03 February 2022

Praying with the Saints in Ordinary Time:
3 February 2022

Saint Teresa of Ávila … her image high on a corner of her convent church in Seville (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

I am on my way back to Askeaton from Dublin today, I have a lot to catch up on, and today looks like being a busy day. But, before this busy day begins, I am taking some time early this morning for prayer, reflection and reading.

The Feast of the Presentation, or Candlemas yesterday (2 February) marked the last of the great festivals of the season of Christmas. The Church Calendar is now in Ordinary Time for a month from today until Ash Wednesday, 2 March 2022, and the liturgical colours have changed from the white or gold of celebration to the Green of ordinary, everyday life.

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:

‘Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us. The important thing is not to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to love. Love is not great delight but desire to please God in everything.’

Mark 6: 7-13 (NRSVA):

7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

The Prayer in the USPG Prayer Diary today (3 February 2022, Saints and Martyrs of Europe) invites us to pray:

Let us give thanks for the lives and works of those who committed their lives to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout Europe.

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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