and thanks to Claire Bangasser at ASeat At the Table Blog for an additional link to a full review of this remarkable film and an extra clip from it and it is great that Claire is staying in the French region where one of the priests featured in the film came from.
November is a month most associated with a key Christian behaviour—Remembrance: and we start it off with All Saints Day when the Church commemorates all saints, known and unknown.
Saints !! - God knows, the church has plenty of them.
The graphic above is unusual as the saints don't have haloes , but can you identify them by their tools ? The Church is referred to as the ‘living stones’ or as ‘the body of Christ’. so we might expect to find more saints in the church than elsewhere but experience tells me that it is not always so.
“Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Look inside and see all the people…....
But we all know that all the people inside the church are not all saints
and all the saints are not always found inside the church...
Who was it said that the only disgrace about Christianity is that we are not all saints ?!
I have vivid memories of being taught about the saints at school. Just about every day was dedicated to one. I was taught to think of the saints as part of my extended family "doing things for me up there in heaven ", a source of inspiration for times when I needed help or to pray to for specific needs.
I remember when younger taking great delight in the fact that St Jude was a designated Saint for desperate cases and lost causes.
St Anthony was always on call for lost items but when found they cost - a few pence in the box were duly paid.
There was something attractive as a child learning about the lives of the saints, as they offered an invitation and gift for a spiritual journey ; a deep well of certain comfort to draw on in uncertain times.
The saints taught me about the way God worked in the world;
most importantly they opened my eyes to realise that my life was not just about me and my needs but that it was only worth something if I used my talents for the benefit of others.
Where did I go wrong ?!
I learnt that Saints were exceptional "others", people set apart with a mantle of holiness that could always be spotted in the paintings by a floating halo.
I remember when we had to pick a Saint's name at confirmation and it dawned on us that our choice meant we had to actually live out some of these virtues and then for some of us came a relief of sorts when the church later struck off some of the saints from the official calendar. Saints do miracles.
All martyrs are saints.
Halos appear in Indian and Islamic art too and sometimes deities were surrounded by aureoles of flame.
In this Medieval manuscript on the left Muhammed leads Abrahamam, Moses and Jesus, all surrounded by flames of fire.
The Hindu Goddess Shiva
Buddha and halo
So today it gives me great comfort to remember that we are surrounded by the "great cloud of witnesses",
all the saints, the disciples and Jesus, those magnificent men in their flying saucer machine haloes. We don’t often make room for the honouring of ancestors or valuing what connection to the stories of our past might bring to us.
For me, the month of November is an important time for honouring the Communion of Saints because it means recognizing that the lives lived before mine matter now.
It means remembering that there is ancient wisdom wrought from generations of engagement and struggle with life.
It means I can call upon those who have confronted the great mystery of being and belief across the stretches of time.
Above Communion of Saints by Ira Thomas It allows me to make space within me to feel the presence of a sacred thread that ties me to everyone in my ancestral past.
It reminds me of this from St Therese of Lisieux
Every Second
What a treasure this life is!
Every second belongs to eternity.
It means I pay attention to all the wounds and unfulfilled longings, the hopes and dreams of everyone who came before me.
Learning their stories means I come to know my own more intimately.
Some of these stories I may know the details of, and some I may only experience in an intuitive way. but these memories live inside of me, waiting for me to give them room in my life.
Before the formal canonization process began in the fifteenth century, many saints were proclaimed by popular approval.
This was a much faster process but unfortunately many of the saints so named were based on legends, pagan mythology, or other religions --
In 1969, the Church took a long look at all the saints on its calendar to see if there was historical evidence that that saint existed and lived a life of holiness. In taking that long look, the Church discovered that there was little proof that many "saints", ever lived.
Christopher was one of the names that was determined to have a basis mostly in legend. Therefore St Christopher (and others) were dropped from the universal calendar.
Amazing !! As I was writing this post a serendipitous moment arrived in the post just as I was writing this post...
In it was a wonderful card with a picture of St Philomena on it from my friend Fran Rossi Szpylzyn (link to her blog There Will Be Bread from here) : strange eh ?!!
Fran visited the Cathedral of Our Lady Los Angeles from where the photo on the left is taken . In the nave are wonderful woven tapestries of The Communion of Saints- and yes, Philomena is in there somewhere , and I thought I was demoted !!
Blessings and Many thanks to you Fran. Peace be With You !
Perhaps it is not by chance that All Saints Day coincides with the moments of the"great turning of the year" that begins on the first of November.
In the Northern hemisphere the world enters the dark half of the year.
The ancient Celts believed this time was a thin space, where heaven and earth whispered to one another across a luminous veil and those who walked before us are especially accessible in these late autumn days.
As the earth prepares to enter winter, she sheds what she no longer needs and moves inward.
We live in a world illuminated by artificial light and so we often forget the wisdom to be gained from being in darkness.
I love the summer and I resist the call of winter , this time for fallowness, a time to shed what I no longer need and move inward , and to take time to contemplate what mortality means.
The darkness of this season invites me to release all of my certainties about how God works in the world, and sink into the deep unknowing.
The apophatic way is the way of darkness in Christian spirituality and has a deep and rich tradition among the mystics, including Meister Eckhart and St John of the Cross.
When I enter the wisdom of the night I discover that God is so much larger than what I can imagine and that the call to a mature spirituality has more to do with surrendering my attachments than in gaining enlightenment.
I live in a world where certainties about God lead so often to the impulse behind violent acts and the violation of people's dignity.
Perhaps if we all recognized that the way of unknowing was the necessary complement to the way of images and knowing, we would act with more humility and be less willing to speak for God.
Our ancestors have passed over into the Great Night and they call to us across the threshold to release our tight grip on what we think we know.
Each of us has concentric rings to our stories --
my own story as a Catholic is embedded in the story of my family, which is nestled in the story of my parents' families, and so on back through generations.
The month of November is a time of anamnesis, a time to remember and give thanks ,
to pay homage to the spiral cords of our being that bind us all in time.
When I think about the saints I remind myself that life is not all about me.
Most saints are reluctant to admit it.
Now 92, Nelson Mandela ,a global icon, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle against the white-minority apartheid government in South Africa, says in his book Conversations with Myself he doesn’t want to be remembered as a larger-than-life saint.
“One issue that deeply worried me in prison was the false image I unwittingly projected to the outside world; of being regarded as a saint."
So what can I learn from the lives of all the saints ? - that I have a responsibility beyond myself ;-
that my individual world is too small just to live it for my own selfish needs ;-
that I am called to participate in God's world not as a bystander but to extend hospitality beyond my small existence.
that the saints are alive and close to us here and now !
Few of us will be eligible to be saints but we can all share a tiny part of ourselves in the service of all the Saints and ultimately with Christ Himself.
May God bless us all this month as we begin to prepare for Advent once again. May all the Saints help us to remember and prepare for the great moment of the Incarnation,
a precious moment amid the chaos of daily life,
connecting our past with the present so that all people may have a future.
A few factoids on Saints and Haloes
Pope John Paul II canonized an extraordinary number of saints - 464 in all. In contrast, all other Popes of the 20th century canonized only 98 combined.
Find out about what makes a saint and how the process of canonisation works from here
Mass readings for today are here. The gospel says ... "Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough."
There are two types of gates in the walls surrounding the Holy City of Jerusalem; the wider gate is where all can enter and the ‘people-only’ narrow gate (kheta) where only a single person can squeeze in.
It was a primitive security measure, to prevent the mass influx of an enemy that might possibly lay siege to Jerusalem.
You cannot bring your baggage with you through the narrow gate ..
That baggage ... what could it be ?
There is some help from C.S. Lewis who wrote:
"Lord of the narrow gate and the needle's eye,
Take from me all my trumpery lest I die."
Yes, all the worries, self pride, performance anxiety just won't work.
"After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.’
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
The gospel says
"And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
The first video is beautifully filmed and acted and is funny, heartbreaking and heart warming !!
The second video is just a trailer.
The third video is the complete version of the magnificent song Forever Young.
Hope you Enjoy.
In this first video a young African boy with a haunting back story starts school in Ireland, and finds out quickly exactly what it means to be the new kid.
Winner of Best Narrative Short at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar.
Zacchaeus was a short man who struggled with himself. He was spiritually hungry even if he did not know it. We know a little about him. He was a rich man, a tax collector for the Romans who had wronged many people. He must have been pretty smart, because he was very wealthy but at the same time he was hated by the people, with good cause. He was a social outcast.
When he woke up that day his external needs were amply met. He probably lived in a nice house but with few friends, no validation of himself, certainly no acceptance of who he was, he was an outsider.
His internal needs must have been many, yet he may have had no one to share his success with.
He was finding that his success did not lead to any real satisfaction. He was isolated and lonely, probably few talked to him.
There is a crowd gathering in Jericho, which was not far from Jerusalem and Bethlehem and Jesus was a minor celebrity so news had probably spread of his visit.
He may have heard some of the stories about Jesus, knew there were some type of healing of blind men etc and maybe he wanted to see if the hype was true, wanted to see for himself what kind of person this Jesus was. Zacchaeus may have been having trouble with his way of life and his beliefs regarding spiritual matters and was increasingly confused.
The way from his heart to his head, sometimes seemed impassable. Perhaps he said to himself that morning, If I’m going to believe something, or in
something, my head wants to know what I’m signing up for –
He was not sure what to expect but his intrigue leads to him climbing a tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus..
The most amazing thing about this story is that Jesus knows exactly who Zacchaeus is even before they are introduced.
He calls him by his name and tells him he wants to go to his house for a meal.
The simple fact that Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus is enough, but Jesus knows Zacchaeus even before that desire is articulated.
He knows us too- by our name - even though we think we have to climb up a tree to be seen.
Jesus knows us and says come down to my level -you don't have to to elevate yourself to be with me. . That simple desire to see is met by a response that says I will come to your house and sit and eat with you !!
Jesus invites himself !!
In that instant Zacchaeus must have been stunned that Jesus not only recognised him but wanted to talk !
The simple fact of knowing that Jesus loves him and the realisation that there is nothing in this world that compares to that, must have been exhilarating for Zacchaeus.
When we struggle to see that God loves us, if the message has never really hit home that Jesus really loves us, not in a superficial way- but in a deep sense that says I know every one of your needs and your pain and I have been there and I love you, it is important to remember that Jesus says this to every single one of us in our struggles :
He says I have walked this road for YOU !
There is a dramatic shift in this parable from the things Zacchaeus thought he needed to the realisation that he wanted to give it all up right there and then, something few of us can imagine we could respond to fully in our lives.
Everything Zacchaeus had ever known was worth letting go of.
Imagine that !!
Yet the reality of the story of Zacchaeus is that he could give up everything... Even if we can't match that it is worth thinking about.....
Jesus did not stop at the tree because He found a worthy soul, or because He found a soul full of faith, or even a repentant heart.
He stopped because His Heart was filled with compassion for a man who was out on a limb—spiritually speaking.
The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost-
He came to seek and save all of us.
We all need to know that .
So if we are feeling out on a limb in our lives no matter what our circumstances, no matter what our fears or uncertainties may be, how about letting go of all of it ?
Let's clamber down from our perch in the trees to embrace the love of God today and everyday....
There are other parables with similar messages: Lost sheep, lost coins, prodigal sons and daughters - it' s all the same ....
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."
A previous post here referred to the Synod of Bishops of The Middle East and this edited video is the call Pope Benedict made for peace at at the close of the Synod.
The camera views of Eastern bishops intermingled with Latin Rite bishops is a glorious sight.
Meanwhile, Robert Fisk examines the exodus of Christians from the Middle East in an article from today's Independent which you can read here
Pilgrim Center of Hope co-founders Deacon Tom and Mary Jane Fox will lead 38 pilgrims through Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.
Among the pilgrims is the Center’s Ministry Coordinator, Angela Santana, who will share the group’s two-week journey using blogs, videos, photos, and updates posted on Twitter and Facebook.
A previous post mentioned that the new English translations for the Roman Missal have not yet reached the shores of the UK but the USA are steaming ahead with changes imminent on the horizon.
On 30 April 2010 the Holy See gave its recognition to what was thought to be the final text, while on 20 August the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released an updated version of the Ordinary with confirmation that Americans will start using it in Advent 2011.
Yet the text is apparently still being revised in Rome. Matters remain unclear and there are problems about what counts as a good translation.
This link takes you to the new musical settings for the Mass with samples to listen to.
and thanks to Claire Bangasser at ASeat At the Table Blog for an additional link to a full review of this remarkable film and an extra clip from it and it is great that Claire is staying in the French region where one of the priests featured in the film came from.
Gospel reading of the day: Other readings from the Mass are here
and this Sunday's Mass readings and Reflections are here
Luke 12:54-59
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Reflections
So what are the signs of the times these days ?
Just a few to pick out; there are so many !
This article by Peter Weinfel at Commonweal about Catholics seems to be doing the rounds on many Catholic blogs and is worth a read although there are hardly many surprises. It reports that one out of every three adult Americans who were raised Catholic have left the church - The UK situation is probably similar.
The cartoon on the left depicts the chatter of the hierarchy : Seems no one listens to us on matters of Sexuality;
(Have they ever?) People don't accept our teachings on Social Justice; (perhaps because we don't practice it?) Few really think that gays and lesbians are objectively disordered;
Catholics don't follow our directives re political elections;
More and more people are envisioning the Divine not solely as Male; ( gasp) (Women are actually getting Ordained!) gasp Regular attendance at Liturgy is abysmal and falling; (They don't seem to like our new "old" language.) We're not trusted to be among Children; Our fund-raising campaigns go begging; . . . The world is sure going to hell in a hand-basket, isn't it ?!
Then, yesterday we had the Government Comprehensive Spending Review, seeking solutions to the economic crisis.
from GettyImages
The Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank warns that George Osborne's spending cuts will hit the poorest harder than the better off...... Half a million are destined to become unemployed over four years; that's about one in 10.
The excellent Dave Perry's blog Visual Theology has this to say:
God identifies with the poor. Cut the poor our of the Bible and you cut out God. Let those with ears to hear, hear.
Image above from Visual Theology
Some cartoons in newspapers have commented on the difference between the Brits and France where millions have gone onto the streets to protest against the increase in Pension age whereas after a swathe of savage cuts the average Brit just sighs and puts the kettle on !
There are so many clarion calls for action in this world and we have to discern what is right and wrong in our response to an overwhelming number of causes.
The tired mantra chanted by the Chancellor George Osborne is
We are all in this together! Well said by a Viscount who after making huge spending cuts, departs in a chauffeur driven car, safe in the knowledge that he is returning home to his wife who happens to be worth around £60 million, whilst lavishing in the fact that he himself is worth upwards of 15 million..........
I needed some music to end this post that would suit the mood and these just about fits the bill : The band are Arcade Fire with Wake Up.
The intensity and passion of this band and song are so amazing- there are two versions: the first is with David Bowie. The sound quality is marginally better on the second but it really deseves to be played at maximum loudness.
The third and last song by the same band is titled Modern man- ( the video is static). Again the lyrics sums up the existential angst of modern man and the search of so many for meaning. - The modern systems that trap man into becoming a commodity himself (wage labour) while endless products (other commodities) become his obsession. Back to the song:
"The clock keeps ticking" - modernity made time a commmodity. It's a part of that wage labour that man has become
