There has fallen on earth for a token A god too great for the sky. He has burst out of all things and broken The bounds of eternity: Into time and the terminal land He has strayed like a thief or a lover, For the wine of the world brims over, Its splendour is spilt on the sand.
Who is proud when the heavens are humble, Who mounts if the mountains fall, If the fixed stars topple and tumble And a deluge of love drowns all- Who rears up his head for a crown, Who holds up his will for a warrant, Who strives with the starry torrent, When all that is good goes down?
For in dread of such falling and failing The fallen angels fell Inverted in insolence, scaling The hanging mountain of hell: But unmeasured of plummet and rod Too deep for their sight to scan, Outrushing the fall of man Is the height of the fall of God.
Glory to God in the Lowest The spout of the stars in spate- Where thunderbolt thinks to be slowest And the lightning fears to be late: As men dive for sunken gem Pursuing, we hunt and hound it, The fallen star has found it In the cavern of Bethlehem.
King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
Isaias 9:7
His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaias 2:4
And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war.
In the Church's Liturgy of the Hours, Evening Prayer, also know as Vespers, always includes the great prayer of Our Blessed Lady known as the Magnificat. Each day, the Magnificat is preceded by a short verse or "antiphon" that links the prayer to the feast of the day or the season of the year. In the last seven days of Advent (December 17-24), the antiphons before the Magnificat are very special. Each begins with the exclamation "O" and ends with a plea for the Messiah to come. As Christmas approaches the cry becomes increasingly urgent.
These moving "O Antiphons" were apparently composed in the seventh or eighth century when monks put together texts from the Old Testament, particularly from the prophet Isaiah, which looked forward to the coming of our salvation. They form a rich, interlocking mosaic of scriptural images. The great "O Antiphons" became very popular in the Middle Ages when it became traditional to ring the great bells of the church each evening as they were being sung.
Each of the O Antiphons highlights a different title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. A particularly fascinating feature of the O Antiphons is that the first letter of each invocation, when read backwards, forms an acrostic in Latin: the first letters of Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, and Emmanuel in reverse form the Latin words: ERO CRAS. These can be understood as the words of Christ, responding to his people's plea, saying "Tomorrow I will be there."
The Antiphon for today, December 21st, is:
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Oriens (Is. 9:1): O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Just as the natural sun gives light and life to all upon whom its rays fall, so Christ, the Rising Dawn, dispels darkness and brings eternal life and light.
Saying the O Antiphons as a family, whether during grace at meals, in front of the Crib, or even in front of the Christmas tree, is a wonderful Advent devotion and a fitting way to prepare for the great events of Christmas.
Fr. Mark Lawler, SChLJ
Wednesday 19 December 2012
The Grand Master’s Advent Message
The image of the Christ-child laying in the manger at Bethlehem is all about us in the Christmas season. That God should become incarnate for us in what is weak and vulnerable speaks of His great love for us. The helpless and innocent child evokes in us a desire to both protect and care - characteristics that must abound in members of an Order that is both Hospitaller and Military. Soon after his birth the Christ-child was in need not just of loving care but also of protection from Herod's attack. To carry out our Christian calling in the Order we need the instincts both of the carer but also of the protector.
The unique Christian and chivalrous calling is to allow those instincts to come to bear not just where the recipients easily evoke our sympathy but also to care and protect those who would otherwise be rejected and shunned - no more so than in our original vocation to care for those made outcasts by the disfigurements of leprosy - in the poorest of the poor. So many people are caught up in the pursuit of the things of this world - its honours, rights and privileges - but we must take all that in our stride and hold true to those promises we made when we entered the Order.
Our mission of Christian brotherhood is expressed in a very special way for us within the Order. Ecumenism is at the heart of our mission and we must strive for the development of respect and understanding within the world that we live. This can be best expressed in a hope of understanding between religions. During this sacred period, we should remember in our prayers the challenges faced by our Christian brothers and sisters in the East, calling to mind the witness given by the Magi who travelled to greet the Lord in Bethlehem.
And so, my dear friends, as we look on that image of the Christ-child this Christmas let it call us to renew our commitment to be active in the Order so that our lives may be infused with that spirit of this Christmas season which will make our lives truly noble before God.
My prayers for each and every one of you and all the good work you do.
Our annual Advent Concert of Carols and Readings took place at Saint Catherine’s Church, Leyland, last Saturday arranged by Chev. Anthony Dickinson KLJ. We had a lovely evening with excellent music and readings and a hearty celebration fired by mulled wine afterwards!
A collection at the end of the Concert raised £321 for SUROL - and a very generous benefactor gave a further £10,000!
Thank you to everyone involved, especially the musicians:
The Grand Priory of Great Britain is helping to fund SUROL, a leprosy charity run by His
Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
This collaboration sees a welcome return to the roots of the Order -
giving aid to those suffering from leprosy & their dependants.
SUROL currently has 271 Beneficiaries and 127 Benefactors supporting 184 Families
&75 Children attending school, university
&schools of higher education who receive a monthly allowance.
The Grand Priory recently donated
£9,000 to help with SUROL's vital work. Some of the money was used to
set up & furnish new offices which will enable the staff to better
co-ordinate their efforts throughout Sri Lanka.
SUROL was accepted as an ‘Approved Charity’ by the Ministry of Finance as per Gazette # 55 of 11/04/1973, registered with the Department of Social Service, # CO/99/92 dated 21/02/1992 and the Ministry of Social Services # 0082 dated 04/05/1994.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. John McCrae
Members of the Grand Priory of Great Britain send our warmest congratulations to Prince Charles-Philippe and Princess Diana on the Baptism of their daughter, Princess Isabelle d’Orléans. The baptism took place on Sunday 21st October 2012, in the Chapel of St John the Evangelist at the Cadaval Palace in Evora, Portugal.
Princess Isabelle d’Orléans is the first daughter of Prince Charles-Philippe, Duke of Anjou, and Princess Diana, Duchess of Cadaval. Prince Charles-Philippe is the Grand Master Emeritus, Grand Prior of France and President of the Governing Council of the Order of Saint Lazarus. Princess Isabelle'sGodmother is Princess Dora Lowenstein and her Godfather is Prince Felipe of Spain, Prince of the Asturias. Holy Mass was offered by his ExcellencyArchbishop Maurílio Jorge Quintal de Gouveia,the Archbishop Emeritus of Evora, who had married the young couple on June 21st 2008 in the cathedral of Evora. It was an intimate ceremony with just the family and a few close friends.
(Click on the pages to open them in larger format)
November
is the month of the Holy Souls, when we remember before the Lord all
those of our family, friends and benefactors who have gone before us to
their eternal reward.
The
holy sacrifice of the Mass will be offered on November 2nd, the Feast of the Holy
Souls, for all deceased members of the Order, their families and
friends, and all those countless benefactors who have supported the
Order over the centuries. May the Lord grant them eternal rest in His
heavenly Kingdom.
Pie Iesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen.
Animae omnium fidelium defunctorum per Dei misericordiam requiescant in pace. Amen.
This morning in St Peter's Square the Holy Father, Pope Benedict, Canonized eight new Saints. Among them St Marrianne Cope, "Mother of the Outcasts", who spent thirty years caring for the lepers on Moloka'i. Here are extracts from the Holy Father's Homily.
The Son of Man came to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (cf. Mk 10:45)
Dear brothers and sisters!
Today the Church listens again to these
words of Jesus, spoken by the Lord during his journey to Jerusalem,
where he was to accomplish the mystery of his passion, death and
resurrection. They are words which enshrine the meaning of Christ’s
mission on earth, marked by his sacrifice, by his total self-giving. On
this third Sunday of October, on which we celebrate World Mission
Sunday, the Church listens to them with special attention and renews her
conviction that she should always be fully dedicated to serve mankind
and the Gospel, after the example of the One who gave himself up even to
the sacrifice of his life.
These
words were the blueprint for living of the seven Blessed men and women
that the Church solemnly enrols this morning in the glorious ranks of
the saints. With heroic courage they spent their lives in total
consecration to the Lord and in the generous service of their brethren.
They are sons and daughters of the Church who chose the path of service
following the Lord. Holiness always rises up in the Church from the
well-spring of the mystery of redemption, as foretold by the prophet
Isaiah in the first reading: the Servant of the Lord is the righteous
one who “shall make many to be accounted as righteous; and he shall bear
their iniquities” (Is 53:11); he is Jesus Christ, crucified, risen and
living in glory. Today’s canonization is an eloquent confirmation of
this mysterious saving reality. The tenacious profession of faith of
these seven generous disciples of Christ, their configuration to the Son
of Man shines out brightly today in the whole Church.
.
.
.
I now turn to Marianne Cope, born in eighteen thirty-eight in
Heppenheim, Germany. Only one year old when taken to the United States,
in eighteen sixty-two she entered the Third Order Regular of Saint
Francis at Syracuse, New York. Later, as Superior General of her
congregation, Mother Marianne willingly embraced a call to care for the
lepers of Hawaii after many others had refused. She personally went,
with six of her fellow sisters, to manage a hospital on Oahu, later
founding Malulani Hospital on Maui and opening a home for girls whose
parents were lepers. Five years after that she accepted the invitation
to open a home for women and girls on the island of Molokai itself,
bravely going there herself and effectively ending her contact with the
outside world. There she looked after Father Damien, already famous for
his heroic work among the lepers, nursed him as he died and took over
his work among male lepers. At a time when little could be done for
those suffering from this terrible disease, Marianne Cope showed the
highest love, courage and enthusiasm. She is a shining and energetic
example of the best of the tradition of Catholic nursing sisters and of
the spirit of her beloved Saint Francis.
.
.
.
Dear brothers and sisters, these new saints, different in origin,
language, nationality and social condition, are united among themselves
and with the whole People of God in the mystery of salvation of Christ
the Redeemer. With them, we too, together with the Synod Fathers from
all parts of the world, proclaim to the Lord in the words of the psalm
that he “is our help and our shield” and we invoke him saying, “may your
love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you” (Ps
32:20.22). May the witness of these new saints, and their lives
generously spent for love of Christ, speak today to the whole Church,
and may their intercession strengthen and sustain her in her mission to
proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.
Since its foundation the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of
Jerusalem has had a special care for those suffering from leprosy. Indeed it began
by welcoming knights from other Orders who had been stricken by this
disease. Those suffering from leprosy, or Hanson's Disease as it is now
known, have always been at the heart of the mission and prayers of the
Order. The Order is overjoyed that the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, will tomorrow raise to the Altars Mother Marriane Cope, a woman beloved in Hawaii and known as “Mother of the Outcasts” for her work among the sick, declaring her a Saint. Her Canonisation comes nearly a
century after Mother Marianne's 1918 death at Kalaupapa, an isolated
peninsula on Molokai Island where Hawaii governments forcibly exiled
leprosy patients for decades.
St. MARIANNE COPE (1838-1918)
Virgin, Professed Sister of St Francis, missionary to leprosy patients
Barbara Koob (now officially "Cope") was born on 23 January
1838 in SE Hessen, West Germany. She was one of 10 children born to
Peter Koob, a farmer, and Barbara Witzenbacher Koob. The year after
Barbara's birth, the family moved to the United States.
The Koob family found a home in Utica, in the State of
New York, where they became members of St Joseph's Parish and where the
children attended the parish school.
Sisters of St Francis
Although Barbara felt called to Religious life at an
early age, her vocation was delayed for nine years because of family
obligations. As the oldest child at home, she went to work in a factory
after completing eighth grade in order to support her family when her
father became ill.
Finally, in the summer of 1862 at age 24, Barbara
entered the Sisters of St Francis in Syracuse, N.Y. On 19 November 1862
she received the religious habit and the name "Sr Marianne", and the
following year she made her religious profession and began serving as a
teacher and principal in several elementary schools in New York State.
She joined the Order in Syracuse with the intention of
teaching, but her life soon became a series of administrative
appointments.
God had other plans
As a member of the governing boards of her Religious
Community in the 1860s, she participated in the establishment of two of
the first hospitals in the central New York area.
In 1870, she began a new ministry as a
nurse-administrator at St Joseph's in Syracuse, N.Y., where she served
as head administrator for six years. During this time she put her gifts
of intelligence and people skills to good use as a facilitator,
demonstrating the energy of a woman motivated by God alone.
Although Mother Marianne was often criticized for
accepting for treatment "outcast" patients such as alcoholics, she
became well-known and loved in the central New York area for her
kindness, wisdom and down-to-earth practicality.
In 1883, Mother Marianne, now the Provincial Mother in
Syracuse, received a letter from a Catholic priest asking for help in
managing hospitals and schools in the Hawaiian Islands, and mainly to
work with leprosy patients. The letter touched Mother Marianne's heart
and she enthusiastically responded: "I am hungry for the work and I wish
with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones, whose privilege it will
be to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor
Islanders.... I am not afraid of any disease, hence, it would be my
greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned "lepers'".
Children and adults stand outside Father Damien's church in
the late 19th century when around 600 sufferers were shipped to the
island
A mother to the lepers
She and six other Sisters of St Francis arrived in
Honolulu in November 1883. With Mother Marianne as supervisor, their
main task was to manage the Kaka'ako Branch Hospital on Oahu, which
served as a receiving station for patients with Hansen's disease
gathered from all over the islands.
The Sisters quickly set to work cleaning the hospital
and tending to its 200 patients. By 1885, they had made major
improvements to the living conditions and treatment of the patients.
In November of that year, they also founded the
Kapi'olani Home inside the hospital compound, established to care for
the healthy daughters of Hansen's disease patients at Kaka'ako and
Kalawao. The unusual decision to open a home for healthy children on
leprosy hospital premises was made because only the Sisters would care
for those so closely related to people with the dreaded disease.
St. Damien and Mother Marianne
Mother Marianne met Fr Damien de Veuster (today Saint Damien is known as the "Apostle to Lepers") for the first time
in January 1884, when he was in apparent good health. Two years later,
in 1886, after he had been diagnosed with Hansen's disease, Mother
Marianne alone gave hospitality to the outcast priest upon hearing that
his illness made him an unwelcome visitor to Church and Government
leaders in Honolulu.
In 1887, when a new Government took charge in Hawaii,
its officials decided to close the Oahu Hospital and receiving station
and to reinforce the former alienation policy. The unanswered question:
Who would care for the sick, who once again would be sent to a
settlement for exiles on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the island of
Molokai?
In 1888, Mother Marianne again responded to the plea
for help and said: "We will cheerfully accept the work...". She
arrived in Kalaupapa several months before Fr Damien's death together
with Sr Leopoldina Burns and Sr Vincentia McCormick, and was able to
console the ailing priest by assuring him that she would provide care
for the patients at the Boys' Home at Kalawao that he had founded.
Optimism, serenity, trust in God
Together the three Sisters ran the Bishop Home for 103
Girls and the Home for Boys. The workload was extreme and the burden at
times seemed overwhelming. In moments of despair, Sr Leopoldina
reflected: "How long, O Lord, must I see only those who are sick and
covered with leprosy?".
Mother Marianne's invaluable example of never-failing
optimism, serenity and trust in God inspired hope in those around her
and allayed the Sisters' fear of catching leprosy. She taught her
Sisters that their primary duty was "to make life as pleasant and as
comfortable as possible for those of our fellow creatures whom God has
chosen to afflict with this terrible disease...".
Awarded the Royal Order of
Kapiolani by the Hawaiian government andcelebrated in a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, Mother Marianne continued her work faithfully. Her
sisters have attracted vocations among the Hawaiian people and still
work on Molokai.
Mother Marianne never returned to Syracuse. She died
in Hawaii on 9 August 1918 of natural causes and was buried on the
grounds of Bishop Home.
Mother Marianne’s generosity and courage were celebrated at her May
14, 2005, beatification in Rome. She was a woman who spoke “the language
of truth and love” to the world, said Cardinal José Saraiva Martins,
prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. Cardinal Martins, who
presided at the beatification Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, called her
life “a wonderful work of divine grace.” Speaking of her special love
for persons suffering from leprosy, he said, “She saw in them the
suffering face of Jesus. Like the Good Samaritan, she became their
mother.”
Mother Marianne died on August 9, 1918 and was beatified in 2005 and is now to join the glorious ranks of canonized Saints.
Prayer to
St. Marianne Cope
Lord Jesus, you who gave us your commandment of love of God and
neighbour, and identified yourself in a special way with the most needy
of your people, hear our prayer. Faithful to your teaching, St. Marianne
Cope loved and served her neighbor, especially the most desolate
outcast, giving herself generously and heroically for those afflicted by
leprosy. She alleviated their physical and spiritual sufferings, thus
helping them to accept their afflictions with patience. Her care and
concern for others manifested the great love you have for us. Through
her merits and intercession, grant us the favor which we confidently
ask of you so that the people of God, following the inspiration of her
life and apostolate, may practice charity towards all according to your
word and example. Amen.
Through the intercession of St. Marianne Cope, I ask for the grace of (mention your request).
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..
St Marriane of Molokai pray for us and for the Order of St Lazarus
St Damien of Molokai pray for us and for the Order of St Lazarus
The Grand Priory welcomes the clarification issued by the Vatican Secretariat of State today on the status of Equestrian Orders. It rightly makes the point that there are only five Papal Equestrian Orders, and only two others recognised by the Holy See. It goes on to speak of the need for the faithful to be aware that other groups claiming to be Papal Orders or Equestrian Orders have no legitimacy.
This seems an opportune time to explain that the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem is not an Equestrian Order, and has never been a Papal Order. Indeed, it is not a Royal Order either, although it has come under the Temporal Protection of the Royal House of France since 1154.
Today, the Order remains under the protection of the Royal House and its head, the Comte de Paris. The Order is also recognised as a Non Governmental Organisation by the UN, and in several countries it is recognised by the Holy See as a Pious Union of the Lay Faithful. Just last month the Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Duka was installed as Chaplain General of the Order in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza.
We well understand why the Holy See has felt the need to issue this clarification on its own Orders. There are a number of other groups styling themselves 'the Order of St Lazarus', often including titles such as 'sovereign', 'reunited', 'constitutional', or 'obedience'. Some of these groups perform admirable charitable work, but they do not benefit from the historic legitimacy of our Order. Clearly the Holy See has a special concern for the legitimacy of its own Orders and those Orders it recognises, and it is right to issue the timely clarification it has done today.
It would be mistake, however, to think that this clarification is aimed at anything other than bogus equestrian orders claiming papal legitimacy. Our Order (just like other groups as the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of St Columba and the Knights of Columbanus) makes no such claims, but rather rejoices in our own history and our tradition of humble service to the Church.
Three new members were welcomed into the noble Order last weekend at our Annual Investiture.
Confrere William Douglas and Consoeur Elizabeth Douglas had been Companions of the Order, and have now decided to become full members.
Consoeur Ann Lyon has also been a good friend to the Grand Priory, attending several functions over the last few years.
We are delighted to welcome them.
Confrere William Douglas,BLJ
Consoeur Elizabeth Douglas,SLJ
Consoeur Ann Lyon, SLJ
Promotions
Three members of the Grand Priory were promoted. Confrere Daniel Lawler was promoted to the rank of Serving Brother.Consoeur Margaret Lawler was promoted to the rank of Serving Sister. Confrere Anthony Dickinson was promoted to the rank of Knight.
Confrere Daniel Lawler, SBLJ, &Consoeur Margaret Lawler, SSLJ
Chevalier Anthony Dickinson, KLJ
Transfer of Obedience
The Most Revd
Much Honoured Chev Michael Chenery of Horsbrugh and Whitehope, KLJ,
declared his allegance to the Order under the 50th Grand Master.
Members gathered after the Solemn Mass of Investiture
Last weekend the Grand
Priory of Great Britain held its annual Investiture in Lancashire. Three Postulants were received into the Order and the Most Revd Much Honoured Chev Michael Chenery, Baron of Horsbrugh and Whitehope KLJ declared his allegance to the Order under the 40th Grand Master.
It was a also good opportunity to pass on the good news to those members who could not travel to Prague last month to see Cardinal Duka invested in the Order
as the Chaplain General for the whole Order, at the splendid St Vitus
Cathedral, in the presence of the Papal Nuncio.
Our
present Grand Master, Jan Count Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz has been very
keen to enhance our traditional link with the Church, so for example, in
several countries the Order is now recognised as a Pious Union by the
Catholic Church and there is a strong insistence throughout the Order
that, unlike some of the other green cross organisations, members are
forbidden to be Freemasons (again to be in line with the teachings of
the Catholic Church). He has also worked very hard for the Order to
recently become an NGO in Luxembourg and to be granted Consultative Status at the United Nations. You can read more about the Order at our international site and on our British site.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Order or
interested in becoming a member should use the links page on the sites
to contact the Grand Secretary internationally or here in Great Britain.
As to the rest of the weekend, after the Vigil Service on Friday
evening, to invoke the Holy Spirit for the Investiture, the Grand Prior, H.E. the Much Honoured Baron of Fetternear, presented a
cheque for £1,000 to Mr Norman Cutler, representing St Catherine's
Hospice in Leyland. The Hospice is the British charity the Grand Priory is
supporting this year (the international one being SUROL - a leprosy
charity under the patronage of Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, for which we
have raised £9,000).
The Vigil
Postulants praying at the end of the Vigil
After the Vigil there was a Drinks Reception for members and guests.
Mr Norman Cutler receiving the cheque for £1,000 from our Grand Prior and with other members.
Afterwards, we held a Charity Dinner at Farington Lodge.
The Charity Dinner
On Saturday morning we celebrated High Mass with an excellent
Schola singing Casali's Mass in G, followed by the Investiture of new
members and a Gala Lunch.
The Solemn Mass of Investiture
Drinks Reception after Solemn Mass
Congatulations to our new members and those who were promoted, details to follow!
