January 2009
Vol. XXX, No. 1

Dear Oblates and Friends of Portsmouth,

          January this year has a special significance for the Church and for Christendom, since it contains, in this year dedicated to Saint Paul, the feast which commemorates his conversion on his celebrated journey to Damascus - the first of three notable conversions in the history of the Church, which have had a powerful and lasting effect on the Church's life and development. For each of them call was a distinct experience but closely connected with the actual moment or time of conversion. The other two are those of Augustine in the fourth century and of John Henry Newman in the nineteenth century.  Unlike Paul's conversion, those of Augustine and Newman were not sudden, but rather the result of  years of study, reflection and soul-searching, a truly spiritual struggle before coming to the point where they were ready to accept the grace of faith in a new, deeper, compelling understanding of Christianity.  The significance of these conversions will be treated in a later issue of the Newsletter.

          For Paul both call and conversion coincided.  When he heard the voice issuing from a blinding light, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?, his acceptance of  Jesus was immediate, and his particular mission to be Apostle of the Gentiles revealed to him after being baptized by Ananias. For this apostolate, he was admirably fitted - by birth, by culture, by temperament - to make the missionary journeys to important centers of the Roman world and through his epistles to sustain, solidify and perpetuate the church to which he now dedicated his life.  Paul's sudden conversion has been the subject of numerous paintings, one of which can help us to grasp the complexity of the event and its significance for Paul and for the Church.

          Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Paul III to execute a fresco in the Pauline Chapel of the Vatican, showing Paul, on his way to persecute the disciples of Jesus in Damascus.  He is being addressed by Jesus, looking down from heaven and flanked by a crowd of angelic figures, at the very moment at which he, Paul, has been thrown to the ground from his horse, with a beam of light shining on his face, blinded and helpless, totally dependent on his companions.  His face should have been that of a young man.  Instead, the artist has paid his patron, Pope Paul III, the compliment of portraying him as the apostle, with the face of an old man.  Saul, the Pharisee, is being converted from the old covenant to the fresh, youthful faith of Christianity, taking on a new life with a new purpose:  to bring others to the knowledge and practice of belief in Jesus.  Saul, henceforth to be known by the Gentile name Paul, is the only person depicted with a horse, perhaps to emphasize his status and to contrast the prostrate figure with the now useless horse. Most portrayals of this event show horses involved, whereas the scriptural accounts make no mention of them.  Marching by foot was a common practice in the ancient world, but a fall from a horse introduces drama and action into the event.  All the attention is focused on the central scene:  the encounter of the helpless Paul on the ground contrasted with the majestic Jesus making a gesture of blessing and concern from the sky.  The angels above direct their attention to Jesus in worship, while the bewildered soldiers below are filled with amazement and consternation at what has taken place so unexpectedly.

          As we view the scene, we share the need to experience a deeper commitment to the Way of Jesus, learning from Paul's spectacular call to undergo the change of heart and soul that can transform us from passive followers into active, committed disciples of Jesus, within the context of our daily commonplace lives.  We realize that Paul's blindness to the truth is only temporary, a way of  teaching him that he must die to his old self and manner of thought and be reborn through baptism after three days of a symbolic death like that of Jesus.  This powerful scene of  Paul's call and conversion is a reminder that we too must proclaim the Word and preach the Gospel, not through missionary journeys and writing spiritual treatises, but through the humbler, ordinary manner of living which will manifest us as true witnesses to our belief in the Way to which Paul, the convert, dedicated his life.

Church Unity
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me  and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for my sheep. Other sheep I have that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.


Liturgical Calendar for January
Cycle of Prayer: Openness to the Word of God; Migrants and
Refugees; Expectant Mothers; Peace on Earth

1       Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day)
2          SS. Basil and Gregory, Bishops & Doctors
4       FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
          Oblate Day of Recollection: Abbot Caedmon
5          St. John Neumann, Bishop
10        St. Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop
11     Baptism of the Lord
12        St. Benet Biscop, Abbot, Patron of EBC
13        St. Hilary, Bishop & Doctor
15        SS. Maurus and Placid, Disciples of St .Benedict
17        St. Anthony of Egypt, Abbot, Patron of All Monks
18     SUNDAY II OF THE YEAR
             Beginning of Church Unity Octave
20        SS. Fabian, Pope, & Sebastian, Martyrs
21        St. Agnes, Martyr
24        St. Francis de Sales, Bishop & Doctor
25     SUNDAY III OF THE YEAR
         Conversion of St. Paul
            End of Church Unity Octave
26       Abbots of Citeaux:  SS. Robert, Alberic, Stephen
27       SS. Timothy and Titus, Bishops                                      
28       St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor, Patron of Schools                      
31       St. John Bosco, Priest                                                                                   

Monastery Notes

          At the request of the monks of Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, Mass., Abbot Mark Serna has been granted permission by the Community of Portsmouth and the Abbot Presidents of the Swiss American Congregation\and the English Congregation to act as Administrator for a two-year period at Glastonbury, beginning in January.  He will succeed Dom Nicholas Marcone who has just resigned after completing his term as abbot.  During this time the monks will undergo a period of discernment for electing an abbot from their own congregation.  Abbot Mark will continue to serve as Treasurer of Portsmouth and President of the Monastic Inter-faith Dialogue.

          Despite some unforeseen delays in obtaining timber for the Church restoration, work is progressing and it is expected to be able to be used for the Easter Vigil in April.  The stained glass has been replaced in half the bays of the clerestory, the Richard Lippold wire sculpture of  The Trinity is now beginning to be reassembled, and the refurbished spire, which had been removed several months ago, has been set in place on the cupola of the church by a gigantic crane.

          Prayers are requested for oblates recently deceased:  Antonio Ribeiro and Richard Carr.  Mass will be offered by the community for each of them.  R.I.P.

          Books read during the past year in the monastic refectory include:  Epstein: Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy's Guide; Winchester: The Meaning of Everything, O.E.D.; Holz: Benedictine Journey Through Lent; Nichols: The Thought of Benedict XVI; Martin: My Life With The Saints; Lukacs:  America:A New Republic.

Oblate Days of Recollection:  January to June, 2009

January 4:     Abbot Caedmon: Epiphany 
February 1:    Abbot Matthew:  Jesus' Encounter with the Samaritan Woman
March 8:         Dom Damian:  Meditation on the Passion of Our Lord
April 25:         Abbot Mark: Christian Baptism: Source of Our Spiritual Journey
May 31:          Dom Julian       (final meeting until the autumn)

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