Abbey-Roads2

The Virgin of Citeaux.

A friend asked me to print this:

This special relationship of the Cistercian order with Mary was visually represented in sculptures, paintings and stained glass, and the General Chapter from 1335 prescribed that the official seal of every monastery should bear her image.  Mary was sometimes depicted protecting members of the Order beneath her mantle. This was based on the vision of a Cistercian monk who ‘fell into an ecstasy’ and viewed ‘the glories of heaven’. There he saw the angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs and confessors, all arranged according to whether they had been canons, Premonstratensians, Cluniacs or whatever order. Yet the monk saw that no Cistercians were represented, being quite troubled,  he voiced his concern to the Blessed Virgin, whereupon she replied that those of the Cistercian Order were so dear and beloved to her that she cherished them in her own bosom. “And opening her cloak, with which she seemed to be clothed, and which was of marvellous amplitude, she showed him an innumerable multitude of monks, lay-brothers and nuns.” - Cistercians

[Art: Image of Dominicans under the protection of Our Lady's mantle.]

Israel the exterminator.

Most Americans must have seen the news this past week, when the Palestinians in Gaza breached the wall which imprisons them, and hundreds poured into Egypt to purchase basic human necessities?  Media referred to it as an Exodus.  Egypt has been pressured to seal  the people off from entering their country by rebuilding the wall.

Why does the world tolerate these injustices by Israel?  How long is the world supposed to feel guilty for the horrors of the German holocaust?  And thus permit Israel to repeat virtually the same atrocities imposed upon European Jews by the Nazis, now upon the Palestinians?  Israel oppresses the Palestinian people who have a right to the same land Israel occupied after the war.  Israel has created a ghetto for the impoverished Palestinian people and seems to be bent upon exterminating them, and yet the U.S. government and the world stands by, endorsing such aggression.

A priest in Gaza pleads for his people.

A Catholic priest in Hamas-controlled Gaza has described the situation in his parish as “almost as bad as hell” and condemned what he called “punishment until death”.

“This is not punishment for salvation. This is punishment for extermination. It is the punishment of a nation.”

The priest explained how thousands of people had escaped Palestine into Egypt when gunmen blew up part of the border wall at the Rafah crossing overnight on Tuesday. The exodus has taken place as a result of an ongoing Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip to combat rocket attacks on its territory.

Mgr Musallam explained: “People have gone to find food and employment [in Egypt]. There is no food here, no employment here. We have a lack of water and electricity.

“The situation is critical. Streets are covered with sewerage. I see the sick crying and dying.

“Our hospitals need electricity and medication but out of 3,700 parcels of supplies only nine were allowed in.”

“I see children crying in huge distress all day long. Two pupils in the school, aged nine and six, were wounded in the bombings. They are afraid and traumatised because of the bombardments and of the darkness at night.

“They cannot even go to the toilet at night. They wet their beds but there is no water to wash afterwards. People come here to ask for water and electricity because we have a generator. They come to cook and they come for a shower.” - TotalCatholic.com

This is criminal - why isn’t Israel considered a rogue nation?

Vox Nova has a good commentary on the Israeli oppression of Gaza: Collective Punishment.

[Photo credit: "Palestinian Child" - Annie's Letters Blog]

“God uses what is foolish to shame the wise.”

“It often happens that someone sees himself sitting peacefully and quietly, but when his brother says a word that upsets him, he is troubled. Thus, he thinks that he is justly upset with him, saying, “O If he hadn’t come and spoken to me and troubled me, I wouldn¹t have sinned.” 

But this is folly and absurdity. Did the person that spoke to him give him that passion? He simply showed him the passion that existed within him, so that, if he wanted to, he could repent of it. He is like fine bread that shines on the outside, but when one breaks it, he sees its moldiness.

 In just the same way, he was sitting, as he thought, in peace, but he had this passion inside him he was unaware of. His brother said one word and revealed the filth hidden inside him. Therefore if he wants to receive mercy, he must repent, purify himself, progress and he must understand that he ought to thank his brother for being the great cause of his spiritual benefit.” - Abba Dorotheos of Gaza

And I would add that we will have many trials more.

Pray for me - I am only a simple fool…  No better than a brute beast…