Group Member Jane Critten explains more:

Lectio Divina: ‘What?’ ‘So what?’ & ‘Now what?’

What?

The term ‘lectio divina’ simply refers to the time-honoured method – practised by monastics since their beginning – of prayerfully reading the scriptures.

Whilst understanding scripture – as theology, literature and history – is important, lectio divina is not as concerned with exegesis as it is with learning to listen in the context of prayer to what scripture has to say to us and to respond prayerfully to what we hear.  As Pope Paul VI wrote so eloquently,

‘Prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for “we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying”.’[1]

To practice lectio divina, we need to set some time apart for this prayer and establish external and internal peace.  Then, asking the help of the Holy Spirit, we begin the first stage:  we read our passage of scripture.  At this stage, lectio, what concerns us is what the passage is saying of itself.  Without paying attention to scripture at this level, there is a danger that we simply manipulate the text to our own purposes, rather than letting God speak through his scripture.

The second stage of the process is meditatio: we listen to what the scripture passage is saying to each of us.  This stage is deeply personal.  This is not a search for something original or clever to say about the text, nor is it a quest for identifying the most objectively important message of the passage.  It requires a listening of the heart: which word or phrase ‘jumps out’?  There is no need at this stage to analyse the reasons for it (indeed there is a risk that if we do so, we may suppress a challenging or otherwise unexpected response to the scriptures), but simply acknowledge that it is there.  Having acknowledged its presence, we go further into our meditation and, through reading the passage again, we ask what that word or phrases means to us.

Having meditated attentively upon the Lord’s word, we move on to the third stage of lectio divina: oratio, or prayer.  What do we say to the Lord in response to his word?

The fourth stage of the lectio divina structure is contemplatio.  As we spend this time in wonder, we pray for the grace to see as God sees and for the wisdom to discern God’s will for us.  David Foster compares this stage of contemplation – or ‘wonder’ – with lingering after sharing a meal with a friend:

We sit and take time to enjoy the food shared, and especially to enjoy the company in which we have shared the food and drink. It is a time for gratitude, humour and togetherness.  So it is good not to hurry out of the presence of God we have savoured in our time of prayer… this is a time just to let God be God, and to let God be God for me. Our own self-offering to God will come naturally out of that.’[2] 

Reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation are the four stages of lectio divina but of course, there is always actio,  for as St Paul says, ‘the love of Christ urges us on’ (2 Cor 5:14).  The impact of our lectio divina in our lives – the caritas (or charity) it inspires – is the true completion of the process of lectio divina.

So what?

Last year, John Huntriss came to St Bernadette’s to give us his lecture series on scripture, ‘The Diary of God’.  A natural follow-on from learning about scripture is learning to pray with scripture.  To that end, Fr Christopher invited Caroline Price to help form a group of seven parishioners in the ways of lectio divina.  The hope is that the group will open up to those who would like to make use of the formation they have received and the seven will take it in turns to facilitate a lectio divina group at St Bernadette’s.

At the prospect of facilitating a prayer group, there was – as you might imagine – a strong sense of ‘we’re not worthy’ among the group, coupled with a fear of coming across as ‘holier than thou’.  However, having journeyed through the formation process under Caroline’s gentle guidance, I am relieved to find that facilitating such a group does not require great knowledge or even holiness.  All we are called upon to provide is an opportunity for a group to read the scriptures in this prayerful manner, handing on what we ourselves have learned.

One might wonder why we bother to meet up to read the scriptures in this way when it is a process that one can readily make use of on ones own.  The answer to this will be evident to anyone who has taken part in the process.  Each week we shared one passage of scripture. Each week, we shared what ‘jumped out’ at us (though please note that sharing is not compulsory – there may be times when sharing would make you cry, or feel uncomfortable in some other way. That is understood and respected).
Sometimes, two or even three of us would have been struck by the same word or phrase, but even so, each person’s response to those words or phrases was always markedly different (this is not surprising when you think about it, because we are all individuals and the scripture passage provides only one side of the conversation!).  For me, listening to those insights from the other members of the group has demonstrated the great value of sharing the scriptures in a group.

Now what?

We are very grateful to Caroline, who has been leading us through our formation process with her beautiful gentleness and humility, and we are now nearly at the end of our formation process.  In the New Year, we hope to open the group up to the wider parish.  I have been challenged, surprised, delighted and have received many unexpected graces through my participation in the group and would highly recommend it!  Don’t just take my word for it, though: Pope Benedict XVI has said of lectio divina,

‘If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime.’[3]

I warmly invite you to come and share in what we have had the good fortune of receiving.

Jane Critten

However, difficulties in prayer arise not from problems with multi-tasking but an inability to mono-task.  How often have I come to the end of a psalm, only to realise that I’ve been thinking of several other things and ceased praying the psalm (really) at around the second verse?  How often does an examen at the end of a tiring day take twice as long because of the brain’s inability to focus on one thing at a time?  How many times in these last two months have I uttered, ‘and also with you‘ because I’ve been thinking, ‘this child needs the loo,’ or some similar thought?

Praying while we busy our hands with other things good and laudable^*.  However, during our time-that-is-only-for-prayer our aim, our challenge, is to only pray.  This needs preparation.  If we fail to prepare properly for prayer, we set ourselves up for a half-hour’s battle against a multi-tasking brain that can’t resist compiling a shopping list, thinking over a conversation we had yesterday and composing a letter to The Times at the same time. It is like, I suppose, taking the phone ‘off the hook’ in order to give ones attention fully to God.

So, to prepare for prayer: Teresa of Avila wrote of vocal prayer (though it applies to mental prayer too) that only three things are necessary:  an awareness of who we are; an awareness of whom we are addressing and an awareness of what we are saying.  Those first two are the context rather than the focus of our mental prayer: we have placed ourselves in the presence of God, we have sought – and gained – an audience with Him.  Having established ourselves in the presence of God, taking the phone ‘off the hook’, we then converse with ‘Him whom my heart loves’.

It sounds so simple because it is so simple.  Our problem is that we are not sufficiently simple: we find ourselves thinking of several other things besides ‘Him whom my heart loves’.  We need to gain and retain this awareness of who we are and whom we are addressing… then we will be ready to only pray.

_____________________________

^{* For more on this topic, see ‘Pray while Smoking’}

THIS SUNDAY:  The Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Christ – is a mystery with so many layers and a depth that takes more than a lifetime to penetrate. It is not just a “thing” that we receive – however reverently – it is a person, a relationship, a belonging, and a transformation that we consume, that becomes part of us: “Receive what you are – the Body of Christ”. The readings invite us to reflect on how our celebration of the Eucharist brings Christ’s words to our reality: “…who eats my flesh and drink my blood lives in me and I live in him.” The people of the Old Testament had God living in their midst, walking with them on their journey, feeding and nourishing them with the gift of manna from heaven. Jesus walks with us, not looking on from afar, journeying “in communion” with us – living within us, as we eat and drink the gifts he extends from the Last Supper. And as Saint Paul reminds us, our communion with the One Christ is also a communion with each other – God lives in us as the Church, as we become His Body.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: We congratulate Rahul Vinoy, Oliver Towe, James Fry, Chloe Jefferies, Fred Durow, Sophie Payne, George Cock, Rosie Pattison, Jessica Critten, Kara Richards, Rory Jones, Millie Gould, Eva Albert, Rory O’Driscoll, Sophie Lowson, Harry McGovern, Aldrich Virata, Isobella Khan, and Liam Monks as they celebrate their First Communion this weekend. We keep them all in our prayers.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: As you know, the English speaking world receives a new translation of the Missal from the autumn of this year. From September, we will begin to use and familiarise ourselves with these new texts. The Mass remains the same, but the words we use and the some of the words we hear will alter. Over the last month we have been exploring something of the new translation. Some of the music we use at Mass for the Gloria, the Holy, holy, the Memorial Acclamation will be changing. There will be an opportunity to explore some of the new musical settings on Monday 18 July (7.00pm) here in St Bernadette’s as we host an evening for some of our parish musicians and singers, this side of Bristol. There is also a Deanery evening looking at the new translation on Tuesday 5 July beginning at 7.00pm in St Dunstan’s, Keynsham, building upon the four catechetical sessions we have had here during the Easter season.

OUR VISITOR FROM ROME: Cardinal Velasio de Paolis, the Prefect of Economic Affaires of the Holy See, makes his three-day visit to our parish this week. The Cardinal will be celebrating Mass on Tuesday 28 June in Italian – so a great way to practise – and the full texts will be laid out in the liturgy booklets… so don’t feel you will get lost! An invitation is extended to the Italian communities in Bristol and Bath, but it would be good if there were a healthy representation from St Bernadette’s to make the cardinal welcome. Cardinal de Paolis is a member of the Scalabrini community – a missionary family that were founded to care for the Italian community abroad. Do pass the word around. Please do come along to this Mass – it does fulfil the obligation for the Holyday, too, and a wonderful chance to introduce yourself to the Cardinal. Bring your friends and family – all are welcome.

ROOTED IN CHRIST: This fantastic series draws to a close as we move to the final session on July 5. Fr Christopher leads the final session looking at The Last Things – a vision of the life to come. If you would like to go and might need a lift, just ask FrC. Holy Family, Patchway, Tuesday 5 July beginning at 7.30pm.

TRIDUUM OF PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Our period of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament will begin on Wednesday 29 June – the Feast of SS Peter and Paul. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed after the Mass and will remain upon the altar throughout the day. On the Thursday and Friday, the timetable will follow that of the Wednesday. There will be sung Vespers on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, ending our Triduum of prayer at 6.00pm. 29 June is the sixtieth anniversary of Pope Benedict’s ordination as a priest and so, in union with the whole Catholic community, we keep him in our prayers during that period of prayer and adoration. You can sign up in the Narthex. Please give what time you can – this is a wonderful opportunity for each of us to spend time with the Lord in this way.

CATECHISTS’ SYMPOSIUM: This gathering of catechists from around our diocese as well as drawing in folk who are interested/involved in handing on faith to others takes place on Saturday 2 July at St Bede’s College, Lawrence Weston. This year’s Symposium will reflect upon how we engage and involve parents in the formation and preparation programmes that their children are taking part in for First Communion and Confirmation. There’s also a chance to look at the RCIA and its celebration in our parishes. It is well worth going along to and taking part in. Full details and application forms are available from the narthex notice board.

PRIESTS’ RETIREMENT FUND: Thank you for your generosity to the PRF last weekend. Your kindness raised £610 (enhanced, of course, by Gift Aid) which is a fantastic amount. Thank you.

GLASTONBURY PILGRIMAGE: Please put a note in your diaries: Sunday 10 July. Full programme and details on the notice board in the narthex. It’s always a great diocesan gathering at the beautiful shrine. Do go along if you can.

CAFOD ~ ACT BIG, THINK SMALL CAMPAIGN: Join CAFOD’s campaign to call on the UK government to transform lives and put the people behind small businesses at the heart of UK aid and policy making. Please see the poster and sign a postcard in the Narthex to Andrew Mitchell MP, the Minister for International Development. He is a good man who needs our support.

CAFOD ~THE CLERGY REVIEW: It’s back and it’s on at the Colston Hall at 7.30pm on Friday 30 September. Twenty £10 seats have been reserved for us. Please see the notice in the Narthex and add your name to the list if you want a ticket. Transport will be arranged nearer the date. Several of our Clifton Priests are taking part and performing for our entertainment and to raise funds for CAFOD. Get those tickets whilst they are available.

PETERS’ PENCE: This second collection taken around the Feast of SS Peter and Paul is our gift to the Holy Father. Peter’s Pence is the Church’s global outreach to the many diocese’s, religious institutions, hospitals and schools as well as many disasters that the Holy father can respond to on our behalf. Peter’s Pence allows him to show compassion, charity and concern to those in need around the world. You are always so kind to the world’s poor – please respond as generously as youcan.

PILGRIMAGE TO PUGLIA:  : If anyone is interested in joining the pilgrimage (12th – 19th September) to  Ruvo di Puglia – San Giovanni Rotondo – Bari – Castel del Monte – Trani – Matera, you are invited come to a meeting at St Bernadette’s, Wells Rd, on Monday 4th July at 7.00pm. If you are unable to come to the meeting but are interested, please feel to contact either Maria on 07871205182 or Caroline on  07979353599.

However, if one is not in the habit of praying the Rosary, or if one does not have 20 consecutive minutes to devote to this beautiful prayer, then it can seem daunting or even impossible, to begin.

So I have an idea. It’s not my idea, but from Fr John Edwards, SJ (whom I’ve quoted before, not least of all here, here and here). He suggests that we simply try to pray a good decade of the Rosary, if the whole thing is unfeasible for whatever reason. If we start today, there are just enough days in May for a decade a day, finishing conveniently on the 31st – the feast of the Visitation.

If you’re looking for a little background on the Rosary, there’s always Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in which he introduced the Mysteries of Light.  If you’re fairly au fait with the Rosary but need a little reminder of what all the mysteries are, there is a simple page here to help you (you need to click on the beads to access the scriptural and CCC quotation).

A set of Rosary beads is handy, of course, but if you don’t have a set to hand, then use your fingers.  Why, after all, do you think you have ten?!

Remember; if we only make a good start, the prayers of Our Mother will help our feeble efforts bear fruit.

Through the following poem, Fay Inchfawn* gives voice to a hidden grief – the loss of a little soul whom she never knew, yet would never forget.

To a Little White Bird

Into the world you came, and I was dumb,
Because ‘God did it’, so the wise ones said;
I wonder sometimes ‘Did you really come?’
And ‘are you truly . . . dead?’

Thus you went out—alone and uncaressed;
O sweet, soft thing, in all your infant grace,
I never held you in my arms, nor pressed
Warm kisses on your face!

But, in the Garden of the Undefiled,
My soul will claim you . . . you, and not another;
I shall hold out my arms, and say, ‘My child!’
And you will call me ‘Mother!’

 

Fay Inchfawn^*

In November, we traditionally remember and pray especially for the Holy Souls.

In addition, let us remember in our prayers those who grieve the loss of tiny babies – their own ‘little white birds’.

_________________________________

^{* Fay Inchfawn (1880 – 1978)  was born in Portishead and lived near Bath all her life.
She was one of the most prolific female writers of the inter war years.}

THIS SUNDAY: “A huge number, impossible to count” – that is the picture this Solemnity creates. In every age there have been men and women who have followed the Lord faithfully, and who now rejoice in the Liturgy of Heaven, as they stand before the throne of the Lamb. These are the “anonymous” saints, whose names we don’t remember   but even though their names are not on our lips, their memory, inspiration, example and prayers are set before us today, so that we too can be encouraged in our own “journey of perfection”. What does it take to be a saint? Surely the Gospel that is appointed for today (the Beati¬tudes) shows us that it is in the small things that we triumph: gentleness, mercy, making peace, faithful mourning, purity of heart, poverty in spirit   these are not grand, public ways to sanctity. They are domestic, and homely, to be practised and perfected with those closest to us. We sometimes exalt the “named” saints to the degree that we can feel they are distant from us. Today’s feast, as well as celebrating the memory of the many whose name we do not know, also prompts us to see holiness as within our grasp.

MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS: This month of November invites us to keep in our prayers the Holy Souls ~ those who have died and await the call to resurrection. Each day during the week, we remember all who have died at the chapel of our Lady as we commend them to her maternal prayer and intercession. It is our Christian duty and a mark of our love and concern that we keep the dead in our prayers that they may come to enjoy the peace and joy of God’s eternal kingdom. There are two Masses on All Souls day.  Whilst not a holyday of obligation, it is, nevertheless, and important one.

VESPERS FOR ALL SAINTS: Sunday 31 October (this Sunday) at 4.00pm we celebrate Evening Prayer on the Feast of All Saints. We seek the prayer and the intercession of the saints for they are our examples of how to live that life of love and fidelity seeking to imitate Christ in all we do. Do come along if you can.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION: The third session of preparation takes place on Wednesday November 10 in the Hall at 6.00pm – then, December 8, and January 12. The Bishop will be with us on Thursday 27 January.

EXTRA ORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION: All our ministers of Holy Communion will be commissioned over the weekend of 13 & 14 November. This will see some of our parish family commissioned for the first time to serve us in this special way. This gives us an opportunity to appreciate the generous service that is shown to us through their ministry.

COMMUNION UNDER BOTH KINDS: Our Saturday evening Mass is the only one where communion is not offered from the chalice. From the First Sunday of Advent (27 November) and following the commissioning of ministers of Holy Communion, there will be the opportunity to receive communion from the chalice. To enable this to happen is as respectful and orderly a way possible, we will need to approach the altar from the central part of the church and not from the sides. This will enable the two ministers holding the chalices to stand at the end of the rails and those who want to receive communion from the chalice to present themselves from those side aisles. It should enable a steady flow to and from communion and facilitate an easy reception of communion from the chalice. Please just be aware of these slight adjustments over the next couple of weeks.

CURRY AND QUIZ NIGHT: All fifty places have been taken which is a fantastic response. Doors open at 7.30pm and there will be ample time for you to settle in and get yourselves a little drink before the quiz starts and the food is served. Tickets cost £5 (great value) which will be taken on the night. Get a team together and swat up during this week. If you find you cannot come along having reserved yourself a place, please don’t just not turn up. Let FrC know and your seat can be re-allocated.

SOUNDS OF THE 70’s – PARISH SOCIAL – 27 NOVEMBER: Come and dance the night away to the music of “Erebus”, in a fun night with a fish and chip supper. Search your wardrobes, dig out and dust off those clothes and spend the evening reminiscing to the authentic sounds of the 70′s! Tickets will cost £10 and this will include entertainment through the night by a fantastic live band, as well as your fish and chip supper. Caroline Lovell has more details. Pop your name on this list.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION: The preparation programme for First Communion 2011 will begin late January. If you have a child in year 3 and feel that they are ready to take this next step in their pilgrimage of faith, then you might think about coming along to a parents’ meeting on Thursday 18 November in the Church at 7.00pm. This is an important get together for parents (for you will have a crucial role, this year, in your children’s preparation) and this meeting will be chance for you not only to register your child on the course, but also find out something of your child’s preparation across the six months. If you have questions at this stage, please get in touch with FrC. You might also like to pass the word around just in case someone misses out on the info.

PARISH MAGAZINE: The Autumn edition of our parish magazine is still available from the narthex for you to take away. Thanks to all our contributors. There are some wonderful reflections of how members of our parish community took part in the Papal Visit. Maybe when we have read your copy, pass it on! They are free to take away; it you want to pop something by way of contribution into the paper bowl, then please feel free to do so.

SCHOOL YEAR GROUPS AT MASS: Starting after this half term, each Friday morning Mass will see us joined by one of the class groups from our primary school. This is not just a prayerful opportunity for them but also a catechetical one, too. It gives them chance to experience the celebration of Mass and to grow in their appreciation and understanding of this treasure in our lives of faith. It would be great if there were folk ready to support them on these Fridays. All are welcome. On Friday 5 November, we welcome year 6.

HOLY SOULS MASS: This annual mass at Holy Souls cemetery takes place on Saturday 6 November at 12noon. This is a special opportunity for us to join our bishop and our diocesan family at the start of this month of the Holy Souls.

NIGHT OF LIGHT: Halloween has become the third most commercial celebration after Christmas and Easter. There is an invitation to begin to reclaim this night as the eve of All Hallows (All Saints). We are invited to reflect our faith by placing a candle in our windows to reflect Christ, the Light of the World, and his presence in our hearts and homes. All Hallows reflects our hope in God’s promise, not our fear of ghosts and ghouls – it celebrates the joy of God’s presence not the anxiety and despair of death. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have fun… it just means that the story of faith needs to be correctly told.

A CHANGE IN TRANSLATION: As many of you know, the translation of the missal is about to change… and we need to begin to get ready for this change. Although we use the new translation fully from Advent 2011, our preparation will enable us to really think about how we celebrate Mass. There are study days for the people of our parishes to prepare for the new translation across the diocese. The first is at the Cathedral on Saturday 20 November from 10.30am. It would be good if folk from St Bernadette’s we able to be part of the day.

DIARY OF GOD: The course picks up again after the half term break this coming Wednesday in our hall after the 7.00pm Mass. Don’t forget to bring your copy of the scriptures with you.

PAPAL VISIT LEGACY: As a real way of allow the Holy Father’s visit to continue to resonate within us, every parish across our countries has been gifted with a framed copy of Holman Hunt’s ‘The Light of the World’ painting a a candle holding the papal visit logo. The gift reminds us of the light of faith that has been entrusted to each of us and the invitation from the Holy Father to allow that light of faith to touch and transform our world. The image and the candle will find a home in the Lady Chapel and will be lit to focus our prayer and reflection around allowing Christ to come into our lives and take root within our hearts, our homes, and our parish. We pray that the light of Christ may touch our own darkness, take away our fear and anxiety, and allows us to walk in the confidence and hope of his presence.

You simply read the Gospel passage as though you are reminiscing with Jesus, so you change each ‘Jesus’ or ‘He’ for ‘You’ and you substitute one of the characters for yourself.  You then reflect on the passage in that light – Jesus’ impact on you and your response to Jesus – meditate and pray.  It might look something like this:

Meditation, based on Luke 19:1-10

You entered Jericho and you were going through the town when I made my appearance. I was anxious to see what kind of man You were, but I was too short and could not see You for the crowd; so I ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of You, as You were to pass that way. When You reached the spot, You looked up and spoke to me: ‘Jane, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And I hurried down and welcomed You joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But I stood my ground and said to You, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And You said to me, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because here too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’

Reflection

• I heard You were coming and I rushed to be in Your presence.  Do I always rush to be in Your presence?  Am I always so eager?  If I am, do others know about it?
• Luke says I climbed the tree because I was too short.  He was being charitable.  I climbed the tree because I wanted to keep You at a comfortable distance, and was perhaps a little afraid of coming closer, as I know what lies between us that should not be there.
• But yet in love, You sought me.  You stepped off the path and through the space I’d created between us.  You called me by my name.  You told me to ‘hurry’!  You said you ‘must’ come to my house, such is Your love of me.
• Your call, Your display of urgent love – love of me as an individual in this huge, huge crowd – compelled me to throw away my inhibitions.  I hurried down and welcomed You joyfully.  I withstood the hurtful comments from those in the crowd; beside Your love, what is their scorn?  Your immense love prompted me to get rid of the false gods in my life and make restitution for the sins of my previous life.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for your immense, personal love of me.
Help me always to respond with love of You and of my neighbour.
My Lord, I know what I am capable of when I put my trust in You.
Give me confidence to put my trust in You always -
Take me and use me to build Your Kingdom in my tiny corner of the world.
Lord, I know that in my life there are those false gods that tend to creep in
and recreate a ‘comfortable’ distance between us again…
Please help me, Lord to be ‘calm but vigilant’,
to recognise the false gods for what they are
and – with the help of your grace – to have the courage to banish them.

Amen.

As we journey into God, the influence of particular saints will be greater or smaller as their teachings are more or less appropriate to our journey.  A friend who until recently had adopted a largely Benedictine spirituality told me the other day that for her, ‘St. Benedict is like a stern but kindly grandfather figure, a little remote, who has left me a book of instructions on how to grow closer to God.  St. Francis, on the other hand, is like an older brother who, smiling, grabs my hand and takes me there’. You can imagine the august St Benedict stepping down as Principle Guide for this particular life and letting little brother St Francis take the lead.

It can be the case too, that we can pick & mix from different saints in our approaches to prayer.  Perhaps we love St Ignatius of Loyola’s advocacy of the use of imagination in scriptural prayer as well as St Alphonsus’ classic formula for the Stations of the Cross: they can easily and profitably be combined.  In professional life, the teachings of St Josemaria Escriva are very helpful but when we try to create order from chaos at home, Josemaria’s approach may simply add to the frustration whereas St Thérèse of Lisieux’s focus on faithfully trying to be the person God wants us to be is key to harmony in the ‘domestic church’.

The lives of the saints continue to provide inspiration on a daily basis.  You may have read some hagiographies in the past that had an adverse effect on your digestive system (I know I have), or others that scared you out of a week’s growth (today’s saint, Teresa of Avila I found too scary to contemplate for many years!), but look again.  Study how the Saints of God have prayed, have tackled their difficulties and decisions, have coped in adversity.  Find a saint – or saints – who had a vocation and temperament like yours and be inspired by what they did with it, or rather with what they allowed God to do with it through them, and then ‘go and do likewise’!

‘Father, is it permissible for me to smoke while praying?’

The old priest considered for a moment before frowning and replying,

‘No it is not permissible to smoke while praying… but it is advisable to pray while smoking’.

While our time-that-is-only-for-prayer is crucially important, the ‘praying while smoking’ moments are probably more numerous.  These smaller moments tend to be impromptu ‘arrow prayers’ of petition shot up in moments of necessity, moments of thanksgiving, praise, adoration or contrition.

However, we can consciously build these smaller moments into our daily routines.  The Angelus lends itself to such a slot, as it’s traditionally prayed 6, 12 and 6 and we can therefore let our prayer sanctify our day, breaking into whatever we’re doing then.  Ideally, of course, we’d  lay down our pitchfork or basket and make it a pure prayer time, but that’s often impractical and the choice is either to multi-task – and pray while driving, for example – or not to pray.

To punctuate the day with prayer helps us to maintain or realign our focus on Christ.  So whilst acknowledging that we must have time each day that is for prayer and prayer alone, perhaps we could ‘pray while smoking’ a little more.

The Angelus

The angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 
And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,

that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts;

that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,

was made known by the message of an angel,

may by His Passion and Cross

be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,

through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

^{* A long, long, long time ago, before anyone knew that it wasn’t a good idea to smoke in the first place.  All references to ‘praying while smoking’ are to be taken metaphorically etc etc etc.}

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;

hail the rock who saves us.

Let us come before him, giving thanks,

with songs let us hail the Lord.

 

The invitation is there in that first word – ‘Come’.  Imagine you’re a half-asleep monk or nun, singing this at 5am.  You’ve done the first bit, you’re there… but perhaps only physically.  You’re invited to ring out your joy to the Lord who saves you and that requires more effort.  Thankfully, the psalmist helps us on our way:

Come in; let us bow and bend low;

let us kneel before the God who made us

for he is our God and we

the people who belong to his pasture,

the flock that is led by his hand.

 

That bowls me over every time: it’s so simple, it’s awesome.  We are invited to adore God because He made us and we belong to Him.  We can’t resist.

By now we’re awake.  We’ve remembered who made us and why and that’s just as well, because here is our mission for today:

O that today you would listen to his voice!

“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

as on that day at Massah in the desert

when your fathers put me to the test;

when they tried me, though they saw my work.”

 

It was in the desert of Zin that the Israelites grumbled to Moses and Aaron, comparing their present conditions unfavourably with those they’d left behind in Egypt.  It was there, at the waters of Meribah, that Moses struck the rock with his staff and produced water for the Israelites.   Relief all round, but it is temporary, for the end of the psalm records the Lord vowing that those grumblers would never reach the promised land (cf Ex 17:1-7 and Num 20:1-13).

Considering the context, then, it is plain to see that the word ‘today’ is crucial in our praying of this psalm – ‘O that today you would listen to his voice!’ Every day, we stand as though at the waters of Meribah and are invited to renew our relationship with the Lord (cf Heb 3:13).  But he only invites us and will never force us.  We always have a free choice, just as the Israelites did.

So let us respond every day, not with the hardened hearts of our fathers in the desert, but with hearts that are ready to listen to His voice, to do His will and to ring out our joy to the Lord.