I took this photo yesterday at Altamount, Millstreet, Co.Cork
There are signs of a bumper harvest all around us. This crab apple tree in our garden at home is simply weighed down with the amount of apples it is holding. It’s a lovely sight and many of the fruits on our trees will provide food for our birds as we move into the autumn and winter
On This Day
On September 22nd 2021 the World Health Organisation calls for urgent action on air pollution and said it is on a par with smoking and a poor diet, causing seven million premature deaths a year
Birthdays Today
Andrea Bocelli (Opera Singer) is 65 today
Billie Piper (TV Actress) is 41
Saint For Today
Today September 22nd is the feast of Saint Maurice who was a soldier who died for his faith
Significance Of Today
Today is International Astronomy Day. The mysteries of outer space and astronomy have fascinated the world for as long as we have recorded history. It is almost impossible to look up at the night sky on a clear evening and not be caught up in the sense of wonder and amazement at how big the universe truly is compared to us. From a spiritual point of view the beauty of our universe reminds us there a bigger presence out there, which has been described as ‘wonder in awe in God’s presence’,
Interesting Quote for Today
“You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Did you know fact
Did you know that wearing a tie can reduce blood flow to the brain by 7.5 per cent. They can also increase the pressure in your eyes if on too tight and are great at carrying germs.
This is my latest and newest video and it is called – What can we learn from the monks especially all about balance
This is a recent video called ‘My Beautiful Old Teapot – you are unique and special’.
Thought For Today
Last Sunday Tracton Abbey Parish, which is about 25km south of Cork city, celebrated the 800th anniversary of Tracton Abbey. It was 800 years ago on the shoreline at Ringabella, where the first Cistercian monks arrived from Wales. They located their monastery very close to Minane Bridge and lived here for many years.
Their influence is still felt today. One of the stones from the old monastery can be seen as you walk into the church at Minane Bridge today. To celebrate the occasion a special Mass was organised in Minane Bridge and the main celebrant was Bishop Fintan Gavin. Lots of planning went into the event by Tracton Abbey Parish Council. It was a lovely occasion and after Mass there was refreshments for everyone.
Tracton Abbey Parish is famous for its good land, its coastline with beautiful sea views and some of Cork’s well-known beaches such as Fountainstown, Robert’s Cove and Rocky Bay. Most importantly it has a lovely vibrant community, with a great community spirit and where you will find a welcome for everyone. Agriculture is of course the backbone of this rural parish.
Even though the Cistercian monks are long gone, it is good to remember their presence in Tracton. We can still learn so much from the life they lived. Our busy and modern world needs some of the basic principles they lived each day: prayer, work, study, hospitality and renewal. For the monks having balance was the key to happiness and to having a deep sense of meaning and purpose in life.
In the world we live in today, we are out of balance. Our lives are so busy today, there is little time for quiet prayer, for reflection, for reading a book, for a quiet walk, for relaxing mindfully and so on. It is all about finding the balance.
We congratulate Tracton Parish this week. We congratulate a close community, who are remembering an important part of their history, while also looking forward in hope. For all of us, we try our best to find balance in everything we do in life.
