“…But I can know another person only if that person reveals himself or herself to me. So this desire to know Jesus more intimately is a desire for Jesus to reveal himself. If I have this desire, I must then take the time with the Gospels to let them stimulate my imagination so that Jesus can reveal himself, this is, reveal his dreams and hopes, his loves and hates, his hopes for me. As I engage in this kind of prayer, I will be surprised by what I discover about Jesus and thus about God, and myself. In the process, I will come to love Jesus and become more like him.”

Source: America Magazine - “Why Do You Pray?” by William A. Barry, S.J., June 4, 2001

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- Isaiah 55:3

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Come to the silence, life is so loud - And your soul needs a break from the clock and the crowd.

Come to the silence, And let my love start, To heal all life's hurts, And comfort your heart

Come to the silence, Be calm and be still, Just rest in my arms - for today, that's my will...

Come to the silence, In search of my peace, Gently your doubts and your fears will all cease.

Come to the silence - Here, take my hand, Have you forgotten, that I understand?

-  Author Unknown

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Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the greater glory of God

[During the “first week” of the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, consideration is given to how much we are loved by God. From this consideration, we begin to realize how much we have not responded to that goodness and hence are then able to respond to our sinfulness with open honesty. This understanding of and sorrow for our sins opens us to the love and mercy of God. Consider the following in the context of God’s love for us and our love response to him as well]

The Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever

Amen

- A favorite prayer of St. Ignatius included at the beginning of the Spiritual Exercises for which he suggested reciting as at the conclusion of one’s prayer time.

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Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the greater glory of God

[During the “first week” of the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, consideration is given to how much we are loved by God. From this consideration, we begin to realize how much we have not responded to that goodness and hence are then able to respond to our sinfulness with open honesty. This understanding of and sorrow for our sins opens us to the love and mercy of God. Consider the following in the context of God’s love for us and our love response to him as well]

“Behold God beholding you … and smiling.”

- Anthony de Mello SJ

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Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the greater glory of God

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."

Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

- Mark 2: 1-12

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Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the greater glory of God

Above all, trust in the slow work of God

We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability --- and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.

Your ideas mature gradually --- let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.

Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

- By Pierre Teilhard De Chardin SJ

Source: Hearts on Fire: Praying with Jesuits (Paperback) by Michael G. Harter (Editor)

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Daily Catholic Meditations For Faith, Listening, and Peace (www.SilentInsight.com)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the greater glory of God

Be Still | Read | Contemplate It | Listen | Dialogue | Close With Praise and Thanks

Daily Catholic Meditations For Faith, Listening, and Peace (www.SilentInsight.com)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the greater glory of God