Ursuline – Blog

According to the dictionary the word “companion” has its origins in the Latin word “companio” which if literally translated means “bread-fellow”.  It is derived from two words “com” meaning “with” and “panis” meaning “bread”, which we can translate as “sharing bread with”.   Breaking bread and sharing food was a way of life for Jesus, many times in the Gospels we see him sit down with people from all groups of his society – the Pharisees, the poor, his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus, the large crowds who came to hear him, and his disciples at the Last Supper when bread and wine became Eucharist.   Indeed, after his resurrection it was in moments of blessing, breaking and sharing bread that his disciples recognised him and were able to say “He is risen” – recall the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the apostles at the lake shore bringing in their catch of fish.  So being a companion has its roots in the Gospel tradition – it is no wonder then that when Angela sought to name her new group who would commit their lives to God and to the Gospel that she called it a “Company” (The Company of Saint Ursula) – the first members would find companionship with one another – in prayer, in their meetings, at Eucharist and though Angela does not tell us this – perhaps in sharing food together. In her writings Angela names herself as companion to each of us who have chosen to follow her inspiration when she says: “I will be in your midst lending aid to your prayers” what more could we want from a companion in our lives than who is with us, praying for and with us always.

Today while our life has somewhat changed over the centuries and many daughters of Angela live in community we know each other as “companions” sharing our life together in prayer, at meals, at Eucharist and in supporting and encouraging each other in our daily living of the Christian life as Ursulines.  We seek to be companions to one other and to all whom we encounter bringing alive the Gospel message to bring the Risen Jesus to all our daily encounters.

Karen OSU

On a recent drive in Co. Waterford, a friend and I decided to take the scenic route home? We stopped at a little village near Kilmeaden – home to Knockaderry reservoir, which supplies water to the city. The surrounding area is a paradise for fisher enthusiasts, bird watchers and lovers of wild exotic flowers.

You will be surprised to hear that I was completely captivated by the reservoir!

What is a reservoir? Well, it stores water in order to make it available when it is needed; it makes provision for outflow and inflow.

It is not a swamp, because a swamp has an inlet but no outlet. As a result, many things in a swamp die. And a swamp can emit an unpleasant odour. Yes, there is life in a swamp, but it lacks energy and zest for life.

A reservoir isn’t a canal either! A canal enables a network of communication and provides links between people, needs and movements. It is adept at reaching out in times of crisis.

In my reflections, a few questions surfaced:

Am I a reservoir, a swamp or a canal?

• Reservoir: am I there for people in their hour of need? Do I keep my inlet and outlet clear so that I’m never empty?
• Do I share the gifts that God has given me?
• Swamp: do I hoard whatever comes my way as my own?
• If so, do I wonder why I have so few friends?
• Canal: am I a channel through which kindness and friendship flow?
• Do I relate needs to sources of help?

Each of us can take on the characteristics of reservoir, swamp or canal.

RESERVOIR, SWAMP, CANAL WHICH AM I?

                  B. O ‘S

In his book Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Thomas Merton describes a transformative experience and I quote:

“Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the centre of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realisation that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I was theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special   world…This sense of liberation from an illusionary difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud…I have the immense joy of being a man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now that I realise what we all are. And if only everybody could recognise this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.

Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes. If only they could see themselves as they really are. If only we could see each other that way all the time. There would really be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed……But this cannot be seen, only believed and “understood” by a peculiar gift.”

For Contemplation:

• let us watch for our own “Fourth and Walnut” corner wherever we are today.
• let one person, creature, or element of creation remind us of their own identity indwelled by God’s presence.

                                                                                                                 B. O.‘S

The “I Am” motif is found in the Scriptures of all religions in the East as well as the West.

In the Bible, God is the great “I am”. This is what He said to Moses in Exodus 3: 13: “I Am Who Am” “I Am” sent me to you”.

In the Hindu Scriptures, we read: “I am the Father of the World…I am the Beginningness Unborn”.

The Christian mystics enriched us with their “I am” poetry and prayers. Hildegard of Bingen offers: God says, “I am the Day unto Myself – not formed by the sun, but rather forming the sun, igniting it.”

And Julian of Norwich: “I am the Sovereign Good of all things…this I am – the Endless Fulfilling of all Desires.”

Of course, “I am” poems and prayers are the very rock of our own Celtic Spirituality.

Jesus declares His own “I am’s” on several occasions in St. John’s Gospel; they offer a powerful insight into His relationship – and ours- to the Father:

• I am the bread of life: John 6:35.  He is telling us that He is our Life and that we don’t need to look elsewhere for spiritual food to sustain us.
• I am the light of the world:  John 8:12. Jesus says that He is the light of our lives and promises that He is always there to guide us to the light, even in our darkest moments.
• I am the door: John 10:7 Jesus is telling us that there is no other door to eternal life except through him.
• I am the good shepherd:  John 10:11 here we are reminded of Jesus’ care and concern for each one of us – he assures us that he is always there to protect us and seek us out when we stray and lose our way.
• I am the resurrection and the life: John 11:25 Jesus spoke these words to a heart-broken sister after the death of her brother, Lazarus.
• I am the way, the truth and the life: John 14 :6 Jesus is the truth we are all looking for – there is no other way to find true life except through him.
• I am the true vine: John 15:1 This is a powerful portrayal of Jesus’ relationship with us, telling us that ultimately the purpose of our fruitfulness is to give glory to God.

Invitation:

Using your Bible, take the seven “I am” statements of Jesus for prayer and reflection over the next while

You might consider writing your own “I am” prayer- poem!

Jesus’ statement “Before Abraham was I am” John 8:58. Is a powerful affirmation of His identity and pre-existence and of His connection to His Father.

                                                                        B. O’ S.

On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity my mind was drawn to Angela and the centrality of the Blessed Trinity to her writings.  She opens the prologue to her rule with one sentence – In the name of the blessed and indivisible Trinity – a testament to her understanding that God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is at the heart of this new rule.  The Trinitarian God is the author of this rule, Angela is merely the conduit God chooses to bring this rule to life in the world.  Angela puts her complete trust in God as she gives birth to this new vision of a way of life for women in the world – The Company of Saint Ursula.  She knows herself embraced in the circle of love created by Father, Son and Spirit – she feels herself drawn into their heart, embraced by them, inspired by them. She puts the Trinity first, before she names who this rule is for – that information comes second.  This tells us that before anything else we must put the Blessed Trinity foremost in our hearts and minds. 

As her rule moves into the Counsels, addressed to the Colonelle (the leaders of the Company) she ends this section with a Trinitarian blessing asking that “first I want you to blessed, in nomine, Patris, et Filli, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen”  a poignant reminder to them that what comes first is God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the Trinity is the authority on which their ministry as leaders is based. It is from them that it flows, not from any human appointment or election.  This same prayer is echoed again at the conclusion of the Testament (Legacies) written to guide the Lady-governors of the Company in their role saying to them “I embrace you…begging God to bless you. In nomine, Patris, et Filli, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen”. From beginning to end of her writings the focus is not on herself as the author but on the Blessed Trinity.

When I read these words of blessing framing all of Angela’s writings to us as daughters of Angela, I find myself drawn into this circle of love in which there is space for all people without exception.  The love of the Trinity is open and shared with each and every person.  If one looks at the icon of the Trinity by Rublev one can see this openness depicted as there is space from anyone to come to the table and join with the three persons of the one God.  And so every time I bless myself in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit I am reminded of God’s great love for me and for everyone and also of Angela’s absolute trust in God’s will as she prepared this rule, counsels, and testament for the Company of Saint Ursula.

Karen OSU