February 2012

Monthly Reflection

An item in the spirituality column of a recent issue of The Tablet, purporting to be a notice on a Church in Wales, gives food for thought and perhaps personal reflection. It reads:

"On your way to the Lord’s house, be thoughtful, be silent or say but little, and that little good. Speak not of other people’s faults. Think of your own for you are going to ask forgiveness. When you reach the Church, never stay outside; go in at once. Time spent within is so precious. In church kneel down very humbly and pray. Spend the time that remains in holy thought. In prayer, remember the awful Presence into which you have come. Never look about you to see who are coming in, or for any cause whatever. It matters nothing to you what others may be doing; attend to yourself. Fasten your thoughts firmly on the holy service."

As the journey towards Lent begins, the fervour of one’s participation in the Mass is worth revisiting. The Church’s season gives us the readings from Mark and one cannot help but notice the slew of commentaries on Mark’s Gospel that have appeared in the Catholic bookshops. The Gospel of Mark is particularly apt for Lent as he places the emphasis on the sufferings and death of Jesus rather than on His exalted identity.

Initially, one is recommended to read the Gospel of Mark slowly and prayerfully at one sitting. One is then recommended to prayerfully meditate on various sections at another time.

Finally if anyone is minded to try some wholesome Lenten reading, one could probably do no better than to read Ruth Burrows newly published book, Love Unknown. This Carmelite nun at the age of 89 has written a gripping spiritual classic. Happy Lent!

Elizabeth Sheehan SMG