Pyrenean fauna from the perspective of the Pyrenean chamois

"What is that noise? Who is coming up the path? Just when I was settling down to a nice quiet graze....

If it's that noisy marmot family making all the racket I'm going to "accidentally" kick some dirt into the burrow.....seems like there's always another one poking his or head out. They get on my nerves so; all that loud whistling. Worse than sailors in a port, or so Grandpa Chamois says (but how would he know?)

Wait, that's no marmot family. Just heard a loud "clunk". Must have been that pesky Lammergeier, always dropping bones from the sky. Almost hit me in the head once, the inconsiderate bird. And that silly little tuft of hair under its beak... so uncouth.

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Nah, can't be that bearded dummy. Too much noise now, too much huffing and puffing. Perhaps it's a brown bear. I've never seen one but I hear tell there are a few in these hills. Grandpa says they were all gone, and then someone got the bright idea to move some in from a place called Slovenia. Where the heck is that? They should have left good enough alone -- us grass eaters don't need to have some big old brown fuzzball leaving their muddy paw prints everywhere.

Wait, I see something now. It's a line of humans snaking up the hill!! What the heck are they doing up way up here. They are all men, and that huffing and puffing, well, no wonder, they all look a bit long in the tooth. All old enough to be Grandpas, the bunch of them I bet. No wonder why there was so much wheezing. And that clunk -- must have been one of them fell over. Wonder whether they left him behind. No matter, the Griffon vultures will clean up....

Scott Fertig, Fauna Correspondent.

Beauty! Natural beauty! By Fr Bernard

Monte Perdido or bust!

Have you woken up recently with nightmares about not being able to squeeze all your Lions’ gear into RyanAir luggage regulations without a mega-penalty? Are you tempted to pull out of the Pyrenees and just join Tim in the next London triathlon? If so, read on: this is just the extra encouragement you need.

What’s the point of going to Torreciudad and Barbastro, to Alquézar, Posets, Ordesa, or Benasque – to name but a few of the Lions’ favourite haunts? Beauty! Natural beauty! – that’s the answer. And beauty inspires; it opens new horizons. It can help us grow.

One of the features of our 21st century western culture is that we are constantly enticed by the media and advertising to think no further than our feelings. “What do you fancy? – Well, we can offer you exactly that!” Following fancy – feelings and instinct – is all very well for wild lions: keeps the antelope population from getting out of control… But unless the human person looks outside himself, then his behaviour too becomes rather animal-like. This is one of the constant themes in the teaching of Pope Benedict, and in Pope John Paul before him. If we lapse into relativism, not seeking the truth – ultimately an absolute, Truth – and if we do not allow ourselves to be guided by that truth, then we’re up a gum-tree! (Antonio: I notice gum-tree climbing is not yet on the schedule…) Without the absolute, democracy descends into totalitarian dictatorship.

Now in spite of efforts by some artists to convince us otherwise, beauty is in fact a quality which is real and out there. It is not simply a passing fashion or merely invented by us humans. Beauty is a transcendent quality, and is in some way related to truth. (Footnote: As an example, when a mathematician discovers an elegant proof, he is more likely to be satisfied that the reasoning is true.) In fact beauty, like truth, is part of the image of God that rational beings are able to grasp.

Some years ago I came across a book by the German philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand. In it he poses the question of whether it’s possible to develop a Christian ethics without mentioning God, the supreme Being. In other words, could atheistic principles by themselves lead to Christian standards of behaviour (forgetfulness of self, generosity, etc) or are they ultimately limited to begetting utilitarian schemes (what’s good for me)? He concludes that beauty is the quality that most effectively helps towards rescuing the atheist from being trapped in himself.

So when Lions look beyond swimming in the Thames (although I suppose even that could have it’s own sort of attraction…) to admire the canyons of Guara, it is coherent with their aspiration of reaching higher as persons. For all Lions, Christian or not, believers or not, a few days immersed in natural beauty is an opportunity become better persons.

However, this improvement is not automatic. Human freedom needs to be enlisted too. Beauty in itself may be real and uplifting, but you and I will only grow in practice if we seek to make use of the occasion and help one another in this endeavour. Thus our efforts to have a true spirit of service, to put the others first, to overcome the temptation to make a negative comment when something is not quite how we like it… – all these are indispensable.

And the spiritual dimension? We humans left to ourselves have but feeble resources. But what strength is available when we remember that God is close to us and loves each one of us madly, and when we invoke his help!

All in all, the Lions’ trip is a great opportunity to make effective resolutions of acquiring virtues (good habits) – inspired by beauty, helped by good companions and aspiring to Truth.

Fr Bernard, Religion Correspondent.

A Missionary in Africa - Contribution from Fergus.

A missionary was sent to darkest Africa to convert the natives. It was his first visit to the jungle. He was warned in advance by his more experienced colleagues about the possibility of encountering dangerous Lions. Thus, avoiding Lions, dangerous or otherwise, became his obsession. One morning, shortly after arriving in the jungle, and while on his own, he saw a big Lion approach him through the trees . The Lion looked really muscular and powerful. Not unnaturally, the missionary began to perspire because he was deeply afraid. Immediately, he thought of asking God for help. So, he began to pray with great intensity. His prayer went like this: “Please, God, infuse this Lion with Christian sentiments”! No sooner had the missionary finished praying than he saw that the Lion had gone down on his knees and was also looking up to heaven. The missionary was surprised, so he got closer to the Lion. He could then hear the Lion say: “Bless us our Lord, for these thy gifts, which are of thy bounty, we are about to receive, through Christ our Lord. Amen”.

The moral of the story is that every Lion, whatever his condition, takes his task seriously!

Fergus Killoran, Africa Correspondent

Note: Fergus is not the author of the joke, he just found it interesting for us!!

Humor by Steven Jackson

Antonio's Message 2010

Dear Lions,

Alastair Caisley, one of the “founding Lions” reminded us a few months ago that, this year, we are embarking on the 10^th Lions Expedition. Certainly time appears to fly. Having spent so much time there over the years, we can say that we know the Pyrenees a little better and have even made a number of friends in those mountains and villages.

Last year was challenging on professional front: we relied on our families, friends and other Lions for encouragement and advice. Personally, I am grateful for the support I received during these testing times. For us men of faith, it is easier to cope with the various setbacks that life brings. Then, we go back into battle with the confidence that the One up there protects us and that our families and friends are support us.

Of course we are busy. It is the very nature of a Lion to be active. Three days away from one’s desk may be difficult if not impossible. In the knowledge that it is difficult, we are also aware of how much strength we obtain from these occasions, from that intense physical exercise and from the deep camaraderie. Thus, I for one feel considerable joy at the gathering of our brothers-in-arms at the foot of the Pyrenees.

Although physical training and fitness is taken for granted and not discussed while we are engaged in the “Triathlon of the Pyrenees” (canyoning, trekking and mountain biking), it is preferable to prepare by being as good a condition as possible. Do train before going!

As always, we count on the support of the families of the Lions before, during and after the Expedition; a sign of the times is that some Lions are considering bringing their sons on these expeditions. Soon, this will be a wonderful reality, thereby demonstrating our capacity for continuous development.

I finish these lines in the now customary manner: “Ave Caesar, murituri te salutam”

Best regards,

Sir Antonio Irastorza, (A Lion of the Pyrenees)