Celebrating Blessed Dom. Columba Marmion

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“Only the heart touches hearts. We influence people in proportion to our love for them.” (Blessed Columba Marmion). Today, 3rd of October,  in the Irish Church we remembered Blessed Columba Marmion. As an Irish diocesan priest in the Dublin Archdiocese he felt called to the monastic way of life. He served in Dundrum which is just up the road from us here in Blackrock. He entered the Benedictine Maredsous Abbey several years after being ordained a priest. In 1909 he was elected abbot of Maredsous Abbey and served in that capacity until his death on January 30th, 1923.

One of my favourite books is a composition of letters written by him, called "Union with God". He wrote to people who sought his spiritual counsel with questions about prayer, faith, temptation, suffering, and the struggles of daily life. Marmion excelled in the art of letter-writing — his advice was always simple and direct, yet profound. Last Sunday 30th of September we were privileged to be part of the solemn Evening Prayer for the blessing of a new icon of Blessed Columba Marmion in beautifully restored Holy Cross Church, Dundrum. I felt privileged to be asked to sign the Psalm at the Evening Prayer and I know our dear Sr. M. Paul, RIP, would have been definitely there for the celebration as she had huge devotion to him and recalls how our Founder, Blessed James Alberione, often quoted him during his meditations which he gave to them as young postulants and novices.

Unveiling the icon (Archbishop D. Martin and Fr. John Bracken
 If you're in the Dublin area you should check it out- it portrays the life of Bl. Marmion wonderfully and prayerfully. Well done to Fr. John Bracken and his team in the Parish for a wonderful celebration which was presided over by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and with Dom Columba McCann, OSB and Vice-Postulator of the canonisation cause of Dom Marmion being the homilist. We continue to ask the intercession of this great monk so that we may progress in our spiritual journey and come closer to God!
Dom Columba McCann, OSB and Vice-Postulator of the canonisation cause of
Dom Marmion gives a reflection after the Scripture Reading

Comments

  1. TheresaOctober 17, 2021 at 9:25 AM

    Today during our Eucharistic visit with my fellow Pauline Cooperators in Singapore, we came across the name of Marmion as quoted by Alberione. We wondered who he was and my search led to your blog post. Thanks for sharing the information about Marmion and his book Union with God. That's going into my reading list. God bless!

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