i . Dt . t ' r .v i i l rR 2-5 I t)9{).iat)te.s ('anlins| !]i lli

Christmas is the Bifthd ayof Jesus Christ

o tc l l thc t l ' t r t l r t l lc crr .c l lcrr( r r t l t 'ntrol l l lso of- l lc uho clocs notpagc of ' t l rc ( iostc l r r l l l t l t l r l ts t t r r l l lo l r r ' srrrcr l i t ' t i t lbccl l r l 'ocl l t t t t tct l l l r . ' s ; ( l - I l r* . ' t c lc l l l l t t t r r t t o l ' l l l rs r l rghi has

cal lcd - ' ' l rc l lor- luc" , ,1 'Sl . lo l r r n)- s lo l . .cn to rs of ' r r l l i r [ ; r uraptcd int i l ludatcs t rs u l r t t lc s i i i r r l r l l r r rg c l t l t l t t :s t t tc l f t ic l in a

Todar \ \ c u. . r t r l r l l lc n ' r ( ) r 'c c l is- n l u lqcr ' - of 'shcrhcr5 kscping * atchposcd to rc l is l r thc r a l t rcs c ' l 'srnrr l ic- orcr lhc- l lc ck in s i lcnt obscur i t r ' . o l -ai t r . of- \ \ 'ann hrrnrani t r . of- thc poctn nrul t i tudc ol- Angcls uho sing thcof thal uhich is hunible and succl . . praiscs ol" God and * ish pcacc tothat rs. ol 'thc r alucs tirat arc oll-cred nrcn rcachcd br thc lorc of thcto us br thc' otlce again rc-inrokcd F-athcr- and Lhis is bcautif ir l. cornprc^sccl lc ol- our Cluistnlas cr ibs And hr 'nsiblc ancl casr to apr .cciatc.instcad \ \c arc inr i tcd tc crplc l rc Norr instcat l is nrarr i f 'cstcd to usuhaL thcrc is in l "hc bcgrnning urth l l rc c lenur l ' r 'oot ' - of ' t i r is f i rct rcal iscdGod 1Jn I 2) . u hic l t n l ta l ts t t r sur rn tnnc. t l lc u l t i r l r tc and tr t icthc t rat tsccnr. lct t t Sccl 'c ts of i l rc i r . , ' . s( : l lsc of ' thut r ih ich hanncnccl

, . , , , t t t , , , , i / , scnsc t l f ' th l t t r i h ich happcncd

-! ! i ! : ' ts crplai l rccl [o t ls- thc cet t t ra l

)\J

cornr.r . rcnloratron of- a c i rcunrscr ibct land datablc cprsodc: i t is thc sai oru ' -ing o1-a pcrpetual and unir crsal l ) u- f ' -l lc i tc ious actual i t r : i t is thc crul tancrol-a Lrcasurc that is gi r cn [o t rs l t r r lur .

J 'hc annotat ion that C'hr is lnurs. rni ts lbundrt ions. is a brr t l l t l : r r rscr io i rgh to conr incc us ol ' r l Norrbir thdars Arc) cclctr tt lct l l i ' r l r \ rn ll l tcn Fr-rr thc r lc i t t l c \ cn r l ' I l r t ' r ru t r\ Cry ! l - t ' i l I lu l t l r c l r l l r t l l , r r rs t l re rAI 'C l 'Ci i tcnt t lc lct l - l r t I tcst r ' \ c t \ ( ] i lehLrncirccl \ cl lrs

l,S:.in:;-Z z t ;:.J-,-{1.?4r.::} i,.1{ ;r'i\ z :l t iS .-::,: f . : u : -i. . };' .

i'\i lv!'ho was aware of the Birth of

Thcrclbrc. to ctrlcbrttc Cllrrsturasrr\ cr\ \ cil- mcans to c\prcss [hc ccr-trintr that Jcsus of Nazarcth - that[]abr lrorn t*o thousand \cars agcr irra stublc - is a l ivine Pcrson: Hc is tru-l r . rcal l r - phr s ical l r a l i rc. Hc is st i l lthc bcgirrrr ing of- sal lat io l r lbr us. Hcs str l l t l rc ccntrc ol 'cr cn cr istcncc o1-l l re rr l lo lc c l l .h iskrn. J 'hcrcfcrrc lct us()( ' ( 'u l ) \ otn 'sclrcs t i rc lcsslr r i th Hirnurt l r r rcr l r tutr : r r rot t that nhich Hc st i l lrs t ( ) ( l l \ . i t l ) ( )n t i r r t uhich st i l l todarI le thrcs l i r r f l r t : r ro l ' lc j ( . . ) . ,k

trncrcatcd ancJ r t [ rsolutr : r 'cr l -l t r :andir lstc l t | r rc l t l .u lct |zf f i 'c tcr t to| .h is[on. i ih lc l r istr i aclnt irc in iunlt /cnrcn[ 1ff i . 'o1f,N thc l l lcal ' at ior i ad Birfhrlic conring Lo rnc rio,ltt of \Wi:il#

', ;l'.i:']:::.::.:l^il-':- lT,,:'.' " ' ' " ' ; ' ; :

" Ri ! ' l i { ; ' ; , , : * ' r ' \ / ' r4! ' ) ' [ L ' r v '^

thc Wbrd- through \ \ 'h,rrn ' \p l Cod is airnogt iccd i crpl ic-Fnirthc uor ld uas nuclc- r r t r l r l -thc uor ld uas nuclc- l r t r l r l - l r ' , , , ; , . r , i t tcnns.anunheal 'dofgoal isstcad thc rc l t tarkublc l t l t lcrr- l ) r ' ( ) l )os;ccl to us. that o l ' us, a lsorng of a Cod \ \ ' l t t tool ' , f lcs l r . r r r t l l rccornirrr : . i r r l { i r r r^ s;ons ol 'God. andi i i tchcd His tcnt in r- t r r nr ic lst . is r ' . ' - l t r , rc l rnr l corr tcrnl t latc His glory,i 'caled to us. t l rc t l , r r . r o l ' t i lc Onlr Son of ' thc

Br-r t thc Cl iurch docs nothing br i ; ; l t l rcr . f i r l l of 'gracc and truth {J i rchaucc: br th is choicc Sl tc uants to I l -11 , \ncl t lus is st i l l n lorc bcaut i fu! .i iclp us l-o undcrstand tl ic substanc:c lrut also nrorc clif l icult to undcrstaltd.of' Christti las- apart f iont thc cn- l 'his nrclns. Anrong othcr things.chant ing sccnc that lor inglr I 'c- that ( 'hr ist l t ias is not onlr lhc narra-cloihcs i t . but nsks hiding thc pro- t ion of- that lh ich r ias: i t is perccp-lound tnrth ol- i t l ronr lhc f icr tctrat inq t ionol- thatuhich is. l t isnotonh rhc

".'. . t i. :i: :t: !r:';-.,Ih',: ' l{:i:

Christ?irrhi'

i:,''

iliz:,i'i

$;(..f^

tt':k

ir\li,i,R"qrlti

f(::r'i\\1V^ik if:)

;'

"li' l r it { llt,F] (tiit3,.::*;,!f,inr-o:g:'i{,t*,r(tt}rj?.x',je|ljjr,::i-- ;i.. -.-;;::2:i.Eo:"rt::gj1i-.1!x';,iS1+&f&|'y.kr,:.-:,

i i

C) l ' Lhe hir th i r rkr thc r , r 'or lc i of tht ' Si>n ol 'Gocl , i i l H is I inx ' . n() ( )n( . r \ r i ts l \ \ ' l t " ( . . Nc' i thcr Rontr 'n ' iLh i ts r i r i l r ts alrc{ ro l i t isol th( ' r 's , n() l ' ferus, t lc l t t lv i th i ts l , t rp l r 'r ) , r ( )L lP of Bi l r l t 's i l t , r l rs, \ \ ' ( ' r ( ) hl t ' t t - . pt ' r< r . iv 'c,( i l td r l l ) [ ) t 'cr ' i lc t l - c t . l l t rrr .t c int t l tun' t .ur v i r iss i tutL 's of ' I l - t ' t ' t t 'nt . r l C r t ' t t tor of- tht ' L j l t i r , t ' r 's( ' . , {s r int '( ( l t s( ' ( ' , ( lot l t ' t t l t ' r ' t , t i l rs l l in lst ' l l r r r l ) l . rVin{, , \ \ ' i th t l rc l ) ( )u,( ' rs t l f ' I l r r 'r i r l r l r l , l l t t ' r r t l l i r r ' , r l , ru l l tor i t i t 's . t r r t l l l r r ' , r ' l r ' l r r i t r t 's : I l r ' lhu' .u ls Iht ' i r '

l ) t - ( ' r t t ( l t ot l t l t l ' [1 ' r 1 ' . kr t , r r r r l t r t r r lo 1 '1, ' r .1, ' l l t r ' l r , t l l r 'n l i r rn; to r t 'v t ' . t llJ l l rst ' l l to lht 'sr t t , t ! l ,ur( l lo l l t t ' t r l t , r l , ' , r l l r rn l r , r ru l1, I l . ' t l rx 's rrr l Prol i ll r1 ' lht ' i r l l f r l t i t>trs l t r r ' t l r , l l i t l t ts . \ ' \ l l io t r t r \ , r \ \ , r l ' , ' o l l l r t ' r , . , l l , l r l r t l ' in. t rV(tvr lnI t l f Clor i ntr l t l t ' l \1.rrr?. , \ \ \ , r l . l r r \ \ ' l ro s l r t , l t t ' l r , t l l r l l , ' l 's . r1r l , 1111-l l lc in l i l l i tV oi krvt ' , w' . ts r l \ \ 'c l r ' ( ' th.r t Cor l l r . r r l . r r r iv t ' t l in \ ! r r r nr i t ls t : t l r t 'krvc ol 'a Vir l i i r r n ' i thor-r t l ( ru l [ 1-()r Fl t ' r Lorcl , rnr l Iht ' lovt 'o l ' . lVlr>tht ' r 'Io lvr t r t ls t l t t Crcrt t r r t ' l tor l r t l f 'Ht-r . Jost '1t l t , . t ln. l t tv l to h. td rrrat l t '< l l 'o[rc l -r i i ( 'nf t l rc Lorr l , r r h i ls l thr ' s1 ' r t ' i l is t r t ' . r tkrrs t i f ' thc "s i1, , l rs ol l l rcl intcs" - [ht 'sc l r ' i l lobst ' rvt ' rs, t l r t 'ar ' . r r r t -11arr{ t ' th inkcrs, tht 'sr ' ( r r ' ( hr-rrs ( l t( 'v( l rV t l< lsI of "prt lpht ' I i t , r l s i l i r rs" \ \ ' ( ' ! r ( ' l rs l t . t l l t t \ r ' , t r t ' I l t . t t s t l l t t< ' t l t i t t 1n' l ro i l t ' l l { ' \ . \ ' , ur) i (Ju( ' . rnr l c l t ' t ' is ivt ' l r , t l l i l r . l lV hrrr ' 11' . i l l tht ' r . r , t i r l t { .

)\l t '

l+

.1

: . : ' . i i . - 'a

- l ) ^-._'-- 1'--

l i l i i r1.- f - ' :

Suints Sl ' r . , t s l 's ( ) l ( ' i l l i l \ |

I )trn ('tlttntbu .\ lot'nt ir tn

posscsscs al l thc roads lccl-irrg to thc ircart- all thc po\\ crs

of thc soul . a l l thc spr ings ol ' i ts uc-t i i i t r . Givcn up to lorc- thc sc-rul l rrsnothing ol- i ts o\ \ r '1. l i r cs no lot t r ct 'lbr i tsc l l - but cnt i rc l r l i ' i r r ts \ \ 'e l lBclorcd. - ' \ \ hat is lorc i l ' r t r r l lo l t t t t 'a iu avs al lc l r crr u hr:r ' t : t l tc s iu l lu i l l . c l i l t r i rut t ing l tbsolrr lc l r t l rcsl ightcst cot t t r 'trr t lcsr t t ' t l r r rs t ' l ' l t ' t ' ling a t r ta l srr l r . rg i t l ton ol ' t l re l lc lu [ ' '( f i l .v. t t t t t I l .

Such a lor c t ians[ i i r rns. l t tt l . . r rs t l lcsoul l ikc to i ts Spousc. Listcn to StBe rnard- lion-r ri.hont \\ c havc bor-roucd tlrc thcmc o1- our confcrcncr'.r rh i ls t hc tc l ls of thc aslot t ishin{grancle ur of th is ur l ion. -"Such a con-fornl i t r u i th thc dr l inc ui l l n larnrrslhc soul u i th thc \ \ /o ld. to uhich r t iss in l i lar in i ts spir i tual nrtr i r i - ' - f i l r krr -ing H in l l ts r t is lot cr ! l r r I I r rn i t rsno\\ s i r r r r l r r r r r \ \ ' i l l \ \ ' l r . r t cur I r tsr icctcr L i la l l Ih is conl i r t 'nr i t r of 'u i l ls ' l \ \ ' i rat nrorc dcsirablc t l trn t l r islovc. u hich rcndcrs thc scrrr Idiscontcntcd u ith thc tcach-rngs o{- ll lau. nrakcs herapproach thc \fuord ri ithconl idr-ncc. rcst rrnitcd

as cagcr to k l to ' , t ls l tcr i l l tc l l i -gncc makcs hcr clpablc ol- kl lon-ing. This contract of marriagc is trLr-lr holr- trulv spiritual. but thc tcrnlcontract is not suilcicntlr c\prcs-sr\ c. i t is a comminql ins. r r cr i lablcr-nrtrracc- such ftlt idcrrtll lcatiolr il '

T.),' t.tt dililt,t'llLl)' tlrr-lcr-s[nd, O nlosl sw'ct 'L hnd-nlir l of Jesus ChrisL, w'htI t lv t ' ) ,our Spouse Jcsusrt ' t r r i r t .s rr l vou. Ccr la i l l lvI l t , , Whrl lovcs v01r sont u ('h, rv tr Ls t ' i l u tt l ( '() l ls()-r r".rL(' Lrt His It lr, ' t ' )/ott rw,holr ' hr ,rL, \ 'our lvhol t 's t r t r | . rnr l l r ( )u r r t 'ht l l t -in int l , i r r sut h r t ' . t l ' I l r1",rr l Iour l l , ' . t t ' [ o l . t , t t i , "soul, rnt l of \ out nt i r t t l , r t t l l l t : t l_\ '

l ) ( ) \s( rs\( \ ( \ , ( l l I ht ' St t i " l l -

I t ,s[ 1-r . r ' t o l iL [ t ) l l ( ' l - l r t ' r r t ' i thI l inr .

ui l ls that ihc t i i r r lnakc buL r ' ruc ' - ( l iL'0t7! ( 'u

- Su-ilno l i- l ).

l -ht : cnLirc cr)r ' r lc l r r l t t t r o l ' i ic-n. of-l l 'c lur ls. t r f i r i l ls thut St. l lcrnarc! dc-rrcts l rcr .c rs onlr rossi t l lc i l l tsr l t t tc l irs t l rc soul r l lous l tcrscl l ' i r l a l l thrngs"t t r l rc concluctct i l r ) thc Word;- '

I t ' t 'ht .\ ' i ' t '( ' :L't 'L' N{orc c\ cllthan - ' thc cr cs r-r l ' l l rc scn ant

arc 0n t l rc hands ol- herrrr istrcss.- (Ps 122 2) to

to Hinl. rcnrain contcnt- k,f ._,:S*lr icdh ncar Hinr. lnr l con- \Jsult Hirn in al i thines- bcine

\-g:

- -n." \'"/ kno\\ ircr ordcrs allcJ crc-

V cutc tltcnr. thc tnlc sllouscof C'hrist f r- 'cls hcrsclf rntc-

r"iorh corrrllcllccl to tLlnr aglancc trl- lor, c uport hcr Spor-rsc

to l ln i l out thc indicai iorrs ol ' Hisu i l l . ln t l r rs nrinncr s l tc ccl t r t in i c ' r t ts l rcontcnrl)lltcs thc sacrccl Pcrsolt of'Jcsus. i r r thc: r ar ious st i tgcs

F r u n cisca n S piritu q I it.' l \1 i st t r ' .u, Tr< rr ' rs

6,\St f frr ffvasts 0f tljr Wbitb lrsttES r. IJ clrutt'cntttfe . ,>.,cg:,-:...;

I ; t r t t t , o/ l t ts , / / i ' \ / i t t l l t '

raiscs a ltr nrtr tcrthc I\r4ost HolrNarrc of Jcsus. alrjarrrc u'hich is"pou er lu l . bc-caLlsc lt scattcrsthc ertcn'tics. rc-storcs strcr-rgth.rnr igoratcs sou-ls: a lc- lunt of-grlcc- bccausc u c har c in l t thc lbun-dat ion ol- la i th. [ l tc l i rnrrrrsS of hopc.t l rc incrcasc ol-char i t r - thc lu l l i ln lentol ' . ust icc: a mot i re of jo l ' bccausc l tis jor in thc hcitrt. mclodr in tltc car.honcr' in thc urouth- splcndour in thcrr ind: dcl ig l r f i r l . bccausc to th in l i of- l tis a nour ishnlcr t t - [o prcrrotutcc l t ts tcrrcss. [c-r inr okc l t is l ikc rcr l rutrc. lc l i t r t tnct t t - t0 $ ntc l t l ' t :c t 'cr t t ts- t r t t 'c l t t lI t tcachcs l t is t r r r l r u ql t l l rotrs Nl lnrcbccausc l t g i rcs s ight to t l rc bl ind.abi l i t r to u alk to thc lamc. hcar ing toLhc dcal. spccch to the mutc nnd lifbto thc dead.' '

Thc Scraphic Failrcr treilrblcd u ithlorc and succtucss ort onlv hcaringtirat Nanrc pronorulced. and crhortcclhrs l i iars to rrr\ crcntl-r gathcr anr l i tt le'l r iccc of 'papcr on \ \ i r ich l I rurs r , - r ' i t -tcn. His sons. i t t thc scl tool o l 'suclr i lFathcr- harc bccn thc tcrnrci t>us strn-dard bcarcrs ol- l

il+,,p x,rystit.lt'l"l

The Birth ofJcslrsin the Franciscan Mystics

l i ronr: i ,st ' t t t t l t ' (k l l ( ) t t . l i t l lotr t t t .g I l t , ' y ( ) t t ( l ( ' t ' l r t l t , \ ' ( tnt l , l t ' , t l i l . : , \ ' t , t ' r t l , l i t l , t t l l tc t ' . ha;/ l t 'r t '^s t :ot l t 'n l l t t t i ' r lv t t l t r t tkt ' t t t , , . ; (un(t : (nt(nl . t l tL rul t i igtr ' \ / r .sfu ' ' t r t l l i t t ' l t t t tu 'nr t i t t to l ' lhe I I r r i l . , \ ' t t r l t t t t t t ' i t t t l i . l i t r l l tc l ; t 'unrt .st ' ut nt . l ' .s ' l i r ' l t l arar l ' tgfr , l t '/^\ eht t ,t t l l a: , l r t t tg,st inul t ts l r lht , tnt i ta l tot t of ' the l , ( ) \ 'er ! . t 'anr! humi l i t .v ' r l ht : l i l t lc , je.su.s ' tndol fl i.s l irgin .\ lttltc'r.

Blcsscd Jul ia of Milan(XVl Ct:nturr )Iha I ' i r ,q in , \h t ln,r tut t l t l tc l , t t t l r ' . l t ' , r / / r

\ \ ' l tcn t l rc Virgirr \ l l r l r nour rs l lcr l l l rcl i t t lc Chi lc l . Slrc tot t :hecl l l i r r n i t l sot t t t tc l t rc\crcncc uncl c lcrot i t l r r t lu t t tcould uot bc nan'atcd. rnd u hcn Shcuesl tcd F{ is sua&l l i r rg c lothcs. Shc f-c l tsuch grcat dcr otion. But uou' I lcavc\ ou to thrnk ol' that u hich Shc mustharc l-clt uhcn Shc brcastfcd Hint andhcld l l inr t ight l - r in Hcr Anlrs. Shc uasitr ccmtinuous contcnrplation and rc-ruainccl bctri ccll thc Dir initr altd thcHuurani t r . Shc uas trAl tsfbnl lcd in iothc Dir in i t r a l lc l cnt t r raccd thc I lu-rnanrtr to l lcr chastc brcrsl

On thc dar ol ' ( 'hr istnurs. r I st :crncclto nrc that nrarlr t irncs I lrrcl in lt ' t\ u' l l lsthc bclorcd Spotrsc of ' r ' r l r soul . Wlroga\c nlc unnrcAsurcd consolal iorr i r r rd i tsccrncd [o nrc that Hc thrur l l is l l t t lcAruts aroruld rrrr ncck and nlanr tinrcsI k isscd Hinr. Whcn lhc Babr \ \asbonr. thc N,' lotl icr \\ as in grcat conlcllr-p la i ion. and outsidc ol- Flcr oun scnt i -lulcuts. Shc \\ as n i lollr ruiitcd andLransfbrnrccl i l l to thc Dir,inc Esscnc-c.

22

and She hcarcl thc grcat l"casts and tri-turnphs that lho lracl in l1car crr lbr thc. jor of . thc Kirru l l rr l n l ls l ;o l 'n \nd har-i r r r - r , r 'c l r r rner l t r r I lcrscl l . Shc l rcarcl Hcrl r t t lc Sol t c l \ n l t I Ic u i ls cr \ i l tg bc-crusc of 'our rngrrtr t r rc lc. arrc l thcn ShcLnr that l lc hrd bccn tronl . and u r lhr cn grcat a\\ arcrlcss. rcndcrccl to Codinllnitc thanks bccause Hc had uradcHer thc l\4othcr o1 this littlc Son. ThcrrShc adorcd Him u ith thc adoration oflatria and did not darc to touch Hinr.Thcn. thinl, ing ol'hou Shc can'icd Hiulin Hcr uonrtr . u i t l l grcrt rcr c lcncc Shcl i l icd I I i r r r f i lu thc r tnruncl u i t l r Hcr 'ruost holr htnr is. uncl t laccd Hirn in thcnriulscr u lrcrc ther fbod ol- bcasts haclbccn 1rrrt. ' l 'hat suprclltc l i tt lc Childsaid to nrc: ' - l r r radc Mvscl f a l i t t lc .Oncto rnakc ou great. and I took thc fomrof-a scrvant to raisc up {hc human gctr-crat ion."

Whgr Our L,adr licld Hinr in Hcrarnrs and gazcd at Him u ith so muchsuccress arrd cc'xrsolation. Jcsris nasrcnlindecl ol- thc bittenrcss and sorronthat Shc u ould har c in gazing uron Il isuounds. nhcn He r iould bc takcndo*'n frorn thc Cross and placcd in Hcr

nrothcrlr amls. ancl uhcn Hc iastccl t lrcswcctngss ol- His lvlother's nri lk. I-{c*as rcnrindcd ol'thc bittcnrcss of thcvincgar and gall. u. hich He n ould havcto taslc upon the hard truuk of theCross. When the N'lothcr su,addled Hinrand placcd thc first part of the su acl-dling clothcs oi,er His Shouldcr. thcs\\cct Jcsus rcurcrnbcrcd that thc Crossuoukl l lc p lacccl orr [ ' l is Shoul i lcrs.

Blcsscd Nl l ' ir Nl : tgt l l t ' t t ' \ l r r r l i r rc t -go ( l6f i7-17371'lo (' rnlctttpIue urld Iln t t(ttc

T'hat happ\ l1lor1lcl'tl irar ing lltrall.rarnr ccl and thc uiuc niiuths llnishcd.1\'lary rias callcd br a sublinie ec-stasr 1o Paradisc. ri ltcrc tltcangcl ic hicrarcln paid tol-lcr thcir hontagc as thcil 'Qucctt and [ : t t t r t css.and har ing rcrchccl t lrcsriprcnrc Tltrcxrc of i l lc[ \ lost Holr ' l - r inr t ru l i ic ,h Shc intui t i r c l . rsa\ \ urrr c i lcd. Slrc nlr-nrcdiitclr prosLralccl" hu-nr i l iatccl and auuihi latcdHcrsclf bclbrc that Trinitr.Shc dcclarccl Hcrscli- scn arit andslayc. and morc than that. thc dust ol-thccarth. Thc Fathci cnrbraccd Hcr. as Hismost bclor ccl Daughtcr and inlirscd in-to Hcr rlc\\ graccs. so that Shc u-ould bcnrorc atrlc to handlc His Son. thc Dir irrcWord kisscd Hcr as His Nlothcr artdclaspcd Hcr to His Brcasl. Man rcdilcr glancc on tltat sca of l igltt. and cr-c la i r r r ine Shc said. "This. thcrcibrc is\ ' l i Son. thc Son ol ' thc I r tcnral l tathcrsr lcncl t i r r t ' o l ' l l is tatcnut l g l tu ' r . f i r ,u lc

of- His Substancc. innitc God gcncrat-cd r rclerru. Thrs is M-r Son and I n illbc His lvlothcr. Oh poor ure. ltou u ill Idarc to harrdlc Hinr. to nursc Him. 1olclcorne Hinr on Mr breast' l Oh in-comprchcnsiblc Cod. hou is it possiblethat \bu placed Your o cs ott tilis nlostr ilc earthl onn']"

Whilst Mary' l\as \\rapped in thisgrcat ccstasr- Hcr Sorl rias bom- andi i r th l l is cr ics Hc cal lc:d Hcr l ionr that' I ' l r ronrr of ' g lon to that i rapp stablc.\ {ui bcnt c lou n lnt l Shc sau. oh. nl ta l; ls I t l r r rs i lnrcnl l Sl ic sA\\ t l r r - ' Dir inc( 'hr lc l l lcr Son. r ' .cc ' l t i r tu c- .n t l tc harccrr th ( ) l l ( iot l . n lur t urtrz,cnlcnt . \ \ hatccstrs\ . t l lat nrosl prrrc Vi lg in \ \ asf l l lcd r i i th astonis lur tcnt !

Thc Child lookcd at Hcr \\ ccp-ing. becausc Hc u as conr-

l lc tc l r nnul t r u i th the' i i . cold. and r i i th His ht t lc:i:.

Flarrds l - {c i r r r i tcd Hcrtri u clt:r 'rrnc H inr oliI icr l lrcast I\ ' larr trcnr-blccl lncl did rrot clarcto torrc l t [ { i r r r . t lccausc

Slrc knur that Hc isCod. prostratc \\ i t i t Hcr

lacc to lhc qrolrnd Shcadorcd F{ inr . and thankccl

Hirn lbr choosing Hcr to bc FIisMothcr. Shc thankcd lJinr again. in thcluanlc of all nlankind. f 'or har irrg [ic-conlc l\4an to redccnt it. Thc Chilcl cl idllot ccasc to rtiaiic a l i lss ol- t i is lr, ' lol ltcl ' .so that Shc r t r ig l r t gr lhcr ' f l i ln u l lur t lprcss FIinr to l ' lcr brcst \ lulr coulclr ' to lorrgcr rcsist . l t l r c cot t t l le ls I lcr ' .docs r i< l lcr tcc to l le . consrrnrcs l lcr .Shc trke s I l r r r t l le rc l i r t 'c . nr I lcr nns.ciu 'css() \ ; lnt l r r t lotcs l l l r r . s tc l t l .s toi Inn rurt l t ' l l r ' rs I le rsr ' l f ' l t r bu i l ts scl ' -

\ant ar ld Mothcr. though urrnorthr.i \ lary \ \as so dir in izcd and uhol l r rn-rcstcd br thc Dir in i t r . that o l rc coulc lse] that Cod oarcssccl Gocl. that Goclcrnbraccd ( iod. t l t r t ( i tx l l i rcd rrr ( ior lt l tc rcasott f or thc r :orrr t lc tc l r l r sf i l nur-t iorr of ' that nrost t rn 'c Sotr l r r r (o ( ior l .

Thc porcrtr r ras such thr t o l lc corr ldsa-\ no nlorc. lrhilst Slfc lacl.,ccl rl l t l tat\\ as rlcccssar\ What all l iction fori\4ary ! Sccing that Shc could not hclpHim. Shc carcsscd Hinr u ith Hcr halldsand claspcd Hinr to Hcr breast. Thctl l i i ld. though. as sooll as Hc \\ i ls rc-ccrr cd onto thal r irgin brcast. stoppcclcn irtg. bccanlc so happr that Hc fl l lcdl- l is Mothcr u i th. ior . lncl i t sccr l rccl thr tHc said: that t inrc hs u ' r i rcd t i r r N4cuhich I harc so k ingccl l i r r ' . to l rc l rh lc t t rsulTcr fbr rncn arrc l g i r c u i lncss to t l rcrrrof thc lorc I bcrr thcnr [x nrcuns t l l 'suf ]fcr ings. at td inunccj iutc l r l lc r r rgccl l l rsIV{othcr to lar [{irrr in (ltc nurngcrl 'ulx)r'rt l ic har. to sufl 'cr urorc lbr us.

Hcrc. hcrc. nrr laz.incss ancl slori -rtess. blush in sccing such I grcat c\-ccss ol' lor c. conrparcd to I our l i 'rgil i trand nriscn ! Thc liult tliat I droi li'onrtir is nas that. knccling and cnrapturcdbl thc inllnitc bcauti ol ' that Dir i l lc-

Clti ld. I hcard a r oicc u hic-,h said to rnc:"lf vou clo not bcconrc l i l ..c t lus l itt lcChi ld. \ou \ \ i l i not r 'ntcr thc l i ingdornol ' I le l r \ cn ( 'on l i scd tr l th rs r o icc Ircr l rct l \1r ( iod lncl r r l ro out ol 'a l lt l re rur l r t l r ls c lur l r r l l tc to lcach sucl t agrclr t l l r r t i l t ron') \ \ "c nrai u c l l ldnr i rct l rc crccsscs ol ' r t . but r rot inr i tatc i tsprodigicsl" ' - l 'h is is thc choicc. __rcplicd the i oicc - cithcr irnitation orctcrnaI damnation!' ' Tlrclt. uith nt\face to thc ground. trcmbling. I said:"O Suprcnrc I \4onarch. OrnnipotcntCod, uhat can tlr is carth\\onll do toinr i tatc t l r is Dir inc ( 'h i lc i ' ) Srcak. [ -ord.artd I anr rclrclr [o o{lt ' l ' \ i iLlt all thilt Yciuu i l l (c:rch rrrc! ' "Whcrc thcrc arc thcfcts. it is not nccrcssAn lbr nlall\ 'nords thc Voicc rcpl icd to lue ui thrtrcrtcr strcngth -. look thcrclbre.'andinritatci" ' Ihat uhich rnadc ntany ob-.jcctrons rras naturc. bccausc it nantcdto crcnrpt itsclf front such grcat i l lr i ta-tic-xr With a rcadr soul. I prostralcdnrr sclf bcforc thc nrauger. lookcd atJcsus u raprcd in poor clothcs. all t l 'cnl-bl ing wi th thc cold. and lacking al lthings neccssan. and I proposcd to inl-itatc Ilinr. that is. to suflbr liorlr tlicoold and u ind * ithorrt arrr solicituclc in

protcct ing nrr scl l ' ancl to inr i trtc r t lsoHis poicr t r in drcssins. cat i rg. c l i i r lk-ing. s lccping. n i t lxrut scckirrg arrr rc-l icL in ordcr [o ot'rscrr c t ltc r ou ol'po\crt) rnade" bccausc uhcrc onc lacksnotli ing ancl onc has all thc conlfbrts.onc carr call por crtv rlronstrous. bc-cause urall\ t intcs rtot cr cn tltc grcatlords in thcir palaccs harc thcnl . I sauand kncu t lur t r l l t l r is l lcnrr i ' r uts rol-ul t ta l ' r in . lcs l rs. l recrtrrsc I le ni l r t tct l 1t i t t rs I r ro toscr l to t le r t t r e r t t r se l l 'conrplctc l i t l l ' t f I u l r re l r ts st t rct l l t tot tsand to l tarc scarcclr ct cr) t l l l i t u l t t ' l t t rncccssary. as far as i t uas t r tossrblc lormc. to inr i tatc Jcsus" cntbracrng nrotcsul-fcrings for lovc of Hinr. Thatthough. nhich ntost cttantourcd ntc ittthis Litt lc Clhild. u ere thc hcroic r ir lrcsof His nros[ holr Soul . thr t is . His pro-lbund hunr i l i t r . pronrpt obcdicr tc.c.bunr i r rg char i t r togcthcr ui th al l t l rcotltcr r irt ics. ' l 'hosc I lttolttsr:cl to i lru-tatc ui th al l possiblc c l i l rgcncc I r l r t lnot dcpart so quicklr l iont thul t tut t tgct ' .but dllclt thcrc lbr f ortr t lar s. irt ot'r lct 'to bc a good discrple- ol- t ltc grcutMastcr: Oh. if r ou could onlr uttdcr-slartd. dcar sister. ltou useful [o ntc ri asthis school. I knorr fbr ccrtain that r ounould sti l l run thcre quicli l. in ordcr todcrirc fi 'uit lronr it!

St. Vcmnica Ciuliani ( I l(,0- 17271'l ha Pu.s.:itn r.1'l lrc I)ivittt ( ' l t i l t l

(Onc dol ) . b uar ol- cot t l r l lut ' t l r r i t -t ion. | \ \as nladc to uuclct 's tand that thcDir inc Chi ld. as soor l as Hc u as t rcrn.f 'clt all thc Passion. in thc sanre \\ A\ csl lc uor ld at t l tc cnd of ' His l i lc . a l ldt l rrt u as bccausc Hc r i .antcd to srr l lbr

al ' ' . rars. f iorrr thc f l rst inst l r t o l ' Hisbir th unt i l His f lnal brcat l t upon t l tc( ' ross. Tlrcn suddcnlr thc Dir iuc( 'h i ld \ \as reproscntcd to l t tc al l l i r idand sn ol lcn. a l l cor crcd l i th blood"crouncd u ith thonrs aud uo-urdcd allabout thc rraist . Who said to l t tc: - 'Mrspousc. I invi tc \ ou to suf fcr .(Considcr) this h4r' Boclr so all l ictcd"bcatcrr . dcsr iscd. laccratcd and cor ' -crcd u ith \\ 'bturds aricl paiu: tnv Soulnrclurrolrolr a l l l ic tccl rncl aLrandoncd.iur( l l \n() \ \ t l r i l t . as s(x)r ' r ls | $as bornI h l r l l . { horu's of ' l i t in ol ' lhc N4ostI lo l r l )ussion rncl that . in t i rc f r rstr l i rce . I cr l ru ' icncccl thc sanlc agonicsthrt I r rould l trc i r r thc Gardcl t . thcabanclonrnc l t o l ' ntr IJcar c l l l r Fathcrand t i rcn al l that I uould l tarc t t - r sul fcrin the 2J l 'rours before Mr Deatlt Thissull-ering uas not kuoult to utrc-lncclsc e.rccpt rnl dcar Mothcr Who saurrrc suf ' lcr thus. atrd at thc sAt. t ' tc t i l t tc .Shc r lso lc l t in l - |crscl ' a l l thc salnexr ins Sincc Shc n as (hc f 'oad. jutr ix ol-thc l {cclcrrrpt ior t . thus Shc \ \as a par-t ro i l rnt in al l thc suf l -c l iugs nhich isul i 'crccl throughout ntv uholc l i lc of3l r cars. uhich \ \0s a cout iuuclus pas-sion ol 'pain and tonrtcnts."

Thc Dir ine Child tttadc ntc under-stand all this: iVlar Nlost Hoh' con-lirnrcd the sarttc to lnc: and at thispoint . nrr soul rc lnaincd uhol l r col l -onncd to thc Will ol- Cocl. ' \rtrt itt.r tntnt l t l t ts t ' . \ / . t ,o l t t t t ! r t . : nt(( t t t ( ) t t c. \ ltnt ' t t . . \ t ' t l v l t t t t l t t . l l ) ( t nt t ' t t f t t t ' l r t t ' .s1.( ) nr l \ i r rs thc sacr i f - icc ol- l t t r scl l ' i l l -to thc huncls ol- Gilcl. and bcirrgt botttdbr l l is holr Wi l l . labandortcd tnrscl l 'to thc cross. to tltonts. and I said trlorcthatt a ltrrndrccl t itncs: I; ittt t 'olutttt.sIttt. () l\, l i :st Bclor cd Jcsus! +

1t*-J

: .a

History of' fha louses of' ('ontempluthnr

St. C.tthbert M.une:the Boast of L.nherne

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. i l ier u l t t tg ( tn( l ( ' r ' l tut t . : l int i tn , ' .1, , , , , / ( ' / / / , , \ ' / ( ' t t t l t l ' t< ' t ' t l t t . ntr t t ' l . t ' t ' ( ( l ( ) t t , \ovanther29" ' 1577. ()n t l t t ' t ' . \ : ( ' ( t t l ( ) t .sr t t l l i ; l t l l t< ' .gtn ' t ' n t l t t ' t t t i r l ,s l of ' t :xr : r t tc: ia l i t tg.s ' t t [r ing,s

hi.s.l inal n(l i ltorttg hotnil.t ' . I l i : dicr{ ul t ltt,ugt: of thir'tt '-three ycer.\ '. l ' ttpt: I 'attl l ' ltxtttnrled his c:ult r lht: ( 'niycr.sal ('hurr:h in 1970.

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iq:f '*, n c\pcctation of lt is ltttrtr r-itrl!: donr. St Cuthbcrt nevcr lostli{=I'8l hcltfl luld cvcll spcnt thoscnronths in cncorrnrging his fc l lou prrs-ot ' ct 's . Thc dlrr [ rc lb lc his rrurt l r rc lonrI tc r i l ts brorrqlr l bcf i l rc t l rc rrs l rccs olt l tc cot t t t r . Bcirg : tskcd lo srr c:rr on l l rcBiblc thtt l l rc ( luccn u:rs l l rc sul)r 'cntcItcad of thc flhru'ch of- England. hcsolcrunh' alf inncd that - 'thc quccn nci-t lter cvcr \\as. nor is. nor cvcr shall bctlte head ol- thc Church of England."

Tlrc follou irtg dar'" Nor clnbcr 29'r 'l51l- thc sentcncc \ \ i ts carncd out.Ticd to a hurdlc. u hich u as altachcC tot l torsc" hc uas in t l r is uar dl l rggcd forabot l l t cuar ' lcr c l f : l ru i lc tu u l lcrc lhcgibbct tnrr i tcd l r inr . l lc \ \ : ls r ru l r t 'c ll ' ror t t l l rc l rurc l lc 'ncl for l lcu nrontculskncl t don n to pnn. l - l rcrr l lc u:rs lo lc l tocl inrb backulrrds rrp i l rc lrddcl ' lc l rc l i r rgto thc plat fornr. l ikc r cr inr inul . in ordcl '(o increasc his htrnt i l iat ion. ' fh is plal-fonn uould acl s his last pulpi t a l td hctltcu gavc his lsl homilv u ith a \ oiccclear urd frce l 'ronr all tracc of'[car.

Tircn thc ropc uas pu1 arouud hisrtcck aud thc rnrrtr r glancing upuirrdsrtd stri l i ing his brcast cricd out: "/n( tnu. \ 7 l tn.s. l \ t t int , . . . " Bclbrc hc said

tltc ir orcls : " (t ) t I t ilt an (h ) .\: pt r | r t t I t ttt (, t.t n t .the crccrr t ioncr s\ \ung i l \ \ i t \ t l rc laddcru' i t l t such r io lcncc t lur l St . ( ' r r thbcr l fc l lf lorn t l rc l r ie. l r g ibtrct . str ik ine his hcadon t l rc l l ; r l l i l r r r r so luur l t l r : r l l t is ct 'csu crc l i r re cr l l .ntrn l l lc i l 'sockcts. Thc gi t r -nrcrr ls of 'Sl ( u l l thcl ' t r rcrc lorrr : \ \ 'a\l 'n l rn l r is l rodr br lhc crccrr l loncr. nhou ilh sharp knii cs bcgan rhc rvork ofculting tlrc bod_r' irrto forir parts. Thrceptrts of llre bodr \\crc distributcd overilte countr itnd onh a qlltner \t'ls senlout of Conlu l l l lo fhc nt l i r e tou n of Sl .Crrthbert.

In l l iO7 al icr rrr iorrs lurppcnings"thc hcrd ol ' thc l l r : l r t r r . t l tc onh rel icsl i l l prcscncd. t r l rs brorrglr t b:rck tol . r r r r l rcnrc to bc kcpt br t l rc Crrnrcl i lcnl | | t \

St ( ' t r t l rbcl l l \ {rr nc dicd l t thc agccll ' l l l ir lr -t lrrcc ) cu's. a nlarl\ r of thcFaith. u ith thc accusatiolt of bcing a('atholic pncst in England. FIc \\ ' :ts bc-ati l lcd in l88(r br Pope Lco XIII andcanodsed or'r Octobcr 2-5'i ' 1970 blPopc Purl \1.

I r t ALrgust 2(X) l thc Frai tc iscrnSistcrs of thc l rnmaculalc bccanrc lhcnur custodians of the nrosl preciotrsrclic of St. Cuthbcrt i\4ar nc. >

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l ) r ' rur 'st l - r ' : rnt is t , t r t 5 is l t rs , , l t l lc l r r -t l r r r t r t l l t t t ' ,

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t i r r , . t t ' r ' t ts t t t iUl i t l t t ' ts l ( ) uS"\ l , , r r ; rst i t ' l ) r l . tcs." I r r i r r lc t l l r t

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DE VITA CONTEhIPLATT\A

"Gir.e thanks to the Lord for vour rvonderful vocation. Through vouJesus wants to continuc FIis prayer of conternplation on the lnountain."

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