Abbey News

Saturday, May 30, 2009

On Schedule
Fr. John returned home from Nigeria on schedule a week ago Wednesday. Surprisingly enough without a hitch. This past Sunday he gave us a very positive and encouraging report on our daughter houses, Awhum and Illah. Both are doing very well despite the political and economic situation in the country.

The faith in Nigeria is alive and vibrant and this is reflected in the abundant vocations there, especially at Awhum. At present they are the largest house in the order with 81 members with applicants still coming. So much so that they have to build another dormitory to accommodate those applying. Speaking of the vibrant faith of the country, this past Easter Sunday an estimated 10,000 attended services at the monastery. Loud speakers are in place for the thousands unable to get into the church. It is not uncommon for several thousand to be on hand for Sunday Masses. With faith such as this it is not surprising that priestly and religious vocations are abundant.

Illah is a much smaller community with 26 members where growth is a bit slower. The average age of the communities is about 39.

Monte Cassino
Last Sunday our Holy Father visited the famed Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino founded by St. Benedict himself and joined the community for Vespers. Afterwards he gave an inspiring address which can be found at Papal Address at Monte Cassino.

Junior Directors Meeting
This coming Tuesday I'll be driving over to St. Joseph's monastery in Spencer, MA for the OCSO meeting of Junior Directors. Both Novice Directors and Junior Directors meet every two years to discuss formation issues. Formation is a much discussed issue these days and will be on the agenda for the next Regional Meeting and General Chapter. I should be returning June 9th if all goes according to schedule. Meanwhile there will be no further updates until I get back into the swing of things.

Pentecost

Tomorrow we celebrate the wonderful feast of Pentecost which marks the end of the Easter Season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. Fr. Justin is to give the homily at the vigil Mass later this afternoon which can be found at Vigil of Pentecost.

May each of you experience an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit this day and always!

The Encyclical "Mystici Corporis" says expressly: the Holy Spirit is communicated to the Church so that she and each of her members may become daily more and more like to our Savior. Those whom God foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29); every Christian is holy and pleasing to God to the extent that he has become like Christ.

And it is the Holy Spirit who is the artisan who will fashion the traits of the divine resemblance in us, making us daily more and more like to our Savior. If we would cooperate fully with his action, each day would witness some progress in our becoming more like Christ.

Struck by this thought, Sr. Elizabeth of the Trinity prayed: Spirit of love, descend within me and reproduce in me as it were, an incarnation of the Word, that I may be to him another humanity;wherein he renews his mystery.

If Christ is the model to which all the baptized should conform, there is no presumption in aspiring to become so like him that he can renew his mystery in us, or rather, prolong in us his work of glorifying the Father and of redeeming men. Indeed this is exactly Jesus' desire in sending us his Spirit.

Divine Intimacy
Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD