Category: Article

Blessed Augustine of Lucera, B.C.O.P.

Augustine was born into a wealthy family who provided him with an excellent education. At 18, he and an Italian friend headed to the Dominican novitiate in France. Near Pavia, Italy, they were attacked by enemies of his family, who left the bodies of the two boys in the snow by the side of the road. Augustine was badly injured; his friend died. When he recovered from his injuries, Augustine continued to the novitiate. Augustine spent most of his life battling heresy: In his native Dalmatia, he fought the Manichæen heresy; in Sicily, Islam; in Hungary both. In every situation in which he found himself, Augustine gave proof of his virtue and good judgment. When Cardinal Boccasini came to Hungary as legate, he noted the wisdom and tact of his brother Dominican, and when he himself ascended the papal throne as Benedict XI, he appointed Augustine bishop of Zagreb in Croatia in 1303.

This diocese was in chaos when Augustine assumed the cathedra. His three predecessors had all tried, but failed, to repair the ravages of heresy, plague, and schism. The new bishop began by reforming the clergy. He finished building the cathedral and made a complete visitation of his diocese. His work was to bring him into violent conflict with the government, but, spiritually, he restored the entire see during his episcopacy.

Several charming miracles are related about Augustine. The river water of Zagreb was unfit to drink, so the Dominican fathers asked Augustine to pray for a new supply. At his prayer a fountain sprang up in the yard of the convent, abundantly supplying their needs. Another time he planted a tree in a little village and the leaves turned out to have healing properties. On one occasion, when Bishop Augustine was dining with Benedict XI, the pope, feeling that a missionary bishop must eat well to preach well, had a dish of partridge set before Augustine, who never ate meat. Because he did not want to offend the pope, he prayed for a resolution to the situation. The legend says that God turned the partridges into fish!

Augustine was transferred from Zagreb to Lucera (Nocera), Sicily. Here he continued his holy government, using his characteristic gentleness and his gift of healing. He promoted devotion to Saints Dominic, Thomas Aquinas, and Peter Martyr–all brother Dominicans. Feeling that he was near death, he returned to the Dominican convent in Nocera to die among his brethren. Under his statue in the cathedral of Nocera is the legend, “Sanctus Augustine Episcopus Lucerinus Ordinis Praedicatorum,” an indication of the veneration in which he is held.

Born: in Trau, Dalmatia, c. 1260-1262

Died: 1323

Beatified: cultus reconfirmed by Pope Clement XI in 1702

Babbling? ~ Fr. Terry Elkington

The Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9 is one of those Bible stories that we tend to learn as children and rarely revisit. We remember the unsuccessful effort of the people to build a tower to heaven so they could get to God. Perhaps we were even given the chance to color this tower or build one with Popsicle sticks and glue. The lesson I remember learning from this as a child is that God punished the tower builders by making life more difficult for them. What is your memory from your first hearing of the Tower of Babel?

I am very grateful for the spiritual discipline of daily Bible reading which gives me the opportunity to return to stories like the Tower of Babel and bring my adult sense to bear on its meaning. The lesson I draw from it now is different from my Sunday school days.

What I find now in Genesis is an endearing depiction of both people and God as we figure out how life in community is going to work.

When the story starts, all people share one language with the same words. The people set about building a city and conceive the idea of building a tower by which they will “make a name for” themselves. Their fear is, if they don’t do this, then they “shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth” (Genesis 11:4). However, this tower building provokes exactly that response from God.

Seeing the city and the tower, God concludes, “This is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible to them.” God’s solution to limiting possibility is to “confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech” and to scatter them abroad over the face of all the earth.

What are we to make of this encounter between God and us?

I find in the Tower of Babel an encouraging indication of how God holds together our unity and our diversity as God’s creation — God’s children. In order to keep us humble — that is, knowing that we are human beings and not God — God ends the period of one language. God then establishes within humanity the same diversity that was given to all creation in the opening chapters of Genesis, a wealth of variety that remains throughout Scripture.

In a nutshell – the key to humility is diversity. Wow!

Of course, God provides unity for human beings after restoring the covenant with us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit brings one understanding even as the people from different nations across the world continue to speak and hear their own language. Here is an amazing moment of both unity and diversity held together by God’s loving Spirit at work in us.

Of course, language is not the only thing that is different about people. We have come to understand that God has endowed human beings with diversity in race, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture and perspective. Future generations may discover other realms of diversity still not revealed to us. And the Holy Spirit gives us the means by which we find unity even as we delight, as God does, in such variety.

This is how the parable of the Tower of Babel informs my faith.

I look forward to hearing about how it informs yours.

 

Indifference ~ Br. Scott Brown

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.     Author unknown

This is a very important quote for many reasons. The author is unknown, but I have heard this many times in my life and it seems to pop up at very opportune times when things seem to be going downhill for me. The last few days I have been struggling with some demons in my mind that are apparently placed there by Satan to keep me confused and in doubt about my relationship with God. The details are not important, but the fact that they have had me doubting my status with the Lord is what is important. It seems that I have had doubts about God, doubts about my status with God and doubts about where I am in relation to God’s plan for me. Little things seem to bother me, unimportant things seem to get on my nerves, little noises and dogs barking seem to tick me off. I know these things are not important in the grand scheme of things, and they are placed there by the devil to put fear and doubt in my heart. Prayer is the answer – the only answer! Once I realized that the source of all this trouble was Satan I began to pray and it seems that the little things suddenly were not so important, and didn’t seem to bother me so much. Prayer is the answer to all of life’s dilemmas and tribulations; especially the small ones that seem to add up and compile on top of each other until you feel like you are just not able to dig out from under them. So what does the above quote have to do with all of this?

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. Be indifferent to the devil, pray about what is bothering you and he will leave you alone. Prayer is the strongest medicine against him, and he can’t fight back against prayer because the Lord takes your side every time you go to him in prayer. Resist the devil just as Jesus did as we see in Matthew 4:1-4 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  Jesus was able to resist Satan in the flesh face to face, so should we be able to resist daily temptations and thoughts placed in our heads by him. Prayer is your strongest weapon against Satan and the temptations and obstacles he places in front of us daily.

The opposite of art isn’t ugliness, it’s indifference. Prayer is an art in itself. Don’t be indifferent with your prayer – treat it as a form of art and miraculous things will happen. Think about what you want to talk to the Lord about and form your words carefully much like a painter carefully plans each brush stroke before he puts brush to canvas. Romans 12:2 tells us that prayer will transform our minds and reveal what is the will of God. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Just as the Lord guides the painters hand and brush he will guide you in your everyday life and take the burden of the little things away from you, giving you the strength to carry on past them.

The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. Don’t be indifferent with your faith, keep strong, keep firm, and stay steadfast with your faith and your beliefs. The devil will try to break your faith by throwing obstacles in your path but with prayer and strong faith the Lord will help you avoid the obstacles and give you the courage and strength to carry on with his work. Keep positive thoughts in your mind, pray steadfastly and diligently and the devil won’t be have room to plant evil thoughts or place doubt in your head. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that our prayers will be heard and answered.” And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Don’t sweat the little things, pray about them and the Lord will either resolve them for you or give you the strength and resources to resolve them yourself.

The opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference. Life is a gift from God that we should be thankful for every day of our lives. We should give thanks to the Lord every day when we wake up and live that day to serve the Lord and do his bidding. Indifference to life would be a form of spiritual death in that if we are indifferent to life, we are rejecting a gift from God. Accept the gift that God has given you and go about your life with a song in your heart and a smile on your face. People will know from your outward appearance that you are grateful for the gift of life and happy to do the Lords work with a song of thanksgiving in your heart.

This quote is not something you should have tattooed on your arm so that you see it every day of your life, but if that is what it takes to keep us happy, keep us in tune with the Lord, and keep us focused on the path that the Lord wants us to travel then by all means, go for it. Just remember that God has a plan for you, for your life, for your salvation, and for your soul eternal. Pray regularly, pray diligently, pray fervently and pray with a happy and open heart. The Lord will bless you by taking away your problems and troubles and replace them with joy and comfort.

New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today’s Church: A Review

New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today’s Church by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Monasticism conjures up images of monks quietly moving through dark monasteries, sequestered from the “real” world as they seek God’s will through meditation, prayer and communal living.

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove brings fresh perspective to the age-old concept of living in Christian community in “New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today’s Church”. Starting with a strong historical foundation, the author explores ancient concepts of community through an informative study of the early church at Antioch, as well as more contemporary figures in the monastic movement such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, St. Benedict, and Mother Teresa.

This book forced me to honestly examine the Bible’s radical ideas and how its teachings should impact my choices as a 21st Century American. Wilson-Hartgrove begins with the convincing concept, beginning with Genesis and moving through Biblical history, that God’s plan to save the world was not one person at a time, but through a people. From this premise, he boldly states, “If the Bible is a story about God’s plan to save the world through a people, then my salvation and sanctification depends on finding my true home with God’s people. Apart from the story of this people, I can’t have a relationship with God. Without the church, there is no chance of becoming holy.”

The focus of the book then shifts to an examination of the movement’s current marks of distinction including: sharing economic resources; geographical proximity to other community members; peacemaking; and the active pursuit of “just reconciliation”. While Wilson-Hartgrove shares intimate details of his own monastic experiences and gives an abundance of examples of practical community living from other groups, he wisely avoids prescribing a specific formula for an ascetic, communal-driven lifestyle. Instead, he challenges his readers to shift their own ways of thinking, and allows them to imagine life from a Kingdom perspective. The author writes beautifully of his experiences with relocation, Earth’s scarcity versus God’s abundance, what it means to be a peacemaker in our war-ravaged culture, and how to live with others in a “culture of grace and truth.”

This small, easily read book, covers a lot of ground, delving into the heart of Jesus’ mission to live in relationship with others. When you pick up “New Monasticism”, be prepared to have your old ways of thinking challenged and re-worked, for you may find yourself wondering how to become a more integral part of God’s “peculiar people”.

Meditation on Psalm 116 ~ Br. Scott Brown, Postulant

Psalms 116:1-8 (ESV)

I love the Lord, because he has heard

my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2 Because he inclined his ear to me,

therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me;

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

I suffered distress and anguish.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserves the simple;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling;

This Psalm is one of the Psalms that Jesus and His 12 disciples sang during the Passover meal. It was sung following the eating of the Passover lamb. The author of this Psalm (possibly David) describes his deliverance from a near death experience. As a result of God’s rescue he breaks forth with the phrase “I love the LORD”. He is expressing his thanksgiving for God’s response to his call. He paints a picture of God’s gracious character and righteous purposes. He shuns self-reliance and invites total trust in God.

We don’t typically face near death experiences in our daily lives, but we do face daily trials and tribulations, stumbling blocks, road blocks, and hurdles. We should give thanks to God every day for helping us overcome these obstacles in our lives, for keeping us safe from harm when that person cuts us off in traffic, or that person on the phone runs a light that was obviously red but they just weren’t paying attention.  Because God listens to us, we should call on him in every aspect of our daily lives, when that one co-worker gets on your nerves, or the boss is being a real jerk for some reason. We should keep this Psalm in mind and know that God listens to us, cares for us, loves us, wants us to be happy people, and will give us the strength to get through whatever trial or tribulation is troubling us.

Later in this Psalm we hear the author say that the Lord preserves (protects) the simple, and when he was brought low, god saved him. God saves us every day of our lives. Each day that we are given is a gift from God. A gift that we don’t deserve, that we are not really worthy of receiving, a gift that God bestows on us out of his love for us and his abundant graciousness. Enjoy each day, thank the Lord for what we receive and what he has given us, don’t moan and complain about what we don’t have and what we think we are missing in our lives.

In verse 8 the author says that God has delivered his soul from death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from stumbling. God will lift us up and carry us through the trials and tribulations of our daily lives if we ask him for help and guidance. He supports us and keeps us from stumbling, he picks us up and dusts us off when we do fall, he heals our wounds, scrapes and bruises, he puts a Band-Aid on the wounds that are bleeding, dries the tears from our eyes and send us on our way to serve him again. We can not fail in the eyes of the Lord unless we refuse to accept him and his love for us. So the next time you fall or stumble, remember that God loves you, God protects you, God keeps you wrapped in his arms for comfort and safety. He will not fail you, and all he asks of you is your love.

THE PRIESTHOOD by REV. WILHELM STOCKUMS, D.D. ~ A Review by Fr. Terry Elkington

The Priesthood  by The Rev. Wilhelm Stockums, D.D. was  very informative.  As a former Roman Catholic and now a progressive Catholic I have had the great opportunity to explore, learn and examine the basic principals of the priesthood.  While this book is written specifically for the male Roman Catholic, there is much wisdom in its pages, and anyone who is considering the priesthood in the ISM should certainly read it.

“What is the Catholic priesthood?” Stockums asks.  He then answers his own question:   The Catholic priesthood is that institution which is absolutely necessary for Christianity. The Catholic priesthood is absolutely necessary for the Church. Without it there would be no Christianity left on earth. Remove the priesthood and you remove the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist from the world. Without the priesthood you remove the sacrifice of the Mass, Holy Communion, the sacrament of anointing of the Sick, and the sacrament of reconciliation so needed by a sinful world. Remove the priesthood and you take away the divinely assured teaching of God’s revealed Truth from the universe. In a word, without the priesthood, Christianity would be a memory but no longer a reality. It would cease to exist on earth.

Rev. Stockums reveals how the priest has a special kind of service to the faithful as the preacher of the Word, as the one who celebrates the sacraments and also, perhaps in a more hidden way, in his day-to-day actions: the quiet way he lives his own Christian life, for example, by being kind, loving and charitable. In all this he serves the faithful, and so serves God and the Church by being a servant leader. We see that role of service clearly when we consider that priests in the Catholic Church are first ordained as deacons. The word deacon, as most of us know, comes from the Greek word diakonos, which means “servant.” Service is a key element of priesthood.

Becoming a Catholic priest is a serious decision. Rev. Stockums gives us a general background on preparation:   Pray about your vocation. Take any feelings or advice that have led you to consider the priesthood and give them to God, then wait patiently and openly for a response.  Realize that everyone has a vocation and if a person is truly open to theirs, God will reveal it to him or her.

As one of the most recently ordained members of the priesthood of the OCACNA, I feel humbled by the task of expressing my understanding of the priest today. I have thus far been privileged to work with and learn from other priests in my area. At the foundation and source of a priest’s life and ministry is his grounding in personal prayer. I remember a priest who once said to me, not long after my ordination, that you need two balancing factors in your life – prayer and close friends .He said that you could remain a priest without friends, but you might go insane. On the other hand though, without prayer you will not survive as a priest!
We are called upon to pray often, at various occasions, and usually with little or no time to prepare. Such ability should flow naturally, confidently and sincerely from a priest’s own prayer life. With a heartfelt desire to deepen in relationship with Christ through prayer, a priest is then better equipped to pray with and for people, particularly the sick and dying. I have found I am better equipped to celebrate the sacraments with passion and solemnity, guide people in their spiritual lives, and foster communities of faith, fellowship and fidelity. The priest’s prayer life must have at its centre the Scriptures and an intimacy with the Lord. All of which Rev. Stockums explains as the essential keystone to a priest’s life and work, he then is able to fulfil two other dimensions of his role. As a person of private prayer, the priest is then able to lead others in their lives of prayer and discernment. A priest is called to be open to the Spirit of God, and help others discern the movement of this Spirit in their lives.
So many people in our society are yearning for something deeper, something real and true, something authentic and transformative. Rev.Stockums touches on the fact that we are surrounded by a world that values what we can achieve and experience here and now, with greed and self-interest at its heart.
However his book allows me to understand what I as a priest represents and embodies a way of life and view of the world that is counter-cultural, Christ centered and a life-giving challenge to relativism, individualism, secularism and materialism. Not only does he lead others by the example of his life and the energy of his preaching, but he walks with them in their life’s journey, accompanying their highs and lows.

Ultimately though,we are one man not a messiah, with personal limitations, growing responsibilities and challenges. Sometimes amidst the stress and demands of ministry, a priest’s focus or energy for prayer or pastoring may waiver. Rev. Stockums engages us in his own experience, with a life that requires a conscientious balancing between the ‘doing’ and ‘being’ of pastoral ministry.

From the simple calling by God, through personal and spiritual development this book as outlined by Rev. Stockums, approaches the priesthood with a positive embrace.  I found some of the antiquated Latin references to be somewhat of a struggle, but as I continued to read the definitions became clear. By all means write down these phrases and attempt to learn them in the modern sense. In closing the purpose of “The Priesthood” is to not only make us think of the priesthood, but to appreciate and love the journey we are taking as ministers of God. I think sharing ones thoughts on this book from different points of views can only shed light on our diverse community.

 

A Word About Christmas Decorations ~ Rev. Br. Terry Elkington, OPr

For this Advent Season let us explore and understand the meaning of the Christmas Tree.  Although I have no reference as to when this story came about. I feel all of us from adults to children will understand it.

The History of the Christmas Tree According to tradition:

The Christmas Tree originated in Riga, Latvia. The Christmas legend says that a monk named Boniface used its triangular shape to to explain the trinity – that God was Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  From that point on, the Germans call the tree “God’s Tree.” By the 16th century they Western Germany in the 16th century, they were used in plays to represent the tree in the garden with Adam and Eve and were decorated with apples. They were called “Paradeisbaum” (Paradise Trees) and were soon brought into homes and still decorated with apples and other fruits to celebrate Christmas. Later, dates, pretzels, and nuts were also used to decorate the tree.  The evergreen was recognised as a symbol of eternal life. Soon candles were soon added the evergreen branches to represent the stars and that Jesus was the light of the world. Besides apples and other fruits, tradition says they also added Communion wafers wrapped in gold and silver foil that represented the fact that Jesus came into the world to save it, that like the communion bread, his body would be broken to save us from sin. Later the wafers were

replaced with cookies cut into the shapes of bells, angels, stars, and hearts.

Gold Christmas Bulb

The Gold Christmas bulb reminds us of Heaven which is filled with the glory of God. The Bible tells us that in Heaven, the streets of the city are pure, clear gold-like glass  (Rev.21:21). God wants you to be with Him in Heaven someday.

Red Christmas Bulb

Red Christmas Bulb The Red Christmas Bulb shows the way God made for you to have your sins forgiven-taken away. God loves you. He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven to take the punishment for your sin (John 3:16). Jesus came into the world to save us from punishment for sin. He is called our Savior! “…the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

White Christmas Bulb

The white Christmas bulb reminds us that you can be made clean from sin. When we sin, we can tell god about our sin, and ask forgiveness and when we do his blood washes away our sin and makes us white as snow! (I John 1:9).

The Green Christmas Tree

The green Christmas tree reminds us of the new life, everlasting life, we can receive from God.  The Bible tells us to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

The Blue Christmas Bulb

The blue bulb is the same as water. Jesus, to show he was giving his life to God was baptized in water.Christmas Lights

Jesus was born as a light of the world. He came to bring us out of darkness and into the light. Do you want to walk in the light of Jesus this Christmas?

A Silver or Gold Star

You can add a star at the top of the Christmas tree as a reminder that the wisemen followed the star looking for Jesus. Will you seek Jesus this Christmas?

Now as you look upon a Christmas tree you will appreciate what you see .

Blessed Simon Ballachi

Blessed Simon Ballachi was born to the nobility in 1240, the son of Count Ballachi. His family had a close association with the Church clergy; two of his uncles became archbishops of Rimini, Italy, and a younger brother was a priest. Trained as a soldier and in administration, he was expected to take over the family estates. Against his family wishes, he joined the Dominicans as a lay brother at age 27.

Assigned to work in the garden of his friary, something he knew nothing about but which he loved instantly. He saw God in everything, and prayed constantly as he worked. Noted for his simple life, his strict adherence to the Dominican Rule, and his excellent work as a catechist to children. A visionary, Simon was visited by the devil, by Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Dominic de Guzman, Saint Peter Martyr, and the Blessed Virgin Mary; other brothers saw his cell glowing, and heard angelic voices. Blinded at age 57, he was nearly helpless during the last years of his life; he never despaired, and used the extra free time for prayer.  He died on 5 November in 1391.

Blessed Benvenuta Bojani, V.O.P.

Memorial Day: October 30th

Benvenuta was the last of seven daughters. Her parents, too, must have been amazing people in comparison with so many in our time. When the silence of the midwife proclaimed that her father had been disappointed once again in his desire for a son, he exclaimed, “She too shall be welcome!” Remembering this she was christened by her parents Benvenuta (“welcome”), although they had asked for a son. A vain older sister unsuccessfully tried to teach the pious little Benvenuta to dress in rich clothing and use the deceits of society. Benvenuta hid from such temptations in the church where she developed a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin. By the age of 12, Benvenuta was wearing hairshirts and a rope girdle. As she grew the rope became embedded in her flesh. When she realized the rope must be removed, she couldn’t get it off, so she prayed and it fell to her feet. For this reason she is often pictured in art holding a length of rope in her hands.

Having become a Dominican tertiary at an early age, she added the penances practiced by the sisters to those she had appropriated for herself. All her disciplines, fasting, and lack of sleep soon caused her health to fail and she was confined to bed for five years. Thereafter, she was too weak to walk, so a kind older sibling carried her to church once a week for Compline (Night Prayer) in the Dominican church, her favorite liturgy after the Mass.

After evening prayer on the Vigil of the Feast of Saint Dominic, Dominic and Saint Peter Martyr appeared to Benvenuta. Dominic had a surprise for her. The prior was absent at the Salve procession, but at the beginning of Compline she saw Dominic in the prior’s place. He passed from brother to brother giving the kiss of peace, then went to his own altar and disappeared. At the Salve procession, the Blessed Virgin herself came down the aisle, blessing the fathers while holding the Infant Jesus in her arms.

Benvenuta spent her whole life at home in Cividale busy with her domestic duties, praying, and working miracles. She was often attacked by the devil, who sometimes left her close to discouragement and exhaustion. When someone protested against the death of a promising young child, Benvenuta commented, “It is much better to be young in paradise than to be old in hell.” The devil often appeared to her in horrifying forms but was banished when Benvenuta called upon the Virgin.

Benvenuta’s companions called her “the sweetest and most spiritual of contemplatives, so lovable in her holiness that her touch and presence inspired gladness and drove away temptations.” This is amazing in light of the severe penances that she imposed upon herself–and another sign of blessedness that she didn’t judge others by her standards for herself (Benedictines, Dorcy).

Born: May 4, 1254 at Cividale, Friuli, Italy

Died: October 30, 1292 at Cividale, Friuli, Italy of natural causes

Beatified: February 6, 1763 by Pope Clement XIV (cultus confirmed)

Name Meaning: welcome (from her father’s statement at her birth: “She too shall be welcome!”)

Representation: holding a length of rope