Ursuline – Blog

Much of the news we hear nowadays is far from good to put it mildly. The constant stream of negativity is overwhelming; we are tempted to turn off our devices and no longer read the daily papers.

In the midst of all of this comes the severe weather that visited us   recently. As so often happens in a time of crisis, a hidden gem came to life. I call it “meitheal”.

Traditionally, “meitheal” is a deep-rooted blessing in Irish culture. At its core is community, co-operation, kindness and caring for one another; it emphasises the value of collaboration and mutual support. It was a life-line for our ancestors as they tended their farms and harvested their crops.

The concept is all around us today but was particularly evident as we navigated the severe weather snap:

Neighbours helped to visit old people, bringing them food and supplies; farmers mobilised a fleet of tractors to bring participants from remote parts of the country to the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition; E.S.B. professionals worked around the clock to restore power; hospital staff and charity workers braved the elements to turn up for work and gave tirelessly of themselves…the list is endless…

People all over the country revealed their caring side, self-interest was put aside and peoples’ generosity and commitment was nothing short of inspirational.

The spirit of the “meitheal” is alive and well – we saw its transformative results.

Let us nurture that spirit and never allow it to slumber!

Mar a deirtear as Gaeilge –

Ar scath a cheile a mhaireann na daoine.

                                                                                                      B. O‘S

There is a beautiful wall-hanging of St. Brigid in the day-chapel of the parish church in Clonard, Co. Wexford. It celebrates St. Brigid, “Muire na nGael.” We see her surrounded by earth, sky and sea that is a delight to behold.

The intricate and exquisite handwork was carried out by ten gifted women, all volunteers. It took two years of dedicated work to complete the project and it was unveiled on St. Brigid’s Day in 2001.

The work is clearly more than an account of Brigid’s life, because as the women worked day in day out, they soon found that they had become a little group of close followers of Brigid, and quickly began to meditate on her life. In fact, they compared themselves to a group of ancient monks illuminating the Scriptures in their monastery cells. Soon, every stitch they sewed became a prayer.

The fruit of their commitment is an inspirational art-piece that speaks to all age groups. Children are fascinated by its ducks, lambs, bees, rainbows, baby fish…

The boundless generosity of Brigid is a central theme in the piece. It is an invitation to all of us to care lovingly for our beautiful, fragile common home.

The hanging speaks especially to women; it was created by women and is an invitation to all of us to celebrate womanhood with Brigid.

As we celebrate the feast of Brigid and the whole month of February – “Mi na Feile Bride”- marking a turning point in the Celtic year and the feast of Imbolg announcing the arrival of new life- may St. Brigid continue to inspire us, bless us and protect us –

The Brigid Cloak

“Sun disc red to golden

Burnished bark of trees

Blue moon shows face

To all the earth

To crocuses and leaves

Pussy willow silvers

Winter blossom

Pinks the boughs

The earth looks kind

Flooding dried for Brigid

Her cloak she spreads for

Stepping into Spring.”

                         Rose Moran RSM

                                     B. O‘S

In the Prologue to the Counsels, 15 Angela writes “Have hope and firm faith in God for He will help you in everything” an echo of the words of the psalmist ““Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!” (Ps 27:14). 

We all know what it is to hope – in our hearts we hold our hopes for our lives, our loved ones, our world. We desire good things to come for ourselves, our family and friends, our communities, our world – despite walking into an unknown future, we continue to hope for the best in everything.  Hope is not just a worldly expectation, an optimistic stance to life – hope is a deep rooted trust that God is directing us to search for the good.  At times each of us will be discouraged, each of us will be anxious, each of us will be apprehensive and uncertain – yet because we believe, we trust that God’s way will prevail.  It may not be our way, but it is the way God leads us if we hope and trust that all will be well because as Saint Paul says in his letter to the Romans: “Hope does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:5)

Taking our cue from Angela who we know always trusted in God and lived from her own hope and faith we can set out on this Jubilee year with a renewed hope that the Holy Spirit is directing us into our future.

Karen OSU

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord causes us to pause and ask – why – why did Jesus, the Son of God need to be baptised by John? It is a strange inversion of what we would expect.  John is offering a baptism of repentance, surely Jesus did not need such a baptism – as the sinless one he does not need to repent.

In today’s Gospel Luke does not tell us why either, however, if we go to Matthew’s account of this event we see Jesus insist that it is fitting that he is baptised by his cousin John so that he can fully identify with all of humanity. So he humbly joins the queue and awaits John’s baptism of repentance in the River Jordan.  It is when Jesus’ turn comes and he goes into the water that something different happens for him – the voice from heaven proclaims that he is the beloved Son of God. His identity is confirmed.

This feast invites us to focus on this revelation of Jesus as the Promised One, the humble servant foretold by Isaiah, the beloved Son of God in whom the Father is well pleased. 

Karen OSU

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized” Sun Tzu

It’s January and we rejoice for the gift of another year of living that invites us to walk into newness with hope and confidence. And we give thanks.

Ephesians 5 :16 clarifies my focus for the year ahead: “make the most of every moment, recognising the urgency of using time wisely, as the world is filled with challenges”.

The text encourages me to seek God-given opportunities, aware that time is a precious resource.

So the key question is always: what is the opportunity in this moment. On reflection, I have narrowed my focus and ask – what are the opportunities when life is an uphill struggle? It is not easy to see them in such situations. But they are there! My prayer is to see the hidden gift in the pain, be more gentle with myself, more open to the help and support of my friends, respond in love and so use the pain and trauma to open the door to inner peace.

By exploring and becoming aware of the painful struggles of life, we step beyond our comfort zones and sharpen our awareness. In moments of challenge, we discover our true potential and resilience and enrich our understanding.

This new year, how can we make the most of the opportunities that come our way when we are overburdened by the trials, difficulties, harshness, negativity, criticism that come our way and respond firmly, justly, appropriately and lovingly?

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it; a challenge, meet it; a struggle, accept it; an adventure, dare it; a sorrow, overcome it; a tragedy, confront it; a promise, fulfil it.

Life is precious, do not destroy it.

Life is a gift, fight for it.

Mother Teresa

B.O’S