Jesuit Center of Ignatian Spirituality, Malta

Newsletter

No.20 March 2005

Two Little Birds

One fine morning, two little birds, a Robin and a Finch set side by side on a branch of a tree. "Good day, Sir" said the Robin. "You look so sad; I hope your pretty wife is not ill?"

"Oh, no she's quite well, thank you. We lost all our eggs, that is why I am so sad. Yesterday, I asked my wife to leave the nest for a little while and fly around the woods with me. When we came back our eggs were all gone. What shall we do?"

"I will tell you" said the Robin. "When next you have eggs; ask 'Fairy Kind Thought' to stay by the nest, when you fly away. No one steals your eggs when she is near".

Polly Jones and her brother Fred were playing in the Woods. "Look, Polly" said Fred. "There are eggs in the nest, let's take them home with us."

"Oh, no" said a sweet voice from the tree.

"Who are you" said Fred, looking around and seeing no one.

"I am 'Fairy Kind Thought'. Don't take those eggs, think how Mother bird loves them".

A few days later, the two birds met once more on the tree.

"Thanks to you, Robin and 'Fairy Kind Thought' we have four lovely little birds in our nest."

Edith Cummingham

This little story is written by an old lady of a respected old age, Edith Cummigham. She was resident at St Anne's an old people's home in Sengela. She died (well in her nineties) this January. Edith was stone death but communicated much with her gentle look and smile. One day, after Mass she handed me this story. I still don't know why. It is a sweet fable and I would like to share it with you, in her memory and with respect to all our old people in old people's home. May 'Fairy Kind Thought' watch over their venerable, albeit vulnerable old-age.

I hope that if you have little kids you will read it out to them as well.
Fr Vincent Magri SJ

IGNATIAN MAXIMS

88. To persevere in accomplishing what you have undertaken, make sure that, before taking the decision, you pray at length for the light of God, reflect deeply, and refrain from deciding before you seek advice from those who are well versed in the matter.

(Gonzales, Memoriale, M.I. Font.Narr., Mon.13, n.282b, p.693)

89. Try as a general rule to be alert, so as to act with all humility in matters that are within the range of your ability, and do not meddle in those that are beyond your powers. God wishes each of us to serve Him within the limits of the talents He has bestowed upon us, and He is not pleased with presumption. Our spirit should not, though, for that reason underestimate itself, so that we do not undertake vigorously what is within our capacity.

(Letter to Fr Stephen Baroello, January 1549, M.I., Epp.XII p.226-28, Appendix I)

90. When you are on a mission you should remember that it is not enough to begin, but you must as far as possible finish and insure the endurance of good and pious works.
(Letter to those sent to the missions, 8th October, 1552, M.I., Epp. XII, pp.251-253)

91. As to the blindness or dryness of soul which one may think one finds in himself/herself, it may easily come from a lack of confidence, or pusillanimity, and consequently can be cured by its contrary. Above all remember that God wishes to find solid virtues in us, such as patience, humility, obedience, abnegation of our own will - that is, the good will to serve Him and our neighbour for Him.
(Letter to Fr Philip Leerno, 30th December, 1553, M.I. Epp. VI, pp109-110.)

92. Do not ever allow the children of this world, as they seek for the things which pass, to be more hard-working and intent than you, who are seeking for the things of eternity. You should be ashamed that they are running towards death more quickly than you towards life!
(Letter to Students at Coimbra, 7th May, 1547, M.I. Epp. I p. 507)

Fr Arthur Vella S.J.

Book Review:

The Cloister Walk

Kathleen Norris

This book took me completely by surprise. First, was the fact that I found it at the Floriana Public Library! Further, my prejudice on the title was that it would be either a confession by an ex-nun or a sort of propaganda for the monastic order – my second surprise was then in fact that it is written by a married woman and Protestant at that. Kathleen has been accepted as a Benedictine oblate and she describes herself as a poet who is still dumbfounded at the way she stumbled across the Benedictine Order. It’s the way God calls us, usually through things that seem by accident.

Kathleen spent a year and a half living with the Benedictines in different monasteries. Here she wrote her reflections in a journal fashion based however on the liturgical cycle as this is foundational for any monastic order. What I found so refreshing is her frankness – she did not gloss over her struggles there even those regarding her personal life. Yet, the solid spirituality imbibed through the teachings of the Desert Fathers and the challenge of living that spirituality through the Rule of St Benedict in today’s culture is what she reflects back. For those who like to take a glimpse of what other spiritualities have to offer, this book is recommended.

Kathleen Norris is a writer/poet who lives in Lemmon, South Dakota together with her poet husband David Dwyer. Her personal narratives, essays, and poetry have been published in a wide range of anthologies, magazines and journals, including The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine.

Louise Laferla

Publisher: Lion Publishing
ISBN: 0 7459 4198 2

Prayer of Trust in God

My Lord and my God

I am convinced that You care for those who hope in You. I am certain that one lacks nothing when one counts on You for all. That is why I want to live from now on without any worry and to submit to Your heart of a father all anxiety and all fear. People may suffocate my soul, suffering may destroy my strength, evil may encircle me and sin may encroach upon me; but I will never lose trust in Your mercy.

Some want to draw their joy and their happiness from their talents, from the innocence of their life or from the accomplishment of their duties. For me Lord, my only certainty, my true joy is my trust in You, the Father of all mercies.

This trust in You has never failed, and it will never fail anyone.

I know indeed very well how fragile and mutable I am; I know how effective temptations can be against the most certain, the most virtuous, and the most solid resolutions. This however does not frighten me, because You are with me and You will be so as long as I trust in You. This way I am saved from all misfortunes, and, moreover, I am assured of hoping always, because my trust is hoping without ceasing.

Finally, I am sure, My God, that I can never hope too much in You and that I cannot ever have less than what I look forward to from You. In this way, I trust that You will sustain me in my difficulties, that You will protect me in the darkest moments, and that You will see to it that my weakness is victorious. In the face of adversity, I know You will help me in the kind of life, and in the kind of mercy, You grant me. I hope, I am sure, that You will always love me; I hope also that I will love You without ceasing, without partiality, without limits, and that I will make You loved at the central areas of distress where You send me to work.

May the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, watch over this trust; may she make it steadfast. May she make me grow in the compassion of God towards the weakest. May I become, by her intercession, an icon of Mercy.

Through Jesus Christ Our Lord

Amen

Prayer inspired by saint Claude La Colombière, S.J.

(translated by L. Caruana, S.J.)

We would like to remind you that the Centre for Ignatian Spirituality offers personal spiritual direction to all those who would like to have any kind of spiritual experience like Ignatian retreats in every day life. Retreats can be tailored according to the needs and circumstances of the retreatant. CIS can call on experienced Jesuits, other religious and trained lay people to accompany retreatants through these experiences.

Anyone interested can contact the Director on 21827323 or 99864561 or email vince@maltajesuitretreats.com.