Praying with the Saints in Ordinary Time: 5 February 2022

‘The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa’ by Francesco Mancini (1745) in the Church of Santa Maria della Scala, or Our Lady of the Staircase, in Trastevere, Rome (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

I am back to Askeaton after a few days in Dublin and I have a lot to catch up on, including putting the finishing touches to Sunday’s services and sermons in Askeaton and Tarbert. 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 on Wednesday (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 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:

Nada Te Turbe by Saint Teresa of Avila:

Nada te turbe,
nada te espante
todo se pasa,
Dios no se muda,
la paciencia todo lo alcanza,
quien a Dios tiene
nada le falta
solo Dios basta.

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things pass:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God
Lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Mark 6: 30-34 (NRSVA):

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

The Prayer in the USPG Prayer Diary today (5 February 2022) invites us to pray:

We give thanks for the development of agricultural tools which have minimal impact on the environment. May we care for creation whilst protecting livelihoods.

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