Another Resource

The Jesuits of Britain have been using Zoom to help people meditate. Included with the scheduled one is a link to past meditations.

Whether you are new to Ignatian meditation or a past-master ,come and join us online every Wednesday at 8pm for IMAGINE.

Watch previous sessions on the IMAGINE YouTube channel : https://t.co/y6cvyKjagU

Sign up to our Imagine mailing list:https://t.co/2zlksBiq2p pic.twitter.com/WV4r0X6kH1

— Jesuits in Britain (@JesuitsBritain) July 14, 2020

Praying Into Sunday’s Readings

Challenging to take Jesus at his word. Consoling if one takes the chance.

Jesus said to his disciples; ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.'
Pray with today's readings:https://t.co/uevk3d6jjY pic.twitter.com/HNlMugUTi5

— Jesuits in Britain (@JesuitsBritain) May 10, 2020

Prayer Reminds

Prayer is multifaceted. In addition to intercession that fills much praying these days, prayer reminds. This 4-minute video-prayer recalls how much has been created to support us. It invites remembering and encourages.

The Other Liturgy

The pandemic has closed usual spiritual activities for many. It also has opened others. One person reported recently praying the Liturgy of the Hours. It sanctifies times through the day. It seems a welcome discovery. Perhaps more are discovering it. This Jesuit Post tweet is informative.

“God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.” Before gathering for Mass on a screen this Sunday, why not start by celebrating liturgy together, in person, with no screens, using the Liturgy of the Hours? https://t.co/Xf0lNbxmOn#Breviary @StrassburgerSJ pic.twitter.com/tFVXdGJDZx

— The Jesuit Post (@TheJesuitPost) April 18, 2020

Praying the Supper

Contemplative praying lets scenes of scripture happen to us. We make ourselves available in ways that are conducive for us; God’s life does the rest. Jesuit Tucker Redding at America Magazine calls his series "Imagine."

The final four episodes of my new podcast "Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer" go up over the next four days. Today, celebrate Holy Thursday by picturing yourself at the Last Supper. #HolyWeek #Triduum #HolyThursday https://t.co/oD30le5OrC

— Tucker Redding, SJ (@treddingsj) April 9, 2020

Adapting Prayer, Receiving Support

The very popular prayer-site Pray As You Go has added a “prayer-support series” during Covid19. The original audio-aid to praying continues with its 3 aims:

• become more aware of God's presence in your life
• listen to and reflect on God's word
• grow in your relationship with God [from its About page]

Learn about Pray As You Stay in its Welcome.

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Wikimage Earbuds / CC0 1.0"

Making Space

The pope’s General Prayer Intention for September is: “Value of Silence. That people today, often overwhelmed by noise, may rediscover the value of silence and listen to the voice of God and their brothers and sisters.” Jesuit Joe Simmons recalled many today are “buzz-fed”: “But thankfully, even buzz-fed city minds like mine can fall quiet – if given the space.” He was given space at a cottage in his youth. The Prayer Intention of the pope reminds that later in life making space for silence is an adult decision.

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Wiki-image by Bosc d'Anjou of quiet spot CC BY 2.0.

Ebook Guides Retreat

Jesuit James Martin introduces his ebook, Together on Retreat.

Book Trailer: TOGETHER ON RETREAT by James Martin from harperone on Vimeo.

Yet Another Way. . .

. . .into the daily scriptures. A “free service created by several church musicians” includes a musical selection to accompany the scriptures. An email announced the site and included bulletin art for local, print promotion.

The Daily Cantor is a brand new website that provides a musical meditation based on the readings of the Mass for each day. The site utilizes the extensive music library of the iTunes store to suggest music that helps reflect on the readings heard at Mass. We hope that you will consider sharing our site by including an announcement in your church’s Sunday bulletin. Artwork is provided in both color and black and white.

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Wiki-image of treble clef in the public domain.

Jesuit Prayer Website

Jeremy Langford, Director of Communica-tions for the Society of Jesus, Chicago-Detroit Province, passed along this information today:

A prayer site...launched on July 1: www.jesuitprayer.org [Also added are] a daily email and App [available on the homepage masthead]. JesuitPrayer features daily readings, Jesuit reflections, and prayers. I also allow people to make prayer requests, which we respond to within a day and have the Jesuits at Colombiere pray over each week. To date we’ve had 20,000 visitors, 500 email subscribers, and lots of App downloads.

Visit the site and learn more at its About page.

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Wiki-image of Jesuit emblem was released into the public domain.

“Gauges Not Guides”

Human emotions are powerful, something known for ages. What are thoughtful, reflective, prayerful people to make of them. Emotions cannot be dismissed. Jon Bloom offers a sane approach to them. Emotions are indicators: “Emotions aren’t imperatives; they’re not your boss.” His post is at desiringGod.

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Wiki-image by Vince Alongi of Morning skies used by CC BY 2.0.

Transitions and Hope

Transitions challenge. Depending on the nature of them, some transitions are steeper challenges: the loss of a loved one; the loss of work; the end of a marriage; and receiving a diagnosis with an impact on future health. Each of those upends the way people present themselves to the world and changes self-perception.

Along with external realities, transitions challenge everyone spiritually, that is, one’s interior, heartfelt landscape. Spiritual coping is as necessary as living without another, without paychecks, without health.

Young people face numerous transitions as they mature. Becky Eldredge recalls

The question I am asked often by others in a period of transition...is, “How do I hold on to hope in this time of change?”

The second link in her dotMagis post is worth perusing: imagination in prayer is often misunderstood.

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Wiki-image by Wolfgang Sauber of Hope used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

Why Do It?

Jesuit Joe Simmons, found himself busy, so busy that for praying he had no time. At least, he recalled, “I didn’t see how adding prayer to my already busy life could possibly improve it.” His

desire led him to persevere in prayer as well as the rest of living a busy life.

I still ask myself, What does it take to pray well? Or even more simply, that most brutally honest of questions: Given all the pressing business in life, why pray?

He both posed those questions and begins answering them at The Jesuit Post. He offers concrete suggestions. 

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Wiki-image by Peter Taylor of clock, fountain and square is used according to CC BY-SA 2.0.

Prayer Deepens Relationship

A four-minute teaching on Ignatian contemplative prayer. Fr. John Cihak seeks to help people have "an intimate relationship with God." [Source: http://gloria.tv/]

Praying With Scripture

A recent Loyola Press post offered in one place how to pray with scripture in two classic ways: slow, attentive and gentle reading; and contemplation. The post began

Lectio Divina and Gospel Contemplation are two ways to pray with Scripture. [Jesuit] Fr. Leonhardt explains these two forms of prayer for those new to the practices.

Even with familiarity of either or both methods, Fr. Leonhardt offers clear and helpful advice to enrich the prayer of veterans as well as beginners.

Prayer in a Blink

From the CatholicTV.com last week:

Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest, and writer and Culture Editor of the Jesuit magazine America has produced two sets of Blink segments. They are based on his book, "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life". . . .

The first segments are called "Ways of Prayer" and has 10 parts looking at various forms of prayer. The second group has 9 parts and are called "Joy, Humor and Laughter" focusing on how these traits can be used in the spiritual life.

Read the entire post and watch the videos.

In his 15 May 2011 University of Pennsylvania Baccalaureate Address Fr. Martin also recommended humor to the graduates and their parents.

Personal Prayer & Reflection for Today

As Lent's third week begins to near its end, the Maryland Jesuits offer this aid to praying.

Other6. . .

. . .prays Lent



Loyola Press offers a simple, interactive way to pray during Lent. Click on the badge above to learn more and to begin. To paraphrase, St. John Chrysostom: it's never too late to begin Lent.

Penny for Thoughts; Coin for Prayer

Finding God in all things includes coins. Coins are not only money. Coins, like statues and heraldry, have been used as propaganda in the broadest sense. Vatican coins and medals have served to evangelize.

The conclusion of William Van Ornum's article about Vatican coins invites Ignatian praying with coins, plus offers links to a Vatican slideshow and other resources for coin enthusiasts.

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Wiki-image used according to the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Generic 2.5 license. Attribution: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Adapting the Examen

For those seeking to deepen their prayer and/or to keep electronic prayer journals, then Examen.me is a site worth visiting.

For those who already keep electronic prayer journals, the site may offer ideas to streamline or to make electronic journaling more versatile.

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Wiki-image by Bresson Thomas of an interior of a fort is used according to the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. It was yesterday's Picture of the Day.