Redemptorist News
Wednesday of Easter Week: ‘Uncork the Wine!’
UNCORK THE WINE
of the Crucified,-
abundant Feast
for now a
wine-washed world.
How can we repay
except to drink and drink and
drink
until a deadening dearth
gives way to
lavish life of lavish love?
Now washed and ringed
and robed,
the scattered sons and daughters
come again
in feast for who we are,
one family,
where Lamb is laid
upon our now-pure plate,
and all are gathered into One,
the Son,
Our Mary’s Son,-
all loved as He is loved.
The new-baked Bread today
will be for us the
Way
we gather,
in the deserts of our hearts,
a strength , together, for our road:
this Wine that we uncork, today
is free for all
who wander on the highways
of the world
and byways of our hearts, astray.
Uncork this Wine again,
for we are Home ;
Now let our feast begin,
in Him,
the Risen Crucified.
Seamus Devitt, C.Ss.R., from www.emptifulvessels.com
EASTER SUNDAY: Eucharist!
Eucharist:
“Eu-Charis”* and “Leit-Ourgia” **
The Spirit of the Leading Lord
takes to the floor,
begins the dance,
casts off the mourning veil,
and swirls twirls in the
rapture of the rhythm
of grace, of joy, of
lightness of stepping heart,-
and then we slowly move
into the Centre,
take the dance,
catch the reeling rhythm,
lift our hearts,
let go in pristine praise
and are
caught up in all the
movement of that fiery Spirit
swirling raptured at the Cross
and empty tomb,- today.
We are alive! We have risen
to our new-born glory, won for us-
and at this table we will dance our hearts
away
from death, from night into
this Glorious Day.
(Reflecting on “The Mystery of Easter”- Cantalamessa)
* Eu-Charis…. Greek for ‘A most beautiful Gift’- hence Eucharist.
** Leit-Ourgia… Greek for ‘the People’s Work’… hence Liturgy:
Seamus Devitt, C.Ss.R. from www.emptifulvessels.com
Easter Sunday Reflection: ‘Funny Bones’
Funny Bones:
Them bones, Them bones-
are some good bones
for living to the full;
Head bone for thinking well
on all that is
and how and why
it is.
Back bone for Will,
decisions made
and followed through
regardless
if they but be right:-
the bone of courage
kept.
Knee bone for daily going to prayer,
time spent
alone
-not ever so, in truth-
with God:
time offered, with,
by him, to him.
And then
that other bone,
the Funny Bone,
that comes from Resurrection-
“We have won !”:-
we laugh a lot,
most at ourselves,-
for He is Lord of all,-
and He has Won! Well done!
Seamus Devitt C.Ss.R. (from www.emptifulvessels.com)
(following a conversation with Fr. John Phelps, C.Ss.R. from Chicago, re Fr. Joe Dustin C.Ss.R. “the Banjo Priest”)
Holy Saturday: ‘Why Gather?’
WHY GATHER
for this Festival of
Pasch?
Why come into
this time of Passing,
over?
What is the meaning
of our feet
that walk together to
an ancient hill,
still new?
Who are these gathered people,
of this time
coming in our turn
to
Calvary?
Why are we standing by this
empty tomb
of ours,
and saying for the first time yet again,
that ‘He is risen!’ ?
Have we seen the Lord, or are we those
who wait behind our fearful doors
closed to the joy of freedom that he brings
who stands and knocks and
waits
for (with) anxious hearts ?
The Candle that we hold is now
our light
this night,-
for we’ve been ransomed
from our
fripparies:
the once-unbended hearts
now kneel before
our God:
for He has died
that we might live
and light
our busied world
with Ransomed Joy
for full-forgotten Sin.
__________________
Seamus Devitt C.Ss.R., from www.emptifulvessels.com
Fr. Jim Stanley, Redemptorist, R.I.P.
We regret to announce the death of Fr. Jim Stanley, C.Ss.R. in our Redemptorist community in Marianella, Dublin, on Monday, 2nd April, 2012.
An outline of the life of Fr. Jim Stanley, C.Ss.R.
Fr. Jim was a native of Woodford, Co. Galway was born in January 1930, and in his thirtieth year he made his profession of vows as a Redemptorist. Prior to joining the Redemptorist Congregation he worked for McInerney’s construction business. When in his mid twenties he determined that his vocation was to be a priest and with this in mind he attended the apostolic school under the auspices of the Society of Jesus in Mungret, Co. Limerick. During his sojourn in Mungret he became acquainted with the Redemptorists and decided that his call to serve God was with the sons of St. Alphonsus.
Following his profession in Esker, Athenry on Sept. 24, 1959, he began his philosophical and theological in the Redemptorist Studentate, Cluain Mhuire, Galway.
Two years into his studies (1961) Jim was one of a group of our students chosen to go to the Philippines as the nucleus of the new, fledgling studentate in Cebu. After many years of missionary activity in “the only Catholic nation in Asia” the Redemptorists had now taken decisive action to enlist young Filipinos in the spreading of the Good News of Jesus the Redeemer. And these zealous young souls were chosen to impart to their equally keen Asian confreres the spiritual and apostolic spirit of the Redemptorists.
Three and a half years after arriving there Jim was ordained a priest in Cebu on 20th December 1964. Over the next seven years Fr. Stanley was engaged in the preaching of missions in the Visayas (central part of the Philippines) and other Cebuano speaking areas. However in 1971 due to health problems he returned to Ireland.
Over the next few years after his recuperation, besides preaching parish missions, especially in the Dublin and south Leinster areas he had the added responsibility of Redemptorist Vocations Director.
During the year October 1973-September 1974 he had assignment, that of overseeing the building of the chapel at Marianella (Dublin). He had a few headaches with this project. At the early stage of construction during a very stormy night some of the partially build walls were blown but undaunted the work proceeded. One could say that this intrepid spirit was a characteristic of Fr. Jim. Further, when the work was nearing completion, it became apparent that the finish of the ceiling as had been designed was ugly and an eyesore. So Fr. Stanley, together with one of our students who had been a joiner before becoming a Redemptorist and a couple of other men inserted the beautiful timber ceiling that graces this chapel.
In 1975 his appointment as rector of our house in Esker, Co. Galway ushered in a period of fifteen years during twelve of which he held post of responsibility within our province. His reappointment as rector of Esker in 1978 was followed in 1981 as Retreat House Director of Cluain Mhuire, Galway, and then 1984-1987 rector of St. Clement’s Retreat House, Belfast. It had generally been accepted that his brief was to begin the process of closing that retreat house. Whatever about that Jim saw it differently and proceeded to build an additional and necessary meeting room together with connecting passages, thus eliminating the need of having to brave the elements in inclement weather when going from one part of the building to the other.
In the appointments of 1987 Jim was again assigned to the Dublin parish mission team and three years later was named rector of Marianella. During his rectorship (1990-1993) he introduced the weekly perpetual novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in our Dublin chapel.
This period was followed by a sabbatical in the U.S.A., a year of theological renewal. On returning to Ireland he was back in Esker and preaching missions and solemn novenas.
In the late 1990s and the early years of the new millennium he was president of the National Council of Priests of Ireland, then a term as Director of Vocations Ireland, a subsidiary of CORI (Conference of Religious of Ireland). These roles did not cause him to neglect his mission and novena work.
Over the past four years Fr. Jim had continued his work in the vineyard of the Lord in the posts of part-time chaplain in Mount Carmel Hospital, Dublin and in other institutions as well as playing his part in the life and work of the community.
Fr. Jim enjoyed life and played the odd game of golf, also keeping up his interests in other sports especially in the fortunes of the hurling and football teams of his native Galway. He had a fondness for puns, sometimes to the irritation of his confreres and he was also noted for his jokes even if they were of the slap-stick variety.
In the recent past one could see that his health was failing but even so he doggedly kept going; even on Sunday morning, the day before he died he honoured the commitments he had of celebrating Masses in two hospitals in the Leixlip area (outskirts of Dublin). Still, it was a great shock for our community, his family, friends and the Irish Redemptorists when the news broke that he had died suddenly. It is a reminder to us of the words of Jesus himself: “Watch therefore, for you do not know not the day nor the hour” Matt. 25.13
Above we mentioned that he had responsibility for the building of the chapel in Marianella but evidently he felt that the project was incomplete. Looking back one can wonder if, earlier this year, he had a premonition of his approaching death. Anyway just before the beginning of Lent he came to his confrere who has responsibility for the chapel with a proposal to put a little indicator under each of the fourteen images, e.g. 3. Jesus falls the first time. He reasoned that as the images were of an abstract nature many people had difficulty in deciphering the representations. As there was no problem with his suggestion within a day or two the indicators were in place. For this writer, anyway, these little plaques will always be a reminder of Fr. Jim.
Jim was a loveable character and a great community man and his prayer life meant a lot to him.
May he rest in peace, with the God he served so well and for so long, together with Mary, our Mother of Perpetual Help.
——
Proposed wording for death notice: Please check with papers for final arrangements, or check www.rip.ie .
STANLEY , Fr. Jim C.Ss.R. (Redemptorist Community, Marianella, Dublin 6) April 2, 2012, (suddenly), brother of the late Fr. Pat (Australia), deeply mourned by his Redemptorist Community, loving brothers and sisters Liam, Mary, Sean, Pearl, Richard, Joseph, Noel, Sr. Teresa, Fr. Cathal, Sam, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews and their families, relatives and friends. Rest in peace. Reposing in Fanagans Funeral Home, Aungier Street. Removal to Marianella Chapel, 75 Orwell Road, Rathgar on Monday (April 9) for 5.30 o’c. Mass. Funeral on Tuesday (April 12) after 11 o’c. Mass in Marianella to Deansgrange Cemetery.
Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for him
Good Friday: ‘You will see heaven from here’
YOU WILL SEE HEAVEN FROM HERE!
‘You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of Man.’ (John 1:51)
‘…When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself…’ (John 12:32)
The Cross
is Window
into God:
the curtain
now is gone, (Luke 23:45)
and we can see into the
open furnace heart
of God.
Come,
see,
be still,
and bend the knee:
the angels are ascending
and descending (John 1:51)
on this Man, lifted,-
this Son,
our God.
———
He is my God, but
is he, yet,
my LORD?
Seamus Devitt, C.Ss.R., from www.emptifulvessels.com
Good Friday Morning: ‘Death of the Anaconda’ #2
DEATH OF THE ANACONDA, #2
The ‘Now‘ had come
at last,-
the Agoné begins,
the Wrestling,
when Princes meet
to death,-
‘Prince of this world’ the one, (John 12:31)
now meets ‘the Prince, the Lord, of Glory’. (1 Corinthians 2:8)
Obedient Son, the Sent,
-Divine, and Mary’s child-
stands opposite
the One Who Will Not Serve.
This Anaconda grasps the Christ of God;
Now is his hour,
the moment opportune
for which he waited long. (Luke 4:13)
The Testing now begins.
He will take all, until his
Victim bows the knee,-
the Son of God, of Man
now in his power.
He winds his ever-tightening coils, of hate,
seeking to crush from Him
one breath, just one,
of homage to his name.
And still he crushed,
with no remorse,-
for this was Agoné- to death:
But Jesus did not turn,
no matter that the coils
wound ’round his soul,-
until the moment came,-
last breath of all,-
Was it for Satan? or
for God?
‘Father’, he cried, -still ‘Father’!-
‘Into YOUR hands (Luke 23:46)
I give this breath,-
my last, my every breath!’
The Anaconda, crushing to the last,
was in that crushing
crushed.
The Prince of Glory cries
‘IT IS FULFILLED !’
‘Prince of This World’ now (John 19:30)
is driven out. (John 12:31)
(Reflection on John Chapter 12:20-31)
Seamus Devitt C.Ss.R., from www.emptifulvessels.com
The Anaconda is probably the largest reptile, and crushes its victims, human or animal, to death, by coiling around them.
Good Friday Evening: ‘Curtains’
Curtains !
(Reflecting on Mark 15:38)
He
breathed then his last,
his all was handed over;
and then,
that selfsame
moment,
the curtains of
our eyes
were rent
in two, -
and we can gaze and gaze, forever gaze upon the Holy Heart
of this, our broken God: the Inner Sanctum of the Holy One
is now
for ALL
to see,- (John 12:32)
the burning
fearsome
furnace
of the heart
of God,
crucified.
‘Holy!
Holy!
Holy!’
is our common cry
when we are drawn
by him,
the
‘Prince
of
Glory’,
stripped
upon a
cross.
Seamus Devitt C.Ss.R., from www.emptifulvessels.com.
Good Friday, afternoon: ‘Upon the Cross’
UPON THE CROSS:
‘I have revealed your name upon the cross
I have glorified you upon the cross
by finishing your work on earth upon the cross
I have given them upon the cross
the teaching you gave to me upon the cross
All I have is yours upon the cross
and all you have is mine upon the cross
I am coming to you upon the cross
May they be one like us upon the cross
I have watched over them upon the cross
I passed your word on to them upon the cross
For their sake I consecrate myself upon the cross
Father, you are in me and I am in you upon the cross
With me in them upon the cross
and you in me upon the cross
May they be one as we are one upon the cross
You have loved them upon the cross
as you loved me upon the cross
I want those you have given me upon the cross
to be with me where I am upon the cross
that they may always see my glory upon the cross
which you have given me upon the cross.
I have made your name known to them upon the cross
and will continue to make it known upon the cross
SO THAT
the love with which you love me upon the cross
may be in them upon the cross
so that I may be in them upon the cross.
These things are recorded so that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ upon the cross
the Son of God upon the cross
that believing this you may have life through his name,
‘Jesus’
‘Lord’
‘the Lord of Glory’
upon the cross.
Good Friday: (Reflection on John 17, also John 20:31 and 1Corinthians 2:8)
Seamus Devitt C.Ss.R., from www.emptifulvessels.com
Holy Thursday: ‘Bread and Basin’
Bread and Basin,
Towel and Table
ever for His followers
entwined;
Water poured on feet, and blood on wood,
speak silently this single truth-
Hold in my healing hands
the frightened feet,
the hungering hopes
of those who sup with me.
I’ll kneel in speechless wonder
before my pilgrim other:
I’ll sit and wipe the tears
with a towel of listening,
before we merrily break out
of isolation.
Bread and Basin,
Cloth and Cup
will be our Eucharist.
Seamus Devitt, C.Ss.R. from www.emptifulvessels.com
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