The "O Antiphons" were first used by the Church in the 8th and 9th centuries. They are based on various titles used for the Christ and are scripturally-based short prayers used from the 17th to the 23rd of December.
We were once a novice
In every new stage of our life, we are once a novice. In a moment of challenge, it might be a good idea to refer back to our first day as a novice.
This is how I reflected upon my day of being a Novice and may I humbly share it to you as another way of saying "thank you" for all your prayers and support during my postulancy. Please say a little prayer for me once in a while. God bless you.
Lord,
grant me a heart of a novice
which longs always to live for You
Grant me the spirit of a novice
which zealously always seek to serve You
Grant me the piety of a novice
which fervently prays and fear to sin
Grant me the modesty of a novice
which is always ashamed of abundance
Grant me the humility of a novice
which always seeks to be the first to say 'thank you' and 'sorry'
Grant me the hope of a novice
which can't wait to say the words on the day of her profession
Lord,
renew my life today
as if this is my first day as a novice
A Winter Commitment
Colours are fading
Cold wind is visiting
Frosts are appearing
and so winter is coming
But winter always comes with its commitment
to bring again spring, summer and autumn.
Despite all that we have said about winter
it never fails to fulfil that promise.
Winter is a good time to reflect upon our commitment that we have made
Neither failure nor success is the matter
What matters most is how we have kept our commitment
Whether it be a commitment to our family or community
Whether it be a commitment to our own self
Whether it be a commitment to God
It is also a good time to open our self to a new commitment
Just as the branches spreading their twigs open
ready to receive a new life
Let us humbly learn from Winter
how to keep our commitment
By doing so
may we bring the richness of spring, summer and autumn
to every life we encounter during our journey.
New videos
If you head to our hospitality page and our oblate page on the Hyning website you will find 2 new videos for you to enjoy! Check out the new programme page as well, it's about to be updated!
Advent
Life is a journey and Advent is a reminder of that in the cycle of the liturgical year. It’s not all about counting down the days to Christmas but about discovering our relationship to the Father who is going to reveal his love for us in the Word made flesh. So many people live under a cloud of worry and angst, perpetually stressed and at war with themselves, knowing down deep that they have sold out to the real world, the material world, yet striving for a deeper spiritual life. Having everything they need but wanting more and more. The devil must have a field day in Advent and at Christmas time feeding people’s greed and selfish desires. Perhaps in today’s world, the true spirit of Christmas is really a desire for more, not peace and good will to all.
Advent can be seen then as a time of getting ready for the Lord’s coming. Well the cynic in us will say well we know when Jesus is coming; it’s only a few weeks away! The date isn’t important! In our Cistercian Fathers there was a special emphasis on the 3 Advents of Christ. Advent is seen as the introduction to this whole mystery. St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) sees it as the “sacrament” of the presence of God in his world, in the mystery of Christ at work through his Church, preparing in a hidden, obscure way for the final manifestation of his kingdom.[1] The third Advent was in the heart of the believer. The twelfth century Cistercians placed a special emphasis on the coming of Christ by his Holy Spirit to the Christian person. They contemplate his hidden birth in our lives, his advent here and now in the mystery of prayer and providence. Bernard shows the danger of seeing Advent merely as a preparation for Christmas. It is a real danger in society. This attitude is dangerous and runs the risk of keeping us centred on our present reality in the flesh, failing to recognize the call that God’s plan reveals—the call for our inner transformation into Christ. The invitation that Christ is giving us, is the call to be ready! He warns:
…the remembrance of this condescension is turned into pretext for the flesh. During those days you may see them preparing splendid clothes and special foods with utmost care—as if Christ at his birth would be seeking these and other such things and would be more worthily welcomed where they are more elaborately offered! Listen to [Christ] as he says… “Why do you so ambitiously prepare clothes for my birthday? Far from embracing pride, I detest it. Why do you so assiduously store up quantities of food for this season? Far from accepting pleasures of the flesh, I condemn them. As you celebrate my coming, you honour me with your lips, but your heart is far from me.… Unhappy is the person who worships pleasure of the body and the emptiness of worldly glory; but happy the people whose God is the Lord.”[2]
[1] Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons for Advent and Christmas Season, Cistercian Fathers Series
51, translated by Irene Edmonds, Wendy Mary Beckett, and Conrad Greenia OCSO
(Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 2007).
[2] Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon Three: “On the Seven Pillars,” paragraph 2, in Sermons, 20-21.
40th Birthday Celebration
On the 17th of November we had our 40th birthday celebration beginning with Mass which was celebrated by the Right Reverend Bishop of Lancaster, Michael Campbell, O.S.A. Nearly 90 people gathered with us including local clergy, religious of the Diocese and many guests and friends of the community. Mass was followed by a buffet lunch and a toast given by Reverend Mother General, Sr.Mary Helen. There were also 4 former prioresses of Hyning and several Bernardines to represent the Order.
We had a special birthday cake especially made by Sr.Michaela and Sr.Mary Stella.
We also had an exhibition on the history of the Order and the establishment of Hyning community, these mainly included images from the Hyning archives and other materials. Sr.Mary Stella also did a presentation on aspects of the Hyning garden.
New novice....
Some good news for the community! Irene who joined us on January 15th 2014 as a postulant is about to become a novice. She will have a 5 day retreat starting on the 2nd of December and will be received as a novice on the 7th December in a private ceremony with the community. We ask you to pray for her and for our community as we welcome her on this new stage of her Bernardine journey!
Irene with Sr. Mary Helen, Prioress General.
40 years of Hyning
November 12th/13th mark the 40th anniversary of the sisters' arrival at Hyning and the first Mass. It is the feast of All the Saints who follow the Rule of St. Benedict. Pray with us in thanksgiving for all those who have helped to build up our community over 40 years, those who have gone before us and our many friends, oblates and benefactors who have helped us in so many ways.
Hyning to Embrace Liverpool
On Saturday, 1 November 2014, Sr.Maria and Irene went to the Embrace Liverpool event which was an event for young people to celebrate, encourage and strengthen their faith. It was a day with several great speakers, workshops, adoration, confession, praise and worship, concluded by a Mass for young people. There is also time to network with other young Catholics and chat to groups and societies in the area.
Here is the link to the official website and some pictures taken during the event.
Here is the anthem for the event.
Card Making Day Slideshow
Here are some pictures taken during the Card Making Day. Click here.
Prayer and Gardening Week Slideshow
Click on here to see the prayer and garden week slideshow created by Irene.
Updated Icon Slideshow
Why did I come to Hyning?
Frances Dawbarn, one of our volunteers and also one of our oblates , talks about her first visit to Hyning as a guest and her journey...
Icon course slideshow
Reverend Judith talking about why she comes to Hyning
Reverend Judith also talks about why she comes to Hyning and the peace she finds here.
Reverend Judith talking about the icon course
Sr. Mary Stella is running a beginner's icon course at the moment. One of the group talks about why she is writing the icon and what it means to her.
Feast of the Angels September 29th.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that, "[T]he existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition."
Angels are pure, created spirits. The name angel means servant or messenger of God. Angels are celestial or heavenly beings, on a higher order than human beings. Angels have no bodies and do not depend on matter for their existence or activity. They are distinct from saints, which men can become. Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. They are a vast multitude, but each is an individual person. Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in the Bible. In ascending order, the choirs or classes are 1) Angels, 2) Archangels, 3) Principalities, 4) Powers, 5) Virtues, 6) Dominations, 7) Thrones, 8) Cherubim, and 9) Seraphim.
Source:Catholic culture.org
Advert for help
Help is needed in a Roman Catholic monastic guesthouse, situated in lovely countryside, near the North Lancashire, Cumbria border, less than an hour from the Lake District. Ideally we are looking for someone from October 2014 – July 2015. The hours of work would be flexible, working 5/6 hours a day, 5 days a week, and includes some weekend work. This would include serving guest meals, general help around the house, with possibly some gardening. (The ability to drive would be a bonus but is not a prerequisite.) No previous experience is needed. Full board and lodging would be included, as well as all laundry with some pocket money allowance included. This work would be ideal for someone looking to learn or improve their/his/her English skills or for someone looking for a Gap Year experience. The Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning belongs to the Order of the Bernardine Cistercian sisters. For more information please contact Sr. Josephine Mary at srjosephinemiller@yahoo.co.uk
Christmas card making day
Details from Sr. Mary Bernard
