Studies in Washington DC

By Therese Touma

The Maronite Servants are in Washington DC this week to attend classes with Chorbishop Seely J. Beggiani , Rector of the Maronite Seminary. The topics we studied were Maronite Liturgy and Eastern Catholic Spirituality. We discussed the origins of the Liturgy and went through the parts of the Liturgy, making references to the chapters of Chorbishop’s books on ”Maronite Divine Liturgy and Eastern Catholic Spirituality”. Pictured here is Chorbishop Beggiani with Mother Marla Marie, Tresa and Therese at Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary Chapel.

Some highlights from class on the Divine Liturgy:

- The Quorbono (Syriac name for the Divine Liturgy) literally means to come close, God reaching out to us in the Liturgy and we the faithful reaching out to Him. It is not a static prayer but organic in its nature, flowing from one part to the other through its different elements. “The language, music, gestures, and ornaments of the Liturgy are directed to bring about dialogue and union between God and the worshipping community.”

- According to John Chrysostom, Church Father of the East and Doctor of the Church, he beautifully portrays the Liturgy as a “celestial spectacle” where we the faithful join and imitate the angels in heaven, as we sing praise to God in the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy”. Chorbishop in his book captures this awesome idea about the prayer of the Liturgy “An invisible exchange takes place between earth and heaven. While on Earth, it is near the celestial throne.”

Relics of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

On June 2nd we were blessed to see and honor the relics of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta which were in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Sisters of Charity were there at the Shrine reverently presenting and taking care of her relics which included her blood, hair, Rosary, Sandals and a piece of her Sari. We were grateful for this opportunity to honor her relics and to ask for her intercession. The picture is of us at the relics of Blessed Mother Teresa.

Jubilee of Saint Maron Part II

Excerpts from the 25^th letter of His Eminence and Beatitude Nasrallah Peter Cardial Sfeir.  On the Occasion of the 1600^th Jubilee of the passing of Saint Maron.  Full text of this letter can be found at the Eparchy website: stmaron.org 

The celebration of jubilee years began in the Old Testament and continues through Church history.  The Jubilee Year is the year of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a year of equality, justice, pardon, reconciliation and repentance; a year of special graces for individuals and communities; a year of charity and joy, not only internal joy, but also the joy that shines in outside.”

    The Maronite Patriarchal Assembly as well as the Synod of Bishops for Lebanon, reflect the role of divine providence in preparing for the Jubilee of Saint Maron to the point where one could say that the Assembly and the Synod were in fact the introduction to this Jubilee.   

     It is hence a very important Jubilee, not only for Maronites, but also for Christians and non-Christians in Lebanon, the Middle East, and throughout the world to consider the position of Maronites in the course of the universal Church and their role throughout 1600 years of history.

     Hereafter, if the Maronite Patriarchal Assembly and Synod is considered the “Pentecost of the Maronite Church,” then the celebration of the Jubilee of one thousand six hundred years since the death of Saint Maron could be considered “a new springtime for Maronite life.”  In both cases “each Jubilee in Church history is arranged by divine providence” as properly said by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

     Three chapters characterize this Jubilee:

    First:            What does Saint Maron represent to us today?

    Second:       What does being Maronite mean to us?

    Third:          What relationship exists between being Maronite and loving Lebanon, the land and the hope?

Postulants Share Their Experience

How have you found living in a  Monastery?

Tresa:

In the postulant journey, I am constantly inspired by the people I live with and come in contact on a regular basis. In the home we have the wonderful guidance and direction of Mother Marla Marie, and then throughout the week we have many priests teaching us to grow deeper in our faith and love for Christ through our studies. I am continually inspired through these classes, spiritual reading and faith sharing to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ in the hopes that I can truly radiate his love wherever I am and to whomever I meet.   (Photo:  Tresa with her parents, Chuck and Marie Van Heusen)

Therese:

"It has been good and a great learning experience, as I learn to live out the customs of a Maronite Servant. The structured time of prayer, silence, study, recreation, duties and meals have been strengthening, as it allows me to develop more fully as a person (spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally).
I have enjoyed the time allocated for communal activities; such as the walks in nature, prayer hours and other times of recreation and sharing."
(Photo: Maronite Servants with Abouna Jim Root, rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Brooklyn.)

Our Syriac Maronite Hymns

By Tresa Van Heusen


During our monthly classes at the Chancery in Brooklyn, New York, we study Maronite music with Father Geoffrey Abdallah. Father Geoffrey, Director of the Maronite Inter-Eparchial Music Commission, teaches on the origin and development of our Maronite liturgical music – as well as some singing lessons!

Father Geoffrey comes to us from the Eparchy of Sydney, Australia, and is here in Brooklyn to undertake the project of the Maronite Inter-Eparchial Music Commission in conjunction with the Maronite Bishops of America, Australia and Canada. The commission is working to translate authentic Maronite liturgical hymns from the Syriac to English. In order to ensure fidelity to the Syriac hymns, the Commission adheres to the following guidelines:

1. The original Syriac melody be unaltered.
2. The text be as close as possible to the original text.
3. English language/syllabication not be compromised.
4. The English words match the same cadence points as the Syriac chant.
5. The final English version be convincing and not awkward as if originally written in English.

As we learned in our first lesson with Father Geoffrey, it is important in our Maronite churches that we “affirm the living tradition of the singing of chants in Syriac. This is of particular importance so as to maintain our cultural and religious links with our Antiochian Syriac Maronite tradition in Lebanon and around the world. For that reason also, the adaptation of these chants into Arabic, English and other languages is of enormous pastoral and cultural advantage.”

Father Geoffrey is a gifted priest and musician, and we feel very blessed to have him as an instructor. We look forward to many more lessons with him in order to increase our knowledge and understanding of this important aspect of our Maronite Liturgy, and then be able to share this information within our parishes. And hopefully we can also improve our own singing abilities!

Below is a sample of the music from the Commission (in the “ad experimentum” phase). The Communion Hymn, “I Am Truly the Bread of Life” (in Syriac: Bo’ooto dmor ya’qoob – Eno eno lahmo dhayeh):

I am truly the Bread of Life,
who will grant you life eternal,
if you eat my Body in faith.

Come and drink from this precious cup,
which was poured out on the Lord’s cross
and obtain the pardon of sins.

Come receive his pure Body now.
Come in true faith; drink his pure Blood.
This, the Church proclaims singing praise.

Holy, holy, the Church proclaims,
Lord most holy, who forgives us
By his precious Body and Blood.

The sheet music and recording of these hymns can also be downloaded from:
http://www.olol.org.au/Hymns.php