A constant theme among the ‘Fathers of the Church’ is that the Psalms of the Old Testament contain within them, all the moods and feelings that a Christian can have, on his, or her, spiritual journey. I have often wondered about this as, day by day, we monks pray, and use the Psalms, in our Divine Office. 

Recently, this insight was reflected in my own experience, and, perhaps, it would be useful, briefly, to share what this meant, as for many years, I have not really understood the ‘Fathers of the Church’, on this topic.

St. Augustine of Hippo, died 330 AD, and wrote much on the Psalms 

The psalm in question is no 43 (44) and it begins: 

We heard with our own ears, O God, our fathers have told us the story.

of the things you did in their days, you yourself, in days long ago. 

These lines refer to the Israelites, coming out from their slavery in Egypt, and settling in the Holy Land, after so many adventures. However, they could equally be applied, I think, to the early Church and what happened after Jesus’ Resurrection, with the spread of the Church, from the Holy Land, to all the nations of the world; equally also to the great founders of the Religious Orders, St. Benedict and his adventures in the setting up of monasteries; equally to St. Francis of Assisi, and the Franciscans, St. Dominic and the Dominicans, St. Ignatius and the Jesuits and so on, right up to the present day.

SS. Benedict, Francis and Dominic 

These great founders and many others, such as St. Ignatius brought a new impulse of life and light into the Church and World.

St. Ignatius

 There are also the different modern charisms in the Church; these include the various new Charismatic Movements in the Church, and the one I know very well, is the ‘Work of Mary’ or the ‘Focolare Movement’, founded by Chiara Lubich, and her companions.

Chiara Lubich (as a Young Lady)

 Chiara died in 2007,the movement having spread all over the world, within her life time, and through this, many people have come to understand – in a new way, and with a fresh ‘Spirit’ – the person of Jesus, the Love of God the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

But, to continue with the Psalm: 

To plant them you uprooted the nations: to let them spread you laid peoples low.

No sword of their own won the land; no arm of their own brought them victory.

It was your right hand, your arm and the light of your face: for you loved them. 

The Psalmist is stating that the outcome, for the Israelites, in the Old Testament, was not because of their own power or might, but was rather the work of God himself. When one reads the accounts of what happened at the ‘founding’ of the Church, of the Religious Orders, or of the ‘Focolare’ Movement, always there is the ‘Finger of God’ at work, rather than the intelligence, wisdom or actions, of the people involved. 

This ‘feeling’ that God ordains is also reflected in my own ‘limited’ experience – something that is very ‘present’ to me, in my life. Any personal ideas that I have, about being a good Christian, spreading the Gospel, trying to do good to people, making contact with other Churches – any such actions are, nearly always – not the ideas that God wants me to follow. To get things ‘right’, I have, almost always, to lose my way of thinking, and let God take over. This includes, as far as I am able, remaining always in union with God, and, according to the ‘light’ of each present moment, always to live ‘charity’, with my neighbour. These things are not always easy, but doing one’s best enables the challenges that arise, to be faced and overcome – not so much according to my ideas – but by trying to listen to what God is saying, regarding the particular thing that I am doing. It may help to give a concrete example. Some of my readers may well have been present at, or known about, the ceremonies for the funerals of Fr. Ambrose, 29^th June to 2^nd July, this year. How the funerals were conducted at Leyland was my responsibility, but not mine alone: many others were involved, and gradually the right patterns emerged, taking into account the feast days, the readings chosen with the help of Fr. Ambrose, and so on. In other words, it was the ‘Finger of God’, at work, again. It was my ‘lot’, as Parish Priest, to attend the other two venues, where funerals took place – a much easier task, I might add! 

The psalm then goes in to a lament because all the good work God has done seems to be lost: after some verses it states: 

Yet now you have rejected us, disgraced us: you no longer go forth with our armies.

You make us retreat from the foe and our enemies plunder us at will. 

You make us like sheep for the slaughter and scatter us among the nations.

You sell your own people for nothing and make no profit by the sale. 

You make us the taunt of our neighbours, the laughing stock of all who are near.

Among the nations you make us a byword, among the peoples a thing of derision. 

All day long my disgrace is before me: my face is covered with shame

at the sight of the taunter, the scoffer, as the sight of the foe and avenger. 

Long before the coming of Jesus there were many times when the Israelites felt rejected by God, most especially, when their enemies triumphed over them, and they were unable to practice their religion. Today, the Church is so very ‘weak’ in the Western world, and, unfortunately this applies to Britain, in particular. Christians are often the butt of all types of ungodly humour, their views are ridiculed and often criticised as being, not politically, correct; those espousing Christianity – as well as other religions – can feel ‘put down’, persecuted, in modern Britain, by an imposed secular spirit, the secularists, all too often, claiming the high moral ground. Christians too, can feel rejected by their fellow Christians, because a large proportion of the ‘Faithful’ rarely ‘darkens the church door’.  The puzzlement is that, knowing the people who belong to our parishes – good people in the vast majority – these good people, do not see the need to worship God in Church. 

In a way, this situation may be a ‘good’ one for the Church. It means we have to learn to do nothing other than find what God wants, whilst also creating a community of people among whom God is alive – a truly ‘friendly community’ with no hidden agendas – a community of people that knows God, and responds to living the way Jesus lived, as best it can.  This community would be ready to serve the people who belong to it, and among whom it exists; it would also help, as best it can, others in the wider population. 

So the psalms are a good ‘spring-board’ for reflection. 

(By the way, should anyone wish to come, we say the Office of Readings, together, in Church, from Monday to Saturday; the time is, usually 45 minutes prior to morning Mass – 8.15 am, when Mass is at 9.00 am and 7.15 am when Mass is at 8.00 am.  Anyone would be very welcome, and, at this ‘Prayer of the Church’, you would gradually get to know the Psalms, that are such an important heritage of the Christian life.) 

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Scotland the brave! The remote cottage in the Perthshire countryside, where we are on holiday, is beautifully quiet: the only noise is an occasional car going by on the one-track road, and except for the birds singing and the rain falling, there is a ‘golden’ silence.  For me this is just wonderful – so different from monastic Parish life – and even the rain has not been an obstacle! I am holidaying with a priest friend, and apart from getting on well, we must have played ‘Scrabble’ at least twice each day.

 The Perthshire Countryside 

Holidays are often difficult for monks. In my case, the least I expect from a good holiday is to be able to spend time resting, properly; for me, this means praying, celebrating the Eucharist, sleeping, going for good walks, reading, talking, playing board games, watching something sensible on TV, going out for a meal at a hotel and just, generally, ‘mooching’ around! If someone was to ask me my choice, a beautiful sunny place but without agreeable company, or an unsuitable, rainy place, with a good friend, I would know, at once, the one I’d prefer! The hope is that, on return, we will not be like many holiday-makers, coming off an early flight from the USA into Manchester Airport, at 6.00 am; generally, most of these have looked tired-out, harassed and in need of a good holiday, whenever I have happened to be there, meeting friends to bring them back to Leyland! 

But, that aside, the USA and all such destinations, Scotland is another country, altogether, and, with some Scottish friends, and even a local workman, there has been much discussion – not least on the subject of Scottish independence. Visiting Scotland, and Ireland, (with a little of similar experiences in Wales) brings me to the realisation that opinions vary widely, within the people of each country, as to their view of England – and the English! 

For Scotland, ‘Scottish Independence’, in some form or other, seems a strong possibility. But, inevitably there are important questions. If it should happen, how will it take shape; what will be the effects for Scotland and for England? How the people – the ordinary people, of both countries – will manage, remains to be seen. The nicest and most sensible Scottish people support the Scottish National Party (SNP), alongside some nice and sensible people who don’t, and not all who support the SNP, want full independence, though some do. There are arguments, for and against, the ‘Scots’, and the rest of Britain, being viable, economically, each in its own right.  And this does not even begin to address the questions of a viable foreign policy, for each of the two different, independent countries.

The Battle of Culloden 

History teaches us – with evidence for all to see – of the very divisive English interference in Scotland, with these long, military, roads built to subdue the unruly Highland Clans; the very ‘bloody’ battles, like that at ‘Culloden’, are not simple to unravel, and explain, because the ‘Scots’ fought on both sides, alongside, and against, the English ‘Redcoats’. It makes for sad thoughts, at what our English forebears have done, in our own Britain. At the same time, in Perthshire, at least, there are hotels and ‘pubs’ that go under the name, ‘The Royal Hotel’, and on entering any one of them, the atmosphere is distinctly Scottish, but the pub rejoices in the English and Scottish Royal Family, whose forebears were the very ones to lead the attacks against some, long-dead, sections of Scotland’s society. The very name ‘The Royal Hotel’ seems, in my English way of seeing things, to endorse the Union of Scotland within the United Kingdom. Yet, that may not be so, for in any separation of Scotland and England, I see our Monarch as remaining monarch of both countries. It would be a rather strange twist of fate, if each country were to end up with separate governments, an independent army, navy and air force, independent foreign policies and independent economies, and yet with a common monarchy!  On another ‘tack’, in England, the Monarch is head of the Church of England; in Scotland, the Monarch is a member of the Church of Scotland, i.e. not the Anglican Church, but a church that has its teachings rooted, much more, in Calvinist teachings. The Church of Scotland is ‘Presbyterian’. For us Catholics, in England, is this not rather an ‘Alice-in-Wonderland’ way for a monarchy to behave? 

The positive side of all of this is the possible emergence of new nationhood, and a realisation that difference is not something to be rejected, but something in which to rejoice. One of the songs, heard at the ‘Mariapolis’, has great meaning for me; it is called “You are a gift for me”, and it has relevance for ‘personal’ relationships, as well as ‘national’ relationships – that is, if it is possible to speak of the latter in such terms. 

All of us are ‘gifts’ for each other, both as individuals and as nations. In my way of thinking, there is a special ‘genius’ within each nation – some esoteric thing that ‘characterises’ the society, the people – a unique quality that could be seen as service to the good of all humankind, and not just used,  selfishly, for the promotion of the particular nation’s good, to the exclusion of all else. Thus, within the ambit of our present discussion, the challenge will centre on how to develop relations between ourselves as different nations, perhaps federated within the United Kingdom, and Ireland – at the service of each other, at the service of Europe, and then, inside Europe, but at the service of the rest of the world. It would be a long-term project, and lots of steps would need to be taken to promote good relations within the peoples of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Somebody once said: “if you want to change the world, let it begin with me”, and that is something each person could take up as a challenge; being open to the goodness in others, rather than wanting others to conform to me – and my way of thinking; it would be the same for our nations. From a personal perspective, it would not be easy to live out – to fulfil this idea. But, if the attitudes, necessary, were mutual, it could lead to a revolution of love, rather than towards the accepted norm of a kind of in-built mistrust. The happy, and very successful, visit of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, to Ireland, in May of this year, may well prove to have been an evolutionary milestone, in this process. 

Scotland the brave! – a ‘romantic’ title, if you like, but one, perhaps, summarising something of the ‘spirit’ of these people, north of the border with England, and we, in England, can rejoice in it. I feel very much at home, holidaying in Scotland, and I hope that, peacefully, visiting this lovely country will continue to be possible for us Sassenachs, for many years to come!  Scottish independence is surely something to be left to God’s will for the future, but we can all surely do without any more Hadrians – and without any more Hadrians’ walls. 

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Last week was quite an unusual one for many of us in the Parish of St. Mary’s, Leyland. On Wednesday and Thursday, we said ‘Good bye’ to Bishop Ambrose, and the services then contained moments of beautiful liturgy, with strong feelings of thankfulness to God, for our relationship with the great man, all this imbued with a sense of loss. Two further funerals for Bishop Ambrose were to follow, at Newcastle and Ampleforth, on the ensuing Friday and Saturday.  On Sunday 3^rd July, there followed the Ruby Anniversary celebrations of my Priesthood.  Somebody remarked they had likened the events to those of Holy Week – passion and death, preceding resurrection.  Be that as it may, for me, it was most joyful, having many people gathered to celebrate my anniversary; my family had travelled good distances from Sussex, London and Cambridge, and they, together with other visitors from Liverpool and neighbouring parishes, very much added to the occasion.

Fr. Ambrose and Some of the Children,

First Holy Communion Enrolment Mass, 2011

 Bishop Seamus Cunningham presided at the Requiem Mass on Friday 1^st July, at Newcastle. He pointed out, once again, that Bishop Ambrose had wanted his funeral to be a celebration of his life, and not a sad and mournful affair; and so it proved to be.  For those with the facility, it is well worth- while going to the Website of the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, to see the pictures, and hear the sermon of the former Vicar General of the Diocese, Canon Alex Barrass, who preached a beautiful sermon. Two things in particular stood out for me: firstly, Bishop Ambrose’s optimism and his positive outlook about life – he often used the words ‘absolutely splendid’ and ‘marvellous’ about events or situations, though he remained shrewd enough to know what was happening around him in the Diocese. To illustrate this, Fr. Barrass recounted a story of the Bishop visiting a priest who was going blind; he uttered the very same words when he told that father’s sight was liable to be lost –  ‘absolutely splendid’, ‘marvellous’. This priest might have been somewhat disconcerted at this seemingly un-sympathetic remark: later, after losing his sight, he used to recount what Bishop Ambrose had said to him; at the same time, he remained much consoled by narrating the story! Secondly, Canon Barrass said that he had picked up from St. Mary’s Parish bulletin, how towards the end of his life, Bishop Ambrose was too weak to greet many people: “Fr. Ambrose is growing weaker but remains quite lucid. He is very happy to be here in Leyland for his last stages of his journey to the Father. He would like to greet each parishioner personally to thank you, and he sends his blessing to each person. He hopes that we will all meet merrily in heaven.” 

At Ampleforth, on Saturday 2^nd July, the Funeral Mass was a simple and dignified monastic Mass.  It was striking that Fr. Abbot chose the very same readings that we had used for the Requiem, at Leyland, on Thursday 30^th June.  We had asked Fr. Ambrose about his choice of readings for his funeral, and after pausing for thought, not answering for a while, he replied that he would leave the choice to me. As Parishioners will know, I chose the blessing he shared with me, from Ephesians (3.14-21), and then, the last section of St. John’s famous last prayer of Jesus, in Chapter 17 of his Gospel, (verses 20–26). Repeating the words he had used at Leyland only days before, Fr. Abbot asked the people at Ampleforth, to take those two scripture texts and ponder them, because we should all be people of unity – nothing being more important than that – and that our inner selves should thereby be strengthened and so attain the same certain faith as Bishop Ambrose; in this way, and by God’s power, we should all be filled with the utter fullness of God.

First Holy Communion Enrolment Mass, 2011

(Selected Writings from the Greetings of Some of These Children Form the Quite

Wonderful Jubilee Wishes Reproduced at the End of this Blog)

The Ruby Jubilee celebrations came as a kind of ‘resurrection’ after the sadness of parting from Bishop Ambrose. However, though different in character, it fitted in with that ‘sense of joy and thanksgiving’ that Bishop Ambrose wanted for his funeral. There was much joy and laughter. Fr. Egidio preached about the importance of mercy, a legacy given to him at his own ordination, by the future Pope John Paul I, the Bishop at that time, who ordained him. The future Pope assembled all the thirteen young candidates, together, the day before the ordination, and spoke to them in these words: “You are young and enthusiastic now. Do not be surprised if later on in your life you will feel the burden of human fragility in yourselves. Do not be surprised, depressed, unduly worried or shocked by this. We are all fragile human beings, and God will always show you his mercy to help and support you.”  Fr. Egidio then told everyone he would be giving me a book, as his present to me, for my 40^th – and the book, the ‘Diaries of Saint Faustina’, who was the Polish nun, canonised by Blessed John Paul II, because she was the saintly person who promoted this aspect of God – God’s infinite mercy. Fr. Egidio obviously saw that Popes, JP I and JP II, had a spiritual awareness, both as Popes, of the importance of Divine Mercy for our world. This has been my own reflection, also. 

On Sunday, the sun was shining brightly: the celebration in Church was a ‘firework’ of joy, as was the shared lunch afterwards, in the garden, bathed in God’s sunshine. Children played, people chatted and ate and drank and the whole liturgy went on, smoothly, from Church to Garden. At this point, I want to thank, through the auspices of this blog, all who so generously gave me gifts of many different kinds – all of them so greatly appreciated – and the words on the many cards I received, not to mention the large gift of money, of over £1500!  Somebody asked how I hoped to spend it, and, at this moment in time, I am hoping to ask Fr. Abbot, his permission to go on an ecumenical pilgrimage to the Holy Land, next year in March, organised by an Anglican friend from the Focolare Movement. I have had the grace and privilege to go once to the Holy Land; if granted, I hope this second visit may be even better than the first. 

The young children gave me their presents, and these touched my heart, deeply: one was from those who attend little Church, and two others were received from St. Anne’s and St. Mary’s Primary Schools. The words the children wrote bring this blog to an end, no doubt because great wisdom comes from the hearts and minds of young children; clearly, they had not been instructed or told what to write – these thoughts came from them – from their hearts.  There are some pictures alongside the texts; some of the nicest are of me on my ‘bike’ riding around Leyland, some of me vested ready for Mass. 

“To Father Jonathan: thank you for going to be a priest”

“To Father Jonathan: thank you for helping with my holy communion, love xxx

“Dear Farther Jonathan, thank you for all your hard work in Church for 40 years”

“I love Church, Love”

“Thank you for baptising me. Thank you for being kind. Thank you for looking after my mummy. Lots of Love from  xxx”

“I am very happy that you believe in God”.

“Is it good being a priest?”  

My answer to this last is: “It is very good being a priest. Why? Because God becomes very close to you; you feel his Love and He is your best friend; you realise that God has given you a very loving family – rather a large one – because the priest becomes a part of the family of all those parishioners, and other people, he gets to know in a close way. Thus, God himself is not only close, but a priest also loves many people and many people come to love the priest.  Everyone needs to feel they are loved; correspondingly, each of us needs to love others. This Love is given to a priest, to anyone who follows Jesus, hundreds of times more than somebody who does not follow Jesus. So, it is good being a priest; but, remember, anyone can follow Jesus!” 

“God bless you!”

“Happy anniversary. I hope you have lots of fun”.  

The final one is special because it brings all glory to God, and that is as it ought to be. 

“God made this (picture of a cross). Thank you for God, dedicating your life to God. Love”

In e-mailing the blog, ‘Word Press’ tends to distort the original formatting of the document.  Readers may wish to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk to read it in its original format.

Fr. Ambrose’s Requiem:

I write this from the Cathedral House in Newcastle, to share news with you about what has happened here, so far. How proud, all of us should be, for the wonderful ceremonies in the name of Father Ambrose that we have seen, for the Reception of his body into Church, Mass on the evening of the feast of Saints Peter and Pauls, and then our Requiem Mass this Thursday morning. Each one was a bright little jewel, in its own right, and a moment of God. 

These events show how God is working in, and among us, and show us how to continue to put our faith in God, as Fr. Ambrose did so confidently, right up to the last moments of his life. It was only later, I heard, that people were disposed to clap – in honour and gratitude, I imagine – as Fr. Ambrose’s body was leaving Broadfield, in the hearse: I, personally, have never known that to happen, except in St. Paul’s, outside the walls, when the very saintly Chiara Lubich, was carried out of the Basilica, and it was a great joy (and surprise) to hear that this had happened in Leyland. Certainly, he was a man close to God – and, therefore, close to people. 

At 7.00 pm yesterday, his coffin was carried into the Cathedral, here in Newcastle. I am almost sure that, in the hearse, I saw the beautiful white cross of flowers, from all the Parishioners of St. Mary’s. Mounted on a pillar at the Cathedral front, there is a huge photograph of Fr. Ambrose, for all to see, and this makes his presence felt, even more – should that be possible. In number, 40 or so, priests concelebrated with the Bishop, and the aisle of the Cathedral was full. The Abbot, Canon Tony Griffiths and myself were given places of honour, as we took our seats, typical of the graciousness of the Newcastle Church; we were among the few wearing full vestments, and were asked to pray the parts of the Eucharistic Prayer. 

The people prayed for Bishop Ambrose and his family, for the diocese he loved, but also for the parishioners at St. Mary’s, Leyland (a million miles away from the experience of people up here); not so surprising, really, since they realise that so many of us loved Fr. Ambrose, who was not just our Pastor as Parish Priest, later as retired Bishop, but also our personal friend. 

Bishop Seamus Cunningham preached a well-crafted sermon, similar in its theme to the sermon of Fr. Abbot at Leyland, emphasising Fr. Ambrose’s extraordinary humility, kindness and constant encouragement of people. What struck me was the link that Bishop Seamus made with the great saints of the north-east, St. Aidan, St. Bede, St. Cuthbert and others who are felt to be alive, still, up here; he seemed to imply that Bishop Ambrose had continued, in the same vein, as his predecessors, perhaps emphasising this because Fr. Ambrose was also a monk, and so much loved in the diocese. 

After a beautiful Mass, with excellent music – the Cathedral choir are very good indeed – we, clergy, retired for some food; people prayed quietly for 45 minutes, until ‘Compline’ which brought the day to a close. 

As I write, the people are gathering, in numbers, for the Requiem Mass that is due to begin at 12 noon. Apparently, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the Apostolic Nuncio and other bishops will be present. This evening, Friday, there will be a reception of Father’s body, at Ampleforth, and on the morrow, Saturday 2nd July, the Funeral Mass will begin at 11.00, followed by his burial in the vault, close to the Abbey Church. 

May I thank all, who did so much to get everything ready, for the three liturgies at Leyland, held for Bishop Ambrose. This includes every aspect, preparation beforehand, the ceremonies (servers, singers, flowers, cleaners of Church and candle sticks and everything, the wonderful refreshments, the publishing and printing of the booklets, readers, car park attendants and those who carried the coffin, together with the undertakers, who made it all so easy for us; all these, and anybody I may have left out!). May we all grow in our love, as we continue our journey, in faith, after this unique experience, we have lived. 

NOTE:

Rarely in one’s life does one experience the sort of heart-rending, heart-touching events that have occurred in Leyland in the last few days?  I have no doubt that, even now, they are being repeated in the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese.  Most surely, they will be repeated again tomorrow, Saturday, at Ampleforth.  I say ‘rarely’, and advisedly so, for perhaps that is God’s way of giving us something very precious to punctuate our lives.  If it were to be that they happened more often, then their very special meaning – and the lessons we learn from them – would lose much of their impact.

Father Ambrose was a very special kind of man – monk, priest and bishop.  The evidence from the last few weeks – the services in Leyland, Newcastle and Ampleforth, the tributes that have been paid in spoken and written form, personally, documented, and those that have found their way to the Internet – all speak of a very much beloved friend and pastor.  We shall not see his like again.

When I heard that Father Ambrose had died – quite peacefully on the afternoon of Tuesday, 14^th June, this year  – my response was immediate and spontaneous, to the effect that there was now no further need to pray for him, as he was no longer suffering the long and painful good-bye to this mortal coil, but was now in heaven, with Jesus, the love of his whole life.   Father Ambrose now looks down on all of us who loved him – we are now in his thoughts and prayers, as we were when he lay on his death-bed – as we were when he said his good-bye to his Parish from his wheel-chair, on the weekend of the 4/5 June; few will ever forget his words of encouragement, of love, and of prayer for us all – and this despite his pain, his weakness and in the full knowledge of his impending death.  As I said just a little while ago, we shall not see his like again!

But, we can all be grateful to Father, (and to Almighty God), for his life, for his character and the gifts that he had in plenty; more than this, we can be grateful for the example he leaves us – one of love, unending, for the Holy Trinity, for Our Lady and for the saints he has now followed – to a life of eternal peace and happiness in heaven.  What more can one say, except perhaps, thank you, dear Father Ambrose. God bless!

Socius

In e-mailing the blog, ‘Word Press’ tends to distort the original formatting of the document.  Readers may wish to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk to read it in its original format.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12: 2) 

Over this past month, this extract from St. Paul to the Romans has grown in its meaning for me. It is taken from this month’s ‘Word of Life’, an extract taken by people, all over the world, on which to focus for the entire month; the idea, then, is to try to focus on it, especially in ‘one’s life’; the idea, also, given the chance by God’s grace, is then to share what the ‘Word of Life’ might be doing in ‘your life’ with others who might meet in a small group for this very purpose. 

The idea began with Chiara Lubich, and her companions, when they wanted to give their lives to God.  It was 1943 and in the midst of such serious bombing of their home town (Trent, North East Italy – famous for the Council of Trent in the mid-16^th Century), that they feared they would not live to see another day.  So, they asked themselves, where, or what was it, that lasts in life – that does not just disappear, and their answer? They concluded, what they already knew, that the only reality that does not pass away, is God himself. The ‘Word of God’ brings ‘life’, as it has done, for me, this June. The Word of God, lived and experienced – not just studied, academically – brings us into relationship with God, who is always there for us; also, it can bring us to a state of ‘in communion’ with others, whoever they might be. 

Apart from concentrating, and letting, these Gospel words sink in to my heart and mind, on three occasions, I have been able to share the true meaning of them with others, and, in that sharing, those words, truly, became ‘life-giving’. The first occasion arose with a group of men in Religious Life, like myself, the second, in a prison, sharing with some of the unfortunate prisoners; the third was with a small group of parishioners.   What struck home was the way in which St. Paul clearly contrasts the two concepts: ‘conforming’ to this world – something to be avoided – and ‘transformation’, so that one’s mind can ‘discern’ what is good, acceptable and perfect. 

My experience of life teaches me that it is too easy, even as a priest and a monk, to conform to this world, in its attitudes, and its spirit. It is all too easy to become enclosed in a little ‘bubble’ of self-concern, without being ‘open’ to the needs of each day, and each day’s varying challenges. Even sitting alone, in front of the computer, can cut a person off from what God might really want of me. Driving in my car, alone, selfishly wanting to get the best parking place, or being determined not to ‘let the other driver in’ – that ‘so-and-so’ who is trying to turn in to my lane – is so easy.  Wanting my own way of doing things, and not being ‘in communion’, with what others around me, might want, at all; on top of such self-centred actions, are the limitations of forgetfulness, sometimes necessary hard work, which may be so absorbing that God, himself, is neglected – and never mind others! These negative realisations are the results of life experience; it is not theory, or books, that bring one to the knowledge that there is but ‘ONE REALITY’ that does not change; life, itself, is the teacher – and what we all experience – shows us that the ‘One Reality’ is God our Father; we can then respond to the gift of God’s presence in our lives; we can then allow Him to come into our lives and enlighten us. 

I rejoice that, very recently, we have, at last, been able to restore the Angelus Bell, at our Church. At 12 noon, and at 6.00 pm, the Bell faithfully rings out, and I have found myself going back to the practice we had at school – stopping everything – to focus on what really matters. 

Concentrating on what really matters takes me, at the same time, to the fact that we, in our Parish, are still mourning the death of Bishop Ambrose, and, for those interested, it may be enlightening to enter the website www.frambrose.org.uk  set up, and linked to our Parish website, to read the truly positive impact, this good man made, on so many different people.  From that site, I very much like the tribute below, written by a Colombian priest and friend; Father Luis Fernando Carvajal got to know Father Ambrose and myself last year, as a visitor to the Parish: his writing echoes the thread of my reflections in this blog: 

“I was thinking that from heaven Ambrose will continue to help you; because if this is what he did while he was on earth, we cannot begin to imagine the things he will now do next to God; I find myself imagining the graces you will begin to receive from heaven thanks to his intercession. Graces that you will receive as parish priest, and graces that all parishioners will receive, because he knew how to look after them all as a Bishop of course, but above all because of his great humility. I am not saying this because I have read it in some book, or from some theory in my head; it comes from my experience that I also had when my dear mother died, and also since my sister recently died. In the short time that I knew him, he gave me such a good impression, for his humility, and for the “little tasks” I saw him doing for others. Now is the time not to pray for him; rather we should pray with him as he is surely before God at the heavenly liturgy.” 

(In forwarding this blog by e-mail, the programme distorts the original formatting of the document.  Readers are, therefore, advised to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk should they wish to read it in its original format). 

“May you always be filled with the gift of God’s Holy Spirit… ..” It was with these words that, just a few days before, Father Ambrose gave us his blessing. Then, Bishop Ambrose (he preferred Fr. Ambrose) died peacefully on Tuesday at 3pm. Somebody said that God took him at the same time as Jesus left this earth, after his agony on the cross.  Seeing my friend, Ambrose, some ten minutes after his death – my companion, Fr. Paul, and I, got the news as we were driving to the hospice, knowing that his passing was near – we were struck by the fact that in the stillness of death, he seemed to be asleep.  It was a moment of grief, for me and others present, who loved him, and yet, remember the eighth station of the cross, and Jesus’ words to the weeping ‘Daughters of Jerusalem’: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children”. (Luke 23: 28).

 This morning’s Divine Office of Reading has the following beautiful psalm, and if Fr. Ambrose had still been alive, he would have been the first to the Chapel at Leyland, there waiting for the rest of us monks and laity, to gather and pray with him. In Psalm 89 (90), the ‘Grail’ edition of the Breviary seems to accentuate the poetry and imagery that, I imagine, describes the essence of the Hebrew original:

O Lord you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

Before the mountains were born, or the earth or the world brought forth,

You are God, without beginning or end. 

You turn men back into dust and say: ‘Go back, sons of men.’

To your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone, no more than a watch in the night. 

You sweep men away like a dream, like grass which springs up in the morning.

In the morning it springs up and flowers: by evening it withers and fades.

 So we are destroyed in your anger; struck with terror in your fury.

Our guilt lies open before you; our secrets in the light of your face. 

All our days pass away in your anger. Our life is over like a sigh.

Our span is seventy years or eighty for those who are strong. 

And most of these are emptiness and pain. They pass swiftly and we are gone.

Who understands the power of your anger and fears the strength of your fury? 

Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Lord relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants. 

In the morning fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days.

Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. 

Show forth your work to your servants; let your glory shine on their children.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands,

give success to the work of our hand. 

Last Saturday evening was the Vigil of Pentecost. The local body of monks, who come together, at this time, to pray the Divine Office of Readings, decided that we would gather in Father Ambrose’s room at the hospice, and pray together with him. This was something we had been doing, in his room, in-so- far as it was possible, while he was still with us at Leyland, for the different ‘Offices’ of the day. At the end of our prayers, someone asked Father Ambrose if he would give us his blessing; this, to all of us gathered, was a very special moment. Here was our brother monk, by God’s gift chosen to be a successor to the Apostles as the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, 1992 to 2004, gathering all his energy to bless us – we  whom he had also served – friend and contemporary, for many years, in our monastic life. 

He thought about this request, and one could see it was not easy for him to focus his mind as, by this time he was weak, physically and mentally;  then, from the depths of the silence, came these words: 

“May you always be filled with the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, and may he teach you to love one another always and be filled with the joy of his Love so that you become more and more united, and may God bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.  

It is said that the last of the apostles to die was St. John, and that at the end of his long life, in the frailty of old age, his constant prayer and blessing for the few and insignificant number of first Christians was that they “love each other”.  

This experience has been one that, I hope, I never forget, that its lesson will never be lost on me. People have such different temperaments and attitudes. In fact, people have said, about Fr. Ambrose and me, that we are so different, as to be like ‘chalk and cheese’. His meticulous ways, his focus on what he was doing, his clarity of thought, and his scientific ways were simply not mine. My mind, my character is not laid out that way and, in fact, I know that I was sometimes the source of some irritation for him. Yet we ‘got on’ better and better, as time went on. His blessing came from a profoundly lived – and living – experience. 

His blessing also reminds me of St. Paul and his famous Chapter on Love, (1 Corinthians).  I am told that there are some members of our own Church, who write very critically, and with a tone of bitterness and cynicism, about what is happening in the Church, locally; some were evenly disposed to write words, in the same vein, about our deceased brother, when he was, then,  Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. I suppose it is not surprising, in our modern world, when people feel so strongly that they are right and believe they know what the Holy Spirit wants for the Church, that they pronounce in this way. In a much more positive way, the words of St. Paul, and those of Fr. Ambrose, are a help for me: 

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things.       (1 Cor. 13, 4-7). 

(Unfortunately, in sending out this blog by e-mail, ‘Word Press’ distorts the original formatting of the document.  Readers are, therefore, advised to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk should they wish to read it in its intended format).

When you think about it, our human condition is pretty fragile. We are often troubled by vacant, empty minds and, at times, we do not know quite what to say, what to think, or what to do, in a variety of differing circumstances. We are surrounded by a world which is described in the first letter of St. John as being “….. under the power of the evil one”, (1 John, 19), and so it is not surprising that, sometimes, we are simply not able to think, speak or act, in an appropriate way; it is at times like this that we can easily be swayed to speak and act inappropriately; often, it is then that we act contrary to God’s Love and his Law.

Saints live in this very same world; not from nature, but by an act of will, they choose to be different, by the grace of God, and in their response to that grace. A friend of mine was telling me of the joy, he and his wife experienced, looking at the lives of two saints, on film, that one can view in roughly 10 minute episodes, on the Internet’s ‘Utube’.

SS. John Bosco and Padre Pio

The two are St. John Bosco and Padre Pio, and recently, I have had the chance to watch the whole of the long film on John Bosco (the founder of the Salesians), also the first two episodes on the life of Padre Pio. Both were remarkable men, and even as young boys, both were clearly marked as ‘different’; already, both felt some special relationship with God. (Anyone who wishes, should they desire, can mirror my actions and open up ‘Utube’ on the Web, and find these films in the ‘video section’. They are very professionally produced). 

As a young boy, Francesco Forgione of Pietralcina (the future Padre Pio) according to the biography in Wikipedia, is portrayed as having a close relationship with Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The article states: 

“It is claimed by his mother that Francesco was able to see and speak with Jesus, the Virgin Mary and his guardian angel, and that as a child, he assumed that all people could do so. As a youth Pio claimed to have experienced heavenly visions and ecstasies.” 

In the film, he is shown, one day, minding the sheep in the fields, when a Cappuchin Friar, Brother Casimiro, ‘stumbles’ across him and they become friends. The conversation turns to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and, in a charming scene, the little boy asks Casimiro if he had talked with these members of the Holy Family? “No, I don’t have that direct privilege” he replied. “Oh, I talk to them a lot, and I’ll ask them to make themselves known to you”, replies Francesco. Later, it becomes apparent that it was the example of Brother Casimiro that inspires the young boy to become a Cappuchin himself. 

In his Encyclical Letter ‘Spe Salvi’ (Hope of the Saved, referring to Rom. 8:24) Pope Benedict asks the important question: “What sort of hope could ever justify the statement that, on the basis of that hope, and the implication that, because it exists, we are redeemed?” 

 St. Josephine Bakhita

 He explains what this hope could be, using other texts from Scripture, together with good and easy to follow, simple arguments, but the best explanation, for me, is given by a short outline of the life of an African saint – recently canonised by Pope John Paul II – Josephine Bakhita, (1849-1947), who was a young Sudanese girl, enslaved, incredibly badly treated, flogged unmercifully and sold on five different occasions. Most people would have ‘given up on life’ with that kind of record, but not Josephine; through God’s providence, she was brought to Italy, where eventually, she became a Christian and later entered the Order of the Canossian Sisters. Recognised as having lived a long and holy life, she was canonised on 1^st October 2000. 

I suspect that everyone can be lifted out of their misery, if they follow the call of God in their hearts, but, for this to happen, there needs to be a loving culture – I think of it as a ‘support mechanism’ – if one is to overcome the terrible distortions that abusive evil can practise on the mind and heart of a person.  Both John Bosco, and Padre Pio, had very difficult early lives, in that they were bullied and suffered severe poverty; they did, however, have the advantages of knowing the one true God, and of living in families, where God’s presence was recognised, lived out and shared. Even people, in our time, who have lost all sense of purpose and joy in life, can be lifted into a new existence of love, peace, joy and of ‘giving’ in order to ‘find’ the true meaning of their lives. 

We, in the Priory at Leyland, have the continuing privilege of accompanying Father Ambrose, on his last journey. He is also a living witness to that hope which is an assurance of redemption. In his company, we are surrounded by – conscious of – true witness to the presence of God.  Despite being, more or less in bed and immobile, all day – despite the long hours of waiting, hours of exhausted sleep, there are punctuating moments of ‘palpable’, conscious awareness, in which great encouragement, unbreakable hope and trust in God, and love for those who have come to see him, manifest Fr. Ambrose’s response to his condition, that of suffering from an aggressive form of leukaemia. No!  I am not attempting to ‘canonise’ Fr. Ambrose, but I am witnessing to the great things God has worked through him; there are innumerable cards and letters of appreciation from people all over Britain – from different denominations – that refer to the effect he has had on their lives. It would have been a gift – to any parish – to have had a successor of the Apostles among its people; but this, has been our situation, for the past seven years, in Leyland.  Father Ambrose’s personal dedication, to God alone, is a great witness. 

The saints, by their example, show us a different way to live. It is well worthwhile learning from them! 

(In sending out this blog by e-mail, ‘Word Press’ distorts the original formatting of the document.  Readers are, therefore, advised to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk should they wish to read it in its intended format).

We are getting ready for Pentecost. This feast is not so much the ‘coming’ of the Holy Spirit as the celebration of the fact that God, the Holy Spirit, is already with us; this is because he first came, at Pentecost, to those apostles and disciples in the ‘Upper Room’. He has remained with us ever since.

At celebrations in Church, be they weddings, baptisms or funerals, people often sing “Make me a channel of Your Peace”.  

St. Francis of Assisi was the inspiration behind this lovely hymn; it contains the wonderful words: ‘… it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, in giving that we receive, and in dying that we gain eternal life’. These phrases echo the Gospel with the words of Jesus: “… unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit” (John 12: 24); “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 16: 25), “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven”. (Luke 6: 37). 

If one gives of self, one is already dying to selfishness that is inherent in each person; moreover, in return, one receives – receives a great deal more. Sometimes, perhaps, it may feel as though it is NOT worth giving of self; many first ask the question: “Why should I be a ‘doormat’ for others to wipe their feet on?” No! It ought not to be like that – and if it is – then talk about it, to someone who is an integrated and happy person, one who can advise. Above all, it isn’t for the receiving that a person does the dying to self: it is simply the consequence of the love – given freely – without thought of, or asking for, anything in return. Having made these points, it is wise for a person to take good care of him or herself, so as not to give so much that they neglect themselves and damage their future power to give. A holiday can be an act of love for others, if it recreates in them their power to give.

Very recently, I have experienced the great joy of being able to give my time to Fr. Ambrose, a sick brother and good friend, who is very ill, and may well be making the last part of his particular ‘holy journey’. This gifted experience entailed losing a lot of sleep to stay up with him, as he was so very ill, and I found this tiring. However, during the night – on two occasions, for four hours in total – it was a special blessing to feel close to those who we have been thinking about – praying to – to support Fr. Ambrose in his sickness. One such is Blessed John Paul II, recently beatified. He was the instigator of the ‘Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary’, and praying those decades, that night, in the sleeping company of Father Ambrose, somehow made Pope John Paul II seem much closer to me. It was as though he was in the room with me, and I was talking to him. What a gift that was, and with it, an enduring reassurance that all will be well, even though I will miss Ambrose, greatly, when he passes from this world to the next. But, apart from all that, it is very wonderful to witness his serenity and happiness as he approaches his meeting with the Lord. This serenity is just another joyful gift of God, among so many we receive each day – if we are receptive to them. 

Perhaps, I may add a further example? A difficult task was given to me in these recent days; this was to tell a 95 years old lady that her son was very seriously ill. In my mind, at the time of the conversation, I thought that he may never come out of hospital again; subsequently, that proved to be wrong. However, the decision to go and tackle this difficult task, getting help from others, who know both mother and son, proved to be a moment of great comfort and joy. I thought it best to pass on the sad news, in the context of giving Holy Communion to this devout, and good Catholic mother. She was very pleased to receive Jesus in Communion, and, with the support of my two caring lady companions, both of whom knew her well, she was able to face her tragic situation with surprising calmness. In fact, she said: “You had a hard task, coming to tell me this news; thank you, very much. Nothing will take away the togetherness we have, because of what you have done!” I felt so grateful, for such wisdom, from a simple and beautiful lady, coming to terms with an illness of a son who is the ‘light’ of her life. It was another very special and joyful gift of the Holy Spirit. 

We talk a lot about God being Love: it is perfectly true, but Love always involves more than one. Essentially, it indicates a relationship. Only in a relationship can we find the true meaning and goodness of life – in that relationship with God – in that relationship with others. These are the real gifts that God wants to give, when you, and I, first respond to Him by beginning to trust in Him, by knowing, loving and serving Him, in all my particular circumstances of life. These gifts are God’s reply to our initial and continuing response to Him, the effect of the relationship. When we fail to give of self, stay locked-in to our self-centred ego, we will never receive any of these gifts – gifts that He longs to pour out on us. 

(Unfortunately, in sending out this blog by e-mail, ‘Word Press’ distorts the original formatting of the document.  Readers are, therefore, advised to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk should they wish to read it in its intended format).

Whilst writing this I am mindful of the fact that it just happens to be a bit late in the day; in another sense, the ‘horse has almost bolted’, but then a very old adage points out, quite rightly, that it may be better to act late, rather than never.  Having said all that, something a week ago  ‘kick-started’ my brain into action, and the thoughts ‘raining down’ into my mind focussed on Our Lady and her month – the month of May.

Looking back over the years, often with ‘rose-tinted’ spectacles, is something older people do, and I find myself no exception.  In the ‘days of yore’, it seems to me that the month of May was always blessed with fine, warm and sunny weather, the flowers in the gardens, the fields and the hedgerows always so beautiful and we, as children, loved to play out in the month of May, not only for all that, but because it was a very happy month dedicated to Our Blessed Lady.  As Catholics, the Church, and churches through England and many parts of the world, celebrated the Month of Our Lady with prayers and devotions, with the May processions and the Crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven.  I can remember, as if it were only yesterday, the (often large) congregations walking in procession, inside and, weather permitting, outside the church, carrying the statue of Our Lady about to be ‘crowned’, young girls – ladies even – dressed in white, preceding the statue carried shoulder high, strewing flower petals in her path and the singing of some the most beautiful hymns I ever heard in church, for example: 

Bring flowers of the rarest,
Bring blossoms the fairest,
From garden and woodland and hillside and dale;
Our full hearts are swelling,
Our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest flower of the vale.

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May,
O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May. 

From Greek and Roman times, May was very much connected with the idea of new life – the season of new beginnings. In Greek culture, May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fruitfulness. In Roman culture, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of bloom, of blossoms. The Romans celebrated their ‘Floral Games’ at the end of April, asking the intercession of Flora for all that blooms. This is also related to the medieval practice of saying goodbye to winter.  May Day – the first day of May – remember the dancing around the’ May-Pole’ – was considered the beginning of spring-time, of new growth, and all this is reflected in the person of Mary. The month of May was – and still is – traditionally dedicated to Mary, throughout many cultures, and the reason is not hard to find.  Mary gave birth to Jesus and a new way of life for the world. 

For the early Church, we know that devotions to Our Blessed Lady go back all the way to the times of the Apostles, the first Christians and their immediate descendants.   Saint Peter Chrysologus (c.380-c.450), Bishop and Doctor, whose feast is held July 30, was convinced of the necessity of devotion to Mary.  He wrote the following powerful words almost 1,600 years ago: 

“He who is not awestruck by this Virgin’s spirit and who does not admire her soul is ignorant of how great God is. Heaven trembles, angels quake, creation cannot bear it, nature is helpless—yet a girl carries God in her womb; she receives Him into herself and offers Him a dwelling place.”  

As long ago as in medieval times, it seems that some nations of Europe made the connection between Our Lady and her month – the month of May.  In the early days, certain feasts were dedicated to Our Lady in May, and then later, in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the cultures of Spain, Italy and France introduced the idea of dedicating the whole month to Mary.

Daily devotions to Our Lady began, I think in Italy, in the 19 Century, and many churches held the daily recitation of the Rosary and other prayers to Mary.  The highlight of the month was the procession and the crowning of Our Lady’s statue. The important thing was that Mary should be honoured in a special way. At one time, our domestic celebrations of the month of May were widespread. In more recent times, many homes used to set up a small May altar in honour of Our Lady.  Some of our most lovely prayers are dedicated to her.  I am thinking of the Prayer for England and the ‘Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy’, and think to myself that, sadly, we do not seem to recite these, as a congregation, quite as often as once it was our joy so to do. 

So, what has happened in the intervening years?  Crowning processions – the May processions – prayers to Our Lady, the weekly praying of the Rosary before Benediction, even the singing of hymns to Our Lady – all of these devotions do not happen these days; if they do, they are a rarity!  I find myself unable to provide meaningful answers to such questions.  Nor can I understand, why it should be that our concentration appears to have shifted direction – not entirely, away from Mary, the Mother of God, but as congregations go, our devotions do not seem to include her, as once they did. In the main, she is left to our minds and hearts – as individuals – in private prayer. 

I conclude with the Prayer for England, composed by Cardinal Wiseman – one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard – and we used to say it every week without fail, many years ago: 

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother look down in mercy upon England, thy dowry, and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus, our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.  Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross, O Sorrowful Mother, Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold, they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.  Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith, fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee in our heavenly home.  Amen. 

Perhaps, because of its connotations of ‘Oneness’ ‘Trueness’ and aspects of separatism, we no longer recite this prayer; certainly, in making this point, I applaud the massive steps that have been taken to bring the different Christian churches closer together and intend no offence, whatsoever.  But, to return to Our Lady and her Month of May, I still wonder what we have done with the devotions to Our Lady as time has gone by?

(Unfortunately, in sending out this blog by e-mail, ‘Word Press’ distorts the original formatting of the document.  Readers are, therefore, advised to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk should they wish to read it in its intended format).

Socius

(1)    Introduction

I like this blog and its approach. I have thought about it a lot since it was brought to my attention. Furthermore, there is a very well written article in the ‘Tablet’, this week that is also on this theme. This explains how, in the past, the Americans have acted against their enemies, usually by capturing them and taking them alive. 

I am not an intellectual, nor necessarily good with arguments, but here some simple extra thoughts in my head. 

1. As a child I was taught that ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’, and it seems to apply in this case of ‘summary execution’ which is comparable to the American ‘cowboy’ films when the local townspeople tie up the sheriff and take the law into their own hands. That seems to be what happened to Osama Bin Laden as is implied in the blog below; it is also analogous to the actions of the Klu Klux Clan in USA. Sadly, such things could also happen in the UK!
2. The words of Jesus are very strong: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, if a person strikes you on one cheek offer him the other”, etc. etc. That is nothing like the motives behind revenge killing.
3. I am well aware that criminals ought to face justice – justice according to the law. Today I was with somebody who has served a short prison sentence, and being a man of honour, this man said – I deserved to be punished for what I did. Osama should have been punished. How? I do not know, and I agree that it would have been a very tricky situation had he remained alive. However…… there are all these questions in peoples’ heads about what happened.
4. I have asked several people today about this: most of them knew who I am, and so they see me as a Catholic priest, but one conversation was striking.  The lady had no idea who I was, and we talked about this matter: I was not wearing clericals.  She said clearly: “If we summarily kill Osama Bin Laden, then we are only acting in the way he acted towards us”.

Father Jonathan

(2)    The Blog 

Now that all the excitement at the death of Osama Bin Laden has died down just a little, I have to ask the question as to whether it can ever be morally right to take pleasure at the death of another human being.  When the news of his ‘killing’ hit the news in the early part May, I actually raised the subject with a friend, and posed the question as to the moral righteousness of communities, peoples, even nations taking part in what can only be described as a furore of rejoicing in the downfall – the death – of a man.  Osama was No. 1 on the international ‘wanted’ list, a hated terrorist, thought by millions of people to be the brains behind – perhaps even involved directly in the planning – of the most despicable and diabolical attack on the American people, when hi-jacked planes were flown into New York’s Twin Towers.

There is little doubt that he was full of hate for the West and all its ideologies – that he had threatened to use his power in an effort to destroy the Western powers in some kind of retaliation for the way in which they had treated Islam – and that he was behind the formation of the terrorist group called al-Qaeda.

As to his death itself, the news items since broadcast seem to be pointing to the fact that Osama was not armed when located at his villa refuge in Pakistan, and although it is said he resisted the American Forces’ attempts to arrest him, I wonder if this act, in itself, sounds much more like an execution than a lawful killing.  I am not sure that we will ever know the full truth. 

Having gone thus far, I can now hear the vociferous voices raised against me and these few comments above.  I can almost feel the outrage than many will be shouting – feeling – at my unwarranted – and unwanted – interference.  I can hear the question being asked: “How can you be so stupid – you were not involved in the incidence of the horror and the aftermath of New York’s 9/11 – so shut up and let us get on with wiping Osama from the face of the earth, and from all living memory.”  I can hear those who were involved, and related to, those where were murdered and maimed in the London Bombings, in July 2005, asking the question: “Where were you when this mass murder occurred?”  I can then hear you say; “Grow up, get some common sense – get a taste of all that – you must be soft in the head!”  The last decade has been full of international terrorist attacks in many parts of the world, America, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Middle East, the Far East, India and Pakistan, and, although it would be hard to prove the direct connection, the International Community seems to be convinced, from the evidence it has, that the al-Qaeda Group is behind many of these attacks.  “So where will the ‘softly, softly’ legal approach to such a group and its methods likely to take us?”  The answer of the ‘mob’ would be that this is not the way to deal with terrorists and the threats they pose to the international community of nations.  I think the most popular answer is that all such evil people should be condemned to hell, forthwith, and good riddance! 

I can find nothing inside of my heart and mind that could ever be thought supportive, in any way, of terrorism or terrorists.  All of such activity is steeped in evil and I don’t care what ideological cover- name you give it. However, on reflection, it was the mob that cried out for the crucifixion of Jesus, and Jesus gave us one or two choice pointers to the right way to deal with such questions. In the first instance, he warned us not to judge others, as this was not our place, but God’s, and went on to say that those who judge will face judgement themselves.  He refused to condemn Mary Magdalene and offered the first stone to the one that was without sin. And, try as I might, I cannot picture Jesus jumping up and down for joy should the crowd have chosen Barabbas for execution – instead of himself – that was certainly not his style!  Can it ever be right for other mere humans to judge, when we cannot objectively be certain of his, or her, guilt, and even if we could, we cannot possibly know what passed through their minds and hearts, at the very instance of their deaths – what intimacy transpired between their minds and their God, as they gave up life on this mortal coil.  Did they say sorry?  Did they ask for forgiveness? Unless we were to know such things, how can we condemn?  I wonder! 

The ‘bottom line’ is, in my view, that anything to do with the perpetration of terror is wrong and unsupportable.  Any act of terror that can be proved to result from the actions of a terrorist is evil in itself, and any allegations of such evil actions against a known person, once caught, should be the subject of a fair trial according to International Law.  It follows, that, on conviction, any sentence must be one awarded in accordance with that jurisdiction.  This is what International Law demands.  It does not give licence for unlawful killing, and nor does it, in my view, applaud the rather unseemly rejoicing at the killing of a terrorist group leader – Bin Laden – et al. 

Socius

(3)    A Short Statement from the Vatican 

 The Vatican has said that a Christian ‘never rejoices’ in the face of someone’s death, even if that person has committed heinous crimes. The comment came as part of a short response to the worldwide news that Osama bin Laden, taken to be a key al-Qaida leader, had been killed by US forces in Pakistan, according to a statement made by President Barack Obama.  The Vatican described ‘bin Laden’ as a man who sowed division and hatred and who caused ‘innumerable’ deaths, and said his demise should prompt serious reflection about human responsibility before God.

A Christian ‘never rejoices’ in the face of a man’s death, the Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said in a brief statement this morning (2 May 2011). Peace not hatred should be what we seek in all events, he declared. An English translation of his statement was released by the Catholic Church, and reads as follows:

“Osama bin Laden, as we all know, bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions for this purpose.   

“In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred.” 

(Unfortunately, in sending out this blog by e-mail, ‘Word Press’ distorts the original formatting of the document.  Readers are, therefore, advised to visit the website www.stmarysblog.co.uk should they wish to read it in its intended format).