PEACE PRAYER

 

O God, Creator of the universe, who extends your paternal concern over every creature and guides the events of history to the goal of salvation, we acknowledge your fatherly love when you break the resistance of mankind and, in a world torn by strife and discord, you make us ready for reconciliation.

Renew for us the wonders of your mercy: send forth your Spirit that He may work in the intimacy of hearts, that enemies may begin to dialogue, that adversaries may shake hands and peoples may encounter one another in harmony.

May all commit themselves to the sincere search for true peace which will extinguish all arguments, for charity which overcomes hatred, for pardon which disarms revenge. Amen.

             Prayer For Peace by St. John Paul II   Icon: Ivanna Demchuk- Ukraine

ON-GOING PRAYERS TO THE MOTHER OF GOD

 

This week, Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki, Latin Rite archbishop of Lviv, Ukraine,  spoke of the crises in his country:

 “The general public and the media are focusing only on the human factors of this equation: political leaders, diplomats, strategies, armies... but at the end of the day, God will always have the last word.”

“Whatever God permits, will be the decisive factor. That is why we cannot stop begging for prayers time and again and from all the world, as Pope Francis continues to do. Rest assured, our prayers can change the course of this conflict.

The Archbishop, originally from Poland, has led the Lviv archdiocese since 2008. He served as  (St.) Pope John Paul II’s deputy personal secretary from 1996 until the pope’s death in 2005, after which he spent two years as secretary to Pope Benedict XVI.

 Archbishop Mokrzycki said the Catholic Church all across  the country is preparing for the possibility of Ukrainians to be displaced from their homes, especially from the eastern area.

 “We are ready to welcome people into our churches and provide them with food and water. We have organized first aid courses for priests, religious and laity, so that in an emergency they can care for the wounded.”

Madonna- Ukranian artist- Olesya Hudyma

PRAYER FOR UKRAINE'S PEOPLE

Now, as Russia deploys troops to Ukraine, we commend the praying of this prayer to the Mother of God, asking for an end to escalations and troop deployments.

                                                 Oksana Andrushchenko

We fly to Your patronage, O Virgin Mother of God. Despise not our prayers in our needs, but deliver us from all dangers, since you alone are pure and blessed. 

O most glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ our God, accept our prayers and present them to Your Son and our God, that for the sake of You, He enlighten and save our souls.

SAINTS PRESERVE US!

 

I am asked  sometimes why the emphasis on the SAINTS? Several have even suggested I go back and put on this Blog some of the saints I have already done over the years, especially those most relevant to our present world crises- threats of war, the on-going Covid, etc.

Feb 2 the holy Father in an audience said:  “Even when we rely fully on the intercession of a saint, or even more so that of the Virgin Mary, our trust only has value in relation to Christ. As if the path toward this saint or toward Our Lady does not end there, no. Not there, but in relationship with Christ. He is the bond, Christ is the bond that unites us to him and to each other, and which has a specific name: this bond that unites us all, between ourselves and us with Christ, it is the ‘communion of saints’.

As Catholics, we have a great devotion to the saints as we know them  to be good models for us in our faith as we journey to the Father. We feel a connection to these holy people, who in so many ways were a lot like us. It is one thing to read about  and study the saints of eons past, but our modern saints we can know much more about- not just myths of their holiness- but how truly human they were- how like us in our own sin condition. How they strove to be good, to go beyond the norm.  We have tapes and photos and documentation like no other time in history.  There is no covering up and sugar coating their lives.

St. John Paul II  said: “The Saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history.”  

With all we face in our world today, we need all the help we can get. It is to our spiritual advantage to get to know and make friends with the saints. Most of us treasure the friends we have, those we can really talk to in depth, through thick and thin- so why would we not want to have friends who can intercede for us in matters beyond what anyone here can help us with?  As we prepare for Lent, which is just around the corner, try to find a friend or two you can relate to- those who has already achieved what we strive or.    

                                                     Cathedral-  Los Angeles, CA

"Devotion to the saints is “simply talking to a brother, a sister, who is in the presence of God, who has led a righteous life, a model life, and is now in the presence of God. And I talk to this brother, this sister, and ask for their intercession for the needs that I have.” (Pope Francis)

WITHOUT BLOODSHED

                             

Feb. 14

 As fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to mount, the Ukrainian Catholic bishops of the U.S. have called for a three-day prayer vigil “for peace and the conversion of the hearts of those who preach violence and escalate war.”

“Over the last weeks, the world has become fully aware of the fact that democratic Ukraine and its freedom-loving people are increasingly surrounded by hostile military forces prone for invasion,” said the bishops.

A full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine would “bring about devastating bloodshed and untold human suffering,” resulting in “a disaster with global repercussions,” the bishops warned.

“Deaths could be in the tens of thousands and refugees in the millions,” they said. “The economic and political shockwaves of the social devastation and material destruction in Ukraine will be worldwide.”

Amid the grave situation, the bishops urged faithful to “pray and be full of hope,” citing Scripture passages from the First Letter of Peter and psalms 20 and 125.

“Ukrainian faithful of all confessions have witnessed miracles,” they said. “In recent history, we saw the collapse of the Iron Curtain, the dissolution of the Soviet prison of nations, the liberation of our churches, which occurred without war and bloodshed. We put our trust in God and ask for divine intervention. … Know the Lord and God’s love for the world!”

(Both icons Oksana Andrushchenko)

60 YEARS GIVEN TO THE LORD

 

On the feast of St. Scholastica, last week, February 10, Mother Therese, our past prioress and foundress, celebrated her Jubilee of 60 years vowed life. She is still a vibrant part of our monastery, even though she has semi-retired- if one ever retires in our way of life.

We owe her a debt of gratitude for her givenness to the Lord and to this Community.  (See Blogs Nov. 2013  & Mar 2014- the Westcoast Cheese Nun). Sadly, we had to close the dairy and cheese making, after 40+ years, last summer, due to the Covid. We have also reduced the number of cattle, which was also one of Mother's main works.

In spite of losses, she continues to bring the Community joy and hope.

LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE

 

Today is the feast of . ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA , the patroness of human trafficking victims.  A statue of her was displayed in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Feb. 6.

Today is also International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. Pope Francis established the International Day eight years ago

The bronze sculpture, by  the Catholic artist Timothy P. Schmalz, is dedicated to trafficking victims and to all women, especially the religious sisters who work to free women from modern day slavery.

The artwork depicts the saint, herself once a slave, freeing a mass of people from underground. The artist has named it: “Let the Oppressed Go Free.”

 The 10-foot model is identical to multiple 20-foot versions of the sculpture, which will be installed in Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Feb. 8 was chosen for the day of prayer because it is the feast day of St Josephine Bakhita, who was born in Sudan in 1869. She was kidnapped at the age of seven and sold into slavery by Arab slave traders. During her time as a slave, she was beaten, tortured, and scarred.

St. Josephine discovered Christ and the Church in her early 20s, and after she was freed from slavery, was baptized into the Catholic faith. She also joined the Canossian Sisters in Italy.

The Canadian artist is also the creator of another sculpture in St. Peter’s Square, “Angels Unawares,” which depicts migrants throughout history crammed on a boat together with the holy family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

 

“St. Bakhita shows us the way of transformation. Her life tells us that change is possible when one lets oneself be transformed by God’s care for each one of us. It is the care of mercy — it is the care of love that changes us deeply and makes us able to welcome others as brothers and sisters.

Recognizing the dignity of each person is the first act of care, it is the first act of care. Recognizing dignity. And taking care of others is good for all, for those who give and those who receive, because it is not a unidirectional action, but rather it generates reciprocity.”   ( Pope Francis, Feb 8, 2022)

UKRANIAN FOLK ICONS

 

As the world watches the on-going crises in the Ukraine,  we continue our prayers for peace in the area- and all regions of the world. Perhaps these two artists can present us some joy in the day, as they are both talented, yet their work is different from the more traditional icons we have seen thus far.

A Ukranian artist, totally differnet from the past iconographers we have presented is  OLYA KRAVCHENKO, who  was born in Lviv in 1985. She studied at the Lviv National Academy of Art, Department of the Artwork Restoration from 2002 – 2008. She also participated in restoration practice of Painting Restoration Department in Specialized Academic-Restoration Institute “Ukrzakhidproektrestavratsiya”.

In 2008 she received a grant from the  Scholarship Program of the Ministry of Culture of Poland, «Gaude Polonia», Warsaw.  She is  a member of National Artists Society of Ukraine.

Her works are in private collections in Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Argentina, Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Mexico and the United States.

 She has a certain whimsy to her art in her style and use of color. Yet her message is no less important than other artists from her school.

"In my artwork, I try to reveal and expand the ancient tradition of icon art. I paint with egg tempera on a wood board, using gilding and silvering, just as the old masters did. Besides, I often combine classical painting with contemporary art forms, such as installation and multimedia art. Together they form a coherent and unique impression." 

"When I create my icons, I set myself a task of showing a centuries-old plot in a new light. I try to take a sacred plot most distorted in the contemporary world and express it through the prism of my inner vision and feelings, to give it a new voice, restoring people’s love for sacred art in general. It is always a challenge for me.”

Another very colorful and creative Ukranian artist is  OKSANA ANDRUSHCHENKO, one of the artists in the Ukraine who paints on glass, as her grandmother used to ornament shirts, arranging thousand-year old letters-symbols in texts about perpetual things: Life, Death, Love.

She was born in Lviv, Ukraine in 1966. From 1984-1989 she studied Decorative and Applied Arts (now Lviv Nationl Academy of Arts), department of artistic textile.

She  is also a member of the National Association of Artists of Ukraine.. She teaches at  the department of graphic design of Lviv National Academy of Arts. She has had many exhibits and her works can be found in Ukraine and abroad.

Oksana is fascinated by the ethnic art of Ukraine. She created the exhibition called “In the ornament”. She presents still lives and landscapes accompanied by painted wooden stools and chairs. This kind of activity is not new for Oksana, she has painted walls and furniture and even floors while decorating the interiors.

 In 2017 she was awarded the title:  The Honored Artist of  Ukraine.

It is interesting to note that all of the women we have presented from the Ukraine are from the Lviv area, but Lviv is known to be the home of an experimental school of iconography. 

The city has been a historic crossroads of different cultures ruled (and occupied) in modern times by the Poles, the Austrian Habsburgs, Tsarist Russians, the Nazis, and Soviet Communists.

 It also lies on the boundary where the Byzantine East meets the Latin West. The dominant faith in the region is Ukrainian Greek Catholicism, which claims allegiance to the Holy See in Rome but follows the Eastern Orthodox form of worship, including the veneration of icons. 

MORE PRAYERS FOR THE UKRAINE-THROUGH WOMEN

 

 

Catholic bishops throughout Europe have also expressed support for Ukraine and appealed to Christians to pray for peace.

“At this extremely delicate time, we ask Christians to pray for the gift of peace in Ukraine so that those responsible may be filled with, and radiate, a peace that is ‘contagious’ and that the crisis will be overcome exclusively through dialogue,” the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences said.

 “The current situation represents a great danger for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the entire European continent, which may destroy the progress made so far by many generations in building a peaceful order and unity in Europe,” their appeal, also signed by other bishops, said.

Ukraine, which has a population of 44 million people, borders Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus, and Russia.

Archbishop Borys Gudziak (the current Archeparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia)  said that modern Ukrainian art addresses the damage experienced by the Ukrainian community during Soviet times. “Decades of brutal totalitarianism disrupted many of our traditions, left many wounds, and traumatized the body and soul of our people and our Church. It is so joyful and enlightening to see those who restore the traditions, who heal wounds through beauty”.

ULYANA TOMKEVYCH was born in 1981 in Lviv, Ukraine. She graduated from Trush Lviv State College of Decorative and Fine Arts and then studied in Lviv National Academy of Arts, at the department of sacred art. Her main field is iconography. The author’s works are in the churches and private collections in Ukraine, Poland, France and the USA. She took part in more than 40 art projects and group exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad.

 She has said of her work: Even though I work in the area of sacred art, each of my paintings also partly reflects my inner self. For me to choose a subject of a new painting is to look for my personal, internal questions, doubts, emotions. Only in the process of painting I am able to find the answers. First of all, it is a possibility to communicate with God, recognize and glorify Him every day.

I try to maintain and preserve the old tradition of Ukrainian sacred art. Thus I work in the tempera technique, using egg emulsion and pigments.

Sacred art gives me a wide variety of subjects concerning deep moral and ethical questions of love, sacrifice, faith, and doubt...

I feel entirely free. But to feel free and not make mistakes, you need to know a lot. One must know what can be changed and what cannot."

(Both icons of Mary with Jesus- Ulyana Tomkevych)

KHRYSTYNA KVYK was born in 1994 in Drohobych (Lviv region, Ukraine). She is part of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, which maintains the Byzantine liturgical tradition as well as Eastern iconography.

 In 2014  she finished the Sambir College of Pedagogy (specialty in Fine Arts). In 2020 graduated from the Lviv National Academy of Arts (Master of Arts, specialty of sacral art). She has been the winner of many prizes for her art, notably in Poland and the Ukraine. In 2018 she won the first prize in the I International Iconographic Competition “New Epiphany of the Beauty” and in 2019 – the second prize in the II International Iconographic Competition “New Epiphany of Beauty” in Supraśl, Poland.

"The original task of the icon was to inform uneducated people about the doctrine of the Christian faith. Now, it serves as a supplement to the doctrine because most people are now educated. But the main purpose of iconography is the same: conveying the faith to as many people as possible. 

Icons help to improve my understanding of the Christian faith. It requires learning and reflecting all the time and it shapes my faith. Through painting icons, my understanding of the metaphorical meanings and complex symbolism of Christianity has grown so much. My passion to create art and my faith coexist in symbiosis.

I must admit that I’m happy to take part in the revival and development of Byzantine iconography in particular Ukrainian iconography. Also I’m happy to be a representative of contemporary iconography...

 It’s normal when artists express themselves and their views in any kind of art. We all are humans with our imagination and ideas. We are created in the image of God so we are created to create. Every person is talented and it’s important not to bury the talent in the ground.

It is said that the icon is painted by God as the Bible is written by God with humans assistance but I don’t want to downplay our role. As a matter of fact, the human factor is fully present.

The modern iconographer rethinks many symbols and makes them available to contemporary audience.

A large group of artists, in particular my colleagues from LNAA approach the icon dynamically and innovatively, paying tribute to the contemporary ethos of the artist and the style of contemporary art. Between the two views – more conservative and innovative – everyone seems to tends to one or another pole."

 (Quotes all taken from an interview with Kevin Antlitz- Transcendentalish Blog, 2021)

“May the prayers and invocations that are being raised to heaven touch the minds and hearts of those in positions of authority on earth, so that dialogue may prevail and the good of all be put before the interests of one side. Please, no more war.” Pope Francis