Since we are travellers and pilgrims in the world, let us ever ponder on the end of the road, that is of our life, for the end of our roadway is our home (St Columban, 8th sermon).
GospelLuke 17:5-10 (English Standard Version
Anglicised: India)
The
apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”And the Lord
said, “If you had faith like a grain of
mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and
planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.
“Will any one of you who has a servant[ ploughing
or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once
and recline at table’?Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare
supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and
drink, and afterwards you will eat and drink’?Does he thank the servant because he did what
was commanded?So
you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We
are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
In the summer of 1964, after my third year in the seminary, I spent a couple of weeks working in theMorning Star Hostel in Dublin. It was within walking distance of my home. I had been in the Legion of Mary for most of my five years in secondary school and used to rejoin my praesidium (the basic branch of the Legion) during summer vacations. In the summer of 1964 I spent a week on Peregrinatio pro Christo in a parish in Liverpool and in 1965 did the same in a parish in Paisley, Scotland. My last experience of Peregrinatio was in Pewsey, Wiltshire, in the southwest of England in 1966.
Morning Star Hostel has had a small number of what are called 'indoor brothers' taking care of the men who stay there. These are laymen, Legionaries who devote themselves full-time to this work. I remember two from 1964, Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn. The old webpage about the Morning Star - the page doesn't seem to be there anymore - gave a short biography of Tom, along with a photo. It describes him in these terms: Tom Doyle was the manager of the hostel for about 50 years and he is regarded as an unknown saint by most if not all the people who knew him.
Tom Doyle (1905 - 1992)
I didn't get to know Tom or Sid well, certainly not their inner lives, though I did join them at prayer, which is central to the lives and work of members of the Legion of Mary and at all meetings. Sid knew my father as they had grown up in the same area, where I also grew up. Most of the people in our neighbourhood were what were called 'working class'. But I saw the utter dedication of Tom and Sid, or 'Brother Tom' and 'Brother Sid' as they were know within the hostel. During Legion meetings and Legion work members address and refer to each other as 'Brother' and 'Sister' but not outside of that.
As Pope Francis might put it, Tom and Sid well knew 'the smell of their sheep'. That might be the smell of alcohol, the smell of unwashed bodies. Sometimes for Tom it might be the smell of his own blood: Rows and scuffles and fist fights were regular occurrences and poor Tom had the responsibility of calming every storm. No doubt Tom who was small in stature was on the receiving end of some of those blows and it is well known that near the end of his life one of the residents very badly beat him up so that he had to spend time in hospital but when he came out he made himself the best friend of that resident!
Things have changed somewhat for the better in the Morning Star since I worked there during the summer of 1964 as you can read here. The dedication of the members of the Legion of Mary who look after it is still very much there.
When I read the words We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty in today's gospel I thought of Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn. The words of Jesus seem to be in contrast with what he says elsewhere, especially in St John's Gospel, where he calls us friends, where he asks Peter, Do you love me? Feed my lambs.
When I used the material above three years ago Liam Hayden, a friend who was my classmate in primary school and who was deeply involved all his adult life with the Legion of Mary along with his wife Moira, some of their children following in their parents' footsteps, posted this comment: I was very close to both men and they had a profound effect
on my development as a person and as a legionary, especially in 1969 when I took
leave from my job to volunteer as an indoor brother for a year. I went on
holiday with both on separate occasions and they were, to my mind, saints of
the Church and both are interred, at their own insistence, in the Morning Star
plot in Glasnevin cemetery Dublin.
Thanks for reminding me of a priceless interlude in my life.
Liam died of Covid on Holy Saturday 2021. May his generous soul rest in peace.
There are 'unknown saints' like Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn throughout the world, many of them for example taking care of aged parents or of their children with severe disabilities, who gladly say We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.
These have fanned into flame the gift of God, to use the words of St Paul in today's Second Reading.
Bonus est Dominus, Palestrina Antiphona ad communionem Communion Antiphon Lamentations 3:25
Bonus est Dominus sperantibus in eum,
The Lord is good to those who hope in him,
animae quaerenti illum.
to the soul that seeks him.
Traditional Latin Mass
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 10-02-2022 if necessary).
Epistle: Ephesians 1: 1-6. Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46.
Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia,
England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,
Scotland, South Africa)
GospelLuke 17:5-10 (New Revised Standard
Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)
The apostles
said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If
you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry
tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.
‘Who
among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or
tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”?Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on
your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So
you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are
worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’
In the summer of 1964, after my third
year in the seminary, I spent a couple of weeks working in theMorning StarHostel in Dublin. It was within walking distance of my home. I
had been in the Legion of Mary for most of my five years in secondary school
and used to rejoin my praesidium (the basic branch of the Legion) during summer vacations. In the summer of 1963
I spent a week on Peregrinatio pro Christoin a parish in Liverpool and
in 1965 did the same in a parish in Paisley, Scotland. My last experience
of Peregrinatio was in Pewsey, Wiltshire, in the southwest of
England in 1966.
Morning Star Hostel has had a small
number of what are called 'indoor brothers' taking care of the men who stay
there. These are laymen, Legionaries who devote themselves full-time to this
work. I remember two from 1963, Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn. The old webpage about the Morning Star - the page doesn't seem to be there anymore - gave a short biography of Tom,
along with a photo. It describes him in these terms: Tom Doyle was the
manager of the hostel for about 50 years and he is regarded as an unknown saint
by most if not all the people who knew him.
Tom Doyle(1905 - 1992)
I didn't get to know Tom or Sid well,
certainly not their inner lives. Sid knew my father as they had grown up in the
same area, where I also grew up. Most of the people in our neighbourhood were
what were called 'working class'. But I saw the utter dedication of Tom and
Sid, or 'Brother Tom' and 'Brother Sid' as they were know within the hostel. During
Legion meetings and Legion work members address and refer to each other as
'Brother' and 'Sister' but not outside of that. As Pope Francis might put it, Tom and
Sid well knew 'the smell of their sheep'. That might be the smell of alcohol,
the smell of unwashed bodies. Sometimes for Tom it might be the smell of his
own blood: Rows and scuffles and fist fights were regular occurrences
and poor Tom had the responsibility of calming every storm. No doubt Tom who
was small in stature was on the receiving end of some of those blows and it is
well known that near the end of his life one of the residents very badly beat
him up so that he had to spend time in hospital but when he came out he made
himself the best friend of that resident!
Things have changed somewhat for the better in the Morning Star since I worked there during the summer of 1964 as you can read hereand here. The dedication of the members of the Legion of Mary who look after it is still very much there.
When I read the words We are worthless slaves; we
have done only what we ought to have done! in today's gospel I thought of Tom Doyle
and Sid Quinn. The words of Jesus seem to be in contrast with what he says
elsewhere, especially in St John's Gospel, where he calls us friends, where he
asks Peter, Do you love me? Feed my lambs.
There are countless individuals around the world who gladly say, We have done only what we ought to have done! They may be adult children taking care of aged parents.
Dimayuga Family, 2009
They may be parents such as Miggy and Gee-Gee, my
former assistant editor at Misyon, the Columban magazine I edited in the Philippines from 2002 till 2017, taking care of their son Mikko, born with multiple
disabilities,with the help of their daughter Mica. Mikko went straight to God
in 2014 and his parents brought his remains home from Atlanta, Georgia, where
they live to be buried here in Bacolod City where Gee-Gee is from.
They may be those helping homeless people,
refugees, drug addicts, alcoholics, those without work cope with their
situation, attending to their urgent, basic needs and offering them hope.
They may be those taking care of the young persons
with disabilities whom Pope Francis visited in Assisi six years ago
on, the feast of St Francis. In the video above the Holy Father reminds us
very strikingly, On the altar we worship the Flesh of Jesus. In the
sick we see the wounds of Jesus. We find Jesus hidden in the Eucharist. Jesus
can be found through your wounds. He needs to be listened to. We need to say:
These wounds cannot be ignored.
Tom Doyle chose to worship the Flesh of
Jesus every morning at Mass at 6, very early in Ireland, especially in
winter. In the homeless men who came to Morning Star Hostel he was able
to see the wounds of Jesus. He would have nodded in agreement with
Pope Francis speaking directly to the young people with disabilities: Jesus
can be found through your wounds. He understood that Jesus needs to
be listened to in the men he served each day.
Despite having to go to hospital when already an
old man because he was beaten up by a resident of Morning Star Hostel, Tom
would have understood what Pope Francis said, These wounds cannot be
ignored. Though conscious of his own physical wounds Tom was even more
conscious of the inner wounds of the man who had attacked him as he showed when
he came out of hospital and made himself the best friend of that
resident!
Thank God for the countless, largely anonymous, Tom
Doyles throughout the world who, if asked about their unselfish commitment to
others in need would answer, We have only done what was our duty. They
are living examples of the words attributed to St Francis, but which he probably never said, which Pope Francis
repeated when answering the questions of young people in Assisi three
years ago, Always preach the gospel. And if necessary use words.
[Video below].
Pope Francis
then asked the young people - and he is putting the same question to each of us
in the name of Jesus - Can you preach the Gospel without words? Yes!
Leading by example. First by example, then with words.
Bonus est Dominus, Palestrina Antiphona ad communionem Communion Antiphon Lamentations 3:25
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase
our faith!”The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of amustard
seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the
sea,’ and it would obey you.
“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in
from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your
place at the table’?Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare
supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you
may eat and drink’?Do you thank the slave for doing what was
commanded?So you
also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are
worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
Responsorial Psalm (NAB Lectionary, Philippines, USA)
In the summer of 1964, after my third year in the seminary, I spent a couple of weeks working in theMorning Star Hostelin Dublin. It was within walking distance of my home. I had been in the Legion of Mary for most of my five years in secondary school and used to rejoin my praesidium during summer vacations. In the summer of 1963 I spent a week onPeregrinatio pro Christoin a parish in Liverpool and in 1965 did the same in a parish in Paisley, Scotland. My last experience of Peregrinatio was in Pewsey, Wiltshire, in the southwest of England in 1966.
Morning Star Hostel has had a small number of what are called 'indoor brothers' taking care of the men who stay there. These are laymen, Legionaries who devote themselves full-time to this work. I remember two from 1963, Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn. Thewebpage about the Morning Star gives a short biography of Tom, along with a photo. It
describes him in these terms: Tom Doyle was the manager of the hostel
for about 50 years and he is regarded as an unknown saint by most if not all
the people who knew him.
I didn't get to know Tom or Sid well, certainly not their inner lives. Sid knew my father as they had grown up in the same area, where I also grew up. Most of the people in our neighbourhood were what were called 'working class'. But I saw the utter dedication of Tom and Sid, or 'Brother Tom' and 'Brother Sid' as they were know within the hostel. During Legion meetings and Legion work members address and refer to each other as 'Brother' and 'Sister' but not outside of that.
As Pope Francis might put it, Tom and Sid well knew 'the smell of their sheep'. That might be the smell of alcohol, the smell of unwashed bodies. Sometimes for Tom it might be the smell of his own blood: Rows and scuffles and fist fights were regular occurrences and poor Tom had the responsibility of calming every storm. No doubt Tom who was small in stature was on the receiving end of some of those blows and it is well known that near the end of his life one of the residents very badly beat him up so that he had to spend time in hospital but when he came out he made himself the best friend of that resident! When I read the words We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!in today's gospel I immediately thought of Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn. The words of Jesus seem to be in contrast with what he says elsewhere, especially in St John's Gospel, where he calls us friends, where he asks Peter, Do you love me? Feed my lambs.
Assisi, 4 October 2013, Feast of St Francis of Assisi
There are countless individuals around the world who gladly say, We have done only what we ought to have done! They may be adult children taking care of aged parents.
Dimayuga Family, 2009
They may be parents such as Miggy and Gee-Gee, my former assistant editor atMisyon, taking care of their son Mikko, born with multiple disabilities,with the help of their daughter Mica. Mikko went straight to God in 2014 and his parents brought his remains home from Atlanta, Georgia, where they live to be buried here in Bacolod City where Gee-Gee is from.
They may be those helping homeless people, refugees, drug addicts, alcoholics, those without work cope with their situation, attending to their urgent, basic needs and offering them hope.
They may be those taking care of the young persons with disabilities whom Pope Francis visited in Assisi three years ago on, the feast of St Francis. In the video above the Holy Father reminds us very strikingly, On the altar we worship the Flesh of Jesus. In the sick we see the wounds of Jesus. We find Jesus hidden in the Eucharist. Jesus can be found through your wounds. He needs to be listened to. We need to say: These wounds cannot be ignored.
Tom Doyle chose to worship the Flesh of Jesus every morning at Mass at 6, very early in Ireland, especially in winter. In the homeless men who came to Morning Star Hostel he was able to see the wounds of Jesus. He would have nodded in agreement with Pope Francis speaking directly to the young people with disabilities: Jesus can be found through your wounds. He understood that Jesus needs to be listened to in the men he served each day.
Despite having to go to hospital when already an old man because he was beaten up by a resident of Morning Star Hostel, Tom would have understood what Pope Francis said, These wounds cannot be ignored. Though conscious of his own physical wounds Tom was even more conscious of the inner wounds of the man who had attacked him as he showed when he came out of hospital and made himself the best friend of that resident!
Thank God for the countless, largely anonymous, Tom Doyles throughout the world who, if asked about their unselfish commitment to others in need would answer, We have only done what was our duty. They are living examples of the words of St Francis, which Pope Francis repeated when answering the questions of young people in Assisi three years ago, Always preach the gospel. And if necessary use words. [Video below].
Pope Francis then asked the young people - and he is putting the same question to each of us in the name of Jesus - Can you preach the Gospel without words? Yes! Leading by example. First by example, then with words.
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And
the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say
to this sycamine tree, 'Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,' and it would
obey you.
"Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping
sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit
down at table? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and gird
yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and
drink? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you
also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy
servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"
Note: What the RSV-CE translates as 'sycamine tree' is 'mulberry tree' in the NAB and JB translations and also in the New Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition.
In the summer of 1964, after my third year in the seminary, I spent a couple of weeks working in the Morning Star Hostel in Dublin. It was within walking distance of my home. I had been in the Legion of Mary for most of my five years in secondary school and used to rejoin my praesidium during summer vacations. In the summer of 1963 I spent a week on Peregrinatio pro Christo in a parish in Liverpool and in 1965 did the same in a parish in Paisley, Scotland. My last experience of Peregrinatio was in Pewsey, Wiltshire, in the southwest of England in 1966.
Morning Star Hostel has had a small number of what are called 'indoor brothers' taking care of the men who stay there. These are laymen, Legionaries who devote themselves full-time to this work. I remember two from 1963, Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn. The webpage about the Morning Star gives a short biography of Tom, along with a photo. It describes him in these terms: Tom Doyle was the manager of the hostel for about 50 years and he is regarded as an unknown saint by most if not all the people who knew him.
I didn't get to know Tom or Sid well, certainly not their inner lives. Sid knew my father as they had grown up in the same area, where I also grew up. Most of the people in our neighbourhood were what were called 'working class'. But I saw the utter dedication of Tom and Sid, or 'Brother Tom' and 'Brother Sid' as they were know within the hostel. During Legion meetings and Legion work members address and refer to each other as 'Brother' and 'Sister' but not outside of that.
As Pope Francis might put it, Tom and Sid well knew 'the smell of their sheep'. That might be the smell of alcohol, the smell of unwashed bodies. Sometimes for Tom it might be the smell of his own blood: Rows and scuffles and fist fights were regular occurrences and poor Tom had the responsibility of calming every storm. No doubt Tom who was small in stature was on the receiving end of some of those blows and it is well known that near the end of his life one of the residents very badly beat him up so that he had to spend time in hospital but when he came out he made himself the best friend of that resident! When I read the words We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty in today's gospel I immediately thought of Tom Doyle and Sid Quinn. The words of Jesus seem to be in contrast with what he says elsewhere, especially in St John's Gospel, where he calls us friends, where he asks Peter, Do you love me? Feed my lambs.
There are countless individuals around the world who gladly say, We have only done what is our duty. They may be adult children taking care of aged parents.
They may be parents such as Miggy and Gee-Gee, my former assistant editor at Misyon, taking care of their son Mikko, born with multiple disabilities,with the help of their daughter Mica, now a little older than in the photo above, near Atlanta, Georgia.
They may be those helping homeless people, refugees, drug addicts, alcoholics, those without work cope with their situation, attending to their urgent, basic needs and offering them hope.
They may be those taking care of the young persons with disabilities whom Pope Francis visited in Assisi yesterday, the feast of St Francis. In the video above the Holy Father reminds us very strikingly, On the altar we worship the Flesh of Jesus. In the sick we see the wounds of Jesus. We find Jesus hidden in the Eucharist. Jesus can be found through your wounds. He needs to be listened to. We need to say: These wounds cannot be ignored.
Tom Doyle chose to worship the Flesh of Jesus every morning at Mass at 6, very early in Ireland, especially in winter. In the homeless men who came to Morning Star Hostel he was able to see the wounds of Jesus. He would have nodded in agreement with Pope Francis speaking directly to the young people with disabilities: Jesus can be found through your wounds. He understood that Jesus needs to be listened to in the men he served each day.
Despite having to go to hospital when already an old man because he was beaten up by a resident of Morning Star Hostel Tom would have understood what Pope Francis said yesterday, These wounds cannot be ignored. Though conscious of his own physical wounds Tom was even more conscious of the inner wounds of the man who had attacked him as he showed when he came out of hospital and made himself the best friend of that resident!
Thank God for the countless, largely anonymous, Tom Doyles throughout the world who, if asked about their unselfish commitment to others in need would answer, We have only done what was our duty. They are living examples of the words of St Francis, which Pope Francis repeated when answering the questions of young people in Assisi yesterday, Always preach the gospel. And if necessary use words.
Pope Francis then asked the young people - and he is putting the same question to each of us in the name of Jesus - Can you preach the Gospel without words? Yes! Leading by example. First by example, then with words.
Farmer in a Field
Altarpiece
.jpg/800px-Child_and_ox_ploughing,_Laos_(1).jpg)
