Horses for Courses

Someone mentioned in an OCDS group the other day the book entitled Divine Intimacy, by Fr Gabriel of St Magdalen.   On the website entitled Goodreads I found the following description of it: ‘It is a book that shows how to join prayer and action and put the Catholic doctrine on the spiritual life into practice daily. [It] has been translated into all principal languages and has met with extraordinary success, bringing encouragement and spiritual profit to lay people as well as priests and religious. For each day of the year, Fr. Gabriel gives 1) a brief introduction, 2) a two-part meditation, followed by 3) a colloquy---holy acts of love, thanksgiving, petition, resolution, etc., addressed to Our Lord and based on the truths just meditated upon. About three pages are devoted to each day, so it reads quickly, and even the busiest person can use it regularly. The meditations for Sundays are based on the Sunday Gospel readings of the traditional liturgical calendar. Grounding his work on a firm Thomistic basis, Fr. Gabriel (1893-1953) draws from Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the great Carmelite Saints, including St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of the Child Jesus and Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity. … This is a lifetime book---one that is conceived to be used each day and to be read over and over.’  The thing is, I personally tried to use this book some years ago in my early years in Carmel and didn’t get on with it.  However, perhaps I will come back to it one day, and meanwhile I am delighted if it brings blessing to others.  ‘Horses for courses’, as they say: different personalities find their spiritual nourishment in different authors.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon Bielowski (Plymouth Diocese), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Michael – youngster with occult influences

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

RIP Roy Seymour, Richard Parker, Sue Burton, Wojtek, Joy Smith OCDS, Dr Alan Rodgers