Our Journey Winter 2014
Transcription
Our Journey Winter 2014
Volume 3, Issue 5 Winter 2014 ur Journey Saint Andrew Abbey • Benedictine Order of Cleveland AbbatialBlessing OfRt.Rev.GaryA.Hoover,OSB From the Abbot, Rt. Rev. Gary A. Hoover, O.S.B. DearFriends, When the angel Gabriel appeared beforetheBlessedVirginMaryanddeclared to her that God had found favor with her andthatshewouldconceiveasonandname himJesus,theSonoftheMostHigh,Mary ponderedwhatthisgreetingmeantandhow this would happen. The angel answered thatitwouldhappenthroughtheHolySpiritandthepoweroftheMostHigh.Mary thenresponded,“Behold,IamthehandmaidoftheLord.May itbedonetomeaccordingtoyourWord.”Maryrespondedwith aresoundingYES!YestoGod,YestohersonJesus,Yestous! ShetooktheleapoffaithandtrustedthatGodwouldbefaithful toHisWord. Atthistimeinmylife,theLordhascalledmetoservemy monasticbrothersinanewwayastheAbbotofourBenedictine Community.Uponmyelection,whenIrepliedwithmy“yes”to theAbbotPresidentofourcongregation,whoaskedifIwould accepttheresponsibilitiesastheAbbot,ortheFather,ofSt.AndrewAbbey,Iwasultimatelysaying“yes”tothewillofGodthe Father.JustlikeMary,ImusttrustinGodthatHeistruetoHis WordandthatJesuswillwalkwithme,thatHewillwalkwithall themonksofSt.AndrewAbbeyasIamcalledtoserveourLord inanewway. While we can’t add to the glory or greatness of God, you and I can witness to and proclaim His love and presence to others and to the world through our lives. WhileIhavebeenAdministratoroftheAbbeyforoneand halfyears,Itrulydonotknowwhatliesaheadofus,blessings aswellaschallenges.However,whatIdoknowisthatGodhas broughttogetheragroupofprayerful,caringanddedicatedmen intheSpiritofSt.BenedicttofollowHisSon,JesusChristin proclaimingandlivingtheGospelvaluesintheworld.Along with each of you, walking with the monks on our journey towards the Heavenly Kingdom, we will make a difference, the “Christ”differenceinthisworld. InMary’sbeautifultestimonyofGod’sloveforherandfor us,shegreatsElizabeth,hercousinwhoispregnantwithJohn theBaptist,withherCanticlebeginningwiththeline,“Mysoul magnifiestheLord...”Whilewecan’taddtothegloryorgreatnessofGod,youandIcanwitnesstoandproclaimHisloveand presence to others and to the world through our lives. I have chosen this phrase as my abbatial motto. I pray and ask that allofyoupleasejoinmeandthemonks,alongourjourneyand togethersayandlive,“MysoulmagnifiestheLord.” Peace, AbbotGary,OSB Prepare for the Coming of Christmas By Br. Peter Ancell, OSB Adventisthefour-weekseasonthatstartsourliturgicalyear. Themostpoeticandappealingofseasons,thisisthetimewhen weprepareourselvesforthecomingfeastofChristmas.Adventmeans‘coming”thatisthecomingofChristourRedeemer.ButtherearedifferentcomingsofChrist.Someofusthink thatAdventisconcernedonlywiththecomingoftheChrist ChildinBethlehem,2000yearsago.Buttheliturgicalprayers of the Church during this season refer to Our Lords Second Comingattheendoftheworld.Thereisalsoathirdcoming– theLord’scomingintoourheartsandlives,bydivinegrace.If wearetryingtolivebytheteachingsofJesusChristandofHis Church,thenthisAdventwillbealiturgicallyrich,profoundly religiousexperiencethatwillleadustotheLord’scomingin graceatChristmas. The various readings and texts of theAdvent Masses and LiturgyoftheHoursmentionthesethreecomingsofChrist.So weshouldtrytounderstandtheAdventliturgyasreferringto thosedevelopmentsbeforethecomingofJesusinBethlehem. WeshouldnotethevariousreferencestotheLord’sComing –Parousia–attheendoftime.Andweshouldthinkoftenof HiscomingatthisChristmas–Hiscomingtooursoulsinthe Eucharistandingrace.‘Forgracealthoughalreadywithinus, 2 • St. Andrew Abbey cancometousagainandagainandinfullermeasure’(Pius Parsch,The Church’s Year of Grace). TherearemanywonderfulAdventandChristmascustoms –specialhymnsandcarols,theAdventwreath,SaintNicholas, the Christmas tree, Christmas lights, mangers, gifts and celebrations.ForadultCatholics,however,thefinestcustomis aliturgicalobservanceofAdvent.InthiswaywiththeChurch werecallthecenturieslonggoneby.Intheliturgywerememberthepastages,theancienthopesandlongingsforaMessiah.IntheantiphonstheHolyChurchchantsatMassandin theLiturgyoftheHours,Shethrobswiththehopesandpains ofathousandyears. WelistentoandallowIsaiahandtheothertheProphetsto guide us. In the December darkness we stand again in holy darknesswhichsurroundedthem.Asdidourancestorsinfaith andliturgy,wewrapoursoulsintheveiloftheirancientMessianic visions.A BlessedAdvent and Christmas to you and yourfamilies. In this Year of Consecrated Life, Pray for Vocations By Fr. Finbar Ramsak, OSB Preparations are rarely undertaken fornoparticularreason.Wepreparefor competitions, tests, meals with families, interviews, and careers. Should it come asanysurprisetousthatinthelifeofthe Churchweenteraseasonofpreparation beforetheSolemnityofChristmas?The SeasonofAdventisaperiodofpreparation.Asthisseasonbeginsthispreparationisnecessary,butalsoagoodreminder forusofwhereweareandwhatiscoming.Adventasatime ofpreparationisnecessarytodayforallthatcandistractuswith theholidayshoppingseason.Whilethiscanbeavalidpartof ourpreparationforChristmas,itshouldnotbetheonlytypesof preparationweareundertaking. Thisyearaswebeginanewliturgicalyear,PopeFrancishas announced2014-2015willbetheYearforConsecratedLifethat begins November 21st. In making the announcement for the Year of Consecrated Life, it was explained the first objective wouldbeto“makeagratefulremembranceoftherecentpast,” thesecondobjective“toembracethefuturewithhope”andthe third,“livingthepresentwithpassion”Thispassion,speaksof “being in love, of true friendship, of profound communion.” TheYear of Consecrated Life will have an evangelical focus, helpingpeopletorealize“thebeautyoffollowingChrist”inthe varioustypesofreligiousvocations. Asthoselivingamonasticlife,theYearofConsecratedLife providesameanstoshowandremindbothothersandourselves aboutoneofthewaysinwhichpeopleareabletofollowJesus. Weareremindedthroughthisyearhowweareabletohelpothersbyexplainingwhatwedoandwhy.Yetaswereflectonthe lifewehavebeencalledto,theonlywayweareabletolivethe monasticlifeisbecauseofthepreparationsandtraditionsthat havebeenpasseddowntousthroughoutthecenturies. The Season Our Journeyispublishedfourtimes of Advent prepares per year by the Benedictine Order of usforthecomingof Cleveland, St. Andrew Abbey, for our the King. The life friends,oblates,andsponsors. we live as monks prepares us to meet Publisher the king. The Rt.Rev.GaryA.Hoover,O.S.B. preparation for this Directors of Abbey Stewardship meetingbeginswith RobertJ.Allen MaryKaySwenson thediscernmentproPublic Relations & Design cess to determine SusanGarrison whether or not to enter the monastic Ifyouhavequestionsorcommentsabout life. This period of thispublication,pleaseaddressthemto: preparationisatime St.AndrewAbbey to reflect before en10510BuckeyeRoad tering the monastic Cleveland,OH44104 life to ensure that (216)721-5300 one has been called www.standrewabbey.org tothemonasticlife. The entrance to the monastic life should not be done in haste for we see in chapter 58 of the Rule of St. Benedict: “Let easy admission not be given to one who newly cometh to change his life; but, as theApostlesays,‘Trythespirits,whether theybeofGod’(1Jn4:1).”Thereason for this is, as St. Benedict will allude to in places throughout the RB, the monastic life is not easy. So why test and try throughthediscernmentprocess? The term vocation is a reference to our call from God to serveandcometoknowHiminaparticularwaythatleadsto entrance into the Kingdom of God. Through discernment we notonlyareabletohearinapositivelightthecalltoaparticular vocation,butifwewillthepathswearenotcalledtofollow.The preparationthroughdiscernmentandthewayonecomesthrough theprocessofhearingGod’scallleadsusfurtherontheroad. Ourentranceandjourneyintoandinthemonasticlifebeginsas doallthingswithaprocess,andtherearecertainstepsthatmust bemade.Canthesebetedious?Yes,butwhatwemustnotlose sightofisthatthisperiodandthesestepsaredoneforthereason ofpreparingusforwhatwewillface. TheSeasonofAdventisasetperiodoftimethatpreparesus forChristmas.Theseasoncomeseveryyearandwereflecton thereadingsandprepareforthebirthofChrist.Inourliveswe maylookpastthepreparationinanticipationofwhatistocome. Unfortunatelywemayfindthistobetruewhenithappensevery year,andtherearemanydistractionsintheair.Whetherweare inthemonasticlifeortheSeasonofAdvent,thepreparationcannotbeoverlookedforthesimplereasonthatwhatwearepreparingforisthecomingoftheKing.ThecomingoftheKingwhich werememberbothinthepresentmomentandforlife’sjourney shouldleadushome.MaythisSeasonofAdvent,inourpreparationforthecomingoftheKing,letusnotlosesightofwhatwe aretrulypreparingforandwhenHecomes. PleasecontinuetoprayforvocationstothemonasticcommunityaswellasforallthosediscerningGod’scallintheirlives. MayweallbethepresencethroughGod’sgracetohelpfoster andencouragethatloveofGod.St.Benedict…prayforus. Christmas Eve (Midnight) Mass – 9:00 PM Because of limited seating, seating will be on a first come first serve basis. Reservations can be made by calling (216) 721-5300. After the Mass, a cookie/punch reception will be held in the high school cafeteria. Schedule for Christmas Day: 7:10 AM Lauds 7:30 AM Mass 7:05 PM Vespers. www.standrewabbey.org • 3 AbbatialBlessingofRt.Rev.GaryA.Hoover, October5,2014 Servers, including students of Benedictine High School, lead the procession. The community processes into the church. The Abbot and Br. Gabriel during the sign of peace. Photos on this page by Debbie Furst. 4 • St. Andrew Abbey Abbot Gary and Bishop Richard Lennon during the ceremony. Abbot Gary greets Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries, OSB. The monks singing the Ultima. Scenes from the reception. www.standrewabbey.org • 5 TheSlovakInstitutehasthefollowingavailableforpurchase: BooksinENGLISHaboutSlovaks Slovak Songs and DancesbyMichaelSinchak,Originaledition, 1942,$7 Slovaks in Florida,asresearchedandwritten byAndrewF.Hudak,Jr.,$10 Remembrances and Testimony,Dr.JozefTisoandtheSlovak Republic1939-1945byDr.Charles(Karol)Murin, SecretaryforTiso,$18 Cleveland’s Buckeye Neighborhood,Collectionofearlyethnic photoswithcaptiuonsbyJohnT.Sabol,$22 Cleveland SlovaksbyJohnT.SabolandLisaAlzo,describedvintage photos,$22 Slovaks of the Greater Mahoning Valley, VintagephotosfromOhio citiesYoungstowntoWarren,plusbordertownsinPennsylvania,by SusanJ.SummersandLorettaA.Ekoniak,$22 History of the SlovaksinCleveland&Lakewood, JanPankuch’sfortyyearsinAmerica,translation ofhis1929book,$24 The Night of the Barbarians, Experiences under Communism,byCardinalJanChryzostom Korec,S.J.,$28 OdporúameknihvvSlovenine Sv. Andrej-Svoradin1952byFr.Mikulᚊprinc,$7 Slovenské Rehole v Amerikein1955byDr.FrantišekHrušovsky, $10 VKrá_och Dedinyin1968byJozefA.Mikuš,$10 Slovenská Republika(SF)1939-1949bySlovakInstituteMember Writers,1949,$20 Driftwood PoemsbyMikulasSprinc,translatedtoEnglishfrom Slovak,$12 Various Slovakia Landspaces,Largeusedpicturebooksof Slovenskoorregionsorcitiesofhigh interest.Yourchoice,$15 SeasonalItems LargemapofSlovakia(blackandwhite), $10 FlagofSlovakRepublic,Lg.3’x5’,$20 FlagofSlovakRepublicSm,$”x5.5”,$4 SlovakChristmascards(10pack),$10 SlovakChristmascardsTOCANADA, $12(U.S.) ENGLISHChristmascards(10pack)$10 ENGLISHChristmascardsTOCANADA, $12(U.S.) ChristmasOplátky(1env.of3pcs),$1 Order now for Christmas! ORDER FORM Items and Number you would like: Name Address City State Zip Payment Enclosed $ ______________ + $4.00 shipping & hndlg Total Please consider us when making or revising your will. Our legal name is Benedictine Order of Cleveland, Inc. 6 • St. Andrew Abbey We thank you for your support of the Slovak Institute. –AndrewF.Hudak,Director –JosephJ.Hornack,AssistantDirector For more information or questions, slovakinstitute@cbhs.net The following chapter is taken from a book entitled, “The Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders: Thirty of America’s Oldest Monks and Nuns Share Their Lives’ Greatest Lessons” by Mark McGinnis published by BlueBridge Books in 2005. Father Placid Pientek / Born 1918 Fr. Placid is a member of the Benedictine community at St. Andrew Svorad Abbey in Cleveland, Ohio. St. Andrew Svorad is an urban abbey, but one with well-designed buildings and lovely grounds, where one can quite easily forget that downtown Cleveland is only ten minutes away. But there are reminders of the surrounding city, like the pigeons that make for the abbey’s primary “wildlife.” Father Placid has been a city dweller most of his life, growing up on a street in New York City that later gave way to the World Trade Center. IwasborninNewYorkCity,inlowerManhattanintheshadowofWallStreet.Ialwayswantedtobeapriest.Itwasduring theDepressionandIneededtomakeadecisionaboutschooling asIreachedtheeighthgrade.IgrewupintheSlovakparishattendingaCatholicschooltaughtbySlovaksisters.TheDepressionwasverybadandmanykidswerequittingschool,underthe pretenseofhelpingtheirparentsmakesomemoney.Iknewthat wasn’tforme.Iaskedoneofthesisterswhatschoolshewould recommend,andshesentmetotheSlovakpastorwhosaidthere weretwoSlovakpossibilities:thefirstwasSt.AndrewSvoradin ClevelandwhichwasjuststartingoutandSt.ProcopiusAbbey inIllinois.IchoseClevelandandIthinkitwasmainlybecause itwasSlovakandbecauseitwasclosertoNewYorkandtravel wouldbecheaper. Icameherein1932attheageoffourteen.Ibeganhighschool here and I really enjoyed it. My plans were to become a SlovakpastorandreturntoNewYork,butFatherGeorge,ofhappy memory,keptsayingthatIshouldbecomeaBenedictine.Inmy fourthyearIappliedtothemonastery.Iadmiredtheirlifestyle. TheBenedictineswereactivewithusinoursports,conversation, andrecreation–theywerefamily.Itwasaveryloving,wholesomeenvironment.ThefunnythingwasthatClevelandthensent metostudyatSt.Procopius,whereIcouldhavegoneinthefirst place,fortwoyearsofcollege.AfterthetwoyearsthereIwas eligible for the novitiate. I was then sent to St. Benedict’s in Atchison,Kansas,tofinishmycollegeeducation. IcompletedmydegreeinAtchisonin1941andreturnedto Cleveland.Thereweretwenty-sixseminarianshereatthattime. WestartedourownseminaryandIstudiedtheologyhereforfour years.Iwasordainedapriestin1944.Ithenbeganteaching Latin,English,andreligionatourhighschoolhereandalsodid quiteabitofcoaching.Ilovedathletics.In1948,Iwasappointed novice master. I spent all my life at the monastery except twoyearsthatIwassenttoRometostudytobeanovicemaster from1952to1954.AftermytimeasnovicemasterIreturnedto moreteachingbutalsostartedwithsomeadministrativeduties.I workedastreasureratthehighschoolandalsoatthemonastery forsomeyears.By1969Iwasdoingfull-timeadministrative workthatcontinuedforaboutthenexttwentyyears. Isteppeddown fromtheadministrativeworkinthelate 1980’s and focused on other work. I helpedwithourSlovak magazine for years. I help with mailings and fundraising in various ways. I also help organize an annual volunteer dinner. It’s become quite a beautiful event. It seemslikeeveryone wants to come. A Fr. Placid welcomes vocation visitors to the highlightofthedinabbey in the 1960’s. ner is a skit put on by the monks; one yeartheskitwasentitled“HolyHavana,”anditsplotwasthat the pope asked the Benedictines to start a monastery in Cuba anditfeaturedcharacterssuchasJimmyHoffaandElvisPresley whowerehidingthere. Mywholelifeherehasgivenmejoy.Ihavebeeninvows forsixtyyearsandeverydayhashadaglowtoit,notboringbut growing.It’sathanksgivingtoGodthatIamstillhereandable toworkandprayforHim.Therehasbeennoexplosionofhappiness,butasteadyconstantunionwithGod.Ijustkeepgrowingatit,nevertiringofit.I’mlivingundermyfourthabbothere. Itseemsthateachonekeepsgettingbetter.Thecurrentabbot (RogerGries)isagodsend.Hewasoneofmynovices. Ofcoursetherehasbeensomesorrow.Ithasbeensadtosee somemenleavetheBenedictinelife.Theyseemtoberunning away.It’salsosadtoseeyoungmencomeandsamplethelife butstillbeafraidtomakearealcommitment. Ibelievefamilylifeisacorevaluetheworldneedsmore oftoday.Nowwithbothparentsworkingandsomanysingleparenthomes,it’sverydifficult.Wearefoundedontheprecept oftheabbotbeingthefatherofthefamily,andheiselectedfor life.Wecouldteachfamilyvaluesthroughthestabilityofour lives.Wehaveavowofstabilitythatcouldhelpmarriagesand familiesstaytogether.TheRulealsoisverythoughtfulaboutthe oldandtheyoungthatcouldalsobenefitsocietytoday. The Rule of St. Benedicthasmuchguidanceforus.Ilove thechaptersonobedienceandhumility.Itcomesfromthedays Iusedtoteachthosechapterstothenovices.Iwouldtrytoteach themthathumilityandobediencearetwosidesofthesamecoin. I’vealwaysseenthePrologueandthefirstsevenchaptersasthe mostimportantones;afterthatit’smostlydetails. WhenIcamehereattheageoffourteen,Iautomatically becamepartofthespiritualpracticesoftheBenedictines,andI havebeenpartofthatpracticeforthelastseventyyears.Ibegan prayingtheDivineOffice(TheLiturgyoftheHours)asanovice.TheOfficecreatestherhythmoflifewiththeseasons,the Continued on page 8 www.standrewabbey.org • 7 Father Placid Pientek / Born 1918 – Continued from page 7 psalms,andthereadings.Itgrowsonyouovertheyears.EventhechangesfromLatin toEnglishdidn’tupsetme.Itseemedanormalgrowth.TheOfficeisliving.EvenduringtheEasterseason,whensomereadingsmighthaveasmanyasnine“Alleluias,”you mightthinkoneortwowouldhavebeenenough,butIlikeitwithallnine.Somedayswe singtheOfficeratherthanreciteit.You’rehappywiththeembellishmentfortheOffice nevergetsboring. TheBenedictinewayisahealthy,balancedwayoflife.Youhaveallyourcompanionshelpingyouandguidingyou.Yougetintotheflowofthings.Theycanspotitwhen youveeroffthebeatenpathwithfood,exercise,ordiet.Andit’snotjustthesuperior helping you, but even more so the ordinary fellow monks. They encourage and help youtotakecareofyourself.It’swonderfulthatwayitworkswithnobeatingofdrums orfanfare,justgenuineconcern.Eveninthelateryearsthereisalwaysworktodo.I alwayssayBenedictinesneverretire.It’safamilyandyouwanttocontinuetobepart ofit.Thesuperiorandothermonkswillneverburdenyouwithsomethingbeyondyour capabilitiesorcondition. Wedon’thavetheconcernsforsecuritythatsomanypeoplehavewhentheygrow older.Wehearsomuchaboutplanningforyourretirement.Thatdoesn’tupsetmebecauseIdon’thavetoworryaboutit.Idon’tneedtoworryaboutmoneyorinflation,or deflation.Thosethingsarenotconcernsofmymonasticlife. Ihavehopeforthefuture.Ihopeourmonasterywillgrow.Ihopewecanreturnto thetimewhenweweremorenumerous.Wehaveaboutfortymembersnowandatone timewewerearoundseventy.Naturehasmanycyclesandrebirths.Benedictineshave theircyclesandrebirthaswell. Fr. Placid, who played in the first BHS varsity basketball game on December 7, 1934 against John Marshall High School poses with the the Bengal basketball team 75 years later on December 7, 2009. Oblate Corner WhenpassingbytheFreshmanLatinclassroomatBenedictine,onecouldheartherecitationoftheprinciplepartsbythe students:Offero,offerre,obtuli,oblatum-tooffer,giveupor sacrifice!Butthisisnomerechantorrecitation.Theboysare actuallybeingintroducedtosomethingfardeeperthanancient Latin grammar, though they will come to a fuller awareness laterinlife.Theofferingoroblationisgoingtobetheirlives onearthiftheychoosetoincorporatethemselvesintoChrist’s oblationofHimselftoHisFatherontheCrossfortheSalvation oftheworld.Nomeantaskisthis,norotememorization,but holyvictimhood,selfimmolationandpersonalsanctification. SotheheartofBenedictineeducationisthetrainingofthose whoofferthemselvestotheFatherthroughJesusinthepower oftheHolySpirit.Thisofferingiscalledoblation,andthose whoofferitareoblates. Nowonderthenattheheartofthevowceremonyamonk singsthe“Suscipe”unfortunatelytranslatedas“Sustainmeo Lord!”Thedayswelivein,findanyselfgivingdistasteful,hard and even meaningless. But a better rendering of this phrase wouldbe“ReceivemeoLord,takemeupoLord,Igivemyself toYou,oLord,insacrifice!”-ReceivemeoLordasYouhave promisedthatImayliveanddisappointmenotinmyhope- three times, yes, and sung, three times for our incorporation intotheBlessedTrinity.Repeatedverymuchliketheschool boys’recitationinclassformemories’sake,sincerepetitionis afterallthemotherofstudies. Andsofromtimeimmemorial,Abraham’ssacrificeofIsaac, thesacrificesoftheMosaicLaw,andtheritualofthePassover totheLastSupperofChristandHisownimmolationonthe Cross, this is at the heart of who we are and what we do as Catholics, as ordained, as religious,aslaity.Makeno mistakethisistheonlyroyalroadtoheaven!AndsoI asco-oblatedirectorinvite you on this richly covered pathfilledwithlightsasour holy father Benedict trod his way to heaven, as he invites us monks and you laitytobeoblates,offerings,livingsacrifices,wholeburntofferingstotheLord! Thosewhoarenotordainedorinvowscandothisbysharing inthewonderfulspiritualandcorporalworksofthismonastery ofSt.AndrewSvoradasoblates. Wearenotaskingyoutorapyourchildreninthealtarclothas oncewasdone,buttohelpusprayforvocations. Wearenotaskingyoutostandinchoirwithusfourtimes aday,buttoshareourpraywhenyoucanandofferyourown divineofficeaccordingtoyourstateinlife. Wearenotaskingforlargedonationsofland,propertyand wealthasinthemiddleages,butforyourrealandpracticalhelp inourserviceofGodandneighborinourlocaleaswestruggleto meetthespiritualandphysicalneedsofthoseweserve. Weinviteyouandchallengeyoutotakeupthecalltobea Benedictine oblate of St.Andrew SvoradAbbey. We meet on everythirdSundayattheAbbeyaround3p.m. ThankYou!GodBlessyou! Fr. Bede Kotlinski OSB, Br. Mario Parisi OSB