Elaine and Francis: A More Succinct Announcement

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A More Succinct Announcement

Dear Friends,

One among you who admitted to feeling “overwhelmed” by all the information in my email, “Invitation,” asked me:

Are you going to send out another more succinct email about this event?

I’m so grateful she told me this! When I sent out that overly detailed email, the Maine Jung Center hadn’t yet posted this, but here it is now, straight from their website, in good time for you to save the date.

Loving regards to all,

Elaine

http://www.mainejungcenter.org/index.php/programs

Aspiring to Live Authentically
Elaine McGillicuddy
Sunday, February 23
2—4 p.m.
Portland Friends Meetinghouse
1837 Forest Ave, Portland ME

Elaine will share both her journey through grief since the death of her priest-husband, Francis, and the providential way that writing her
poems and telling their love story restored her will to live and gave her a new purpose in life. Besides relating how becoming a published poet and writer became a healing experience for her, Elaine will read
selections from her books. Participants will also be invited to sample a few energizing yoga stretches and savor a few lines of the soul-satisfying Lord’s Prayer chanted in Aramaic.

Elaine G. McGillicuddy, MA, poet and writer, is a former nun who married a resigned priest. She is a retired English teacher, certified Iyengar yoga teacher who co-founded Portland Yoga Studio, and a leader of the Dances of Universal Peace. She is now writing her third book, Sing to Me and I Will Hear You–The Uncollected Poems and Journals. The titles of this and her other books are drawn from her husband Francis’ words to her before he died.

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Psalm 139 Psaume 139

Psalm 139 Psaume 139

Elaine McGillicuddy's literal English translation of the French translation in La Bible de Jerusalem *

Adonai** you probe me and know me. Yahve tu me sondes et me connais;

Whether I rise or sit, you know it. que je me leve ou m'assoie, tu le sais,

You penetrate my thoughts from afar tu perces de loin mes penses;

Whether I walk or lie down, you sense it. que je marche ou me couche, tu le sens,

My paths are all familiar to you. mes chemins te sont tous familiers.

The word is not even yet on my tongue, La parole n'est pas encore sur ma langue,

and look, you know it in its entirety! et voici, Yahve, tu la sais toute entiere;

Behind and before me, you encompass me derriere et devant tu m'enserres,

You have put your hand on me. tu as mis sur moi ta main.

Marvel of learning which surpasses me! Merveille de science qui me depasse,

Height which I cannot reach! hauteur ou je ne puis atteindre.

Where could I go far from your spirit? Ou irai-je loin de ton esprit?

Where could I flee far from your face? ou fuirai-je loin de ta face?

If I climb the heavens, you are there! Si j'escalade les cieux, tu es la,

Of if I lie in Sheol, -- there you are! qu'au sheol je me couche, te voici.

I take the wings of sunrise Je prends les ailes de l'aurore,

I take lodging at the farthest end of the sea je me loge au plus loin de la mer,

Even there your hand guides me meme la, ta main me conduit,

your right hand seizes me ta droite me saisit.

I will say, -- 'Let darkness hem me in. Je dirai: "Que me presse la tenebre,

Let night be for me an enclosure." que la nuit soit pour moi une ceinture";

Even darkenss is not darkness before you. meme la tenebre n'est point tenebre devant toi

It's you who moulded my inmost being, C'est toi qui m'as forme les reins,

who wove me in my mother's womb. qui m'as tise au ventre de ma mere;

I give you thanks for so many marvels, je te rends grace pour tant de prodiges:

the wonder which I am, merveille que je suis, merveille que tes oeuvres.

the wonder of your works.

My soul, you knew it well. Mon ame, tu la connaissais bien,

My bones were not hidden from you mes os n'etaient point caches de toi,

when I was formed in secret, quand je fus faconne dans le secret,

mbroidered in the profundity of the earth. brode au profond de la terre.

My embryo, your eyes saw it. Mon embryon, tes yeux le voyaient;

In your book they are all inscribed, sur ton livre, ils sont tous inscrits

-- the days which have been determined, les jours qui ont ete fixes,

and each one of them matters. et chacun d'eux y figure.

But for me, how difficult your thoughts! Mais pour moi, que tes pensees sont difficiles,

I count them. They exceed the sand. Je les compte, il en est plus que sable;

Should I finish, I am still with you. ai-je fini, je suis encore avec toi.

Last three verses omitted.

* Unfortunately our computer does not have diacritical marks as French would require.

** Like the The Inclusive Psalms, Priests for Equality, Brentwood, Maryland, 1997 I'm using Adonai instead of "Yahve."

The Inclusive Psalm translation is also excellent.

ARAMAIC Peshitta Text of the LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9-13

In phonetics, in Aramaic and in English
1. AH BWOON DE BA SH M A YA
Abwoon d'bashmaya
O Breathing Life of all

2. NET KA DASH SH M OCK
Nethquadash shmakh
Holy be your name.

3. TEE TAY MAL KU TAH
Teete malkutakh
Come your kingdom.

4. NEH WAY TIEV YA NAH AYE KA NA DE BASH MA YA AF B AR HA
Nehvwey Tzevyanakh aykanna d'bashmaya aph b'arha
Let your desire be as in the universe, so also on earth.

5. HAV LAN LACH MA DAY SOON KE NAN YEOW MA NA
Havan lachma d'sunqanan yaomana
Give us bread for our needs from day to day.

6. OOAHSH BOO KLAN HA OO B VAINE WAK TA HAINE
AYE KA NA DUFF HUH NAN SHVO KAN L HI YA BAINE (above)
Washbwoqlan haubvayn wakhtahayn aykana daph hnan shbvoqan l'hayyabayn
Loosen the cords of mistakes binding us as we release the strands we hold of others' faults.

7. WAY LA TACH LAN LAY NES YUNA AYE LA PAT ZAN MIN BEE SHA
Wela tahlan l'nesyuna Ela patzan min bisha
Don't let us enter forgetfulness, but give us liberty from unripeness

8. MA TOOL D LUCK AYE MAL KU TAH WA HAY LA WA TESH BUCH TAH
Metul dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta
For yours is the kindom, the life-force and the glory,

9. LA H LAM AL MEAN AH MAINE
L'ahlam almin ameyn
From all ages throughout all ages, amen.

From Prayers of the Cosmos by Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz and
Setting a Trap for God, The Aramaic Prayer of Jesus by Rocco A. Errico