Newsletter 

No.2                                                                                                                      June 2003

News

                                 Lord, Teach us How to Pray!  (Lk. 11: 1)

As a member of the P.I.M. (Parish Ignatian Ministry) equip I have just lived another experience accompanying people who desire to learn how to pray with the Word of God.  This was the third experience at the Naxxar Parish, for which fourteen participants committed themselves to daily personal prayer as well as to meeting their respective Guides for six sessions over a period of two weeks.  As in previous similar experiences in Mtarfa Parish, this was another occasion where I came in direct contact with the  working of God's Spirit in the lives of lay persons who were so eager to learn how to deepen their personal relationship with God.  The enthusiasm shown while sharing about their  time of personal prayer, was a clear confirmation that our previous discernment before embarking on this apostolate  -  to go out to the Parishes offering this Ignatian method of prayer - was indeed a valid reading of the signs of the times, satisfying a need that is both vital and significant.  I am sure that what the participants received during this experience will bear fruit in the Parish, their families and at their working place, just as a small amount of yeast is enough to make the dough rise.

The following are some of  the experiences shared by the participants during our concluding session :

• God has become so much closer; a God with whom I can share my daily concerns. I now understand much better how he cares for every detail of my life.

• I have learnt how to keep a dialogue with a loving and personal God.  Now my prayer is no longer a monologue or simply asking for my needs using a set of ready-made prayers.   

• Though at first the time I dedicated to personal prayer seemed to impinge upon my busy daily schedule, I now experience that time spent with God not only is rewarding in many ways, but is also filling me with energy and enthusiasm to fulfill my daily commitments.

• I always wished to grow in my relationship with God but I did not know how.  Now my desire has finally been satisfied.

• How I looked forward to meet our guide, to share what I received in prayer as well as to learn more about how to pray!

• Lectio Divina, Meditation and Contemplation have opened new horizons about prayer. Now I know that God truly desires to reveal his love to me if only I find time and make space to be with him.

• The guide was always ready to clarify my doubts and to help me understand my experience of prayer.

• I am determined to continue finding time to pray daily.  Praying in this way helps me see things in a new light and to put everything in the right perspective.

• Before this experience, time spent in prayer was at times boring and tiring.   But communicating with God in this new way, I find that time seems to pass by so quickly!
  

Sr. Doris  Zahra  SSD.

Forthcoming events

 Ignatius' Maxims

1.         All for the greater glory of God. (Constitutions SJ)

2.         Loving God truly with one’s whole heart is incompatible with loving anything simply for its own sake and not for God. (Letter to Don Martin Garcia de Onaz)

3.         If you possess God nothing is wanting: in God you have all that is good, even if you are short of everything. (Maxims collected by Daniello Bartoli sj)

4.         Although amongst virtues and their different acts, there are some of a more elevated nature, or a more excellent degree of merit than others, yet it is not always the most perfect which is the best for each individual, but that which, under certain circumstances, suits him/her best. (Daniello Bartoli sj)

5.        If you let the world scare you off, you will never succeed in doing anything great for God;  as  the world will soon frighten you with persecutions and with a lot of fuss against you. (Daniello Bartoli sj)

Compiled by Fr. Arthur Vella SJ

Book Review

The God Who Won't Let Go is an intimate relationship of discovery characterised by two distinctive forces: the constant flow of God's everlasting love and our own reaction/s to his love. The seeker vis-à-vis the searcher.

Inspired through selected themes of retreat direction at Hidegard Abbey, Peter Van Breemen SJ lures us to participate in this living experience of exploring in depth our being. We are told that God is love, God loves us, God always loved us, He loved us before we were born, He was crucified because he loves us and keeps loving us till rejected, abandoned, frustrated, unloved, abused at the receiving end of unfairness and injustices, and when we feel inadequate or that we have failed?

It is never too late to let ourselves be found by God and open up completely to His love. God is waiting for us with arms open wide and wants to liberate us from all oppressions , forgive our sins because Hi love knows no limits. But Van Breemen challenges us that to achieve this we must do our part and be prepared to let go of what hinders us from His love, to forgive and let God love us.  

Are we ready to be changed? It is only when we are able to learn, meet, accept and live the cross and look forward with hope, that we really start living the Christian faith and get full meaning of what the Gospel is meant to bring, that is joy, peace and fulfillment. Peter Van Breemen SJ warns us to "expect to be surprised by love beyond imagining... because each day is full of fresh possibility".

Ms. Marija Montebello

Prayer

Learn By Heart and repeat often

Let your God love you.

Be Silent. Be still

Say nothing, ask nothing

Be silent. Be still

Let God look on you with His love that is all

He knows. He understands.

He loves you with an enormous love

He only wants to look on you with His love

Quiet. Still be

Let your God love you

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