By Sr. Spero
One of the most hopeful verses I’ve ever read is in the Lauds Canticle on Sundays during Advent. It is from Deuteronomy 32: “In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste.” The passage refers to God coming to Jacob, but in the layers of meaning in all Scriptures, it is also about us. This is where God finds us, or we find him. Not in plenty, or when we are feeling good about life, but when it seems like a desert.
How good of God, and the ancient chant compilers, to remind us in Advent, the great season of preparation, which is often hectic and full of activity–that although he may give us gifts of celebration, family and presents, he finds us when we feel barren, and in a howling waste. This is also the message of Christ’s birth–in a stable when there was no room at the inn. This is the hope that when we feel most forsaken, we will be found.
The chant begins with the response which is then repeated between verses. This arching melody in Mode 1 leaps up a 4th on the word “caeli” (heaven), followed by an eight-note gentle descent to the Home Tone RE, perfectly depicting the text taken from Isaiah 45:8 which reads, “Drop down, dew, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down the just One.”
The verses in between the response are woven together from a variety of Scripture sources, including Lamentations, Exodus, and several verses from Isaiah. The verses recite on both LA and DO. Listen for this change, which increases the sense of longing both from the captive (verse 1), and from the Redeemer, (verse 2). The leap of a 4th is also heard in the verses, almost as an echo to the opening response.
V) See, Lord, the affliction of your people, and send him whom you are about to send; send forth the Lamb, the Lord of the earth, from the rock of the desert to the mountain of the daughter of Zion, and he himself may take away the yoke of our captivity.
V) Be comforted, be comforted my people; your deliverance will come quickly. Why are you consumed with grief, that your sorrow has been renewed? I will save you, do not be afraid; I myself am indeed the Lord your God, the holy One of Israel, your Redeemer.
Paul gives us an astonishing understanding of waiting in the New Testament book of Romans, as rendered by Eugene Peterson, ” Waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectany.” With such motivation, we can wait as we sense God is indeed with us, and at work within us, as he was with Mary as the Child within her grew.
Though the protracted waiting time is often the place of distress, even disillusionment, we are counseled in the book of James to “let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete.” Pain, grief, consternation, even despair, need not diminish us. They can augment us by ading to the breadth and depth of our experience, by enriching our spectrum of light and darkness, by keeping us from impulsively jumping into action before the time is ripe, before the “the fulfillment of time.” I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.
By Luci Shaw
Excerpted from God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, Edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe (Paraclete Press)
Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is all everywhere,
Which can not sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which can not die, yet cannot choose but die,
Lo! faithful Virgin, yields Himself to lie
In prison, in thy womb; and though He there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He’ll wear,
Taken from thence, flesh, which death’s force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in His mind, who is thy Son, and Brother;
Whom thou conceiv’st, conceived; yea, thou art now
Thy Maker’s maker, and thy Father’s mother,
Thou hast light in dark, and shutt’st in little room
Immensity cloister’d in thy dear womb.
By Sr. Fidelis
The Advent hymn for Vespers is a wondrous combination of simplicity and depth. We do not know the author of the text, but it was most likely composed in the 9th century, or even earlier. The themes of preparation for both the coming of Christ at Christmas and the Second Coming on the last day of judgment are woven throughout the verses, along with the theme of light in darkness. The tune is simple, syllabic, and wonderfully balanced, an example of Mode 4 using the lower part of this Mi Mode. Listen to the Monks of Solesmes in France chant this serene hymn and ponder the meaning of the text as we prepare for His coming.
Kind creator of the stars, eternal light of those who believe,
O Christ, Redeemer of all, hear the petitions of your suppliants.
You are the one, having compassion that the race should perish in the destruction of death, who saved the fainting world, giving the remedy to all things.
When the world’s evening drew to an end, as the spouse from his chamber,
he came forth from the most honored womb of a Virgin Mother.
To whose almighty power all are bowed on bended knee,
things of heaven and earth, acknowledging themselves submitted to his command.
O you, Holy One, we ask in faith, O coming judge of the world,
preserve us in our time from the dart of the treacherous foe.
To you, O Christ, king most loving, and to the Father be glory
with the Spirit, the Paraclete, for everlasting ages. Amen.
Sorry, but you do not have permission to view this content.
The slowest of pilgrims, I have come to see how my own faith, fragile as it is, is assisted and sustained by the calendar, by the lectionary – by the seasons of the Church. I want to share my growing understanding that our participation in this cycle is one way we might, as they say, redeem the time. “The days are evil,” writes Saint Paul, imploring us to do something about it. By deliberating attaching our given days to their holy antecedents, we are able to glimpse an eternal significance embodied in our every moment – redeeming our days from what might otherwise be a melancholy emptiness.
For most of my life, I have assumed that each of us must struggle at his or her faith internally, intellectually, and, for the most part, alone. More recently, however, I’ve suspected that such a solitary journey is nothing short of an aberration – even if it is a very common one – and that we fail to appreciate our connections to – our mutual dependence on – one another, we risk lanquishing in a faith half-realized, more or less sleepwalking.
This error is in some measure remedied by our observing the common calendar together: the calendar provides daily reminders that Christ literally walked the earth, and that centuries of his Saints have found his presence available to them at the every moment since. In attending to the calendar, I have come to appreciate how Christ and his saints encourage me, not simply by my thinking of them, but by my living with them- remembering their feast days, recollecting their exemplary lives of prayer, praying to live likewise.
By Scott Cairns
Excerpted from God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, Edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe (Paraclete Press)
Church of the Transfiguration Advent 2015
By Sr. Spero
One of the beauties of Gregorian chant has nothing to do with music. By singing the psalms over and over, chant penetrates the soul, and the psalms take on layers of meaning. Monks and nuns for centuries have known this and have experienced the insights that bubble up from the psalms during the Daily Office. This is one example.
For years I have read the translation of Psalm 118:11-12 during Sunday Lauds. “They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off. They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns.” I always thought of this as a description of war. But last Sunday I realized it is a description of peace. Even though the enemy (thoughts, emotions, addictions) surround like buzzing bees, they disappear quickly—in the name of the Lord. This could be a definition of Christian peace, based on the reality that bees of one kind or another will always be buzzing around us. Christian peace, not based on calm or absence of conflict, but peace based on the knowledge that when we call on the name of the Lord, there is victory.
By Sr. Fidelis
The same is true of the Antiphonaries. The night office of Matins includes an extraordinary Mode 7 responsory for Advent 1 entitled Aspiciens a longe. This ornate chant weaves scripture and sacred prose together to express our longing for the Savior that has filled our hearts from the beginning of time. Each verse is followed by a portion of the opening text, in the responsory style.
Below is a copy of the first page of this chant from the Processionale Monasticum, originally published in 1893, and reprinted in 1983, including the original neumes from the Hartker Antiphonaire.
Translation
I look from afar and behold, I see the approaching power of God and a cloud touching the whole earth. Go out to meet him and say, “Tell us if you are the one who is to reign over the people of Israel.” vs. 1) And who is of the earth, and a son of men, at the same time and in one person, both rich and poor. vs. 2) You who rule Israel, listen; and you who lead out Joseph like a sheep. vs. 3) Lift up your gates, O princes, and be raised up, you eternal doors, and the King of glory will come in. vs. 4) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By Sr. Fidelis
The same is true of the Antiphonaries. The night office of Matins includes an extraordinary Mode 7 responsory for Advent 1 entitled Aspiciens a longe. This ornate chant weaves scripture and sacred prose together to express our longing for the Savior that has filled our hearts from the beginning of time. Each verse is followed by a portion of the opening text, in the responsory style.
Below is a copy of the first page of this chant from the Processionale Monasticum, originally published in 1893, and reprinted in 1983, including the original neumes from the Hartker Antiphonaire.
Translation
I look from afar and behold, I see the approaching power of God and a cloud touching the whole earth. Go out to meet him and say, “Tell us if you are the one who is to reign over the people of Israel.” vs. 1) And who is of the earth, and a son of men, at the same time and in one person, both rich and poor. vs. 2) You who rule Israel, listen; and you who lead out Joseph like a sheep. vs. 3) Lift up your gates, O princes, and be raised up, you eternal doors, and the King of glory will come in. vs. 4) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By Sr. Fidelis
The same is true of the Antiphonaries. The night office of Matins includes an extraordinary Mode 7 responsory for Advent 1 entitled Aspiciens a longe. This ornate chant weaves scripture and sacred prose together to express our longing for the Savior that has filled our hearts from the beginning of time. Each verse is followed by a portion of the opening text, in the responsory style.
Below is a copy of the first page of this chant from the Processionale Monasticum, originally published in 1893, and reprinted in 1983, including the original neumes from the Hartker Antiphonaire.
Translation
I look from afar and behold, I see the approaching power of God and a cloud touching the whole earth. Go out to meet him and say, “Tell us if you are the one who is to reign over the people of Israel.” vs. 1) And who is of the earth, and a son of men, at the same time and in one person, both rich and poor. vs. 2) You who rule Israel, listen; and you who lead out Joseph like a sheep. vs. 3) Lift up your gates, O princes, and be raised up, you eternal doors, and the King of glory will come in. vs. 4) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By Faithful Finch
I’m finding that being a docent at the Church of the Transfiguration, I learn new things all the time! I was researching the vow of conversion. This is the demanding vow for everyday change from self, to be more like Christ. What I found was the push for change in conversion balances the vow of stability, and keeps us from becoming stagnant. In stability, we put down our roots; in conversion of life, we spread our branches in growth. Stability is always content, while conversion of life is always curious.
It made me think of the mosaic professional path of our church, which is a Tree of Life. At the end of the tree blossoms the three Benedictine vows of Conversion, Obedience, and Stability, each of them balancing the other.
Birth: Wonder…Astonishment…Adoration. There can’t be very many of us for whom the sheer fact of existence hasn’t rocked us back on our heels. We take off our sandals before the burning bush. We catch our breath at the sight of a plummeting hawk. “Thank you, God.” We find ourselves in a lavish existence in which we feel a deep sense of kinship – we belong here; we say thanks with our lives to Life. And not just “Thanks” or “Thank It” but “Thank You.” Most of the people who have lived on this planet earth have identified this You with God or gods. This is not just a matter of learning our manners, the way children are taught to say thank you as a social grace. It is the cultivation of adequateness within ourselves to the nature of reality, developing the capacity to sustain an adequate response to the overwhelming gift and goodness of life.
Wonder is the only adequate launching pad for exploring this fullness, this wholeness, of human life. Once a year, each Christmas, for a few days at least, we and millions of our neighbors turn aside from our preoccupations with life reduced to biology or economics or psychology and join together in a community of wonder. The wonder keeps us open-eyed, expectant, alive to life that is always more than we can account for, that always exceeds our calculations, this is always beyond anything we can make.
Excerpted from God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, Edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe (Paraclete Press)
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing
By James Weldon Johnson
Lift ev’ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand.
True to our God,
True to our native land.
Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth, 1914, Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts
By Sunset Septuagint
One of my favorite things to contemplate in the Church of the Transfiguration’s mosaic apse is the New Jerusalem above Christ in Glory. The tesserae sparkle in brilliant shades of red, blue and gold. Buildings of different sizes line the path, and lead to a tiny door (almost like Alice in Wonderland) in the top center of the apse.
I look at all the buildings and wonder: will my whole Community family be in one big building, or will I be in one of the tiniest ones that look so welcoming? I do know one thing. God will be with me, and will wipe away every tear from my eyes, and there will be no more mourning or crying or pain. (Revelation 21:3, 4)
But how to get there? One of the clergy gave a little sermon about giving up everything to follow Jesus. He described a man who went to heaven carrying only a small suitcase of his most treasured possessions. He was welcomed at the door and given a new robe to put on. But the suitcase would not pass through the sleeve of his robe, so he had to leave it at the door.
Fortunately, most of us are not called to give up all our worldly possessions all at once, but we are a long way from one small suitcase. The more I unpack here, the less I’ll have to leave at the threshold of that tiny door to the New Jerusalem — and the more room I’ll make for Jesus.
By Sr. Fidelis
It never fails to amaze me that the texts chosen for a particular week in the Church Year have layers of meaning for us. This final week before Advent begins is no exception. The Introit takes verses from Psalm 85: “He will speak peace unto His people and to His saints, and to those who turn to Him in their hearts.” (RSV) The Latin actually says, “and on those who are converted to Himself.” On this threshold we receive assurance that if we are turned toward Him, that He will speak peace to us in the gift of His Son. The psalmist invites us to expect and prepare for the Prince of Peace.
By Melodius Monk
“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” This is a most suggestive beatitude. If we had been writing it, we would have said, “Blessed is he who never has sinned.” But if it read thus, it would have no comfort for anyone in this world, for there are no sinless people here.
-J.R. Miller
The language of this psalm can be so commonplace to church-goers that we easily run right past its true meaning. If we pause a moment and think about the phrase, “Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven,” it’s mind-blowing. What do we do to forgive our sins? Nothing! It’s pure gift. And in addition to this gift, we are blessed. What type of God is this who blesses those who tell Him what they did wrong? If I stole something and then turned myself in, I would still be guilty of that crime; but with God this is not so. When confessed, our sin is covered, obliterated, and never used against us. Do we live in gratefulness to this love? I think the answer for most of us most of the time is, “Sadly, no.” But what a privilege this gift of sin-covering is. It’s a gift that promises us a hope and a future. It’s a covering that allows us to not live in fear. Ever since our first ancestors hid from God in the garden out of fear and guilt, we have followed suit. Perhaps I can be courageous enough today to step out of hiding toward God, and gratefully accept my blessing.
By Sr. Fidelis
Last week I had the privilege of touring the magnificent Siena Cathedral in Italy, where there was an entire library off to the left of the main sanctuary containing chant books from the 15th century. The whole room was outlined with book after book of the most beautiful Graduals and Antiphonaries filled with stunning illuminations. The amount of beauty and detail in these jewel-toned miniatures took our breath away. But perhaps the greatest blessing for the two brothers and me as we went from book to book was being able to recognize and softly sing the chants that have become so beloved and familiar to us over the years. This wonderful experience made the sense of joining a living tradition of worship even stronger.
By Rachel Srubas
When the time comes for one of the divine offices to begin, as soon as the signal is heard, everyone must set aside whatever they may have in hand and hurry as fast as possible to the oratory. . . The essential point is that nothing should be accounted more important that the work of God. — Chapter 43, Saint Benedict’s Rule
A singular, demanding note,
the bell of disciplined devotion,
intervenes in the day. Didn’t I already pray?
What more is there to say, so soon?
You. Your name,
the ancient phrases of the faithful
fill my mouth. My mind,
the most defiant part of me,
lingers over what I set aside
to hurry to this work.
To aspire to ceaseless prayer requires me
to live as though you were my highest priority.
I say you are, yet I resist, internally preoccupied
while singing psalms so seemingly sincerely.
Help me. I’m a master of little but self-division:
my body is present, apparently, prayerful;
my attention, anywhere but here.
Find me and remind me whose I am,
what my deepest joy is,
why I need much practice
as well as your forgiveness.
Excerpted from Oblation: Meditations of St. Benedict’s Rule, published by Paraclete Press.
By Hummingbird
My little four-legged friend has upbraided me for not heeding him, and tells me that I have been far too serious for too long. He wants to say that love overcomes all.
Indeed it is true, and he is right. Love is the only unconquerable power and the all-conquering power. I try to imagine, as I look at him, how small a world his eyes see in comparison to mine, and yet it is his whole world. I see his short four legs and how little of the world he could experience on his own. Heights of any greatness are denied him under his own power; closed doors are a barrier to any progress. Water or snow more than six inches deep could mean death. Yet he has traveled far, gone high, passed through many doors, seen much, and endured great depths of water and snow. How? I carry him. He goes with me. Why? Because I love him.
So it is with our Savior. It is his love that carries us in much the same way. Our small world, our littleness—the closed doors, the great heights—are available to us because we go with him. His love overcomes our lack. He show us that loving others with his love is a conquering power over all troubles, all darkness. No barrier exists to his love. In the end, we must succumb to his love. He waits for us to be a vessel for his love to others.
By Hummingbird
My little four-legged friend has upbraided me for not heeding him, and tells me that I have been far too serious for too long. He wants to say that love overcomes all.
Indeed it is true, and he is right. Love is the only unconquerable power and the all-conquering power. I try to imagine, as I look at him, how small a world his eyes see in comparison to mine, and yet it is his whole world. I see his short four legs and how little of the world he could experience on his own. Heights of any greatness are denied him under his own power; closed doors are a barrier to any progress. Water or snow more than six inches deep could mean death. Yet he has traveled far, gone high, passed through many doors, seen much, and endured great depths of water and snow. How? I carry him. He goes with me. Why? Because I love him.
So it is with our Savior. It is his love that carries us in much the same way. Our small world, our littleness—the closed doors, the great heights—are available to us because we go with him. His love overcomes our lack. He show us that loving others with his love is a conquering power over all troubles, all darkness. No barrier exists to his love. In the end, we must succumb to his love. He waits for us to be a vessel for his love to others.
By Sr. Fidelis
I recently had the privilege of working with a small group of people for a day’s workshop on Gregorian Chant. We started with a brief review of some basics; the four line stave, the square notation, etc. After singing some simple chants, we launched into a more complex piece from the Graduale Triplex, and discussion ensued about the light hieroglyphics that appeared above and below the square notation. As I explained that these were the original neums from the early manuscripts, they were intrigued. I fortunately had included a snippet from an actual manuscript, and we were able to chant the opening of the piece straight from that. One woman piped up and said it was easier to sing from the original notation, than from the square neums. I then asked them, that judging from the appearance of the ancient neums, how did they think the chant must have sounded back then. They all agreed that it must have been light and speech-like, with places of emphasis. We also talked about the value of the square notation that showed us the actual note relations. We concluded that to have both…the “best of both worlds” so to speak, gave us the best possible way to study, interpret and chant these divinely inspired songs of prayer.
By Sr. Fidelis
I recently had the privilege of working with a small group of people for a day’s workshop on Gregorian Chant. We started with a brief review of some basics; the four line stave, the square notation, etc. After singing some simple chants, we launched into a more complex piece from the Graduale Triplex, and discussion ensued about the light hieroglyphics that appeared above and below the square notation. As I explained that these were the original neums from the early manuscripts, they were intrigued. I fortunately had included a snippet from an actual manuscript, and we were able to chant the opening of the piece straight from that. One woman piped up and said it was easier to sing from the original notation, than from the square neums. I then asked them, that judging from the appearance of the ancient neums, how did they think the chant must have sounded back then. They all agreed that it must have been light and speech-like, with places of emphasis. We also talked about the value of the square notation that showed us the actual note relations. We concluded that to have both…the “best of both worlds” so to speak, gave us the best possible way to study, interpret and chant these divinely inspired songs of prayer.
By Faithful Finch
In February, I visited the Donatello exhibit at MOBIA in NYC. Monsignor Timothy Verdon spoke about each sculpture in depth. In addition to the Donatello sculptures, there was Giovanni d’Ambrogio’s “Gabriel of the Annunciation” and the “Virgin Mary of the Annunciation.” I found “Virgin Mary” especially provoking, as Mary appeared to be a young man.
Monsignor Verdon explained that d’Ambrogio had sculpted her this way to communicate that God so loves and respects each and every person, whether man or woman, that if we will say, “yes” as Mary did, He will send His Son to live inside of us. How simple but profound!
By Hummingbird
My dog continues to teach me about the love of God.
The latest lesson came one day when he was displaying the customary surrender a dog gives its pack leader or the human he loves: roll over and expose the soft underbelly. This is where he is most unprotected: death could come quickly with the inner organs perforated or destroyed by exposure. There is no hard bone here between victim and predator. This is also the spot he most likes scratched and petted when we have “love-in” moments.
As I watched this small creature display his trust and dependence on me, I felt such a yearning to be this trusting of Jesus Christ—opening to Him the soft vulnerable places of my life. I thought about how many times I try to put hard bone over these places, hardening my heart to God and everyone. In so doing, I deny myself the experience of the tenderest of loves. Here in the vulnerable hidden parts of my life, love of my savior would bring security, comfort and a strong foundation of peace. If God loves these parts of me, then I will know I am truly loved. If I can trust him in the risk of rejection, then I am truly forever safe in the heaven of His arms. May I have the spiritual courage to greet you, as your small creature greets me.
Excerpt from Eyes Have I That See: Selected Poems by Fr. John Julian
(Available at Paraclete Press or Priory Gifts)
Soul of Christ, O, consecrate me;
Flesh of Christ, emancipate me;
Blood of Christ, intoxicate me;
Water from Christ’s side, repair me;
Sufferings of Christ, prepare me;
O good Jesu, deign to spare me;
In thy wounded bosom bear me;
From thy presence never send me;
From the Enemy defend me.
When I come to die, protect me,
And to join thee, Lord, direct me.
With thy blessed saints upraise me,
That forever I may praise thee. Amen.
By Sr. Fidelis
Yesterday we celebrated All Saints’ Day, one of the major feasts of the church year. There is evidence that this feast goes back at least to the 4th century. In 998, November 2nd became the day that All Souls Day was added to the Church Calendar. We can trace its existence back to the famous French Abbey of Cluny, where the Benedictine Abbot declared a day in which the monks commemorated all the dead of the Monastic Order. Soon this Cluny practice was adopted by the whole of the Western Church as a general commemoration of all those who had died.
The Mass for the dead contains some of the most beautiful music in the Gregorian repertoire. These important prayers are well known because they were chanted and prayed so often. The name “Requiem Mass” comes from the Introit for the Mass of the Dead, “Requiem aeternam.” This beautifully simple Mode VI chant is a prayer for the faithful departed. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. The psalm verse is translated: A hymn, O God, becometh thee in Zion, and a vow shall be paid to Thee in Jerusalem.
By Sr. Fidelis
Simple chants of only 2 or 3 notes, that circle around a single pitch, are most likely very ancient. However, over time, the final pitches began to descend, and we see an expansion of range from the Reciting Tone to the Home Tone. Below are 3 brief antiphons—all beginning very similarly on LA and SOL. But look at the endings! The first ends on LA—obviously one of the very early ones.. The second antiphon descends to a MI. We know this as Mode IV; and the final antiphon descends to RE, which gives us the formula for Mode I.
Here is a very simplistic “snap shot” of some of the changes that took place in the Gregorian repertoire over the centuries.
By Sr. Nun Other
I’m told by a sister of Chinese heritage that I practice feng shui. And I thought I was merely rearranging furniture! I convinced her to join me, and, as we worked together, I periodically asked, “What’s that called again?” Feng shui, pronounced “fung shway,” the study of the relationship between environment and human life. It’s composed of two Chinese words, feng (wind) and shui (water), two life sustaining natural elements that flow and circulate throughout the Earth. It is also referred to as the art of placement: how to place furniture, possessions, and yourself within your surroundings to best achieve balance, comfort, and harmony. The wing of the Convent, where my Chinese sister and I live, leans toward early American design. Matters not what your particular decorating taste is. With prayerful consideration, we can create a space of beauty that reflects God’s presence in our lives.
By Sr. Spero
In the Lauds service this morning, I noticed that the psalm verse familiar to me as “Let me hear of joy and gladness” (Psalm 51:8) was translated “Let me hear joy and gladness.” At first I thought it was a mistake. But then I considered—is this what the Psalmist really meant. Not—“ let someone come to me with good news,” but “let me hear joy.” Hearing joy has nothing to do with outward circumstances. It is an act of the will to listen to the joy that is surrounding us. The heavens declare the glory of God. (Psalm 19:1) The heavens praise your wonders, LORD (Psalm 89:5). The Scriptures that that it is there. Do I listen for joy? Do I open my ears to catch it? Not often. But is it possible if I set my will to listen for it? Yes!
By Sr. Fidelis
Look at the antiphon below—a perfect example! It recites on LA and returns to LA. (Remember that solfege came after the fact) These simple cantillations were already in existence. Listen to Lauda Jerusalem, which then segues into Psalm 147, verses 12-20. The Psalm tone also returns to the LA, just as the antiphon does.
Stay tuned next week, when we’ll look at several other antiphons which use these same pitches, but then descend to a lower pitch, so we can actually see this evolution!
Today, in celebration of Phyllis Tickle’s life, we share with you an open letter, written in thanksgiving for her friendship, guidance, and love over the last twenty years.
Dear Phyllis,
What can we, at the Community of Jesus, say about you? How much of a friend you were, how we miss you terribly now and feel a hole in our days when we let ourselves think of you, and all that you have meant to us and done for the church?
We remember your great laugh and your warmth of spirit, how you would encourage and challenge us to think beyond what we knew, to what is unknown, and maybe uncomfortable, but possibly something new to consider. Where do we get this kind of friend? A friend who would stick her neck out — knowing she was throwing some people into a frenzy of confusion, and yet, at the same time, feeling it’s a necessary duty.
We know you also enjoyed those moments. You didn’t hide the twinkle in your eye when your probing had moved one of us off our chess spot, so that we bumped the Knight next to us and now saw the Queen from a completely different angle. Yes, there were some very crafty moves, and yet, you weren’t just crafty, you were interested in the growth of an individual and its direct effect on the church. Open the doors of the mind, let there be new ideas, let our words speak to a church in need, not a church we wish existed. These were your words, and you were an evangelist and advocate, eager to live out your faith on the hoof with great intention and integrity.
We miss you, friend. We see your hand at Paraclete Press, and you will always be with us as a reminder to keep our sights on the future and the needs of a hurting world — of which we are a part — and to live out that vocation in the market place.
We miss you, friend. We remember your words and your impassioned plea that the theater of the church be vital and full, retelling the great stories of faith and the riches of God’s promises to his people. Elements Theatre Company owns this charge.
We miss you, friend. We hear your chortles and southern twang as you tell stories and enjoy a visit with friends and colleagues, believing that at the basis of relationships, commitment and faith were paramount.
It has been our great privilege to know you and work with you, to sit with you and talk with you, to be a part of the church together and serve its future.
With our great love and affection,
Your friends and family at the Community of Jesus
And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest. Hamlet V,ii
Today, in celebration of Phyllis Tickle’s life, we share with you an open letter, written in thanksgiving for her friendship, guidance, and love over the last twenty years.
Dear Phyllis,
What can we, at the Community of Jesus, say about you? How much of a friend you were, how we miss you terribly now and feel a hole in our days when we let ourselves think of you, and all that you have meant to us and done for the church?
We remember your great laugh and your warmth of spirit, how you would encourage and challenge us to think beyond what we knew, to what is unknown, and maybe uncomfortable, but possibly something new to consider. Where do we get this kind of friend? A friend who would stick her neck out — knowing she was throwing some people into a frenzy of confusion, and yet, at the same time, feeling it’s a necessary duty.
We know you also enjoyed those moments. You didn’t hide the twinkle in your eye when your probing had moved one of us off our chess spot, so that we bumped the Knight next to us and now saw the Queen from a completely different angle. Yes, there were some very crafty moves, and yet, you weren’t just crafty, you were interested in the growth of an individual and its direct effect on the church. Open the doors of the mind, let there be new ideas, let our words speak to a church in need, not a church we wish existed. These were your words, and you were an evangelist and advocate, eager to live out your faith on the hoof with great intention and integrity.
We miss you, friend. We see your hand at Paraclete Press, and you will always be with us as a reminder to keep our sights on the future and the needs of a hurting world — of which we are a part — and to live out that vocation in the market place.
We miss you, friend. We remember your words and your impassioned plea that the theater of the church be vital and full, retelling the great stories of faith and the riches of God’s promises to his people. Elements Theatre Company owns this charge.
We miss you, friend. We hear your chortles and southern twang as you tell stories and enjoy a visit with friends and colleagues, believing that at the basis of relationships, commitment and faith were paramount.
It has been our great privilege to know you and work with you, to sit with you and talk with you, to be a part of the church together and serve its future.
With our great love and affection,
Your friends and family at the Community of Jesus
And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest. Hamlet V,ii
By Sr. Nun Other
We did some fall housecleaning last night, starting with kitchen cupboards. Threw out some “lids to nowhere,” a melted turkey baster, and an old plastic measuring cup. It feels good to have dust-free, clutter-free cupboards, and a mental inventory of what’s available. I sometimes wonder what Mary’s house looked like. As Jesus’ mother, her life was always eventful, with an expectation for the unexpected. I imagine her home to be clean, orderly, and ready to welcome. But then I have a reputation for obsessive neatness. I prefer to think of it as stress avoidance. Friends with busy lives sometimes ask for advice, and it’s very basic: remove clutter, which I define as anything not necessary or beautiful. Beautiful is up to you—could be children’s art—or any number of things. To truly save time, avoid short-cuts—an oxymoron but true.
Psalm 84 tells of God’s lovely dwelling place, a place of peace and beauty that draws our weary hearts. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. “Selah.” Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
By Sr. Nun Other
We did some fall housecleaning last night, starting with kitchen cupboards. Threw out some “lids to nowhere,” a melted turkey baster, and an old plastic measuring cup. It feels good to have dust-free, clutter-free cupboards, and a mental inventory of what’s available. I sometimes wonder what Mary’s house looked like. As Jesus’ mother, her life was always eventful, with an expectation for the unexpected. I imagine her home to be clean, orderly, and ready to welcome. But then I have a reputation for obsessive neatness. I prefer to think of it as stress avoidance. Friends with busy lives sometimes ask for advice, and it’s very basic: remove clutter, which I define as anything not necessary or beautiful. Beautiful is up to you—could be children’s art—or any number of things. To truly save time, avoid short-cuts—an oxymoron but true.
Psalm 84 tells of God’s lovely dwelling place, a place of peace and beauty that draws our weary hearts. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. “Selah.” Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
By Sr. Fidelis
We have taken a “romp” through the eight Church Modes over these past weeks and, for each mode, we have talked about the principal pitches, the Reciting Tone, and Home Tone. There is always a “descent,” to the Home Tone at the end of the chants we have looked at, which gives it a feeling of “settling,” or completion.
In some of the older books for the Divine Office and the Mass, you will see some chants with no Mode listed in the customary place to the left of the piece. If you look carefully at the Agnus Dei posted below, here is a case in point! This Agnus Dei begins on Sol. It goes above and below this pitch, but then, instead of descending to a lower pitch, it returns to the same pitch it began on. It is almost as if the melody were “circular” —returning to its start!
There have been many studies done on Modality over the years, and it has been discovered that some of the melodies that have the same Reciting and Home Tone are very ancient—the beginnings of the chant melodies.
We’ll be looking into some of these discoveries in the weeks to come!
(No audio this week.)
By Sr. Nun Other
I did laundry the other day, and noticed a drip or two of liquid detergent on our new washer. A Christmas gift from a sister’s mother, it’s beautiful, state-of-the-art, and eco-friendly. It even plays a little tune when you open the lid, six musical notes that somehow convey how great clean laundry is. As I reached for a cloth and spray cleaner to remove the drips, I was reminded of an early lesson I received.
The lesson was about a grateful heart, and the teacher was my sister, twelve years older than I am. She had asked for my help at the laundromat, and we had several baskets full. After the last load was neatly folded, my sister added one more task: she cleaned and polished both the washer and dryer she’d used. I asked her why, and her reply made a deep impression. She explained that because she and her husband struggled financially, they were unable to afford a washer and dryer for their home. But she was grateful for the laundromat and the opportunity it provided. Why not treat their machines as if they were her own. It was a lesson about expressing love and gratitude in a practical way, for ordinary things. For me, a grateful heart is a concept with its feet on the ground.
The feast of Simeon is celebrated on October 8th. Simeon is one of my favorite saints. We know him only from his welcoming the infant Jesus, and his mother and father, into the temple. But the words of his welcome have become immortalized in what we know as the Nunc dimittis. For centuries the Nunc dimittis has been joined with the Magnificat to provide the outline for evening worship. Composers throughout the history of the Church have set it to different melodies to allow us to join in that very special moment of worship in the temple in Jerusalem.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
By Melodious Monk
I met a new friend this week, Welsh poet R. S. Thomas. While recently feeling a little lost and tired of looking for God with seemingly no answer back, I went to a shelf of poetry books in hopes that someone else’s words might open my eyes a bit differently.
Perhaps it was Paul Powis’ colorful illustration on the front cover of the R. S. Thomas collection that caught my attention, but every poem of R. S. Thomas that I read I find compelling, thought-provoking, and profoundly mysterious.
One such poem is titled, “the empty church. “ I spend a significant amount of time in an empty church here at the Community of Jesus– either cleaning, doing maintenance work, or praying alone–so, in quickly glancing through the index, this poem’s title leaped out at me as one to read.
The Empty Church
They laid this stone trap
for him, enticing him with candles,
as though he would come like some huge moth
out of the darkness to beat there.
Ah, he had burned himself
before in the human flame
and escaped, leaving the reason
torn. He will not come any more
to our lure. Why, then, do I kneel still
striking my prayers on a stone
heart? Is it in hope one
of them will ignite yet and throw
on its illumined walls the shadow
of someone greater than I can understand?
In the short time I’ve spent with this Anglican priest’s poetry, I have found a strong sense of the knowledge of God’s presence when, and perhaps especially when, He is not tangible to us. I often ask God why this road through life has so many components that often feel pointless or at cross-purposes with one another. I think Thomas might say that our inability to understand God in our lives is not something to be afraid of. At the end of his poem Emerging, Thomas reminds us that God has destined us for good.
There are questions we are the solution
to, others whose echoes we must expand
to contain. Circular as our way is,
it leads not back to that snake-haunted
garden, but onward to the tall city
of glass that is the laboratory of the spirit.
Poetry by R. S. Thomas. Artwork by Paul Powis
By Sr. Fidelis
Mode VIII is the most prolific of all the modes when it comes to antiphons! Mode VIII has a Reciting Tone of DO and shares the same Home Tone as Mode VII, which is SOL. Mode VIII pieces have a “major” sound to them because of the range of the modal scale they use. Our example this week is taken from the Easter Office of Lauds.”But the Angel answering, said to the women: Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus, alleluia.” (Matthew 28:5)
A look at our antiphon shows us many things. The opening intonation outlines the key structural pitches, SOL and DO. There is recitation on the DO on “Nolite timere” at the beginning of the second line. This piece reminds us of Mode VII (which recites on RE), as it rises in several spots above the DO to the upper pitch, reminding us that these modes are closely related, linked by their shared Home tone.
Sunday, October 4th is the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the world’s most popular saint!
By Sunset Septuagint
Last week, we had a funeral for one of our earliest religious Sisters. At the burial site, someone mentioned her love for the desert. That struck a chord with me, because I have had a love for the desert ever since I traveled one day over the desert from Amman, Jordan to Cairo, Egypt, and then another time from the North to the South of Israel. I felt the power of the desert, the force of shifting sands, the strength to survive that only God can give, I also saw the beauty in the desert, often in small and hidden plants dependent on God for their blooming. I was reminded of several scriptures from Isaiah: the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom. . . . they shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. . . I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
“May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your coming, and may they lead you into Jerusalem”.
Mode VII recites on RE, with a Home Tone of SOL. A “clue” that the chant is in Mode VII, is that the DO clef always appears on the 2nd line down from the top, so the RE, and any pitches above that, fit on the staff. Mode VII pieces often have a bright, expansive sense to them because the modal range encompasses pitches that sound like a portion of a modern major scale. (SOL, LA, TI, DO, RE ). In paradisum begins with this gentle upward movement from SOL to RE. This movement up to RE appears again on et perducant te (and may they lead you).
Listen to this uplifting chant, followed by recitation of Psalm 114 in Mode VII. You’ll notice how the Psalm Tone goes above and below the Reciting Tone at the mediant cadence, and then returns to the RE at the ending – a wonderful example of the sense of “ascending” that can come with Mode VII!
By Sr. Nun Other
This week a word came to mind, a word I’d never spoken. Unfortunately, I kept forgetting what it was. Hours passed, then it would reappear, only to disappear before I could write it down. I did, however, know it was similar to “restoration”. So hoping to spark the proper synapse, I tossed that word around for awhile. In the end, I consulted a list of synonyms and there it was: reclamation. Because of its unfamiliarity (and persistence), I carefully considered its significance. Reclamation is the conversion of wasteland into ground suitable for cultivation. Generally, the return to a former, better state, where more is received than has been lost, and the final product greater than the original.
On Monday we celebrated the life of one of our earliest Sisters. Sister Christina became a sister in 1971 and had a lifelong love of beauty, poetry and art. Here is one of her poems, inspired by the Pascal (Easter) candle.
Paschal fire
O Christ
the springtime
of my heart,
You did not wait
my turn to light,
You overruled
My wintered days
that they might
receive your
untimed spring.
The early Paschal fire
Has burned
My way to joy.Sr. Christina
Her full obituary is online at the Cape Cod Times.
By Sr. Fidelis
Today is the Funeral for one of our older sisters, Sister Christina. She requested that the simple Requiem Mass be chanted. The Kyrie is a perfect example of Mode 6—the next in our brief “tour” of the Modes and their characteristics. Mode 6 has a narrow range, reciting on LA with a home tone of FA. As we can see (and hear) in the opening Kyrie, the melody passes seamlessly between these structure pitches. We often see the flattened TI, or TAU, in Mode 6 pieces as well. The opening motive is often described as a sigh or lament.
I have distinct memories of the morning, some forty-six years ago, when my father died. Every facet of that life-changing day is carved in heart and memory, and I expect always will be. Our family gathered in the waiting area outside intensive care, anxiously awaiting word. When the doctor arrived, my mother asked, “Is there any hope”? His kind (and wise) reply was, “We hope he’ll live forever.” For me, it was a moment of decision–insist on what was, or move forward with graceful acceptance. I give this as an example of the difference between hope and Hope: that is, the I want versus what God’s mercy ordains.
When viewed through the prism of hope, life is a shifting pattern of beautiful colors and images. Big picture Hope. The kind I can’t distort or negatively impact. It moves silently ahead, checking dark corners and clearing a path. You can lose your way, lose perspective, lose your wallet — lose any number of things — but my advice? Never lose Hope.
By Sr. Spero
Those of us who have passed through several decades seem to have one unanswered question that circles through the years. Mine is “what is art”? I tried to answer the question in school with a confusing course on Aesthetics. That didn’t work, and now, many years later, I’m no closer to the answer. I have learned a couple of things though—that what I like and don’t like has little to do with art; that what moves me, or makes me cry, is not a test of art. That what disgusts me is just as likely to be called great art. And that art takes all forms—the visual arts, music, poetry, dance, theater, as well as the culinary arts, the art of smells–incense or perfume, and many more, such as flower arranging, architecture, and so on. As a monastic at The Community of Jesus, I am surrounded by many forms of art; most recently, the art of making yogurt!
Tolstoy said “a writer [artist] is dear and necessary for us only in the measure of which he reveals to us the inner workings of his very soul.” I am pondering this as a definition of art. Is that quality, so hard to pin down, recognizable in great art, simply a revelation of the “workings of the [artist’s] soul,” wrought through creative struggles with paint, sound, words, movement, even food?
I welcome your comments, thoughts and opinions.
My next big question is “is all art subjective?” or is there an objective measure – to which we can all say, “yes, that is great art.”
Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853 – 1890 ), Green Wheat Fields, Auvers, 1890, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon. Public Domain.
By Sr. Fidelis
Today is the Feast day sometimes called “Holy Cross.” The origin of this feast is found in Jerusalem at the commemoration of the finding of the True Cross of Christ, and Constantine’s building of churches on the sites of the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary. In 335, these churches were dedicated on the 13th and 14th of September by all the bishops with great solemnity. By the end of the 7th century, this feast appeared in Rome as well.
In both the Divine Office and the Eucharist, we find many elements for this great Feast from the Holy Week and Good Friday Liturgies. It is a wonderful “remembrance” of these events in our Lord’s Passion. The hymns for both Lauds and Vespers are the ones used during Holy Week.
The Gradual for Holy Cross, Christus Factus Est, is the same one chanted on Palm Sunday, and then again sung in 3 segments during the Divine Office of the Triduum. The text is Philippians 2:8 & 9, Christ became obedient for us, unto death, even to death upon the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, and given him the name which is above every name.
This chant is in Mode 5, with a reciting note of DO and a home tone of FA. Despite its complexity, one can find these anchor pitches easily, especially in the body of the piece, which begins and ends on FA. The versicle, which opens the 2nd part of the chant, also begins on FA, but notice that the clef has been moved down to the 2nd line! This is to incorporate the high range of this piece, especially on the word “illum.” Christus Factus Est is one of the most famous of all Graduals for its expression and meaning. Listen and follow along, as it transports us back to Holy Week and the Triduum.
By Hummingbird
Genesis and several of the Psalms remind us that God created our animal friends and gave us dominion (responsibility) over (for) them. This carries a serious understanding to care for them as God cares for us. In Matthew, Jesus speaks of how God has lovingly and carefully planned in the creation of the world for each of his creatures to be fed. How much more does he carefully supply our needs in all things. We so often forget, believing ourselves to be our own providers and producers.
Like many of you have experienced, my animal friends have taught me so many things about Jesus and God our Father: loyalty, steadfastness, sensitivity, joy, trust, availability, never changing love, patience, longsuffering, and dependence are but a few. They are always fully themselves, live in the moment, trust me to love and keep them and intuitively respond to God’s presence and direction, leaving many of us breathless at some of their seemingly wise actions and tender responses to us. With a full heart, I thank God for his provision for me through the animals he has put in my care.
By Sr. Nun Other
These beautiful words, written by English lyricist Jane Bothwick, perfectly describe the pilgrimage of a soul. I can say, in the best sense of the idiom, I lead a double life. That is, I walk a practical journey from one endeavor to another, attending morning office, washing dishes, weeding the garden, or perhaps checking out a sunset on a near-autumn evening.
Running simultaneously with the practical is my individual, inward spiritual journey. There I search through the everyday and ordinary for what Jesus called the pearl of great price. I wonder if it’s really “the absence of” that I search for: the absence of fear, doubt, ego – whatever it is that obscures my vision and hinders the work of God. The longer I journey, the more perspective changes. What seemed so important just a few steps ago, has lost significance. The pearl is less elusive and just there, within my reach.
By Sister Spero
God created flowers. Each species, fully developed, is beautiful. A flower cannot choose its own beauty. It begins with the seed, containing the nature of the parent plant. If the seed drops, or is placed, in soil with the right nutrients, it will grow. Development depends on water, good soil, and protection from predators. A plant cannot arrange this on its own. It cannot make itself produce flowers.
We are the same, but, unlike flowers, we can choose our own beauty. (I’m not thinking of make-up and exercise). We can cultivate spiritual beauty. We can ask for living water (John 4:14), avoid rocks and thorns (Matthew 13), and protect ourselves from predators. For me, the predators are stray thoughts that I can choose to embrace or ignore.
I cannot choose what type of flower I am to become, but I can be a co-worker with God in his garden—to blossom into the person God originally created me to be.
By Hummingbird
As I sit at my desk to write to you, a small dog is peacefully resting in my lap hemmed in by the arms of the desk chair and the top of the desk. I am heart warmed by the small weight of his warm little body and relaxed by the soft sound of his breathing.
I gently realize that God is speaking again through my four footed friend. Resting is the foundation for action; and who we rest on, the secret source of our actions.
I am touched that he has chosen my uncomfortable lap and the confines of arm chair and desk top when he has a warm bed available or a soft piece of rug warmed by the sun. But he has chosen my lap as safe and secure, telling me he prefers being in touch with me to comfortable spaces where he is his own boss. He sleeps, telling me he trusts me. Rather than be out of touch he has chosen the confines of my lap so he will know instantly if I move. My decisions in life will be the source of his action. He will be touching so he will be ready. Because he rests on me, I will see to him.
Oh, Lord Jesus, help me to rest on your lap. Help me to want you over more comfortable circumstances that I may be alert to your every move. I want you to be the well-spring of all my actions.
By Sr. Nun Other
If God said, “You may choose one gift of the Spirit and become that gift,” which would you choose—love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control? Me? I’d choose kindness because our world surely needs it.
Kindness is hard to define and difficult to achieve. It’s situational, not one dimensional, and best occurs when there’s an absence of agenda on the part of the giver. Genuine kindness is closely knit to truth; it unselfishly expands the capacity to love.
I end with this wonderful verse: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3
From the floor of the Church of the Transfiguration, the acorn is native to the Holy Land and a traditional symbol of kindness
By Melodious Monk
I’m still very much a novice gardener and one plant I’m still scared of is the vaunted, precious, glorious gem of the summer crops, the vine ripened tomato! Perhaps I’m still haunted by the tomato plants that unexpectedly caught disease last summer and died before producing fruits, but I still find myself delicately reverencing the great tomatoes, afraid that too much action (pruning, fertilizer, or water) or not enough of the same will result in a failure to produce the golden fruit at the end of the summer.
One particular tomato plant is teaching me a lesson this august. It’s a tall tomato at the front of staked row, one that has a stout 8 foot stake to climb, andeven with faithful succoring, it has grown well above this height. The stalk is a sturdy with a straight trunk, about an inch or more thick in places. After a recent heavy wind storm, a tall main branch was folded in half at about 4 feet above ground. I found it the next morning, nearly broken in half, collapsed to the ground. Instantly the anxiety began to rise, my fears where coming true: here we are in August and the entire growing season is going to be for naught! I was about to cut off the large sprawling branch, to throw in the brush pile to quickly hide the shame I was starting to feel of ruining this beautiful plant. I should have tied it up better, maybe added another stake, I’m thought to myself.
I assumed the branch had no chance of survival, since only a paper thin outer strand was keeping it connected to the rest of the plant. But as I took hold of the branch it tugged surprisingly solid on the main vine of the plant. I’d heard that as long as part of the branch is still connected to the main trunk, it’s possible for the branch to still get nutrients, to heal and keep living. With not much to loose, I figure why not try an experiment. A grabbed a flat 6 in piece of stake that was lying on the ground nearby and tied a splint along the stem. Surprisingly the branch held even with the twisting and bending to move it back upright, and with a few extra supports tied to the top-heavy starting-to-fruit end, the branch felt relatively secure. The next day it was still standing, still green, and a week later you’d never know it had been within a tinsel thread of its lif
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” In dark, doubt filled moments, we must remember that no matter what storm may cause us to fall off the vine, we always have the choice to reconnect even the smallest thread to the main vine, and continue on our path towards producing good fruit–and our healing.
By Hummingbird
I have noticed a curious hold my four legged friend has on me. I have long puzzled over it. He comes and fixes me with his eyes and is communicating something. If I am slow to respond, he may punctuate his look with a sharp bark. He is obviously telling me his need is urgent in his opinion! The hold is this; as I turn my attention to him I am ever aware –he has no hands to open doors, or get his food. His needs are ever before me. He has utter unfailing confidence that I will see to his needs. He is not passive but takes his job as actively informing me of his status and presenting himself in my presence as if reminding me, “Remember I have no arms and you are my chosen sole provider.” He is never embarrassed at his need but accepts and seems to joy in this dependence—even at times seems to show me off with pride. His need and that he depends totally on me lead me to never fail to respond.
Then I am struck to the heart. O, God, am I proud of my dependence on you? Do I joy in being actively involved in presenting myself before you? Do I have utter confidence that you never fail me and always meet my needs? Do I accept that I can’t change my heart anymore than my little friend can grow “arms”? Do I rest in the knowledge that my need excites the love of my Savior who gave his life for me, of my Father who never sleeps, and my Comforter who flies to my side?
Dear God, help me to be so proud of your relationship to me. May I ever be constantly active to present myself before you, and to joy in my love and need of you.
His Love continues until our personal transfiguration is complete.
Last week, I started a week-long conversation with the Lord. It began with me in my frustration, asking God how long it would take me to change. ( well, honestly, it really began with me asking the Lord how long it was going to take the person with whom I’d just had an argument to change!)
As I settled down and began to listen more, He began to teach me.
He told me I couldn’t change myself. He told me I couldn’t become like Him just by copying Him. That wasn’t enough.
I waited for Him to tell me more, but that is all I heard for that day.
The next day, I was talking to the Lord about some stress in my life and why He was allowing it. What good was there in it? As I listened, I heard Him say, “as you are pressured and press yourself against Me, my image is imprinted on you. All you have to do is throw yourself on Me.
As I went into our church a few days later, I looked at the bronze Adam & Eve on the doors. I realized the art form to make the doors, the Lost Wax process, is similar to what happens to us in Transfiguration – as we allow the pressure in our lives to push us towards Jesus, He impresses His image into us.
Non invenientes Jesum, is a beautiful example of this complex mode. Taken from the Feast of St. Joseph, the text reads: “Not finding Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him: and after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:45-46.)
By Hummingbird
While traveling with my four-pawed brown-eyed friend I learned an important lesson about my relationship with Jesus. His favorite place to be was curled up on my lap like a cat, if I was seated. If was standing, he desperately wanted to be carried but would stand close by my feet with his eye pinned on me.If we separated, he would come, nose to the ground and eyes searching all the feet, to find my feet. If tending to his “own business” outdoors were to take him any distance from me, the corners of white-rimmed eyes would always be curled around to see where I was, no matter what!
He suffered thousands of feet, strange places, uncomfortable beds, food at any hour, being stuffed in a bag at my feet on a plane; not understanding and yet following any place, any time, into any circumstance.
He convinced me that I was his master and the only master in the world he wanted. His constant work and joy was to be with me, wherever I sent him, his face told me I would be in the center of his thoughts ‘til he was by my side or in my lap again. He moved and strangely warmed my heart, and I longed to tend to his needs and have him always by my side. His love blessed me. My greeting became always a caress and a special personal word.
Suddenly, I understood—Oh, Jesus. It is so easy to have You with me if only I would take You to my heart as I am in his.
We sometimes suggest that a person “just be one of the bunch.” I conclude, there’s no such thing. It’s more accurate to say be part of a bunch, add your strengths (and need), journey together in spite of differences, encourage through mercy, and uphold one another with forgiveness.
The most characteristic detail of a Mode 2 piece is the clef at the beginning of the piece. Shaped like an old fashioned telephone receiver, it is the FA clef, and is used almost exclusively for this Mode. The reason? Mode 2 pieces have a very narrow range; the reciting note is FA and the home tone, RE. On a normal staff with DO on the top line, these pieces would show up at the bottom of the staff,and lower notes could even be below the staff. The FA clef, located in the middle of the staff assures us that the majority of the piece will sit comfortably on the staff . Notice that there are a few notes above and below the key pitches of FA and RE, but for the most part, the piece circles around those principal pitches.
Listen for this, as you look at the piece.
The most characteristic detail of a Mode 2 piece is the clef at the beginning of the piece. Shaped like an old fashioned telephone receiver, it is the FA clef, and is used almost exclusively for this Mode. The reason? Mode 2 pieces have a very narrow range; the reciting note is FA and the home tone, RE. On a normal staff with DO on the top line, these pieces would show up at the bottom of the staff,and lower notes could even be below the staff. The FA clef, located in the middle of the staff assures us that the majority of the piece will sit comfortably on the staff . Notice that there are a few notes above and below the key pitches of FA and RE, but for the most part, the piece circles around those principal pitches.
Listen for this, as you look at the piece.
By Sister Nun Other
I have a friend who considers the Bible the world’s greatest encyclopedia. She reads it in search of answers and is never disappointed! Recently, she told me of a verse, for her and me at least, newly discovered. That verse was Isaiah 50:10, which reads: 
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord. This morning I woke up anxious, not quite sure of my way. Then words from an eighteenth century hymn writer, Joseph Hart, cut a path through my musings. He wrote, “Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love and power.“ The hymn goes on to call the thirsty, weary, and heavy laden, and ends, “All the fitness he requireth is to feel your need of Him.“ Essentially, it’s a parallel message to the one from Isaiah, both coming within a single week! For those of us who sometimes wander (and wonder), it’s a recommendation well-worth considering.
By Faithful Friar
Sometimes it’s funny to be on the outside looking in. For several years now – ever since overlapping events left no one else to ask – I have been privileged to participate in a succession of Elements Theatre Company productions, either at home in Paraclete House at the Community of Jesus or on the road to points between Boston, New York and Philadelphia. But here I was last week filing in to the audience for a summer theater performance of 3 dramatic monologues written by Alan Bennett for his “Talking Heads” BBC series some years ago. Totally unfamiliar with this material and contributing virtually nothing toward the set, stage, technicals or properties as I usually do (not to mention costumes, makeup, publicity, catering, directing or acting!), here I was on the outside looking in.
And what a spectacle it was! The best analogy I can make is that of the pleasure and enjoyment one might experience of a fine Tuscan dinner. In fact “delicious” is the adjective that came first about the experience in that theater. The stage was set with comfortable house lighting and welcoming string-based background music. The stage itself was open, fairly vertical, composed of 3 or 4 playing areas sectioned off with bright spare metal work. The opening monologue – prima piatti – was a hot risotto, rich and flavorful, accompanied by a light white wine: the character of a clever but somewhat bewildered elderly son who reveals more than even he can understand about both himself and his mother in the recounting of recent events. Delivered with nuanced expression in proper British RP (received pronunciation), one could savor the complex signals of a close (closed?) family relationship as it becomes tested.
The secunda piatti was a more complex, brooding and spare piece, yet complete and totally satisfying in its parts. It could have been a serving of wild boar or sausage prepared following ancient methods, with a mouth-watering polenta and 2 or 3 local vegetables fresh-cooked and savory, all imbued with a fiery mystery by a fine Chianti red. This one told by a younger woman from within the confines of social strictures and crisis of faith subsumed in the ancient wrestle of marital relations and self-remedies of ironic humor, alcohol and sex. Heady fare, affairs of the heart.
So on to the final piatti, the Dolce. A word that comes out it English as “sweet” – appropriate enough in its confectionary capacity. But the sheer effervescence of Italian desserts and of this closing monologue transform each from saccharine to sanguine and give each an inner glow quite beyond their subject matter. The ices, gelati, sweet lemons and creams could all stack up against this well-meaning but impulsive letter-writing maven who makes enough public nuisance that she lands herself in jail. Then without changing a beat (other than a lightning-quick costume change) she transforms herself into a loving, affectionate friend to all her new sisters in the cell- block. The whole thing is so joyfully and limpidly creative. And it wraps up a production whose lighting, sound, movement and text – both spoken and subliminally expressed – are “just so”. Dolce!
So please join me in a toast of sparkling prosecco to this wonderful theatrical feast. May there be many more to follow (with or without my help)!
Taking down from a great run!
By Sr. Fidelis
Much to learn!
Antiphons are wonderful “miniatures” that we can study to glean knowledge about Gregorian Chant. Below you’ll see a short antiphon, Vos reliquistis, which translated means: You who have left all things and followed me, shall receive a hundredfold, and life everlasting you will possess. (Matthew 19:28-29) This is Jesus’ word to his disciples in regards to them answering the call to follow him. The Latin word, reliquistis, immediately brings to mind the English cognate “relinquish” – to hand over to another person.
This antiphon is used at Lauds, setting the right “tone or mode” for the chanting of the Benedictus for that particular day. You’ll see that it’s in Mode 1. At first glance, the antiphon looks low, and indeed it is. One listen to the audio file will confirm that!
Mode 1 has a reciting note of LA and a home tone of RE. We call this a RE Mode. ( Mode 2 is also a RE Mode, and we’ll be looking at that next week.) RE is located on the bottom line of the staff, and the antiphon begins and ends on this principal pitch. With this particular antiphon, it barely makes it up to the reciting note LA. We can hear the rise of the phrase to the words estis me, and the climactic point on the first two notes of centuplum (a hundredfold!). Then the melody gradually subsides to its final resting place on possidebitis (will possess). A simple sentence, a simple range of 5 or 6 notes; yet it conveys the conversation of this text! Other Mode 1 antiphons have a broader range, and often ascend past the reciting note of LA. But this particular one resides in the lower part of the modal range.
One more thing to note and that is the ending within the double bars. This is the ending for the recitation of the psalmody that would normally accompany this antiphon.
The vowels E u o u a e, are a shorthand for the last verse chanted at the end of the psalm, the Gloria Patri. These vowels are the last 6 in the Latin words, saeculorum, Amen.
Notice that this ending “hovers” around the Reciting tone LA!
By Sr. Nun Other
If you’re like me (and others I know), there are certain things you rely on. Morning coffee is on my list. A day or two ago, I poured a cup, added dry creamer, sipped, then went to answer the phone. I returned to discover a fly had invaded sacred space. I won’t divulge HOW I discovered this. Let’s just say it was unpleasant. I was on the cusp — with one foot over — of letting this experience define my day.
Another source of unrest is a lost “necessity.” And it can be anything. For one sister it was a missing mechanical pencil, her favorite pencil, the one she couldn’t be without. When a thorough search failed, she became anxious, and believed the pencil would never be found.
These are simple situations, but I’ve found that feelings are much less reasonable than reality. In Matthew 6:25, Jesus tells us not to worry about what we’ll eat, wear, etc., not if we’ll eat, which is a much larger problem. He knows the danger of our obsessing over little things, losing our focus, and sometimes our way. The sister I mentioned decided to “let the pencil go” and not let it distort her perspective. The result? She found it the very next day and has vowed to put her name on it. Just in case.
By Melodious Monk
This past Sunday we celebrated the feast of the Transfiguration here at the Community of Jesus. Because our church is named after this feast, we always celebrate the feast on the Sunday closest to the traditional feast date of August 6th.
As the Gospel story was read aloud, I was drawn to St. Peter’s words first words to Jesus, “It is good to be here.” But the Transfiguration gospel also made me recall another story about Peter and Jesus. I’ve just been re-reading one my favorite books titled Walking on Water: reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle. In the final chapter titled “Feeding the Lake”, she writes:
“When Jesus called Peter to come to him across the water, Peter, for one brief, glorious moment, remembered how and strode with ease across the lake. This is how we are meant to be, and then we forget, and we sink. But if we cry out for help (as Peter did) we will be pulled out of the water; we won’t drown. And if we listen, we will hear, and if we look, we will see.”
That sounds so simple –all we need to do is step towards Jesus and we can partake in the glorious impossibility of walking on water. But the tiny word IF can become a stumbling block — IF we can listen, and IF we can hear. We all are capable of hearing the divine voice, but how quickly we forget to do this! We forget to cry out for help. Scripture tells us Peter was apparently scared both stepping onto the water and when he witnessed the dazzling white light on Mt Tabor as Moses and Elijah suddenly appeared with them. But even in being scared, Peter proclaimed,”It is good for us to be here!”
When I’m scared, that’s the last thing I think of. Usually I want to protect, run the other way, or fight. Many fears come up every day, in relationships, over unexpected events, through anxiety, or perhaps real physical dangers. I mostly want to avoid the things I’m afraid of, rather then proclaim that it may be good that I’m here. I don’t usually remember that perhaps this point of fear is good for me today. For if God brought this fearful point into my life today, instead of running, perhaps I can conquer this fear. Perhaps I, like Peter, can take just a step or two walking across new water. If I don’t listen, and if I don’t look, the alternative might be to miss out on some of the “brief glorious moments” that God most certainly designs uniquely for us.
L’Engle moves on to write: “The impossible still happens to us, often during the work, sometimes when we are so tired that inadvertently we let down all the barriers we have built up. We lose our adult skepticism and become once again children who can walk down their grandmother’s winding stairs without touching.” If we listen and if we hear…..we can be transfigured in ways we can’t even imagine or understand.
By: Sr. Fidelis
Transfiguration
The Feast of the Transfiguration is an important one at the Community of Jesus. Tt is our “Namesake” feast at the Church of the Transfiguration. The actual feast day is August 6th, but it is usually celebrated on the closest Sunday to that date.
The feast was originally celebrated in the East as early as the 4th and 5th centuries, but was not commonly celebrated in the West until the 10th century. In 1456 Pope Callixtus III extended the feast to the Universal Church.
We see this interesting history reflected in the chants for this special feast. Appropriate texts were “borrowed” from other parts of the liturgy, or newly composed, which was the case with the Alleluia, “Candor est lucis”. Using an original tune which dates back to the 9th century, a new text was added to the original notes, with some slight variations to accommodate the text. Listen to this lovely chant, while reading these words from the Book of Wisdom, 7, 26.
He is the brightness of eternal light, the flawless image (or mirror without stain) of God and the best image of the same.
By Sr. Nun Other
While weeding our vegetable garden at the Community of Jesus, I was amazed — well, maybe dismayed — at the tenacious strength of those wily weeds. Clearing a path was hard work, but it got me thinking about “roots” and multiple ways we use the word.
As a noun, roots attach a plant to the ground and convey water and nourishment. They’re a source of life, established deeply and firmly. A second definition for root is “a semantic unit,” the part of a word after all prefixes and suffixes are removed. It’s also a verb: to root for a team or an individual is to lend support and encourage enthusiastically.
Perhaps it’s a Pennsylvania phenomenon — or a well-taught civics class — but when I meet someone from my home state, I connect. “You’re from Pennsylvania? Which part? Pittsburgh? No kidding.” And then we’re apt to converse in a language resembling English, but native to Western Pennsylvanians, words such as chipped chopped ham, city chicken and “redd up” a room. These are my roots by birth and they bring life through remembrance, forming part of who I am. We also put down spiritual roots, and there are several Biblical verses that employ the metaphor. In Ephesians 3:17, the Apostle Paul speaks of being rooted and grounded in Christ, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” Just imagine! Jesus is that love, our source of life, and stands with us when all pretenses are removed.
By Sr. Fidelis
The Reading for Lauds at the Community of Jesus this morning was from an Epistle of Clement I. The last paragraph read, “Even the Creator and Lord of the universe rejoices in his works. By his supreme power he set the heavens in their place; by his infinite wisdom he gave them their order. He separated the land from the waters surrounding it and made his own will its firm foundation. By his command he brought to life the beasts that roam the earth. He created the sea and all its living creatures, and then by his power set bounds to it. Finally, he formed humanity, the highest and most intelligent of his creatures, the copy of his own image. We must recognize, therefore, that all who are upright have been graced by good works, and that even the Lord himself took delight in the glory his works gave them.”
This seemed like a summary of the beautiful Vespers hymns we’ve been looking at these past weeks with themes of the various days of creation! The Friday hymn is the last in the set, with text mostly likely attributed to Saint Gregory the Great. Here is as description of true Paradise on earth.
O God, shaper of man, you who, alone, ordaining all things, order the earth to produce species of creeping and wild beasts;
You, who gave the great bodies of creatures, made alive by a word of command that they might serve in their place subduing them to mankind:
Drive away from your servants, whatsoever, by uncleanness, either suggests itself by customs, or insinuates itself by actions.
Give the rewards of joys, grant the gifts of graces; dissolve the chains of quarrelling, bind fast the agreements of peace.
Grant this, O most loving Father, and you, the only One equal to the Father, with the Spirit, the Paraclete, who reigns through every age. Amen.
Jacob had a dream, and in his dream he saw a ladder anchored in the bonds of earth and stretching into the arms of heaven. There was uninhibited access to the ladder, and angels moved freely in both directions, their invitation to join implicit. But what happens when we spiritually clutch the ladder on both sides, and attempt to climb up the ladder backwards? I ask this question, because it’s how I often live. My focus is on counting cost and failure and the debris I’ve left behind. Why not do as the well-known song suggests and love Jesus, serve Him as best we know, climbing ever higher, higher as soldiers of the cross.
Jacob had a dream, and in his dream he saw a ladder anchored in the bonds of earth and stretching into the arms of heaven. There was uninhibited access to the ladder, and angels moved freely in both directions, their invitation to join implicit. But what happens when we spiritually clutch the ladder on both sides, and attempt to climb up the ladder backwards? I ask this question, because it’s how I often live. My focus is on counting cost and failure and the debris I’ve left behind. Why not do as the well-known song suggests and love Jesus, serve Him as best we know, climbing ever higher, higher as soldiers of the cross.
By Sr. Nun Other
If I were to have a conversation with the Apostle Paul, I’d like to pose this question, “How did you learn to be content in all circumstances?” My admiration comes, of course, from reading Philippians 4:12, in which Paul proclaims, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” I suspect it wasn’t a “firefly” of faith landing on Paul’s shoulder that produced such serene confidence. A quick overview of his life proves that not to be the case. His personal journey was punctuated by suffering, both of his own making, and forced on him by others. He was a persecutor of the church and present at the stoning of Stephen, struck blind and converted on the road to Damascus, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and eventually martyred. Since I can’t ask my question directly, let’s speculate. Perhaps this passage is about joy, abiding joy, deeply rooted in reality and knowledge of the love of God.
By Sr. Fidelis
We’ve had two beautiful days at the Community of Jesus on Cape Cod….not a cloud in the sky, and the sun a true disk, arching through its course.
St. Gregory’s hymn for Wednesday Vespers speaks eloquently of the 4th day of Creation and describes such a day. In our digital world, it is a good reminder that God’s creation is what determines time and the length of days. The natural world and the spiritual world are so closely linked.
Most holy God of heaven, you who paint the shining center of the sky with the brightness of fire, enriching it with beautiful light,
You, who establishing on the fourth day the fiery disk of the sun, set up the orbit of the moon, and the wandering courses of the stars,
So that, to the nights or to the days you could give a line of separation, and to the beginnings of months, a most familiar sign:
Illumine the hearts of men; banish the sordid things of their soul; release the chain of guilt; make void the mass of their crimes.
Grant this, O most loving Father, and you, the only One equal to the Father, with the Spirit, the Paraclete, who reigns through every age. Amen.
By Sr. Nun Other
By Sr. Fidelis
Fruits of the earth
Tuesday’s Vespers hymn at the Community of Jesus reminds us of the third day of Creation, where God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” “Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:9, 11).
Clothed in poetic imagery, this hymn reminds us that all the beauty that surrounds us came from the hand of God, and was always His intent to bless us. The texts to these hymns can easily be used as prayers of gratitude and repentance!
O great creator of the earth, you who delivering the land from the troublesome beating of the water, have given the immovable earth,
That, bringing forth suitable bud, beautiful things in golden-colored flowers, it might present rich things as fruit, and render pleasant food.
Cleanse the wounds of a scorched soul with the freshness of grace, that it may wash away its deeds with tears, and destroy wrong impulses.
Let it comply with your commands; may it approach no evil; let it rejoice to be filled with good things, and never know the work of death.
Grant this, O most loving Father, and you, the only One equal to the Father, with the Spirit, the Paraclete, who reigns through every age. Amen.
By Sr. Nun Other
There’s a once popular song called On a Clear Day, whose words read in part:
On a clear day, rise and look around you
And you’ll see who you are.
You can hear from far and near
A word you’ve never heard before.
And on a clear day, on a clear day
You can see forever, and ever (etc.)
We’ve all experienced such days, when the sun defines and illumines all within its touch.The beauty and simplicity encourage, renew energy, and lift me from a negative fascination with problems.
I was thinking about this and a correlating scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:12, Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
To view life clear of judgments, opinions, fluctuating emotions, and past misfortunes is a freedom well worth pursuing.
By Sr. Fidelis
The Weekday Vespers Hymns
Last week we looked at Lauds hymns and discussed the fact that throughout the week, light, dawn, and the dispelling of darkness are the themes throughout.
The Vespers hymns, however, mirror the days of creation from Genesis, Chapter 1. The texts of these hymns are attributed to Gregory the Great (d. 604). Each one is a poetic masterpiece of 5 verses. The first several verses always make reference to that particular day of creation, while the ensuing two verses are a supplication of needs for the soul.
The final verse is always a final prayer to the members of the Trinity.
Monday, traditionally thought of as the 2nd day of the week, mirrors this theme in the Vespers hymn, which speaks of Day 2 of Creation; the separating of waters above and below the skies.
O immense author of the heaven, you who divide the mingled streams of water so that they would not be confused, you gave the sky as a limit,
Establishing a place for the heavens, and likewise for the rivers of the earth, so that water might temper the flames, and that it might not scatter the soil of the earth.
Pour into us now, O most loving One, the gift of eternal grace: so that, by the misfortunes of some new deception, the old error may not destroy us.
Let faith find light, so may it show forth the radiance of the light; let it deter all these vain things, and let nothing false suppress it.
Grant this, O most loving Father, and you, the only One equal to the Father, with the Spirit, the Paraclete, who reigns through every age.
By Sr. Fidelis
The Weekday Vespers Hymns
Last week we looked at Lauds hymns and discussed the fact that throughout the week, light, dawn, and the dispelling of darkness are the themes throughout.
The Vespers hymns, however, mirror the days of creation from Genesis, Chapter 1. The texts of these hymns are attributed to Gregory the Great (d. 604). Each one is a poetic masterpiece of 5 verses. The first several verses always make reference to that particular day of creation, while the ensuing two verses are a supplication of needs for the soul.
The final verse is always a final prayer to the members of the Trinity.
Monday, traditionally thought of as the 2nd day of the week, mirrors this theme in the Vespers hymn, which speaks of Day 2 of Creation; the separating of waters above and below the skies.
O immense author of the heaven, you who divide the mingled streams of water so that they would not be confused, you gave the sky as a limit,
Establishing a place for the heavens, and likewise for the rivers of the earth, so that water might temper the flames, and that it might not scatter the soil of the earth.
Pour into us now, O most loving One, the gift of eternal grace: so that, by the misfortunes of some new deception, the old error may not destroy us.
Let faith find light, so may it show forth the radiance of the light; let it deter all these vain things, and let nothing false suppress it.
Grant this, O most loving Father, and you, the only One equal to the Father, with the Spirit, the Paraclete, who reigns through every age.
By Sr. Nun Other
I have great admiration for those who fix broken things. Carrying a metal box filled with mysterious objects, they arrive prepared for any task. The Psalmist speaks of a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart, sacrifices that God finds acceptable. We’re also assured the Lord is near the broken hearted and delivers those who are discouraged (some translations say “crushed in spirit.”) So then, what’s in His tool box? I suggest the following:
Hymns of recollection and hope
Scriptures that inspire
A small prayer answered
Visual beauty
A moment of solitude
A friendly interaction
A change in direction
We’re surrounded by God’s intervention. He’s in the repair business, eager to make us whole, and waits for us to recognize His presence.
A beautiful day in Barga, Italy at the Mount Tabor Ecumenical Centre for Art #amp; Spirituality with Jon M Sweeney, Mark Burrows, and Monsignor Timothy Verdon learning about St. Francis.
June 22 Echoes of Eternity
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James 4:3
Desires granted, desires denied—both flow from My sovereign will. You see and recognize My goodness in those I have granted. You do not yet see and recognize clearly My goodness in those I have denied. But it is all the same—My goodness at work for your good. It could not be otherwise, My child. Even now, as you wait long-delayed “answers” to your prayers, My work is still going on. Your faith is still weak and unstable. A small set-back throws it into confusion. My goal for you
far exceeds what you can think or imagine. So do not spend time and energy mourning the loss of desires denied. Let them go in their time and be replaced by hopes that harmonize with My loving will.
By Sr. Fidelis Splendor Paternae Gloriae The Office of Lauds, traditionally sung at dawn, is filled throughout with references to both the light and the #quot;Light.#quot; We take for granted that we can have light today at the flip of a switch, while in earlier centuries, they were dependent upon the light of day, and were attuned to the sun##039;s rising and setting, and the spiritual significance of these natural events. [ 218 more words. ]
http://www.communityofjesus.org/gregorian-chant-the-eternal-song-108/
Gregorian Chant: The Eternal Song
www.communityofjesus.org
Gregorian Chant: The Eternal Song June 22, 2015 By Sr. Fidelis Splendor Paternae Gloriae The Office of Lauds, traditionally sung at dawn, is filled throughout with references to both the light and the “Light.” We take for granted that we can have light today at the flip of a switch, while in earlie…
By Sr. Fidelis
Splendor Paternae Gloriae
The Office of Lauds, traditionally sung at dawn, is filled throughout with references to both the light and the “Light.” We take for granted that we can have light today at the flip of a switch, while in earlier centuries, they were dependent upon the light of day, and were attuned to the sun’s rising and setting, and the spiritual significance of these natural events. The Monday hymn for Lauds is filled with symbolic imagery. It is a power-packed prayer text to begin a day.
O splendor of the Father’s glory, bringing forth light from light,
light of Light, and fountain of light, O Day, illuminating the day:
O true Sun, descend, sparkling with uninterrupted brightness;
O radiance of the Holy Spirit, pour in upon our senses.
Let us also call upon the Father with vows, the Father of perennial glory,
the Father of powerful grace, that he may remove the impure fault.
May he inspire steadfast acts; may he blunt the teeth of the envious;
may he direct favorably harsh situations; may he give grace to those who are bearing them.
May he govern and rule the mind in a chaste, faithful body;
let faith burn with zeal, may it not know the poisons of deceit.
Let Christ be food to us, let faith be our drink;
joyful, let us drink the sober intoxication of the Spirit.
May this day pass joyfully: let modesty be as the dawn,
faith as the noonday; let the spirit not know dusk.
Dawn carries on its course; let the dawn go forward to every thing;
all the Son is in the Father, and all the Father is in the Word. Amen
Ambrose of Milan
Paraclete authors Timothy Verdon, Jon Sweeney, and Mark Burrows meet up in Barga, Italy to begin a week long study retreat of St Francis. We##039;ll be looking at Francis through art, poetry, and prayer. Sponsored by Mount Tabor Books, a new series at Paraclete Press.
June 21 Echoes of Eternity
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Psalm 50:2
I take pleasure in providing blessings for My children. The beauty you see and enjoy is a gift of My love. You have a super abundance of it where I have placed and kept you. To enjoy it fully you must accept it as My gift of love. To reap all the benefits I intend, you must surrender your fretting. The earth is Mine and the fullness thereof. Do not lust after what I have denied you, but embrace what I have given so freely. I take pleasure in providing blessings for you, but I am saddened and grieved when you despise them and fail to recognize My fatherly care.
June 20 Echoes of Eternity
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?
Matthew 7:11
My heart is a free and ever-flowing heart of generous love. I take pleasure in doing good for My children. Beyond mere perfunctory gratitude for My gifts, I seek a relationship of unshakable trust in My goodness. I seek hearts that come to rest in My unfailing goodness. Those hearts cannot be shaken from their sure foundation by any change of circumstances. Circumstances do and must change, but My goodness changes not. This, My child, is what all My blessings and provisions are meant to effect—your unshakable faith in My unchanging goodness.
June 19 Echoes of Eternity
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 4:11
You are held in the Hand that holds the world. You are kept by the Power that rules the universe. I have said, “None can pluck you from My hand.” It is not your feelings that keep you. It is not even your faith—for I know that waxes and wanes quickly under differing circumstances. No, it is My hand that holds you, My child, and protects you when you are least aware of it. When your eyes are open and you are able to see this reality, give thanks and offer praise. When you cannot see or feel the reality, still give thanks and offer praise. That is an act of faith with which I am pleased. And by the exercise of your faith, it will grow stronger and steadier.
By Sr. Nun Other I love when the Holy Spirit brings new understanding to a familiar scripture. This week, I found inspiration in words from Psalm 11 — In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me, #quot;Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings.#quot; [ 103 more words. ]
http://www.communityofjesus.org/abide-not-hide/
Abide Not Hide
www.communityofjesus.org
Abide Not Hide June 19, 2015 By Sr. Nun Other I love when the Holy Spirit brings new understanding to a familiar scripture. This week, I found inspiration in words from Psalm 11 — In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend the…
By Sr. Nun Other
I love when the Holy Spirit brings new understanding to a familiar scripture. This week, I found inspiration in words from Psalm 11 — In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings.” I think of my many mountains. Some are actual objects, like ice cream in the freezer, a good book, or newspaper where the news is worse than my own. But more often, it’s an inward mountain of my own construction. When I’m anxious, uncomfortable, hurt, or ashamed, I’m adept at remaining physically present, but emotionally far away. It takes courage to say (and mean it), “In the Lord I take refuge.” It requires standing firm while the enemy within tells you it’s safer to head for the shadows. Why choose a lonely place, when life and healing are a simple prayer away?
Great review on ##039;A Homemade Year##039; by Jerusalem Jackson Greer
http://lecfamily.org/blog/2015/5/28/book-review-a-homemade-year-by-jersualem-greer
Book Review: A Homemade Year by Jersualem Greer
lecfamily.org
Friend of LECFamily Jerusalem Greer has released a great church and family Christian resource, A Homemade Year. We allowed another friend of LECFamily, Monique McBride, to review the book. Check it out! by Rev. Monique McBride Have you ever read a book and heard your own story in the words? Though y…
Interview with Frederica Mathewes-Green on her recent book ##039;Welcome to the Orthodox Church.##039;
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419718/meet-orthodox-nr-interview
Meet the Orthodox
www.nationalreview.com
Frederica Mathewes-Greene talks about the Orthodox Church #amp; her new book.
June 18 Echoes of Eternity
For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Mark 8:35
My child, give over your desire to be liked or loved. You are much too easily affected by signs of being slighted. I have told you that I love you with an everlasting love. My love determines what I allow to come into your life. Yes, My love determines that, so be at peace and learn to love others with an undemanding, unself-conscious love, which I will give you—if you seek it sincerely and earnestly.
June 17 Echoes of Eternity
Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can show forth all His praise?
Psalm 106:2
Praise My infinite compassion which I have freely bestowed on you. Praise befits the upright. Praise lifts up the spirit. Praise builds up faith. Praise defeats the enemy’s stratagems. Praise joins your prayer to heaven, where My saints are already united in unending praise. Earth’s sorrows are but the backdrop against which the glory of My compassion shines. They cannot dim that glory in the heart that is filled with praise. Praise is a weapon too little appreciated and too little used by My people. I have given it as a gift and have long instructed that it be used. There are no obstacles that cannot be overcome. But My ways are not the ways of the world. Worldly wisdom will fail. But praise—true praise and persistent praise in the face of darkness—will prevail.
