Arches: a symbol of how combined weakness can become strength
By Sr Susan Richert, PBVM
Religious Life is primarily about the quest for God – through prayer and through ministry to God’s people. It’s just that sometimes (a lot of times really), we’ve emphasised the actual ministry rather than prayer and relationship. But in these days – as many of us retire from our main ministry, the realisation is growing that what we are about is – the quest for God. These days, we are experiencing more and more our vulnerability. Not a bad thing – after all, as St. Paul says – God’s power is made manifest in weakness. So, we still have a lot to be and do.
Whitby Abbey
While on retreat, I learnt an amazing fact about arches! Have you ever noticed that often, when going around ruins of Cathedrals – and indeed some castles, what is still left standing are the arch windows. This picture is from what is left of Whitby Abbey – an important Abbey because St. Hilda (c. 600s) was Abbess of a monastery for both women and men and this was one of the most important centres in Anglo-Saxon times. A centre of learning and the place where a SYNOD was held in 664 - which determined the future of Christianity in England. Bede, in his history of England, says that in her monastery – justice, piety, chastity, peace and charity reigned and five of the monks became Bishops.
Leonardi da Vinci pointed out that :
“An arch is nothing else than a force originated by two weakness, for the arch in buildings is composed of two segments of a circle, each of which being very weak in itself tends to fall; but as each opposes this tendency in the other, the two weaknesses combine to form one strength.”
Here’s the lesson in the learning – if we combine our weaknesses, they will become our strength. What is more – it may well be that is the legacy we will leave behind – as has Whitby, Glastonbury, Lindisfarne and many other Abbeys – they left the legacy of prayer, learning and virtues
It got me to thinking about Mary and Elizabeth. Mary a young girl, very vulnerable; the other an elderly lady also very vulnerable. They came together and because they came together they created an arch through which we see the prophet and the Messiah. What if Mary hadn’t Elizabeth to go to or Elizabeth hadn’t Mary to share with? Was it just to help Elizabeth that Mary set off from Nazareth to Ein Karem – or was it more a question of sharing what she had been told and what is this all about? Who is this God? The same could well be true for Elizabeth who had more experience of God since she had lived longer – yet, for her too, who does she share with? Who does she explore with the quest for who this God is? The mighty who does great things for little ones.
There are other “twos” – for example, Moses and Aaron; Ruth and Naomi, Peter and Paul.
It also leads to realising the importance of community. The importance that the foundress of the Presentation Sisters, Nano Nagle, saw of ensuring she shared with others her dream - that of herself would not have been fulfilled. The dream - to bring the children and people of Cork to know and love God. She also had her eye further afield: “if I could be of service in saving souls in any part of the world, I would willingly do all in my power.” She mainly used education to fulfil her quest of bringing God to them. To do this, she needed another; she needed others. We need each other. What is God asking us to do together that we could do alone but perhaps won’t stay “standing”?
What can I see through the arch that is still “standing” because it was “built” together? For me, the answer is - the place from where shall come my help……” Ps.121:1
and the one who created these stars (Is.40:26) , the treasure stored up in heaven.
An arch focuses one’s view – and for me that view is of God and how we are companions of empowerment.