Page 17 - LOTN Autumn Issue 54 2023

EDUCATION AND FORMATION

organise other events. There were the Burns Suppers with Bob Friends of Rosemary were so impressed with her strength of
providing the diners with a recital of Burns' poems which always character that, when their first child was born, they wanted no
went down well. Then there was another night out arranged other than Rosemary to be the godmother.
with a local singer, Ally Dawson, who had supported Rosemary Rosemary's courage and determination seemed to know no
in the past and with Ray Stewart, one of the finest banjo players bounds. Friends of hers happened to be showing her photographs
in Scotland. Funding for Rosemary's possum machine was of the Cairngorms and she was captivated by the beautiful
really taking off. scenery. She so wished that she could view the mountain range
The day of reckoning came, and all who had participated for herself. BUT nothing is impossible and Ben, hearing of this,
in the fundraising efforts were invited along to a meeting at spoke to pilot, Peter Forbes, at a local flying club. He said that
which Rosemary's father announced that a staggering sum he would be more than happy to take Rosemary for a flight
of £4000 had been raised, and enough to purchase the much and it was duly arranged. Ben and her parents managed to get
needed possum machine. A week or two later it was installed Rosemary settled into the two seater cockpit of Peter's plane and
in Rosemary’s room at her home. Rosemary and her Mum and off she went, flying over the magnificent Cairngorms. This was
Dad were thrilled and Bob could not prevent shedding a few the beginning of a new interest for Rosemary as Peter, impressed
tears. by Rosemary's attitude to life, would take her for a flight now
At last, Rosemary could now communicate with her family and again. Ben remembers Rosemary commenting that, while
and there was great delight when Rosemary's first words, "Many she was up in the blue yonder, it felt like all her disabilities had
thanks", appeared on her television monitor screen. Rosemary's been left behind.
first project, using the new technology, was to increase her Ben remained friends with Bob and Pearl and Rosemary.
knowledge about disability and then she threw herself into Sadly, Rosemary passed away 25 years ago and a few years later
the study of anatomy. Every Sunday evening students visited Bob passed away suddenly with a heart attack, though many
Rosemary and taught her what they know about the subject. said he died of a broken heart.
Rosemary made lots of friends that way. Pearl, such a devoted and dedicated mother to Rosemary, lived
Rosemary loved children and "adopted" a blind girl from a until she was over 90 years old. Ben and Joe are both retired and
developing country whom she corresponded with once a week. in good health.

"The source

and summit of

Christian life"

"This is the final instalment of an article which was originally
written as a talk for a gathering of Extraordinary Ministers of
Holy Communion in the Aberdeen deanery. While the original
audience were those serving in this capacity, my hope is that
these words will benefit any reader who wants to grow deeper
in his/her baptismal calling, become more aware of the spiritual
fruits of serving in the Church and grow in devotion to the
Eucharist as the 'source and summit of Christian life". Please
know that my prayers are with you and I commend myself to
yours as well."
BY SR FRANCESCA THERESE

Devotion to the Eucharist:

Mary at the foot of the Cross

his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
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t would be scandalous for me to give a spiritual talk to Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple
extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion without whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother,
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Italking about devotion to the Eucharist. For this, let’s “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple,
follow Mary to the foot of the Cross. “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple
took her to his own home.
The Death of Jesus: John 19:25-37 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished,
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…standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and said (to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine

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