CANA to CALVARY

Three events are linked: firstly, the feast of the Epiphany which took place in the first year of the Lord’s birth; secondly, the baptism of Christ, on the same day thirty years later; thirdly, the wedding at Cana which took place on the same day one year later. At the wedding in Cana Jesus worked his first miracle in the order of nature through Mary and because of her request – motherly love has no limits. When he turned water into wine he used no word, no touch, no gesture, to claim the miracle as his own. ‘Fill the water-pots with water…. Draw out now, and bear to the steward.’ As a reward for following the advice of Our Lady, “Do whatever he tells you” the stewards at the wedding in Cana were instruments of divine grace. When we listen to her and do God’s will we also become, sometimes unwittingly, instruments of God’s grace.

Also “Cana” means “zeal,” and “Galilee” means “passage.” So this marriage is the zealous passage from sin to salvation. “Pass over to me, all who desire me” (Sirach 24:26). And they pass from death to life, i.e., from the state of mortality and misery to the state of immortality and glory: “I make all things new” (Rv 21:5). For that reason there are six jars, for creation took six days,which would come to pass in the new creation of the new wine in the new covenant after the resurrection of the Lord.

Cana + Calvary

Woman – Hour – Wedding – Selfgiving

The events of Cana are related to those of Calvary. The sign of water turned into wine at Cana already announces the hour of Jesus’ glorification. It makes manifest the fulfillment of the wedding feast in the Father’s kingdom, where the faithful will drink the new wine that has become the Blood of Christ. CCC 1335

On Austraia Day here are some notes on

Terra Australis.

In 1676, Fr. Victorio Riccio, a Dominican priest, wrote to Rome from the Philippines seeking permission to begin a Mission in Australia. The letter contained much detail and information regarding the country called Terra Australis. And to accompany his request, Fr. Riccio enclosed a hand drawn map (30cm x 40cm) the first ever of the continent of Australia, which he called the fifth part of the world – quinta pars orbis. Fr. Riccio claimed that it was a land of innumerable kingdoms and nations. Dutch explorers had told him that one could walk through the interior of this country for two years without ever seeing the sea. Many years later in the year 1788, 112 years after Riccio’s letter, the British Empire claimed this land as a penal colony for prisoners. Catholics were often deprived of the support of their Church and the Sacraments. The Holy Eucharist, at one stage, was reserved in the Davis house for two whole years until another priest arrived. The Davis’ home, the ‘Holy House of Australia,’ became a centre of devotion and prayer. Today one can visit this humble dwelling in The Rocks, Sydney, nearby St. Patrick Church

HOSPITAL HUMOUR

During post operative rehabilitation a middle-aged man was struggling with severe anxiety. A kind and thoughtful visitation to his bedside by the Legion of Mary revealed the full extent of his problem. The troubled man said that while the medical procedure was being carried out, he gradually became conscious and heard the voice of a young surgeon. ‘And what did she say’, they asked. ‘Well’ he said, ‘it was only one four letter word.’ ‘Which one…’ they insisted. He whispered with a trembling voice: ‘Oops!’

Fr. Peter Murphy – Parish Priest

Fr. Chris Heffernan – Assistant Priest

Fr. Brendan Lee –  in residence

Phone (02) 6025 1784     Email holyspirit@westnet.com.au

Address 550 Prune Street, Lavington         PO Box 220 Lavington NSW 2641