大象传媒

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All Saints Day is a good time for us to reflect on the lives of the Saints- known and unknown.

I recently read a popular history entitled 鈥淗ow the Irish saved civilization鈥�. I wondered if it was an overambitious claim.

It traces the impact of the Irish Saints and scribes who took Christianity into Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. One of the leading figures St Columbanus travelled from Bangor in Northern Ireland where I grew up and founded monasteries in various points in France, Switzerland, Austria and finally in Bobbio in Italy.

The Antiphonary of Bangor, a a book of services聽 originally used in the Monastery there, is now held聽 held in the Ambrosian Library in Milan because of Columbanus journeys and the scribal traditions of the Irish monks.

In the New Year we might 鈥搃f anyone remembers- celebrate 1400 years since he founded his last monastery in Bobbio.

Today is a good day to recall all those who have gone before us and passed on the message of Jesus. Whether we are feeling saintly or not it is also an opportunity to do the same thing- pass on the message.

What if St Columbanus had not ventured into Lombardy in the year 613? Maybe someone else would have gone? But he did go.

Today on All Saints we remember those who passed the message to us. We also need to pay it forward.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11, 鈥淭herefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.鈥�

We give thanks for those who have borne the light of Christ to us.

Help us to bear the light to others. Amen.