Carmelite Monastery of St Joseph, Kilmacud - Sisters' Reflections

Those of us living in the west are fortunate that the celebration of Christmas falls in the darkest week of the year. In this time of physical darkness Christ’s birth brings light into our lives in a very vivid and evocative way. The reality of the darkness highlights the coming of Christ as the light of the world. He came to enlighten our lives with love, joy and peace. Even many people without faith prepare for this mid-winter festival and become touched by the spirit of joy and kindness that surround it. Yet for some the reality of peace may seem unattainable. In these days when there is so much suffering in the world, from war, famine and a series of pandemics, how can we understand the message of peace? Edith Stein reflected on this in a lecture entitled ‘The Mystery of Christmas’ which she gave in January 1931. She points out that on the very day after the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr and then tw...

  Naming a new- born baby is such a special thing. Don’t we all wait with a certain excitement for the name a couple will choose for their child.   Jesus brought His own name with Him. The angel announced it to Mary. It   means God Saves . Jesus will be the one   to deliver humanity from all evil, violence and injustice. He will bring in the Reign of God’s mercy and compassion and forgiveness. But there is another astounding name that Jesus has and it is Emmanuel , a name that means God- is- with- us. That is the message of   Christmas. God has come to us as a child. He has not come to impose himself on humanity. He comes with the tenderness of a little child. He is very near to you and me right here in the middle of our lives if we can open ourselves up to the mystery. God can be born in us.   We need not feel alone ever   again. He is with us, in us, upholding us in our joys and   struggles. Thats why the angels sang at the birth of Jesus - ...

  As I watch Sister Mary Brigeen unpacking the crib it brings back memories of previous Christmases. I am reminded of people I have shared this special season with. But going further back I reflect on the Christmas story and the events which led to this great God Intervention in time. I think of that young woman Mary who said ‘yes’ to an invitation to be the Mother of God while not fully understanding the mystery of the journey God was inviting her to take (Luke 1.26 -38). The statue Sister is unpacking reminds me not of a lifeless statue but of that real person who was Mary, a living flesh and blood woman. She lived in a very oppressive country. When only weeks away from giving birth she had to go on a long journey to fulfil her and Joseph’s civil duties. It would take about a week to travel over that rough terrain. She did not travel by helicopter or in a first class carriage in an express train but probably went on foot. It was all very real and very uncomfortable.   I am...

  Recently many of us were awakened by the sound of our chapel bell ringing out loud and clear into the silence of the calm night.   With deliberate confident strokes it spelt out the Angelus pattern: 3 strokes by 3 and then the long uninterrupted 9 strokes, as it always does, but... this was Midnight!    This had never happened before... What could be wrong??? What must the neighbours think of us disturbing them at this hour of night??? Relieved that the striking had stopped we returned to bed , but I was sleepily beginning to wonder...What was the meaning?    Who could have rung the bell?   For me it had special significance because this Advent I‘ve been struck as never before how this prayer of the Angelus draws us into the whole mystery of the Incarnation...of God becoming Man, which is what Christmas is all about...                  And the Word was made flesh...

  Once Advent comes, our annual Christmas mailing rolls into action! One of our Sisters has been doing trojan work for the past couple of weeks packing envelopes, and distributing them around to other Sisters in the Community who like to add a final personal word to the recipients. There are many people who hear from us by mail only once a year, and we like to bring them a message of hope and peace during this special season. Our world often seems like a “wilderness” as regards God’s presence. One has only to switch on any news bulletin to hear reports of wars, sickness, violence and natural disasters. It can sap the energy and lower the spirits of even a most positive person. Avoiding the public news is not the solution, however, as even in our personal lives and those close to us we see struggle and suffering. What is the answer to this? Advent gives us a hint with its focus on St John the Baptist, and he is the one we try to imitate in these weeks before Christmas. John was ...