Patrick Comerford
Today is Saint Valentine’s Day. Saint Valentine’s relics are preserved in Dublin in the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street (Aungier Street), which is a popular place of pilgrimage for many young lovers. But I wonder how many of them are aware of the spirituality of the Carmelites, who have been on this site for centuries.
But, before this busy day begins, I am taking some time early this morning for prayer, reflection and reading.
The Church Calendar is now in Ordinary Time until Ash Wednesday, 2 March 2022. During this month in Ordinary Time, I hope to continue this Prayer Diary on my blog each morning, reflecting in these ways:
1, Short reflections drawing on the writings of a great saint or spiritual writer;
2, the day’s Gospel reading;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.
At present, I am exploring the writings of the great Carmelite mystic, Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), so my quotations over these few days are from her writings:
‘Prayer is an act of love. Words are not needed.’
Mark 8: 11-13 (NRSVA):
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ 13 And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.
The Prayer in the USPG Prayer Diary today (14 February 2022) invites us to pray:
We pray for carers, working tirelessly to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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