Ursuline – Blog

A Surprise find…Ursula and Catherine window in Cork

Yesterday while out and about in the parish where I now live I wandered into the Saint Joseph’s Church, Old Youghal Road, Mayfield and in my pondering on the many stained glass windows donated in memory of parishioners over the years was surprised to find a window depicting Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Ursula.  (in the inscription Catherine is spelled with a K!) The windows are dedicated to the memory of Kathleen Dwyer – I wonder who she was and why whoever gave the window in her memory chose Catherine and Ursula?  Or perhaps did Kathleen herself request these two martyrs be engraved in stained glass in her memory?

In this area there is no Ursuline connection, no convent, no school – perhaps Kathleen was a past pupil of one of our schools in other parts of Cork city and had heard the stories of Ursula and Catherine…perhaps not. 

I will never know the answer to my question Why?  But it does give me food for thought to reflect on these women who are part of our Ursuline story. 

Saint Ursula, a 4th century young woman who have chosen to remain a virgin and made her pilgrim journey across Europe was martyred in Cologne by the Huns. Today she is patron of that city and the eleven drops of blood in the city crest remind us of her story and her death alongside her companions who made the journey with her. 

Saint Catherine of Alexandria “lived at the beginning of the fourth century, in the time of Emperor Maxentius. Of royal blood she was a lady of stunning beauty, considerable wealth and of first rate education. She sought counsel from a wise and saintly ascetic Christian and was converted to the faith. On the night of her baptism, she dreamt of Mary and the Christ Child. Christ said: ‘She is now worthy and I accept her as my bride.’ Christ then placed a ring on her hand, saying, ‘Today I take thee as my bride, for all eternity’ – a kind of confirmation experience of her daring life choice.  Shortly after that the emperor demanded that the people of Alexandria show their loyalty to the state through their devotion to the old Gods. Catherine refused. She was attached to a huge wheel edged with sharp blades but it fell apart before it could do harm. Finally, she was beheaded, but before she died she said: ‘Do not grieve, but rather be joyous for I go now to meet my Saviour, my Creator, my bridegroom, Jesus Christ.’ “  (from www.ursulines.ie)

Saint Angela Merici inspired by the early women virgin martyrs she had heard the stories of being told by her father as a child as he read The Golden Book of the Saints to her chose to name her newly formed group of women making a promise of virginity ‘The Company of Saint Ursula’ (1535) and she chose 25th November, the Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria as the foundation day – when the first 28 members of the Company came together in Brescia, N. Italy to sign the Book of the Company.

Here in this church the two are standing side by side in the windows – no reference to Angela Merici or to an Ursuline connection. But for me a gentle reminder of the history and the story that is mine, and all Ursulines since 1535 to embrace and to live fully each day.  It is to be ready to give and not to count the cost, in professing vows it is to consecrate my life to God as the centre of each day of my life, it is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to each person I encounter on my own journey – to not be afraid to speak for the truth and beauty of the Gospel.

As I sat and pondered how these two women came to be in stained glass in a church on the north side of Cork city I said a prayer for Kathleen Dwyer and for those who gave the windows in her memory and for this timely reminder of our Ursuline story.

(Saint Joseph’s Church, Mayfield, Cork was opened in 1881 – the Ursuline Sisters came to Cork in 1771)

Karen OSU

Reflective Listening

A gift I’m trying to nourish and nurture these times is what I call Reflective Listening.  What is reflective listening? Firstly, it has no fear of silence. I believe it means listening with compassion, without judgment and speaking from the heart.

Today, in our world, finding answers is one of our goals – leaving no stone unturned to solve problems, answer questions, wanting to know why, what, where and when.

We want to know now. We are trained to listen for answers.

Reflective listening is a skill and enrichment we can all develop, I believe. The key is distinguishing a response from an answer. In other words, it is a way of getting to know your inner voice – that is challenging and it takes time, lots of time.

I find it helpful to take a few breaths before responding to a situation, question  or comment – that helps me to get in touch with my inner wisdom and to deepen my understanding that I’m not listening for an answer but that I’m listening for a response.

That practice slows me down, helps me to be patient with myself and to be more alert to the inner voice.

Why not have a go at deepening your reflective listening???

                                                                                                                  B. O’ S.

In a small unknown place…

On the evening of the 21st August 1879 in the midst of heavy rain an apparition occurred on the gable wall of the Parish Church in the small, at that time little known village of Knock in Co Mayo. The apparition of Our Lady accompanied by Saint Joseph and St John the Evangelist was witnessed by fifteen local people of all ages.  Unique to this apparition of the three figures was the presence of the Eucharistic Lamb in front of a cross standing on the altar surrounded by angels.  Today the village of Knock hosts thousands of pilgrims from all corners of Ireland and around the world who come to gather, to pray and to seek intercession from Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland.  Who would have thought this could happen?

If we look through history we will see this is not so unusual – God often breaks into the world in unknown places, places at the edge – think of Bethlehem, of Nazareth, of Lourdes, of Walsingham…

God comes into the world to call us to re-think what is important, what is really significant to his message.  He enters into places we least expect to meet him, to see him, to hear him – he often chooses people of no stature in society to be the bearers of his message to the world – think of Jeremiah who thought he was too young to be the messenger of God, of John the Baptist born to a couple thought to be too old to bear children yet he came to prepare the way for the Lord, think of Mary a young woman chosen to the bearer of the Messiah, of the fishermen who became the apostles, of the young Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, and of the fifteen local people who were going about the daily business in the village of Knock on that rainy evening in August 1879.

Let these people and their story open up our minds to the unexpected places where God breaks into the world…be open to the encounter with the Lord present in the people we meet each day…

Today Knock is our National Eucharistic and Marian Shrine in Ireland where people come to pray, to gather, to celebrate and to remember that God is a God who comes to the edges to bring his message, who calls people who are unknown to many to be the bearers of that message…let us open hearts and minds to receive the message, to listen to voices sent to us to bring the message…

Karen OSU

The sea and us

How can we revitalize our thoughts and actions and take a collective response for our seas and oceans, as our common heritage?

In today’s world, much of our collective approach to the seas is concentrated on the material aspects – how to get more fish, more oil, more gas and more minerals.  We build bigger ports for ferries and container vessels and use our seas as a  convenient  place to dump our waste.

The call for a more holistic approach is urgent. We need to ask ourselves what the seas give us. Do we listen to Pope Francis, who speaks so eloquently about our care for our common home? Do we listen to St. Francis’ plea to view the seas as “mother and provider”? (Canticle of the Creatures)

Let us reflect on Jesus’ relationship with the sea.

The Sea of Galilee was central to Jesus’ mission. He very often sailed across this fresh water sea and visited its shoreline. Much of His preaching and healing ministry took place in its environs. When He was tired and needed some peace and quiet, He headed towards the sea. You could say that He preferred to be at sea on a boat rather than on land.

Jesus put great emphasis on the relational dimensions which the sea offered;  the towns and villages that developed on its banks; the close friendships it nurtured; the healing properties it offered, the livelihood it provided for so many, including His close friends.

Query for Contemplation

  • How can we follow the example of Jesus today?
  • Do we realise that without our seas, there can be no life on our planet?
  • As we bathe our weary feet in the soothing ripples of the sea, do we have a feeling of being one with nature?
  • How significant is it for us that Jesus knew well the ecology and rich resources of the sea and that He started His mission by the Sea  of  Galilee – His second home?

                                                                                         B. O ‘S

The Lighthouse

Earlier this summer when driving the coast line of Wexford, I stopped at the Hook Head Lighthouse – it is a place of childhood memories having been frequent visitors on holidays in the area.  This year when I stopped by I took more notice of the history of the lighthouse to discover it was once a monastery!  The monks of nearby Rinn Dubhan received an annual assignment to act as guardians of the lighthouse, a task I learnt they carried out for several centuries – the monks living in the tower that served as both monastery and lighthouse. 

This discovery set me thinking about the “job” of the lighthouse – to act as guide for those at sea, to warn of impending danger to the traveller, to offer a safe place, to offer light in the darkness.  And what of the “job” of the monks – to offer guidance, to offer a welcome and hospitality to the traveller, to offer a place of safety to one in danger, and to bring the light of Christ into the darkness. So perhaps it is not so unusual to have monks as the keepers of the lighthouse!

My second thoughts turned to another lighthouse – the lighthouse in Desenzano, on the shores of Lake Garda, the birthplace of Angela Merici.  Angela too was a woman who brought the light of Christ into the darkness of her world, a woman who offered hospitality and welcome to all people she encountered. She too offered the safe place for those in danger, a listening ear to those in need, guidance to those who were searching for answers to life’s questions.

Perhaps today as we travel the coast line or the shores of the lakes and see the lighthouse we will think again about how we keep the light shining for those who are searching, keep a welcome for the traveller, offer safety to those in danger, and guidance to those who seek answers…

Karen OSU