admin March 20th, 2007
In the previous post I gave a link to St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. For any of you who may be interested in learning more about the Oratory and Brother André in particular, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) has eight short clips (from both t.v. and radio) in its archives which you might enjoy.
admin March 19th, 2007
St. Joseph was named the patron saint of Canada in 1637 by Pope Urban VIII.
St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal is dedicated to this humble, silent saint, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-father of Jesus.
The Oratory is filled with unused crutches, similar to at Lourdes; they are wooden and metal witnesses to the miracles that have taken place there.
St. Teresa of Avila was a recipient of just such a miracle. As a young woman she was paralyzed for more than two years following an illness. In her autobiography, she tells us that it was St. Joseph who was responsible for her cure, that he, “was true to his own nature when he cured my paralysis and gave me the power to rise and walk…”
St. Teresa of Avila had a very special devotion to St. Joseph. She writes, “To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succour us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succours us in them all…” She explains that Jesus, in Heaven, wishes to do everything that his guardian and foster-father asks of Him, just as He did on earth.
St. Teresa tells us that, “those who practise prayer should have a special affection for him always”, and that if, “anyone cannot find a master to teach him how to pray, let him take this glorious saint as his master and he will not go astray.”
admin March 17th, 2007
This is an aerial view of the summit of the holy mountain. We can see St. Patrick’s Oratory which was built in 1905, and make out the Celtic Hillfort of pre-Christian days, which archeologists discovered in 1994.
And this is a short video about St. Patrick and his writings.
admin March 15th, 2007
A couple of posts and several comments ago, Carol mentioned one of her many loves; you can find out more about St. Brigid here, and also over at Lily’s today! I would like to share this (a curious but beautiful mixture of Latin and Gaelic), sung by Katy Taylor on her CD entitled, “Welcome Brigid”. The first time I heard it I was startled, thinking that the lyrics were identifying St. Brigid and the Blessed Virgin Mary as being one and the same. Then I realized that the song was being addressed to the Blessed Virgin, in praise of St. Brigid. The appropriateness of this became more apparent when I came across an excerpt from an article written by Father Denis Murphy, S.J. in The Journal of the County of Kildare Archeological Society (Vol. I, No. 3; 1893):
Anyway, I hope you enjoy listening to the song! I really love the ending.
Ave Maris Stella/Ode to Brigid
Translation (Gregorian chant and anonymous Irish Gaelic song, 1900, learned from the singing of Nóiirin Ní Riain)Ave Maris Stella, Dei mater alma
Atque semper virgo, felix, coeli porta
Gabhaim molta Brighde, Iníon í le hÉireann,
Iníon le gach tír í, molaiimís go léir í
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach, soils’ ar feadh na tire,
Ceann ar óigheacht Éireann, ceann na mban ar mine
Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh, gearra lena géire,
Ach ar lá le Brighde, gar duinn Earrach Éireann
Monstra t’esse matrem sumat per te preces
Qui pro nobis natus tulit esse tuus.
Hail, star of the sea, sweet mother of God
And always virgin, favorable gate of heaven
I sing loudly the praises of Bridget,
she it is who is a daughter not just of Ireland,
but of all the countries of the world.
Let us all praise her.
A shining lantern of Lenster,
a flame throughout the land,
leader of the women of Ireland,
one of the finest women ever.
The hard dark winter comes, short and sharp,
but once Bridget’s day appears,
Ireland’s Spring is not far behind.
Show yourself to be a mother,
prayers ascend through you
Which for us your Son accepted.
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Thoroughly Enjoying:
