The Sacred Heart and the Venerable Matt Talbot

Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The video above, produced by the Apostleship of Prayer, tells us something of the struggle of the Venerable Matt Talbot (2 May 1856 – 7 June 1925) with alcoholism. It mentions the fact that he didn't have the benefit of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which hadn't yet come on the scene. But it doesn't mention that he was one of the earliest members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart.

The Pioneer Association, or PTAA, describes its mission and vision as follows:

Our mission is to address the problems in society caused by excess alcohol consumption and drug usage. We do this through:


Faith and prayer
Self denial
Example
Activities based on presenting alternatives to individuals, particularly the young
Advocacy


Our vision - based on the love in the Heart of Christ, as expressed in The Gospels - is to help to build a society where people live to their full potential and alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation avoiding the ills that arise in society from excess in its use.

For most of its history - the movement was founded in 1898 in Dublin by Fr James Cullen SJ - members voluntarily abstained from alcohol. But illegal drugs have become such a huge problem in Ireland in recent decades, spawning crime in a way that alcohol never did, that The Pioneers have included them too in their mission.

PIONEER PRAYERS

The Heroic Offering (prayed by members daily)

For thy greater Glory and consolation, O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, for Thy sake, to give good example, to practice self-denial, to make reparation to Thee for the sins of intemperance and for the conversion of excessive drinkers, I will abstain for life from all intoxicating drinks, Amen.

Prayer for Drug Users

We commend to you, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, all whose lives have been broken through the misuse of drugs. We ask you, Lord, to protect them from harm and restore them to health, so that they can live out the years you have given them in serenity and joy. Praise to the Heart of Jesus, our King and our God!

Juvenile Pioneer Offering

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the most pure Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works and sufferings in union with your own for the grace to keep my pledge faithfully. Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love always! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!

Young Pioneer Prayer

Lord, for your sake, for the recovery of problem drinkers and victim of substance abuse, to make amends to your Sacred Heart for the intemperance in all our lives, I promise not to take alcoholic drink until I am at least 18, and to keep off drugs for life.

The heading to the video says ‘Matthew Talbot’, though he’s referred to throughout the video itself as ‘Matt Talbot’. He was baptized ‘Matthew’ but is known to Dubliners and many others as ‘Matt’, just as fellow-Dubliner Francis Michael Duff, Servant of God and founder of the Legion of Mary, a younger contemporary of Matt Talbot, is universally known as ‘Frank’.

On Sunday 3 July the annual Mass for the beatification of the Venerable Matt Talbot will be held in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sean McDermott St, at 3pm. His remains are in a shrine there. The church, not yet built when Matt was alive, is in the heart of the area of Dublin where he lived.

The Pioneer Pilgrimage to Knock in Honour of Matt Talbot will take place on Sunday 17 July.

Statue of Talbot near Dublin's Matt Talbot Bridge, February 2011

The only extant writing by Matt in existence is a note in the archives of the Society of St Columban (Columban Fathers), of which I am a member, with a donation he sent in the very early days of our existence. His wages were small and he gave most of his little money away.



Official Prayer for the Canonization of Matt Talbot

Lord, in your servant, Matt Talbot you have given us a wonderful example of triumph over addiction, of devotion to duty, and of lifelong reverence of the Holy Sacrament. May his life of prayer and penance give us courage to take up our crosses and follow in the footsteps of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Father, if it be your will that your beloved servant should be glorified by your Church, make known by your heavenly favours the power he enjoys in your sight. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

A Columban ordination on the Feast of Sts Peter and Paul

Saints Peter and Paul, El Greco, painted 1605-08

Earlier today I attended the ordination of Columban Fr Rodolfo Christopher Kaamiño IV in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Ozamiz City. The ordaining prelate was Archbishop Jesus A. Dosado CM of the Archdiocese of Ozamiz. As a deacon Father Chris was working in Malate Parish, Manila, which the Columbans have been taking care of since we came to the Philippines in 1929. He will continue to work there as a priest for some months before receiving an overseas assignment. He spent two years in Taiwan as a seminarian on his First Mission Assignment.

Among the five Irish Columbans in Malate killed by the Japanese in February 1945 during the Battle of Manila, when around 100,000 died, mostly civilians, was Fr Peter Fallon, the first Columban parish priest of what then was the town of Misamis, now Ozamiz City, when we came to Mindanao in 1948. The first bishop of the Prelature of Ozamiz, set up in 1951, was Columban Bishop Patrick Cronin, later Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro.

Photos from website of Cathedral Parish

Among the many priests who concelebrated was Columban Fr Desmond Morrison from Derry, Northern Ireland, an engineer by profession, who designed the Cathedral, built in the late 1950s or early 1960s. (Right now I can't find the exact date).

Today, the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, is also the 93rd anniversary of the canonical establishment of the Missionary Society of St Columban in the Diocese of Galway, Ireland. It late became a society of pontifical right, meaning it wasn't under the jurisdiction of an individual bishop.

In the January-February 2011 issue of Misyon I published an article by Father Chris on his experience in Taiwan as a seminarian, ‘Come after me and I will make you fishers of men’ (Mark 1:17). He describes directly and with humour what he was doing. I tried to find a more 'polite' way of describing this, but couldn't. I'll let the newly ordained priest speak for himself and I know that you'll keep him in your prayers.

‘Come after me and I will make you fishers of men’ (Mark 1:17)

By Rodolfo Christopher Kaamiño IV

The author, from Ozamiz City, was ordained deacon in Malate Church, Manila, on 12 December and priest in Ozamiz Cathedral 29 June 2011. He writes here about his experience as a Columban seminarian on First Mission Assignment in Taiwan.

Father Rodolfo Christopher Kaamiño IV

Friends ask me what I’m doing here in Taiwan. Half-jokingly, ‘Washing asses’ is my frequent reply, and they laugh, thinking I might be joking or that I mean something else. Here is somebody who has studied for four years in graduate school in the USA now washing other people’s asses. It led me to wonder what’s ‘wrong’ with this, probably because it’s a ‘dirty’ job, or because it’s not a ‘classy job’, a ‘sophisticated profession’ such as engineering or accountancy. A friend asked me why I’m doing this. I told him I don’t do it on my own, or else I would have quit a long time ago. I have some help from above.



After being in Taiwan for almost two years, I felt I was an ‘amateur in every field and professional in none’. Probably that's what being a missionary is all about. Being in the ministry for several months now, I feel that I don’t have to be a professional or a rocket scientist to be a minister. I arrived here with ‘professional ideas and concepts’ about mission and ministry learned in school. In ministry here at AiJia these don’t matter much. Mentally challenged adults don’t necessarily need a professional. They need a human companion, somebody who can ‘waste’ time with them.



The ministry at AiJia, of course, also requires professional nursing and care-giving and I learned both on the job. Probably it was my willingness and openness that enabled me to also take on those roles. It wasn’t easy. Being an adult, I don’t want to be told what to do. Yet being a ‘tongue-tied’ foreigner, I depended much on others in the ministry. In AiJia a professional nurse, caregiver or social worker may efficiently take care of the physical needs of mentally challenged adults but not necessarily of their human needs. It has been my continuous struggle in the ministry to provide the people here with professional care and at the same time to be a human companion to them.

\

Most of the first followers of Jesus knew only of one trade, and that was to fish. These disciples could have remained professional fishermen and serve the hunger of the people by providing them with fish. But Jesus invited them to a whole new level of fishing, to ‘fish’ for people, a whole new field beyond their professional expertise. It required less of their professional skills but more of their hearts and minds. A tall order, but they were willing and trusting. Despite their being slow to understand, Jesus patiently journeyed with them as they continued ‘fishing’ for people.

Like the first disciples, I too am slow to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Yet I continue this journey in trust and with help from above. We missionaries try to put some flesh on God’s love in this world. Each does it in different ways depending upon the different gifts each has been given. One can be a professional when the situation calls for such. But most of the time, people need a human companion, somebody who is willing to go the extra mile with them.

You can find the Father Chris on Facebook.



Propworx Star Trek Auction II Results - Part 2 The Props

So here is the second part of the Propworx Star Trek Auction II review.  This time we analyze the prop sales.  

Now, overall, Star Trek props have settled into a nice rhythm.  We tend to know the ranges of most items, and none of them are too pricey, except when you deal with ship models and most of those aren't coming back up for sale.

While not technically a prop, Lot 45, the Excelsior Study model, was a beautiful piece and from the Okudas personal collection.  At $ 1,400 it was a pretty good buy in my book.

WEAPONS

There were a bunch of weapons in this auction and they all went at reasonable prices.

The TNG Cobrahead Phaser at $ 1,800 was about right.  I am not sure if there is any perceived difference between a light weight roto-cast resin Phaser and a heavier one, but I think all of these type of Phaser in the $ 1,500 - 2,000 range is pretty standard now.

The Nemesis Dolphin Phaser at $ 2,000 proves this too.  We don't see many of this type of Phaser and I won this for my personal collection (the only item I really wanted!).  If you are a Starfleet weapon completest like I am, I think you will find this one of the harder ones to obtain.

The First Contact Phaser Rifle was production made but never screen used.  Still, it hit a strong $ 4,000, which is because this was the type of rifle that Picard used in his scene in his ready room with Lillie.  This one is fully lighted and so a great display piece.

The rubber Klingon DIsruptor at $ 1,600 was about right.  This is the iconic Klingon disruptor weapon.  If you collect weapons, one of these needs to be in your collection.  SO I think, even with Buyer's Premium, this is a good deal at under $ 2,000.

The Enterprise version continues not to do well, as this one only hit $ 1,000 with a holster.  This is surprising and I see some good potential in these long term.  I have one and think if you collect Klingon Weapons, you need one of these.  So buy now while prices are low.

The Bajoran Pistol was a rubber stunt I picked up at last year's Profiles in History auction for $ 500 and got $ 750 here.  So I was happy as I had recently won a resin one from Profiles.  I am not big on having to have a hero prop for my weapon collection, but I do want resin over rubber, and so was happy to upgrade here and make a couple bucks.

The Cardassian Phaser was a beauty and at $ 1,200 pretty fairly priced.  These display very well and so I think the winner got a nice piece.

Other weapon prices:

Ferengi Phaser $ 700

Tellarte Pistol $ 300

Son'a Shotgun $ 400

Buster Kincaid Ray Gun $ 1,400

Shinzon Blood Draw Knife  $ 1,400

Klingon Pain Stick $ 800

OTHER PROPS

There were 3 Tricorders for sale in this auction, and the screen used ones went very reasonably, while the replica went high!  Go figure!

Lot # 68, the hero medical Tricorder went for only $ 2,750.  This goes along with the recent trending down of Tricorder prices.  The recent sale at Profiles of a Mark VII Tricorder for only $ 2,250 marks an interesting downturn for Tricorders that this sale continues. 

Lot #  69 was the solid resin Tricorder with holster that went for $ 1,700, which was reasonable for a nice, very displayable piece.


And Lot # 70, the EFX replica, went for a very strong $ 800.  That was a shocker.


The screen used comm badges went for $ 650, 500 and 550, which pretty much sets the market for these items.  


The Nemesis Red PAD and Silver PADD went for $ 1,200 and $ 1,000 respctively.

And the best prop in the rest of the auction was the Defiant helm console, which came up for auction again after selling in the first Propworx Star Trek auction.


Now there are a few more props of note and I will cover them in my next post on the auction!


Alec

The Underworld Release Date

Hello everyone,
I’ve set an exact date for when The Underworld will be released. I’ll be releasing it on July 31, 2011!

Almost there...

Hey everybody,
Now that my internets working again, I thought I’d give a quick update with where I'm at with The Underworld. My word count is 80,000, and I'm getting close to finishing it up. After that, I'll be moving on to doing my revisions, and then it's off to the editor.

Keyaki

I was just going through my old posts (when I was young and gainfully unemployed) cos I just ate a weird timing but very satisfying breakfast/lunch meal today. And it's a Monday again! So the famous stall was closed... And there's no more $2 prawn noodles anymore... Guess everything but my salary is going up...

Went to Keyaki last weekend. Made a grave mistake cos we had initially planned on going to Cherry Garden for dim sum but didn't know it was Father's Day and it was fully booked :( Just another reminder to myself - Cherry Garden is at Mandrin Oriental and not Marina Mandarin - spent nearly half an hour crawling around looking for the restaurant. It is never a good idea to be supremely famished, finaly reaching the restaurant and being told that it's full and yet being able to smell all the lovely freshly steamed dim sum. We had 2 different sets - I had their Keyaki set (I really cannot remember what it was called but its the weekend special lunch set) which came with a very insipid potato salad. The other lunch set (which is in the main menu) had this really refreshing plum wine sherbert and probably one of the better ways to kick start a great meal.
In fact, it was so nice that the next day at work I was craving for this halfway through the morning and just wondering where I could get some good quality plum wine from (though I'm mainly a procrastinator so I still haven't gotten it...)

Another 3 dished starter - some fish cake thing, minced meat with grated radish and pumpkin chicken cube (my pumpkin piece was miniscule).

California maki - which is totally un-Japanese but very delicious anyway.

Extremely fresh and juicy sashimi - my fave part of any meal

Tempura - one of my least favourite Japanese foods though I really like eggplant and pumpkin Fried rice with little morsels of seafood and chicken - I would have much preferred garlic fried rice (which most mid range Japanese restaurants do quite well). The pickles (top left) are pretty interesting cos they also had pickled mushrooms.

Grilled cod fish
By this time I was really full but there were still some more dishes...

Pork Teppanyaki - the alternative being beef (which I don't eat cos of prions, though I'm seriously reconsidering now cos I really miss eating BK mushroom swiss and Macdonalds double cheeseburger...)
The other lunch set (which was around the same price ~$60++) had a nicely grilled half lobster which was really fresh.

The Cha soba here (came with the other lunch set) was pretty good but not as spectacular as the Tsuen one from Japan (which I sadly will not be able to eat in the new future)... It's a remarkably easy dish to prepare just that the noodles have to be watched closely cos they become soggy once overcooked.

Dessert - green tea and black sesame ice cream. The black sesame one is much better so if you're ever given the choice do take the black sesame one - it has coarse grains of black sesame and an intense sesame taste. Just like eating black sesame paste but in the ice cream version.

Personally, I still find Aoki's lunches is still in the number 1 position in my list of lunch places... I think I'm growing old cos I feel much less adventurous and I've been stagnating at my usual food places for the last few months... Oh well, I will be hunting for a new lunch place on Wednesday if my list doesn't explode terribly...

Keyaki
7 Raffles Boulevard

4/F Pan Pacific Singapore
Tel: +65 6826 8240

The Early Adventures of the NX-01

Vulcans, and Cold Wars, and Shran...oh my!

Captain Archer and his crew certainly haven't taken it easy during their first 4+ months of their mission. They've already made a  few friends, a few enemies, and a number of discoveries. There are a few things that stick out to me about these first dozen episodes:

1.) The enthusiasm the crew has for exploration. I wish we could see more of it, but when it's there, it's believable and fun! Exploration of this kind is lost on our generation. Our planet has been mapped, and there aren't likely to be new civilizations yet to be discovered on Earth. It makes sense that in the future, when humans once again are able to physically go out into the unknown, there would be a sense of excitement. This is conveyed well in episodes like "Strange New World" and "Civilization". This is a nice change of pace from the usual Trek fare from the other series. Although TOS and TNG also deal with exploring he unknown, there isn't the same "We're making history with every light year" mentality and excitement among those crews as there is on ENT.

2.) The Vulcans are turning out to be an interesting race: I plan to write more on this in a future "Alien Spotlight" entry, but early on, we get to see that their interest in humans (and specifically the Enterprise crew) is curious, and not all that "logical". It's almost as if they want humans to fail. They are in some ways both an ally and an obstacle to overcome. Humans' first "frienemie". T'Pol's decision to stay on board and not go through with her arranged marriage in "Breaking the Ice" was seemingly uncharacteristic, and shows some early growth in her character.  I like that in many ways, these "early" Vulcans are very different from the Vulcans we've come to know from the other series. For one thing, in their own way, they can be quite emotional.

3.) Andorians!: Blue guys with antennae who don't trust anyone. I love these guys! The twist at the end of "The Andorian Incident" was great. In a few minutes at the end of one episode, we see Archer turn an adversary into an unlikely ally. I really enjoyed this episode, and look forward to seing more of the Andorians (and Shran in particular) in the coming seasons. One thing that ENT did really well, in my opinion was their treatment of the Andorians. they took one of TOS's odder aliens, and turned them into a very interesting "new" species.


4.) The Temporal Cold War heats up:  It's really a shame they didn't follow through with this arc in a satisfying way. I know a lot of fans didn't like the TCW from the beginning, but I really think that early on it had a lot of promise. "Cold Front" is really a nice episode, and it gave ENT a through-thread in the first season. I remember watching this for the first time and always looking forward to he next TCW chapter. Even now, knowing that it's never fully resolved, I still can't help but anticipate episodes like"Shockwave".

There were a few less-than memorable episodes in this first batch, but overall it's nice to start to get to know the crew, and share in their early adventures exploring space, meeting new races, and getting more acquainted with each other and the ship. I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from here!

NEXT: "Exploring the Explorers: Meet The Enterprise Crew"

Fires of Prometheus due for release within the week!

The third book in my best-selling Science Fiction series 'Star Crusades' is nearing its final few days. The last stage includes final proofing as well as checking the cover and description for the hundredth time. This book finally resolves some of the questions covering the key characters as well as pushing the story to towards the bloody conclusion of the conflict in Proxima Centauri.

Fires of Prometheus will expand on the characters from the first two books whilst adding a small number of new ones. As well as adding more details concerning the planets in the series this book introduces the burning hot Prometheus, one of the violent and dangerous places in the Confederacy.

Giveaway Winners

Hey everyone,
Sorry this post is so late. My internets been down due to a lightening storm and still is (I'm using the libraries computer right now).
The winners of my giveaway are:
miss~shiirleyy and Cassandra Hernandez-Ruiz.
Please send me an email with your addresses, and I'll get your copies mailed out.
For those of you who didn't win, don't worry. I'll hold another giveaway very, very soon.

Thanks everyone.

Nourishing soup at Pu Tien

I'm not sure if I've blogged about my favourite post call food ever but I've just dug out some really old photos that I took in happier times (i.e. when I was not a slave to my company). The most awesome post call food ever (for me at least) is the Pu Tien soup. Since I really don't know what it's called in the menu, I've been calling it the 'nourishing soup'. It comes in this old style Chinese cauldron which helps to keep the nourishing soup warm while you slowly sip it. The soup is so milky and looks like it's been boiled for hours. It's extremely tasty (probably cos of the fatty pork and the long clams). And it comes with healthy stuff like lots of long cabbage and bean curd.
I think it's next best to soaking in an outdoor onsen during winter/spring (which I will not be doing in the near future or when I am post call). It's very warming and comforting and after taking this I would happily go home, bathe and sleep until the next day.
Sadly, I've only eaten it once ever when I was post call but it was the best post call lunch ever! I must find a Pu Tien near my workplace now so that I can endeavour to get myself some nourishing soup... My second most favourite dish (though it's not another nourishing post call dish) is the Pu Tien Mee Sua. This is unlike other mee suas I've eaten cos it's extremely fine and it's not served with soup. It comes topped with seaweed, nuts, seafood and pork and like the soup, is very tastey.

The other noodle dish here is the luo mee which I don't quite like but here's a picture. The noodles have the consistency of soggy ban mian but the soup is rather nice and similar to the nourishing soup.

Other not bad dishes to try are the cockles (it's <$10 per plate) of prettily shelled clean cockles served with lots of raw garlic and the sweet and the sour pork with lychee (nice fat chunks of pork battered with floor and coated with their sweet and sour sauce). The ohr nee (yam paste dessert) here is less than spectacular. I would recommend trying it elsewhere.

I'm not sure if the stuff served at Pu Tien is a good reflection of the Heng Hwa cuisine, but their dishes are above average and with reasonable prices, they look set to give the average Singapore diner more mid-range Chinese food choices (other than the default Crystal Jade and Ding Tai Fung, and perhaps Paradise Inn)

Pu Tien, here I come (soon, hopefully on Saturday??)

Pu Tien Outlets are at:

Kitchener Road

Nex

City Square Mall

Vivocity

Tampines Mall

Parkway Parade

'I am the living bread . . .' Sunday Reflections. Corpus Christi, 26 June 2011

El Greco, Altarpiece, 1597-99



Readings (New American Bible, used in the Philippines and the USA)

Gospel John 6:51-58 (Jerusalem Bible, used in Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, Scotland)

Jesus said to the Jews:

‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,
for the life of the world.’
Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you will not have life in you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood
has eternal life,
and I shall raise him up on the last day.
For my flesh is real food
and my blood is real drink.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me
and I live in him.
As I, who am sent by the living Father,
myself draw life from the Father,
so whoever eats me will draw life from me.
This is the bread come down from heaven;
not like the bread our ancestors ate:
they are dead,
but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

Soiscéal Eoin 6:51-58 (Gaeilge, Irish)

San am sin dúirt Íosa leis na sluaite:

Is mise an t-arán beo
a tháinig anuas ó neamh.
Má itheann duine an t-arán seo
mairfidh sé go deo, agus an t-arán a thabharfaidh mé uaim
is é m’fheoil é [a thabharfar] ar son bheatha an domhain.”
Bhí na Giúdaigh ansin ag aighneas le chéile á rá: “Conas is féidir don duine seo a fheoil
a thabhairt dúinn le hithe?”

Dúirt Íosa leo:

“Amen, Amen, a deirim libh,
mura n-íosfaidh sibh feoil Mhac an Duine,
agus a chuid fola a ól,
ní bheidh beatha agaibh ionaibh.
An té a itheann m’fheoil
agus a olann m’fhuil,
tá an bheatha shíoraí aige,
agus tógfaidh mé suas é an lá deireanach.
Is bia go fíor mo chuid feola
agus is deoch go fíor mo chuid fola.
An té a itheann m’fheoil agus a ólann m’fhuil
cónaíonn sé ionamsa agus cónaímse ann.
Amhail mar a chuir an tAthair beo mise uaidh,
agus mar is beo mise tríd an Athair,
mar an gcéanna, an té a itheann mise,
mairfidh sé tríom.
Is é seo an t-arán a tháinig anuas ó neamh.
Ní ionann is an manna ar ith bhur n-aithreacha é
agus go bhfuil siad marbh;
an té a itheann an t-arán seo,
mairfidh sé go deo.”

+++

May I ask your prayers for myself and the four Columban seminarians to whom I am giving a retreat in Manila at the moment, 22-27 June, Tavite and Pat from Fiji and Adonis and Reggie from the Philippines.

Early in 1994 when I was parish priest in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on the east coast of Mindanao, one of the volunteer catechists came and told me that her father was asking for 'the Bread of Life'. I learned that he had three families - he had been widowed twice - and children of this three wives, along with some of his grandchildren were in the house when I went to bring him the last sacraments.

He was fully alert and after I heard his confession he participated joyfully in the celebration of the sacrament of the sick and when he received Holy Communion. At the end of the ceremony I asked the members of his family who were nearest to him to place their hands on him. My idea was that they would pray for him individually. However, the dying man did something far more beautiful. He took one of his grandchildren, a babe in arms, and embraced the child. He then embraced each member of the family in turn.

It is not the practice in the Philippines to offer the priest something to eat when he makes a sick call but on this occasion the family had prepared a snack. There was such a palpable joy in the house that I felt it right and proper to eat.

The following morning the catechist came to tell me that her father had died.

This man understood the meaning of today's gospel and of today's feast, called now in English the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, though Corpus Christi is still the most common name. I think that all predominantly English-speaking countries have now transferred the feast from Thursday to the following Sunday.

Pope Urban IV asked St Thomas Aquinas to compose the sequence sung at Mass today, Lauda Sion Salvatorem. The hymn gives very clearly the teaching of the Church on the Eucharist. Here is one example:

Dogma datur Christiánis,
Quod in carnem transit panis,
Et vinum in sánguinem.
Hear, what holy Church maintaineth,
That the bread its substance changeth
Into Flesh, the wine to Blood.

I shudder when I hear people tell me that they received 'the wine' when Holy Communion is given under both kinds. I shudder even more when I hear priests refer to the Precious Blood as 'the wine'. As often as I can I remind people at Mass what the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No 1333 teaches: At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood.

The Body and Blood of Christ that we receive are the sustenance we need as individuals and as Church to follow Jesus faithfully and, if necessary, to shed our own blood so that others might know the Risen Lord. Fr Ragheed Ganni, martyred on 3 June 2007 just after he had celebrated Mass in Mosul, said not long before his death, Without Sunday, without the Eucharist the Christians in Iraq cannot survive.

Nor can Christians or the Church anywhere else.

Lauda Sion Salvatorem, St Thomas Aquinas, c1264 at the request of Pope Urban IV

Latin text English translation

Lauda Sion Salvatórem
Lauda ducem et pastórem
in hymnis et cánticis.
Sion, lift up thy voice and sing:
Praise thy Savior and thy King,
Praise with hymns thy shepherd true

Quantum potes, tantum aude:
Quia major omni laude,
Nec laudáre súfficis.
All thou canst, do thou endeavour:
Yet thy praise can equal never
Such as merits thy great King.

Laudis thema speciális,
Panis vivus et vitális,
Hódie propónitur.
See today before us laid
The living and life-giving Bread,
Theme for praise and joy profound.

Quem in sacræ mensa cœnæ,
Turbæ fratrum duodénæ
Datum non ambígitur.
The same which at the sacred board
Was, by our incarnate Lord,
Giv'n to His Apostles round.

Sit laus plena, sit sonóra,
Sit jucúnda, sit decóra
Mentis jubilátio.
Let the praise be loud and high:
Sweet and tranquil be the joy
Felt today in every breast.

Dies enim solémnis ágitur,
In qua mensæ prima recólitur
Hujus institútio.
On this festival divine
Which records the origin
Of the glorious Eucharist.

In hac mensa novi Regis,
Novum Pascha novæ legis,
Phase vetus términat.
On this table of the King,
Our new Paschal offering
Brings to end the olden rite.

Vetustátem nóvitas,
Umbram fugat véritas,
Noctem lux elíminat.
Here, for empty shadows fled,
Is reality instead,
Here, instead of darkness, light.

Quod in cœna Christus gessit,
Faciéndum hoc expréssit
In sui memóriam.
His own act, at supper seated
Christ ordain'd to be repeated
In His memory divine;

Docti sacris institútis,
Panem, vinum, in salútis
Consecrámus hóstiam.
Wherefore now, with adoration,
We, the host of our salvation,
Consecrate from bread and wine

Dogma datur Christiánis,
Quod in carnem transit panis,
Et vinum in sánguinem.
Hear, what holy Church maintaineth,
That the bread its substance changeth
Into Flesh, the wine to Blood

Quod non capis, quod non vides,
Animósa firmat fides,
Præter rerum ordinem.
Doth it pass thy comprehending?
Faith, the law of sight transcending
Leaps to things not understood.

Sub divérsis speciébus,
Signis tantum, et non rebus,
Latent res exímiæ.
Here beneath these signs are hidden
Priceless things, to sense forbidden,
Signs, not things, are all we see

Caro cibus, sanguis potus:
Manet tamen Christus totus,
Sub utráque spécie.
Flesh from bread, and Blood from wine,
Yet is Christ in either sign,
All entire, confessed to be.

A suménte non concísus,
Non confráctus, non divísus:
Integer accípitur.
They, who of Him here partake,
Sever not, nor rend, nor break:
But, entire, their Lord receive.

Sumit unus, sumunt mille:
Quantum isti, tantum ille:
Nec sumptus consúmitur.
Whether one or thousands eat:
All receive the self-same meat:
Nor the less for others leave.

Sumunt boni, sumunt mali:
Sorte tamen inæquáli,
Vitæ vel intéritus.
Both the wicked and the good
Eat of this celestial Food:
But with ends how opposite!

Mors est malis, vita bonis:
Vide paris sumptiónis
Quam sit dispar éxitus.
Here 't is life: and there 't is death:
The same, yet issuing to each
In a difference infinite

Fracto demum Sacraménto,
Ne vacílles, sed memento,
Tantum esse sub fragménto,
Nor a single doubt retain,
When they break the Host in twain,
But that in each part remains

Quantum toto tégitur.
Nulla rei fit scissúra:
Signi tantum fit fractúra:
What was in the whole before.
Since the simple sign alone
Suffers change in state or form:

Qua nec status nec statúra
Signáti minúitur.
Ecce panis Angelórum,
The signified remaining one
And the same for evermore.
Lo! bread of the Angels broken,

Factus cibus viatórum:
Vere panis fíliórum,
Non mittendus cánibus.
For us pilgrims food, and token
Of the promise by Christ spoken,
Children’s meat, to dogs denied.

In figúris præsignátur,
Cum Isaac immolátur:
Agnus paschæ deputátur
Shewn in Isaac's dedication,
In the manna's preparation:
In the Paschal immolation

Datur manna pátribus.
Bone pastor, panis vere,
Jesu, nostri miserére:
In old types pre-signified.
Jesu, shepherd of the sheep:
Thou thy flock in safety keep,

Tu nos pasce, nos tuére:
Tu nos bona fac vidére
In terra vivéntium.
Living bread, thy life supply:
Strengthen us, or else we die,
Fill us with celestial grace.

Tu, qui cuncta scis et vales:
Qui nos pascis hic mortales:
Tuos ibi commensáles,
Thou, who feedest us below:
Source of all we have or know:
Grant that with Thy Saints above,

Cohærédes et sodales,
Fac sanctórum cívium.
Amen. Allelúja.
Sitting at the feast of love,
We may see Thee face to face.
Amen. Alleluia.

 

Yo Soy el Pan de Vida, I am the Bread of Life Words: Suzanne Toolan, Music: John Michael Talbot

 

Most of us are familiar with this modern hymn, based on today's gospel. The video is of a Spanish version.

Giveaway Reminder

Hey guys,
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway I’m holding. I’ll be announcing the winners tomorrow.

Star Trek items for sale by Art Director

Cherie Baker was one of two art directors working with Herman Zimmerman on Star Trek: Nemesis.  She contacted me as she had a couple of items for sale.  Please contact her directly if you are interested.  She can be reached at artqueenla@gmail.com.

This is the crew gift plaque given out by the director to everyone listed on the plaque.  This was not screen-used, but a crew gift.  It measures 10" x 14"  $ 500

This is a Deep Space Nine Technical Manual signed by both Herman Zimmerman and Doug Drexler  $ 50

Prayer for those with dementia

The link to the video was sent by my friend Frances Molloy (photo below), founder of the Pastoral Care Project in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England. I was involved with the Project to a limited degree while based in Solihull, near Birmingham, from 2000 to 2002.

Here is a brief history of the Project from its website:

In 1989, I was leading a Spiritual Development programme (Light Out of Darkness written by Sr Kathleen O’Sullivan SSL) and the theme of that particular week was ‘finding God in my weakness’, Romans 8.26-27. I met a lady with dementia in an EMI (Elderly and Mentally Infirm) Ward at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, while visiting as a church volunteer. She was also blind and yet seemed to have an awareness which captured my attention. She couldn't remember her name – and yet she had this great awareness of God and others. Reflecting on the scripture and the visit, I became aware of how special and unique each person is. The visit highlighted that God still communicates his love through people with dementia and that listening was the way of understanding and meeting their spiritual needs. This was an inspirational visit, which led to the Project taking off in 1994, after many years of prayer and research.

Frances Molloy, Project Manager.
 
Check out the Project's website.

.99¢ ebook

The Fallen Star ebook is only .99¢ at both Amazon and Barnes&Noble.

http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Star-ebook/dp/B004W0COEY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1308415859&sr=8-2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fallen-star-jessica-sorensen/1030784306?ean=2940012649874&itm=1&usri=the%2bfallen%2bstar

B'Elanna Torres Borg Costume from Christie's

Well, another significant costume from the Christie's Star Trek auction is up for sale on eBay. And it appears the seller just took it to the local eBay store (those places that will sell your item on eBay for a %) which is a VERY bad idea. However, seller was smart enough to have saved the original invoice as well as providing good pics and a copy of the item in the Christie's catalog. None the less, here is some free advertising for that seller!

The eBay Auction Ad:

Own an awesome piece of Star Trek history - the original B'Elanna's Borg Costume.  Two-piece costume with jumpsuit and jacket made from cast latex painted as biochemical hardware and a pair of Borg boots with label inscribed "Roxann Dawson".  Designed by Robert Blackman and worn by Roxann Dawson as B'Elanna Torres in Borg from in "Unimatrix" in Star Trek: Voyager.  It is in good condition, but not perfect.  It has some wear, minor missing pieces of rubber and paint loss.  We had to carefully pry the costume apart as it has been in storage since it was shipped from Christie's in 2006 and some of the rubber was "stuck" together.  However, we were able to separate it without causing any real damage.

 

Note that the costume closed at $ 1,875

"Broken Bow"... It Begins!

I won't normally be discussing each episode individually as I go through the chronology, but I will from time to time where I feel it's appropriate. Since this is the first episode, I felt it only suitable to do so here.

Ah, the beginning.

The first thing I noticed while Watching "Broken Bow" is that this is a unique story of humanity's future. The not-all-too-distant future at that. We pick up the story about 140 years from now. From this episode we know that in that time a man by the name of Zephram Cochran invented an engine able to travel at faster-than-light speeds, and that as a result humans have made contact with an alien race known s the Vulcans. We also know that these Vulcans have held back humanity's technological and exploratory ambitions in what they believe to be our best interests (very well told through the first scene of young Jonathan Archer and his father). Nonetheless, in the past 100 years we have all but eliminated war, hunger and poverty. As Trip says in the episode, "that's no small potatoes"!

This is a fair amount of back story, but it is told here in a way that isn't too complicated, and gets the viewer on track pretty quickly.

What stands out the most, even from the first 15 minutes of the episode is that this is an optimistic view of our future as species. The scene with Archer and Trip inspecting the ship from on board the shuttle really plays to that wonder. It's hard not to get caught up in the possibilities of what this "boldly going" might bring.

Sure, for long time fans and the noobs alike, there's plenty to nitpick about this initial outing into the Star Trek universe if you want to. It's not perfect. The whole "Future Guy" thing doesn't pan out, as we know, but the concept at the beginning isn't all that bad. In fact, when viewed as a true beginning and not as a prequel, it's an enticing bit to know that these characters have a stake in something that will truly change humanity's (and the galaxy's) future. You want to know more right away. Other nitpicks include the decon-room scene with Trip and T'Pol (really?), and the fact that the last two acts of the episode don't quite carry the wonder of the first (although the action sequences and special effects are all pretty good). All-in-all, this is a worthy opening into the Trek Universe.

This "Star Trek" thing is a nice change of pace from pretty much every other futuristic sci-fi tale out there. Keeping in mind this aired in 2001, a bright vision of our future televised so soon after 9/11 is pretty powerful stuff. Time to see where it all goes from here! ;)

Next: "The Early Adventures of the Enterprise". Stay tuned!

Intro to New Blog: The Viewing Project

Now that the Chronology Project is complete, and our chronological episode list is done. It's time for the fun part... watching the saga unfold from the beginning! During this journey, I'll be writing down my thoughts and musings on anything from specific episoides to far-reaching story-arcs to the wonder of Star Trek in general.

The main question I'll be asking at the beginning will be: "What if there had never been Star Trek before this?

That's really the point of this whole viewing project. To re-create the wonder of watching Trek unfold, as if for the first time! To that end, I will be blogging from that point of view. Trying (as best as I can)  to view the saga from the perspective of someone who hasn't seen it before.

There will, of course be times when I will choose to break from this mold and comment as the long-time Trekkie that I really am. Within the blog entiries I will indicated these sections using italics.

My entries will be somewhat irregular, as I will not be comment on each-and-every episode, and my schedule will allow more to less Trek watching at certain times throughout the year. Even so, I will endevour to post on a relatively frequent basis as much as possible. At the end of each entry, I will elude to the topic of the next at the bottom in the form of "Next: ____" 

I encourage anyone to comment on posts, and share your thoughts as we go through the chronology. Enjoy the ride. I know I will :)

And now... we boldly go!

'God loved the world so much.' Sunday Reflections, Trinity Sunday, 19 June 2011

The Trinity, El Greco, painted 1577, Museo del Prado, Madrid

Readings (New American Bible, used in the Philippines and USA).

Gospel John 3:16-18 (Jerusalem Bible, used in Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, Scotland) 

Jesus said to Nicodemus, 

God loved the world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
may not be lost but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,
because he has refused to believe
in the name of God's only Son.


An Soiscéal Eoin 3:16-18 (Gaeilge, Irish)

San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Óir ghráigh Dia an domhan chomh mór sin
gur thug sé a Aonghin Mic uaidh
i dtreo, gach duine a chreideann ann,
nach gcaillfí é ach go mbeadh an bheatha shioraí aige.
Óir ní chun daorbhreith a thabhairt ar an saol
a chuir Dia a Mhac uaidh ar an saol
ach chun go slánófaí an saol tríd.
An té a chreideann ann ní thabharfar daorbhreith air,
ach an té nach gcreideann ann,
tá daorbhreith tugtha air cheana féin,
mar nár chreid sé in ainm Mhac Dé, a Aonghin.

+++
In 1976, during my first visit home to Ireland from the Philippines, I was celebrating Sunday Mass in my home parish church in Dublin. I mentioned in my homily that 'a temple of the Holy Spirit' hade been murdered that week in Northern Ireland. A member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary had been shot dead. A middle-aged man in the congregation didn't like what I said and stood up and asked 'Are we here to listen to the Gospel or to a political speech?' He then sat down. I was initially stunned but continued and mentioned the policeman specifically during the prayers of the faithful.
 
I don't know whether the murdered man was a Catholic or Protestant but was certain that he was baptised and therefore a Temple of the Holy Spirit. Part of the tragedy is that the person who killed him was also such. But it isn't only the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. The Blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, do so.
 

The Venerable Edel Quinn (14 September 1907 - 12 May 1944)

 
The Handbook of the Legion of Mary, Chapter 7, The Legionary and the Holy Trinity, has these words: The saints are insistent on the necessity for thus distinguishing between the Three Divine Persons and for rendering to each one of them an appropriate attention. The Athanasian Creed is mandatory and strangely menacing in regard to this requirement, which proceeds from the fact that the final purpose of Creation and of the Incarnation is the glorification of the Trinity. The late Fr Anselm Moynihan quotes these words in an article on the Venerable Edel Quinn, Edel Quinn: A Life in the Trinity.
 
The concluding part of the article, Adoring the Trinity, is especially appropriate for today's feast. The references to 'S' are to the life of Edel by Cardinal Suenens. Those to 'N' are to Edel's notes.
 
Adoring the Trinity

We are sharers in the very life of the Blessed Trinity, with the Incarnate Word as our Brother, His Father as our Father, His Spirit as the Soul of our souls. Yet we can never forget the transcendent holiness of God. And as a consequence, underlying, though not weakening the sublime intimacy we enjoy with the Divine Persons, will be an attitude of profound reverence and adoration. Edel certainly had that. It was manifest in her whole bearing at prayer, her behaviour towards all who represented God in any way and also in the expressions she uses in her private notes. She knew her soul to be the living sanctuary of the Triune God. She snatched at every opportunity of quiet and silence to recollect herself and be alone with God and offer Him the incense of her adoration.

Let us ask the grace to live in realization of our life in Christ, through Mary, adoring the Trinity (S, p. 246).

In Christ Jesus we have all. Realise this.

Often offer Him to the Trinity, present in our soul, giving all honour, reparation and glory throughout the day (S, p. 246).

Realise that I am the temple of God, the dwelling-place of the Trinity (S, p. 246).

In Christ we adore the Trinity, Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus. Try and adore the Trinity in our souls, even in the midst of trouble or external duties (S, p. 248).

Our Lady, dwelling place of the Trinity. With Christ and helped by Mary, let us adore the Trinity. Cut out useless worrying thoughts ... to adore with and in union with Jesus ... Trinity in soul ... per Mariam (N).

At Mass I united myself to the victim Christ, through Mary's hands, for the glory of the Trinity, in thanksgiving for everything, and on behalf of souls (S, p. 250).

For Edel Quinn, then, the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity was not just an abstraction, to be accepted indeed on faith but with little bearing on the practical working out of our lives. For her it was supremely practical, vital and energizing. Her manner of applying it to her life, her prayer, her work, her relations with others offers an example we can all imitate - to the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

'The Blessed Trinity - there is our dwelling-place, our home, the Father's house which we must never leave' (Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity [photo below]).

Trinity was not just an abstraction, to be accepted indeed on faith but with little bearing on the practical working out of our lives. For her it was supremely practical, vital and energising. Her manner of applying it to her life, her prayer, her work, her relations with others offers an example we can all imitate - to the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

'The Blessed Trinity - there is our dwelling-place, our home, the Father's house which we must never leave' (Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity).

This article first appeared in Doctrine and Life, July 1963.( Ed.)

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity (18 July 1880 – 9 November 1906)

+++
 
Introit (Entrance Antiphon) from Missal of Blessed John XXIII (1962):
 

 

Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas atque indivisa unitas: confitebimur ei, quia fecit nobiscum misericordiam suam. Ps. Domine Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! V. Gloria Patri.

English translation

Blessed be the Holy Trinity and undivided Unity: we will give glory to Him, because He hath shown His mercy to us. Vs. (Ps. 8: 2) O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth! Glory be to the Father.

El Greco often did a number of paintings of the same scene. Here is one very similar to that at the top, painted the same year but over the high altar in the Church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo, Toledo, Spain.



Trinity Sunday

Lord, who has form'd me out of mud,
And hast redeem'd me through thy blood,
And sanctifi'd me to do good;

Purge all my sins done heretofore:
For I confess my heavy score,
And I will strive to sin no more.

Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me,
With faith, with hope, with charity;
That I may run, rise, rest with thee.

George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633)

George Herbert, born in Wales, was an Anglican priest noted for his great love for the poor in his parish in Wiltshire, England. This poem is found in the edition of The Divine Office approved by the hierarchies of Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, Scotland and published in 1974.



Preamble to the Constitution of Ireland

In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred,

We, the people of Éire,

Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial,

Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation,

And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations,

Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution.



 Brollach do Bhunreacht na hÉireann

In Ainm na Tríonóide Ró-Naofa is tobar don uile údarás agus gur chuici, ós í is críoch dheireanach dúinn, is dírithe ní amháin gníomhartha daoine ach gníomhartha Stát,

Ar mbeith dúinne, muintir na hÉireann, ag admháil go huiríseal a mhéid atáimid faoi chomaoin ag Íosa Críost, ár dTiarna Dia, a thug comhfhurtacht dár sinsir i ngach cruatan ina rabhadar ar feadh na gcéadta bliain,

Agus ar mbeith dúinn ag cuimhneamh go buíoch ar a chalmacht a rinneadarsan troid gan staonadh chun an neamhspleáchas is dual dár Náisiún a bhaint amach,

Agus ar mbeith dúinn á chur romhainn an mhaitheas phoiblí a chur ar aghaidh maille le Críonnacht agus le hIonracas agus le Carthanacht de réir mar is cuí, ionas go dtiocfaidh linn a uaisleacht agus a shaoirse a chur in áirithe do gach aon duine, saol ceart comhdhaonnach a bhunú, aiseag a haontachta a thabhairt dár dtír, agus comhcharadra a dhéanamh le náisiúin eile,

Atáimid leis seo ag gabháil an Bhunreachta seo chugainn, agus á achtú agus á thíolacadh dúinn féin.



A List of Giveaways and Other Stuff

There are three giveaways going on right now where you can win a paperback copy of The Fallen star, and I thought I would let you all know about them.
The first is at my blog and facebook page. To enter, first become a follower, and then make a post of your favorite quote from The Fallen Star. I’ll announce the winners on June 23rd.
The next giveaway is at goodreads, and there’s a link for it at the top of my blog page.
And the third contest is being held on the Book Sake blog. http://booksake.blogspot.com/2011/06/giveaway-reviewthe-fallen-star-by.html
I also have an author interview posted at the following link, if you want to go check it out: http://www.nocturnereads.com/Jessica-Sorensen-Interview.html

Teaser for The Underworld (Part 2 in the Fallen Star Series)

Okay, so awhile ago I said that when I reached 50,000 words in The Underworld (Part 2 in the Fallen Star Series) I would release a short teaser. Well, I've reached it, and so here is my teaser from Chapter 1 of The Underworld:

Suddenly, my head began to hum, at the same time the locket growing exceedingly warm against my neck, making my skin feel as if it were sparkling. I gasped as I was yanked backward. Something was dragging me through the blackness, leading me to…I had no idea. I kicked and tried to throw my weight forward, but it was useless. My heart raced as I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for whatever was coming next. The disappearance of my mind? My death?
And then I felt it; a faint, electric spark kissing at my fingertip. But wait. No. There was no way I could be feeling that.
There was no way I’d feel that ever again.
Was there?


The Underworld is expected to come out at the end of September.

Also, don't forget about the giveaway I’m having. You have until June 23rd to enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of The Fallen Star. All you need to do is become a follower of either my blog or facebook page, and then make a post of your favorite quote from The Fallen Star.

'I'd be lost without St Anthony'



This post is by way of making amends to St Anthony of Padua. I must confess that he impinges on my life only when I can't find something. He has never failed me. I do thank him when I find the lost object - and then forget him till the next time.

On one occasion when I was doing a mission appeal in the west of Ireland I was chatting with the sacristan. We got around to St Anthony and how he had helped both us of. She then mentioned something that for the life of her she couldn't find. We both prayed to this saint from Lisbon, Portugal, but associated with Padua, Italy. Then we found the lost object - right in front of us in the sacristy!

The hymn above was written by a Filipino Franciscan friar, Fr Mariano Montero OFM, and sung at the shrine of St Anthony in Sampaloc, Manila.



This great saint is a doctor of the Church and was known as 'The Hammer of Heretics'. Here is an extract from his writings, part of the reading for the saint's feast day in the Office of Readings. It is most appropriate for the day after Pentecost, whcih used to be known as Whit Monday and was celebrated liturgically as an extension of this great feast. It still is by those who use the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. I remember it was one of the days when my late father would drag me to High Mass in one of the churches run by the Franciscans, Capuchins or Dominicans in Dublin. Whit Monday used be a holiday in the Republic of Ireland. In 1973 the holiday was transferred to the first Monday in June by our wise legislators in Dublin, the link with Pentecost broken.

Actions speak louder than words

The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others. Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. Gregory says: “A law is laid upon the preacher to practise what he preaches.” It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.

But the apostles spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself! For some men speak as their own character dictates, but steal the words of others and present them as their own and claim the credit for them. The Lord refers to such men and others like them in Jeremiah: So, then, I have a quarrel with the prophets that steal my words from each other. I have a quarrel with the prophets, says the Lord, who have only to move their tongues to utter oracles. I have a quarrel with the prophets who make prophecies out of lying dreams, who recount them and lead my people astray with their lies and their pretensions. I certainly never sent them or commissioned them, and they serve no good purpose for this people, says the Lord.

We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfilment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner and by keeping the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith, so that our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendour of the saints and to look upon the triune God.