As we mentioned in a previous post, we welcomed Sr.Anne Chantal to our community.
She spent a year in here in the 1980s and has now taken charge of the dining room. She will be part of the cleaning team and flower arrangement around the house.
This is a picture of her that we have just taken!
2016 programme now online. Visit our programme page for more details
Sr. Mary Cecilia'a funeral will be at 11:30 am on Tuesday 5th January. Please let us know if you are coming. There will be a buffet lunch afterwards, all are welcome to stay.
The Magi set out on a trip that would change them forever. Each of us is challenged to do the same.
“A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.’
And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
and running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.
Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kiking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arriving at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you might say) satisfactory.
All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.”
"Look upon the Eternal Light which has tempered itself to your gaze, so that he who dwells in inaccessible light affords access even to weak and bleary eyes. See the Light in a lamp of earthenware, the Sun in a cloud, God in man, the Splendour of Glory and Brightness of Eternal Light in the clay vessel of your flesh."
{Bl.Guerric of Igny}
On the first Sunday of Advent each year, the Christian church begins a new year. It doesn’t start with sales, hangovers or TV specials but with the message of hope. It is the cry we heard from the prophet Isaiah and the same message John the Baptist took up, “prepare a way for the Lord”. It’s the ultimate message of hope at the time of the year when light is at its lowest ebb. Though we all associate the birth of Christ with December the reality is the actual event would have been in the Spring or Summer time according to biblical scholars. It is certain that Christ wasn’t actually born on that day. No Roman governor would have risked ordering a census in the Winter months. The Roman and Judean rulers knew that taking a census in winter would have been impractical and unpopular. Generally a census would take place after the harvest season, around September or October, when it would not seriously affect the economy, the weather was good and the roads were still dry enough to allow easy travel. So assuming the Romans used the normal dates for the census, this would probably be the season of Christ's birth. Evidence from Scripture also suggests it was not during Winter but between April and October. All we can say is the Christian church chose the day for symbolic and religious purposes. The winter festival of lights and the pagan gods was replaced by the feast of the Nativity from about the 4th century onwards. It is more symbolic in the Northern hemisphere because of the way the season works out. If the date itself is not important, what is? That Christ came to fulfill the promise God made to his people.
Scripture has been fulfilled, Christ has come, but not everyone knows it or accepts it. Maybe then when people are focussing on Christmas parties, on shopping for presents, on all the material side of the season it’s our responsibility to say to them and perhaps to ourselves, hang on a minute. Do you really understand what you are celebrating? Do you believe what you are celebrating or shopping for or cooking for? We don’t have to stand in the middle of a big shopping market with a placard or turn into rampant evangelists. Mother Teresa was once asked by a young girl, “What can I do for world peace?” The response was “Go home and love your family”. So this Christmas we could start with ourselves and then those around us if we truly believe that “the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us”.
Our new member of the Hyning Community has just arrived. Sr.Anne Chantal who was from our former French house at Touvet; some of you may remember her from her time here in the 1980s.
As we approach the coming feast of the Nativity, let us pray for each other that in this year of Mercy, we might be instruments of God's mercy.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Come, Lord, do not delay, visit your people in peace...
Some of you might have heard the sad news of the death of Sr.Mary Cecilia. She died on Friday, 18th of Dec 2015 in the care home in Morecambe. Most of the community were able to pray with her the day before she died. One of the nurses who was with her, was a Catholic, and prayed with her until the hour of her death, early Friday morning. Her funeral will take place on Tuesday, the 5th of January at 11:30.
If you are thinking of attending, please contact Sr.Mary Bernard hyningbookings@yahoo.co.uk
You are welcome to join us after the service for the buffet lunch.
Here is what might happen if Jesus was born in the 21st century.
This is how people nowadays evangelize The Good News. This is also how Christians can make good use of the internet.
We hope most of you have escaped the effects of the dreadful weather enveloping the North West in recent weeks. We have been very fortunate as we did not suffer any power cuts when the village was affected. We have been praying especially for the people of Cumbria affected so badly yet again.
Advent is now halfway through and we are about to enjoy a couple for quiet days to tackle Christmas posts and newsletters etc. Sr. Mary Colette has now written the newsletter and if you click on the link on the website you will be able to find it. Those who requested it by post will receive it shortly. Click here for the Newsletter
Some of you may have heard on us on local radio. Radio Lancashire broadcasted live from here on the 3rd December. You can click on their Facebook page and see a video of us singing and for a few more days you can still listen to the broadcast. Click on here Radio Lancashire at Hyning.
There are still places available at Christmas if anyone is still interested. We hope you are enjoying the beauty of Advent and that the Christmas rush is not too overwhelming! Not long to go now....
On Saturday (21/11/15), Sr.Maria and Irene went to The Christ the King Cathedral in Liverpool attending the event "Embrace Liverpool". Following the same format of last year, hundreds of youth gathered to celebrate their Catholic faith. They were nourished by talks, praise and worship, Liturgical Dance, Adoration and the celebration of the Eucharist.
During the day, people were invited to tour the Cathedral and visit the various stands of the religious group represented at the day. The stands were located around the body of the Cathedral. The content on the Bernardine stand reflected our emphasis on the value of Lectio Divina and the Divine Office.
Video of the procession - please click here
For more information the Hyning Oblates, click here
Last week, the community enjoyed a few days of closed time which gave us a chance to catch up after a busy few months. We have a day of recollection on Wednesday, lead by Fr.John McGowan ODC. He gave a talk on the changes and challenges of religious life over the last 50 years. He also spoke about Pope Francis' call to remember when we were first called into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Perhaps during this month of November, as we prepare for Advent, it will be a good opportunity for all Christians to do the same. On the Thursday, we had a day of Adoration.
Now we are open again and we are looking forward to the Oblates' Day on Wednesday (11/11/15). The theme of the day is From Benedict to Bernardines. Sr.Michaela is going to attempt to fit in 1500 years of monastic history in 3 hours!!! Several oblates will make/renew their commitment on this day. Pray for them as they continue their oblate journey. More news of the day will be on the oblates' page next week.
"For as we advance in the religious life and in faith,
our hearts expand
and we run the way of God's commandments
with unspeakable sweetness of love."
(RB Prologue)
Last week at Hyning, Sr.Mary Stella led the icon course for beginners. The chosen icon was "Our Lady of the Sign" based on the prophecy of Isaiah. There were 11 participants including Irene, our novice. It was an intensive course starting on early Monday and finishing on Friday afternoon. The writing of the icon begins with washing the board. The wood of the board symbolizes the wood of the Cross. The icon is the body of Christ. The colours symbolize different meanings. As for Our Lady, she always has three stars on her head and her shoulders. She wears a red robe which symbolizes that she is truly a mother and a blue tunic which emphasizes her virginity. The icons were blessed at Mass on Friday by Fr.Michael.
No landline at the moment, email only if you want to contact anyone at Hyning. BT can't repair the line until the 6th of October! If the internet goes down, you will have to come in person! Apologies in advance!!!
On the Feast of St. Michael and all the Archangels, representatives of all the different form of Consecrated Life in the diocese of Lancaster, gathered to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving. Bishop Campbell was the main celebrant with over 20 diocesan priests and priest in religious Orders of the diocese con-celebrating. Near the front of the Cathedral was a table with various symbols to represent the various forms of life represented. Well over a 100 representatives of the different institutions were there to share their joy in their calling. Parishioners from various different parts of the diocese joined us for the celebrations. The cathedral choir and choristers sang as well as an excellent music group from Blackpool. We were pleased to see a number of the Hyning oblates there in the congregation as well. Sr. Maria had been on the organizing tram which had worked very hard to ensure all went smoothly on the night. The Mass was followed by refreshments in the Cathedral Social Centre. Below are just a few pictures of the event.
Sept 29th Feast of the Angels
The Office of Readings for the feast of the Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, offers a reflection by Saint Gregory, pope, “…Those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels. Personal names are assigned to some to denote their ministry when they come among us. Thus, Michael means, “Who is like God?”; Gabriel is “The Strength of God”; Raphael is “God’s Remedy.”
We are beloved of God, and He provides us with angelic companions and protectors as the Catechism states, “The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of the faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition” (328).
Pope Gregory continues, “Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power. So also our ancient foe desired in his pride to be like God, saying, I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of heaven; I will be like the Most High. He will be allowed to remain in power until the end of the world when he will be destroyed in the final punishment.” St. Michael is known to be the warrior angel who fights Satan and his demons from the beginning, and throughout the epic Christian pilgrimage, St. Michael is the great defender of the Church on earth.
Let's pray today for all those angels who have helped us in any way. All those who have the angels as their patrons and all schools and parishes who are under the patronage of the Angels
“The radical gift of oneself to God, loved and served for Himself alone, listening to His Word, and a humble attentiveness to His presence in all human beings and in events, are the characteristics of this life; its sole aim is the search for God, lived out in Community.”
