Friday, 14 December 2007
Friday, 14 Dec-07. again -Ember Day
Today is the Feast of Juan de la Cruez or, as we know it in English: John of the Cross. He helped Theresa of Avilia, Spain, rejuvinate the Carmelite Community for women and so they are now worldwide. I used to work in Bon Secours Hospital in Glasgow, where I consulted. It was run by the Soeurs de Bon Secours de Paris, a Nursing Order of RC nuns. Opposite was the Carmelite Monastry and nuns from there would often come across to the hospital chapel for services and meetings afterwards. I was always under the impression they were a contemplative Order but whenever I met the lovely sisters from over the road, they were always friendly, smiling and very chatty; a most interesting group of ladies, far removed from the idea of nuns shut away from the world so much they can no longer relate to it. Nothing further could that be from the truth. My consulting room was adjacent to the chapel so it was well used by me as well. The altar was carved by the Benedictine monks of Pluscarden Abbey by Nairn. Anyway, there I met a 6ft tall blind Franciscan brother, with a great shock of white hair and a beard, a deep and sensitive voice and a great bellow of a laugh. He could have got a job immediately on the set of 'Whisky Galore! ' He lived at the Franciscan Friary in the Gorbals, Glasgow. I met him as he left the chapel one day. He hesitated before the door and asked 'Hello?' I spoke "Hello Father, I'm Graeme." 'Ah, you have the consulting room next door, which used to be the chapel years ago.' "Oh, I didn't know." ( Curiously, my last consulting room was the Prayer Room, adjacent the chapel of St Mungo in the RC Chaplaincy at Glasgow University. ) We used to meet and chat about inner anguish, as well as football - not that I know much about the latter. I had to laugh as he told me he hears Confessions from various convents dotted around the south-side of Glasgow. 'I have a queue to see me as they think I don't know who they are, so I hear all sorts of things!' And then he had that great guffaw and he would say, 'You see, I DO see, but not with my eyes; you'll know what I mean.' "I see" I replied and then we'd both laugh. This led to many discussions about confession and absolution in both the Roman Church and other Catholic Churches such my own Scottish Episcopal Church. He was interested in my views on individual morality versus corporate morality. I said I viewed it all as firstly individual conscience, but that is nurtured by psychosocial development initially, so is sometimes flawed in some people as adults, who often fall foul of the law and end up in prison. I said that when visiting both the only Women's Prison in Scotland at Cornton Vale and indeed, the State Hospital, Carstairs, I was always struck by how "innocent" folk were at heart; innocents abroad or, "for they know not what they do" in the sense of individual conscience, although they often did see the 'Oh well, I was caught out and so here I am' idea that the state imprisoned them. The key then, is early nurturing before the age of seven or eight when by which time the personality is set and formed. Thereafter we all hope to get wiser. Some of us do and some of us are still foolish at times. My individual psychoanalytical psychotherapy work over many years is often about re-addressing the inner self problems of personality characteristics which need correction - by interpretation and not by condemnation or criticism; by example and by an accepting love of them, warts and all, so to speak. Curiously, many folk; indeed most folk in psychoanalysis with me, eventually ask about the spiritual life. Their question is usually something like, 'Are you a Christian then?'[ I think it must show ], Or perhaps, 'Is there a God? If there is, why does he let me suffer so much?" Or, "I pray so much to God but he doesn't hear me." I am often tempted to answer the last one with something like "But perhaps he sent me" I don't say that, but that's what I feel. So, my ministry is all bound up with my professional and personal selves. "That's me" as we say in Scotland. I do feel that my professional / personal / Christian SELF is parental. Why do I feel this? It feels so, and my 'faithful' as I call my people, intimate that they want to regress to 'grow again' this time to get it right in safe hands. Such awesome tragedies; such lovely people; I wonder often if they are angels - certainly they are often 'innocents abroad', for they do not know they do wrong or 'they know not what they do'. My 'faithful' folk are therefore gifts from God, for they and I are all God's folk. My individual care of my dear folk is therefore an 'in-house' job in the Christian family sense. "Home is where the heart is"
(Donald W. Winnicott).
Talking of Bon Secours Hospital, Glasgow, which is now a block of luxury flats, with the Convent still there though, I had a friend in a resident there. He was the Auxiliary Bishop of Glasgow RC Archdiocese. He said he was retired but still did all the Confirmations in the Archdiocese.
We'd sit by his fireside in his residence and drink tea and he'd smoke his pipe and have a good 'craic' (chat) and a laugh. He was a friend of our then Diocesan Bishop and the two would go in mufti to evangelical rallies, raise their hands and should halleluliahs, which he thought was great fun. He said 'all your Piskie ladies fuss over me, just like our Catholic Mothers - just the same. One day we will all be one, but sadly it won't be in my time.' I'd see him 3 times a day wending his way along the corridor to the chapel next to my consulting room. He had to attend the Western Infirmary twice a week for renal dialysis ('good time for prayer' he said). He would stagger a bit as he was frail. The Rt Revd Charles Renfrew was a Glaswegian, born and bred. He had been Principal at Blairs College, Aberdeen, the RC Seminary. Then sadly he died and was no longer there, and I missed him. He body lay overnight in the chapel. Next morning I was there at my door to pay respects as the cortege and all the nuns wended their way down the corridor and out to St Andrew's Cathedral on the Broomielaw in Glasgow. Because of the gait of the pall bearers I noticed that the coffin staggered down the corridor and I admit to having to suppress a laugh which I think Mother Superior noticed as she looked quizzically at me. Later I told her why and she threw her head back and laughed loudly: 'Bishop Charles would love that comment' she said. Sister Irene was the Matron of the hospital and she ran a very efficient and caring hospital. Some of the nuns worked as nursing sisters; one worked as chaplain to the nearby Victoria Infirmary. One of the nuns was Consultant Pathologist at the Vic. A tall, graceful and most attractive young Irish nun. But, she was not one for the 'craic' as I learned when trying to make conversation when she came home in the evening. I became a patient in my own hospital and I was impressed with the care. I had an intra-occular transplant and after surgery was in my room recovering when the ward sister arrived with a tray and a book. She was a Baptist and she bathed my eye and after re-dressing my eye, opened the book - it was the Bible, and she read from the NT the story of Jesus's healing of the man with eye disease at the Pool of Siloam. 'Nae mud packs for you though tonight, but prayer. Let us pray...' I found that infinately comforting in a profound way and I was soon asleep. I was awakened by the Mother Superior. 'Now Mr Vahey, have you said your Morning Office?' 'Well, er...no Sister, I, er..." She got my dressing gown and produced a wheelchair and wheeled me to the lift and down to the chapel where the Community awaited us. She led us all in the Morning Office, with the nuns intoning the lovely Gregorian chant. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Such care, as they took me to their heart as "one of them". Nice memories.
(Donald W. Winnicott).
Talking of Bon Secours Hospital, Glasgow, which is now a block of luxury flats, with the Convent still there though, I had a friend in a resident there. He was the Auxiliary Bishop of Glasgow RC Archdiocese. He said he was retired but still did all the Confirmations in the Archdiocese.
We'd sit by his fireside in his residence and drink tea and he'd smoke his pipe and have a good 'craic' (chat) and a laugh. He was a friend of our then Diocesan Bishop and the two would go in mufti to evangelical rallies, raise their hands and should halleluliahs, which he thought was great fun. He said 'all your Piskie ladies fuss over me, just like our Catholic Mothers - just the same. One day we will all be one, but sadly it won't be in my time.' I'd see him 3 times a day wending his way along the corridor to the chapel next to my consulting room. He had to attend the Western Infirmary twice a week for renal dialysis ('good time for prayer' he said). He would stagger a bit as he was frail. The Rt Revd Charles Renfrew was a Glaswegian, born and bred. He had been Principal at Blairs College, Aberdeen, the RC Seminary. Then sadly he died and was no longer there, and I missed him. He body lay overnight in the chapel. Next morning I was there at my door to pay respects as the cortege and all the nuns wended their way down the corridor and out to St Andrew's Cathedral on the Broomielaw in Glasgow. Because of the gait of the pall bearers I noticed that the coffin staggered down the corridor and I admit to having to suppress a laugh which I think Mother Superior noticed as she looked quizzically at me. Later I told her why and she threw her head back and laughed loudly: 'Bishop Charles would love that comment' she said. Sister Irene was the Matron of the hospital and she ran a very efficient and caring hospital. Some of the nuns worked as nursing sisters; one worked as chaplain to the nearby Victoria Infirmary. One of the nuns was Consultant Pathologist at the Vic. A tall, graceful and most attractive young Irish nun. But, she was not one for the 'craic' as I learned when trying to make conversation when she came home in the evening. I became a patient in my own hospital and I was impressed with the care. I had an intra-occular transplant and after surgery was in my room recovering when the ward sister arrived with a tray and a book. She was a Baptist and she bathed my eye and after re-dressing my eye, opened the book - it was the Bible, and she read from the NT the story of Jesus's healing of the man with eye disease at the Pool of Siloam. 'Nae mud packs for you though tonight, but prayer. Let us pray...' I found that infinately comforting in a profound way and I was soon asleep. I was awakened by the Mother Superior. 'Now Mr Vahey, have you said your Morning Office?' 'Well, er...no Sister, I, er..." She got my dressing gown and produced a wheelchair and wheeled me to the lift and down to the chapel where the Community awaited us. She led us all in the Morning Office, with the nuns intoning the lovely Gregorian chant. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Such care, as they took me to their heart as "one of them". Nice memories.
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Friday, 14 Dec-07. John of the Cross
Now John of the Cross was a Spanish Carmelite Religious. He was born in the village of Fonteveros near Avilia. He is known for helping Theresa of Avilia re-start the Carmelite Community for women there, which of course, then spread throughout the world. Well, that's only one aspect of him; there were others.
Wednesday 12 Dec-07. Ember Day.
After a quite early ( well, for me ) Morning Office there was the 10.oo hrs Holy Eucharist in church with Colin Curtis, our Assistant Priest as Celebrant. Today is an Ember Day, When they occur, they occur on Wednesday, then Friday and Saturday of the same week. They are a curiosity to many folk as they seem to pass them by. As a teenager we always prayed for the Ministry of the Church, and in particular for Ordinands. There became so few Ordinands that the practice lapsed, although still appears in the Church Calendar. It is a practice which I hope is returning for last year within the Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway I recall being asked to give a talk to the Ordinands at a Retreat House near here and there were about 10-12 there, so perhaps there is a revival. It follows from prayers for Ordinands and the Holy Priesthood, that there would be such an increase - surely? Now I hadn't made that connection until I typed that! How we soon forget to give thanks to God: 'O give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious' "And his mercy endureth for ever. Amen.
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Thursday, 06/12/07: Bp Nicolas of Myre again
Bishop of Myra
 From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928 |
As Bishop of Myra, Nicholas lived the qualities that caused his fame and popularity to spread throughout the Christian world. His vigorous actions on behalf of his people and in defense of the Christian faith reveal a man who lived his convictions. Nicholas was not timid—he did what was necessary and was not easily intimidated by others' power and position. His concern for the welfare of his flock and his stand for orthodox belief earned him respect as a model for bishops and a defender of the faith.
Selection
 From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928 |
Nicholas' selection to be a bishop was unusual. After the former bishop's death, other bishops gathered to select the next bishop for the See of Myra. During the conclave, the wisest bishop heard a voice in the night telling him to watch the doors of the church the next morning at matins. The first person to enter named "Nicholas" was to be the new bishop. The wise one told the others, counseling them to be at prayer while he waited at the doors. When the hour came, the first to arrive was a young man. When asked his name, he replied, "I am Nicholas." The bishop addressed him, "Nicholas, servant and friend of God, for your holiness you shall be bishop of this place." They brought him into the church and placed him in the bishop's seat where he was consecrated the new Bishop of Myra.
 From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928 |
Grain Ships and Famine
Myra experienced famine in AD 311 and 312, and again in 333. Crops had failed and people were hungry. Bishop Nicholas learned that ships bound for Alexandria with cargos of wheat had anchored in the harbor. The holy man implored the sailors to take a measure of grain from each ship so that the people would have food. The sailors said, "No," as the wheat was "meted and measured" and every bit must be delivered. Nicholas replied, "Do this, and I promise, in the truth of God, that it shall not be lessened or diminished when you get to your destination." So the sailors took a measure from each ship and continued on their way to Alexandria. When the wheat was unloaded, the full amount was accounted for and the tale told—all the emperor's ministers worshiped and praised God with thanksgiving for his servant Nicholas. Throughout the famine people came to Bishop Nicholas for wheat. He gave it to all who had need and the grain lasted for two years with enough remaining to plant new crops.
 From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928 |
Council of Nicaea
In 325 Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea, which was the first ecumenical council ever held. More than 300 bishops from all over the Christian world came to debate the nature of the Holy Trinity, one of the early church's most intense theological questions. Arias, from Egypt, taught that the Son Jesus was not equal to God the Father. This was the Arian controversy which shook Christianity's very foundations. According to one account, when confronted by the unyielding Arias, Nicholas slapped him in the face. For such a breach of decorum, Nicholas was brought before Constantine, who stripped him of his office and had him thrown into prison. During the night, Jesus with his Mother Mary appeared to Nicholas: Jesus bringing the book of the Gospels, and Mary, the bishop's stole which had been taken from him. In this way Nicholas was reinstated. Many Eastern Church icons of St. Nicholas reflect this event with Jesus on the left returning the Gospels, and Mary on the right, bringing the bishop's stole or omophorion.
Thursday 06/12/07. Nicholas of Myre, Bp, 4th Cent
Lazy rise today. Pouring with rain - 'stottin doon'. Val had gone to Troon with St Aidan's Strollers ( the "SAS") the other day, for a stroll and then Christmas lunch by the Yacht Marina but had left her mac there so, we set off for Troon down the dreaded A77, heading for Prestwick Airport but diverted onto Troon Promenade where, as often happens on the coast, the rain had gone but the sea was rough. We went into Scotts, looking over both Troon Harbour, such as it is, and the Yacht Marina. Had a delightful and quiet lunch; excellent cuisine and service. Saw some folk I knew by sight and chatted to them. Afterwards we went into the Ferry Terminal, now closed until March. This is the ferry from Troon to Northern Ireland. Ferries to and from Northern Ireland are always worrying, in view of an easy route for extremists to enter Scotland. The Cairnryan, P & O Ferry still operates throughout the winter months and is used by heavy freight to and from England mainly. The proposed Mull of Kintyre to Ballycastle route had now closed again. Most folk breathe a sigh of relief.
This afternoon it was doing up the calendars and cards for posting. Val went up to Carmunnock village Post Office up the road, to post them. We have lost the Post Office in our own village of Busby; now the Post Office are to close Carmunnock PO also. There is a question mark over the next nearest one in Clarkston remaining open, leaving journeys to East Kilbride or Glasgow to find another. What is required is some enterprising firm to set up a postal service; one which would sell stamps, have letter boxes, deliver the post to premises and have an excellent parcel delivery service. I had written to the national Press in Scotland suggesting that our Government in Edinburgh ask a firm like the US Postal Service to come and set up such a business here in Scotland as the Royal Mail, now privately run, is an absolute waste of space and unworthy to serve us in Scotland. Ha ha!
Today is the Feast of Bishop Nicholas of Myre who died in the 4th century. How is it we know so little of this man? The fact that he is in the Church Calendar warrants an explantion. I shall Google him!
This afternoon it was doing up the calendars and cards for posting. Val went up to Carmunnock village Post Office up the road, to post them. We have lost the Post Office in our own village of Busby; now the Post Office are to close Carmunnock PO also. There is a question mark over the next nearest one in Clarkston remaining open, leaving journeys to East Kilbride or Glasgow to find another. What is required is some enterprising firm to set up a postal service; one which would sell stamps, have letter boxes, deliver the post to premises and have an excellent parcel delivery service. I had written to the national Press in Scotland suggesting that our Government in Edinburgh ask a firm like the US Postal Service to come and set up such a business here in Scotland as the Royal Mail, now privately run, is an absolute waste of space and unworthy to serve us in Scotland. Ha ha!
Today is the Feast of Bishop Nicholas of Myre who died in the 4th century. How is it we know so little of this man? The fact that he is in the Church Calendar warrants an explantion. I shall Google him!
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
Wednesday, 05/12/07
It has continued to be very busy with this and that. The city is busy with traffic; an unusual thing for Glasgow during the daytime. Saw a colleague for supervision this morning. Although officially retired she asked for a continuing monthly meeting with me. Then I had lunch at a favourite Italian restaurant, now taken over by the well-known Italian Paccitti family. It was nice to see old lunch friends - folk from businesses locally and musicians from the RSNO nearby.
Then off to the RC Chaplaincy at Glasgow University and met Fr John, the Chaplain, as he came out of 1pm Mass. Also chatted with Harry, the eccentric, who answers the door, takes the Mass Collection, answers the phones - sees all visitors. He was at Glasgow Uni and did Philosophy then Theology and was training for the priesthood but gave up. He lives alone locally and is rather isolated but is a valuable front-of-house man who complains loudly how everyone there at Turnbull Hall is mad, but everyone loves Harry the eccentric as he is such an asset. He invited me to the community free lunch upstairs but I politely declined. He gave me a large magnum bottle of Reserved French wine, which was a pleasant and unexpected surprise and I thanked him warmly for his gift. I spent some time in the chapel of St Mungo praying the Angelus to myself, with one other man there. I learned from John that after Sr Bridget was transferred after so many stalwart years at Turnbull Hall, the burden and pressure of this full community of students became too much even for him. So the Archbishop has arranged for some nuns to move into the Chaplaincy to help out - well, two sisters who are Benedictines, the first one is due in February. I miss my regular sessions in the Prayer Room at Turnbull Hall. The Prayer Room was where folk consulted me professionally - an apt room for my psychoanalytical work, and handy for the chapel next door too. A nice bunch of folk there. It's like a busy Parish Church. Local residents use the chapel too for the Daily Offices, daily Mass and Confessions. During the daytime the dining rooms upstairs are used by Medical and Nursing degree Students for lectures now. Sister Bridget's old office-cum-study-cum-lounge is now a computer room. Then one of my 'faithful' who had had a distressing time in Paris flew home unexpectedly today and so I had long chats on the phone with her. Think she is calmer and less self-punishing now, until we meet later in the week. Then Val left her mac in a restaurant in Troon the other day. St Aidan's Strollers ( the SAS!) had a walk there and then retired to the Yacht Marina for Christmas lunch. So, Val and I will drive to Troon on the south-west coast tomorrow to collect it and probably have lunch too. Meanwhile, back home I had been busy doing church administration from 8am, making phone calls, etc. Spoke to Lawrence Maclaren today, who is a most able, retired Chartered Accountant and he, like me, is so busy it isn't true. Not only is he doing our Accounts and Freewill Offering Scheme weekly, he also does the Accounts for 4 other Episcopal Churches in the Diocese. We agreed that it is actually busier as volunteer workers, than running our own family businesses.
Then off to the RC Chaplaincy at Glasgow University and met Fr John, the Chaplain, as he came out of 1pm Mass. Also chatted with Harry, the eccentric, who answers the door, takes the Mass Collection, answers the phones - sees all visitors. He was at Glasgow Uni and did Philosophy then Theology and was training for the priesthood but gave up. He lives alone locally and is rather isolated but is a valuable front-of-house man who complains loudly how everyone there at Turnbull Hall is mad, but everyone loves Harry the eccentric as he is such an asset. He invited me to the community free lunch upstairs but I politely declined. He gave me a large magnum bottle of Reserved French wine, which was a pleasant and unexpected surprise and I thanked him warmly for his gift. I spent some time in the chapel of St Mungo praying the Angelus to myself, with one other man there. I learned from John that after Sr Bridget was transferred after so many stalwart years at Turnbull Hall, the burden and pressure of this full community of students became too much even for him. So the Archbishop has arranged for some nuns to move into the Chaplaincy to help out - well, two sisters who are Benedictines, the first one is due in February. I miss my regular sessions in the Prayer Room at Turnbull Hall. The Prayer Room was where folk consulted me professionally - an apt room for my psychoanalytical work, and handy for the chapel next door too. A nice bunch of folk there. It's like a busy Parish Church. Local residents use the chapel too for the Daily Offices, daily Mass and Confessions. During the daytime the dining rooms upstairs are used by Medical and Nursing degree Students for lectures now. Sister Bridget's old office-cum-study-cum-lounge is now a computer room. Then one of my 'faithful' who had had a distressing time in Paris flew home unexpectedly today and so I had long chats on the phone with her. Think she is calmer and less self-punishing now, until we meet later in the week. Then Val left her mac in a restaurant in Troon the other day. St Aidan's Strollers ( the SAS!) had a walk there and then retired to the Yacht Marina for Christmas lunch. So, Val and I will drive to Troon on the south-west coast tomorrow to collect it and probably have lunch too. Meanwhile, back home I had been busy doing church administration from 8am, making phone calls, etc. Spoke to Lawrence Maclaren today, who is a most able, retired Chartered Accountant and he, like me, is so busy it isn't true. Not only is he doing our Accounts and Freewill Offering Scheme weekly, he also does the Accounts for 4 other Episcopal Churches in the Diocese. We agreed that it is actually busier as volunteer workers, than running our own family businesses.
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