The journey into mystery

Today’s Feast of the Immaculate Conception reminds me of my attitude as a born-again Christian before I came into the Church.  In those days such doctrines (the Assumption being another) seemed to me and my peers to be gratuitous additions to Bible teaching by an ecclesial body out of control.  The Catholic hierarchy had developed an obsession with Mary which distracted people from the centrality of Jesus, the Redeemer of humanity.  Entering then into Holy Mother Church myself, I began to appreciate that her doctrines are beautiful mysteries given to us by revelation and not just to individuals, but to the Church.  On the other hand, I suppose I assumed that I would as the years passed understand our faith more and more.  Then came Carmel - and I was plunged into the reality of mystery again, but now I learned to live in ‘the cloud of unknowing’ happily and indeed to make my home there.  It is our individual lust for understanding that runs out of control, not Mother Church.  Our task is to trust and to love – and that is actually a fulltime job.           

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon B, Catherine, Roy Seymour

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

RIP Richard Parker, Martin Gilham, Sue Burton, Wojtek, Joy Smith OCDS