The new Bishop of Argyll and the Isles in Scotland has been urged to imitate St Columba, who founded a monastery on the isle of Iona in the 6th century.
Bishop Brian McGee was installed as bishop at St Columba’s Cathedral in Oban last week. The Diocese of Argyll and the Isles covers part of the west coast of Scotland and the Western Isles, including Iona.
In his homily Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh described the journey of St Columba to Iona 1,400 years ago.
He said: “As you are chosen and set aside today, Brian, Christ simultaneously commissions you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last. It will seem strange, it may feel a little unlikely for some time to come, but Christ has chosen you and placed you here to be a spiritual father and guide to the people of this diocese. And he has commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last. In a small way, you even imitate St Columba himself. Your mother and sister Brona are here, and I’m sure your dad James, gone to God a number of years ago, would have been very proud of you.”
He continued: “In all great moments, the Church prays the litany of the saints, and today is no exception. So during the litany of saints we are about to pray, what are gifts that we ought to beg for you on this most solemn occasion? I think we need look no further than the figure of St Columba himself. Columba was a spiritual man; Adomnàn tells us that he was an ‘island soldier’, devoted to prayer, fasts and vigils. He says that he was ‘an angel in demeanour, blameless in what he said, godly in what he did, brilliant in intellect and great in counsel’. Quite a tall order, then …
“A soldier dedicates himself fully and risks his life for what he loves and believes in. An island soldier, imitating Columba, will add to that a love of prayer and personal discipline.”
Following the episcopal ordination, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “When I was Bishop of Paisley, Brian was one of my priests. He was a dedicated pastor and a thoughtful priest. I have no doubt that he will make his own distinctive and valuable contribution to the deliberations of our conference.”
Cardinal criticises Cameron over ‘poisonous’ liberalism
Cardinal George Pell has accused Prime Minister David Cameron of adopting a “poisonous form of radical moral liberalism”.
Writing in a foreword to The Nation that Forgot God, a collection of essays edited by Sir Edward Leigh MP and Alex Haydon, the cardinal criticises Mr Cameron’s push to legalise same-sex marriage:
“Cameron has been formed by, or at least adopted, that poisonous form of radical moral liberalism which has sapped the religious vitality of many Christian communities as it endorsed the weaknesses and mistakes damaging, and even destroying, the family,” he writes. “His confusion is typical of many Christians.
It does not speak well of those Christian leaders who never lifted a finger to resist these siren voices.”
The cardinal, who is prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, emphasises that he does not think that the Prime Minister is intentionally setting out to undermine Christianity.
“On the contrary, taking into account his many positive references to Christianity and, indeed to Our Lord Himself, he seems to believe he is actually co-operating with God’s plan by introducing this law,” he writes.
‘Great enthusiasm’ for Mercy Bus
The Diocese of Salford’s Mercy Bus has arrived in the city of Bolton. The bus is touring the diocese throughout Lent to mark the Year of Mercy. Its next stops are Burnley, a Tesco car park in Bury and the market square in Ashton-under-Lyne. Members of the public will be able to talk to the priests aboard or go to Confession. Bishop John Arnold told The Bolton News that the bus had been met with “great enthusiasm”.
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