|
| |
by the Rev. Paul Woodrum
At the 1985 General Convention in
Anaheim, CA, at the suggestion of Howard Galley, Integrity/New York, the
Standing Liturgical Commission recommended Aelred, along with a number of others, for
inclusion in Lesser Feasts and Fasts. When this resolution came before the House of
Bishops, the preconversion Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong informed the house that, according
to John Boswell, Aelred of Rievaulx had been gay--implying this might disqualify his
inclusion.
With little discussion the House of Bishops approved the others on
the list but sent Aelred back to the commission which sent him back to the House of
Bishops where, in spite of his being gay, and with the bishops' full knowledge that he
was, he was admitted to the calendar.
That this was the first person openly acknowledged to be gay to be
formally admitted into ECUSA's liturgical calendar engaged my sense of irony and inspired
my resolution submitted to the 1987 St. Louis, national convention of Integrity, Inc.:
"Whereas the Episcopal Church USA meeting in General
Convention in Anaheim, California, in 1985, with full knowledge, thanks to the vigilance
of the bishop of Newark, of St. Aelred's homoerotic orientation, did approve for annual
commemoration in her liturgical calendar the Feast of St. Aelred on 12 January and did
provide propers for the same, Therefore be it resolved that Integrity Inc. place itself
under the protection and patronage of St. Aelred of Rievaulx and, be it further resolved
that Integrity, Inc. dedicate itself to regularly observe his feast, promote his
veneration and seek before the heavenly throne of grace the support of his prayers on
behalf of justice and acceptance for lesbians and gay men."
January is the month in which we celebrate the Feast of Aelred, the
patron saint of Integrity, and so it seemed appropriate to include a brief biography of
the fellow.
He seems, at first, an odd choice for patron. He was a celibate, a
monk in the Cistercian order living in Rievaulx, England. He entered the order in 1134 at
the age of 24; in 1147 he became abbot of Rievaulx until his death 20 years later. In his
Rule of Life for a Recluse, written for an unnamed hermitess, he warns in strident tones
about safeguarding her virginity from defilement either with men or with women. He never
felt his own sexuality was entirely in his control, either. As novice-master, responsible
for the training of impressionable young men, he found it necessary to build a concealed
tank in which he could immerse himself in icy waters to bridle his physical passions. Even
in his final days, sick and aged, he felt his celibacy was in need of vigilant protection.
But Aelred had, more than any other saint I know, a deep
appreciation for friendship, and by that is meant the particular love between two
individuals. Our tradition teaches us much about universal charity, the love of all
humankind. We hear far less about the worthy love between two people, as exemplified by
the love between Naomi and Ruth, or between Jesus and John, the "beloved
disciple."
Of all the gifts Aelred has given the Church, the one most uniquely
his is the joyous affirmation that we move toward God in and through our relationships
with other people, not apart from or in spite of them. It is important, too, to remember
who those particular individuals were, whose love taught Aelred of the love of God. Aelred
himself speaks of losing his heart to one boy and then another during his school days. He
was a man of strong passions, who spoke openly of the men for whom he had deeply romantic
attachments. After the death of one monk whom he clearly loved, he wrote:
The only one who would not be astonished to see Aelred living
without Simon would be someone who did not know how pleasant it was for us to spend our
life on earth together; how great a joy it would have been for us to journey to heaven in
each other's company . . . .Weep, then, not because Simon has been taken up to heaven, but
because Aelred has been left on earth, alone.
The friendship Aelred so eloquently described he sums up in this
passage:
It is no small consolation in this life to have someone you can
unite with you in an intimate affection and the embrace of a holy love, someone in whom
your spirit can rest, to whom you can pour out your soul, to whose pleasant exchanges, as
to soothing songs, you can fly in sorrow... with whose spiritual kisses, as with remedial
salves, you may draw out all the weariness of your restless anxieties. A man who can shed
tears with you in your worries, be happy with you when things go well, search out with you
the answers to your problems, whom with the ties of charity you can lead into the depths
of your heart; . . . where the sweetness of the Spirit flows between you, where you so
join yourself and cleave to him that soul mingles with soul and two become one.
With grateful acknowledgement to
Aelred of Rievaulx, by
A. Squire, and a sermon on "Friendship" by Mr. Raymond Maher, delivered to
Integrity/New York on Jan. 14, 1988.
Copyright 1992 Integrity/El Camino Real
1110:
Born Hexham, England.
1130: Steward, Court of King David (son of St. Margaret) of
Scotland.
1134: Entered Cistercian Order at
Rievaulx, England.
1142: Novice Master at
Rievaulx.
1143: Abbot of Revesby, daughter house of
Rievaulx.
1147: Abbot of Rievaulx.
1167: January 12, died at
Rievaulx.
1476: Feast promulgated by Cistercian Order.
1985: Feast accepted for observance as a Black Letter Day by
the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, U.S.A.
1987: Adopted as Patron Saint of Integrity, Inc.
Collect
Pour into our hearts, 0 God, the Holy Spirit's gift of love, that
we, clasping each the other's hand, may share the joy of friendship, human and divine, and
with your servant Aelred draw many into your community of love; through Jesus Christ the
Righteous, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
Readings
Old Testament: II Samuel 1:17a, 19 (20-22), 23-27 or
Ruth 1:8, 14b-17
Psalm: 36:5-10 or 145:8-13
Epistle: Philippians 2:1-4
Alleluia Verse: Psalm 25:9,13
Gospel: John 15:9-17 or Mark 12:28-34a
For use as 2nd stanza with Hymn 231, King's Lynn, or Hymn 232,
Nyland, (The Hymnal 1982).
All praise for Abbot Aelred, our Patron Saint and gay, who found
through joyful friendship, the path to Jesus lay. Like Aelred, may we mirror love, human
and divine; and, clasping hands together, God's blest communion find.
by L. Paul Woodrum, 1987
Sweet Lord, release wisdom from the seat of your greatness that it
may be with us, toil with us, work with us, speak in us; may it, according to your good
pleasure, direct our thoughts, words, and all our works and counsels, to the honor of your
Name, the profit of the community, and our salvation; through our friend Jesus Christ, to
whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
Adapted from St. Aelred's Pastoral Prayer by L. Paul
Woodrum
| |
Join! Renew!
Donate
Click here to read the
latest news on our blog!
Join
the Integrity USA group on
Integrity is a proud affiliate of
The
Institute for Welcoming Resources
Visitor statistics tracked by
www.google.com/
analytics
|
