What Am I Sharing?
Ideally today I should be sitting in an online listening group for Saturday Sharing with the Nazareth Companions. Unfortunately, MEcfs has other ideas. So I thought I would do a little Saturday Sharing of my own, whilst I am yet again – conked out!
Thankfully my brain is offering a trickle of cognitive supply, having hopped off a couple of WhatsApp group chats recently. Always worth examining the energy envelope. I like that, ‘Examen’ being on topic for the Companion’s of Nazareth. There is no guarantee I will finish this piece today. But it’s good to feel connected to the community while I tap away on my smartphone.
Contemplative Walk
I talk a little about Contemplative walks in my post from October, 2023. Prayer, Contemplation, Reflection, Sharing and Wonderings are a fundamental part of the Nazareth Community. They are restful, refreshing, thought provoking and prayerful. I still find it strange thinking back to all the time I have spent praying alone, and now here I am. Part of a far wider praying community. Reaching across the globe. Amazing!
Today’s Contemplative Walk focused on the prayers of St Ignatius of Loyola. The following prayer in particular.
Suscipe
St Ignatius of Loyola
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
The second and third paragraphs of the prayer are often used at the close of an Examen App I follow. It’s very centering. And not about self, but about letting go. It is very releasing.
Prayer Card
Examen and Prayer
Examen encourages peace, and reflective thought on the chosen scripture for the day. Giving lots of opportunity for silences and quietly listening for God. I am still pretty new to it. And find the Pray as you Go App really lovely. It was suggested to me by one of the Nazareth Companions. Our listening groups in Saturday Sharing, encourage gentle focus and expression of what speaks to each person in the given text, without judgement, conversation or opinion from the group. It is a very caring space to be in.
But as the Listening Groups for Saturday Sharing involve listening, thinking, reading, and speaking (when invited, it’s not a jumbled free for all). Today, due to the MEcfs (which affects my physical and cognitive function), I felt it best not to participate, and to just be quiet on my own with my ageing doggo, and compile this post. Being a Nazareth Companion has improved my skill of listening. I do need a lot of quiet, but the Nazareth quiet is another level, and so restorative.
Rosary
My prayer life has broadened beyond recognition since becoming a Nazareth Companion. I feel more open and interested in exploring ways to help my prayer life. To the point of exploring praying with a Rosary, or rather, praying the Rosary. I have wanted to for a long time. I was given a Rosary at my Anglican Confirmation over 30 years ago. It is only now that I feel confident enough to try it. And I do love it.
A Guide Book
Along with the Rosary I was given the booklet ‘Reconsidering the Rosary‘ written by Anthony Price in 1991. (I am not sure if it would still be available.) Since finding the Hallo App which offers a guided Rosary in audio and text, I follow along using that. And with the help of the booklet, it expands on the context of the prayers and mysteries reflected on during each decade of the Rosary. It is making more sense to me. I am still very much a novice, but I am not worried by that. We all have to start somewhere, preferably the beginning.
The booklet, although only 21 pages long, is a mine of information. Beginning with some history, it then moves on to offer several book recommendations for exploring the subject of using a Rosary. Along with the prayers one might use as an alternative, and suggestions for alternative Mysteries which one may choose to draw on. The fact that Julian of Norwich is mentioned, encourages me further. As a recent Companion’s online retreat streamed from St Julian’s in Norwich, focused on the life, prayers and writings of this well loved Anchoress.
I feel incredibly blessed.
The Hail Mary Prayer
Yesterday on the 4th Sunday of Lent, here in the UK we celebrated Mothering Sunday. A day to celebrate, remember and thank all the wonderful mothers and women in our lives. Not an easy day for many, but ultimately we are all mothers to someone in some way. I am always so thankful for the many women I know.
I happened to be gazing at two images I have in my upstairs prayer/quiet/pantry space, as I prepared to join Sunday Eucharist with St Martin’s-in-the-fields via livestream. Whilst gazing, I was practising the Hail Mary, very apt for Mothering Sunday, to see if I could remember it. Saying it brought a new depth and emotion to the image of Christ. And was a very moving experience. I feel incredibly blessed by that.
Saturday’s Location
The location for today’s Contemplative Walk was the Millenium Bridge, London. It felt particularly poignant for me. As it was the last landmark I visited in London, after visiting The British Museum, with my husband and our then very young children. Before MEcfs arrived and life changed dramatically. But I remember that day with so much happiness. Along with a long walk to Liverpool Street Station!
Closing Thoughts
So there is my Saturday Sharing. A much needed break from the often such heaviness of the daily news, which I am sure so many of us struggle to process and absorb. I hope you have times of refreshment in all the challenges, and thank you for stopping by.
Have a blessed day⚘
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Hope found in M.E. 
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