July Messenger: Reflections and discernment
In this months Messenger the editor Donal Neary SJ reflects on the life of Pope Francis. He remembers meeting him in Milltown Park, Dublin in 1980. Donal says “At lunch one day he asked in rather bad English what I did? At that time I was working in Tabor retreat house and I asked him would he like to see it? I remember our meeting well. He had presence, and an interest in our place of work. He was always the Pope of the people, in life and even at his funeral.”
Fr Kevin O’Gorman reflects on Pope Francis’ intention for the month of July which was put in place before his passing. His intention was that, “We might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel”. With the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola falling on the final day of July it is fitting that Pope Francis, as a Jesuit, schooled in the spiritual exercises asks us to contemplate and pray on the topic of discernment, says Fr Kevin, adding that, “Francis deploys the image of light amid and against the darkness , he asks you to look to the true stars, all those varied signs God gives us to guide our way. God lights up stars to help us keep walking.”
‘Lament and Love’ is the title of an article by Fr John Cullen, priest of the Elphin Diocese who works with the homeless in London. His article reflects on the theme of ‘lamenting’ both in the Gospel and in today’s world. He says lamenting is “An expression of the weeping voice of God, in whose image we are made” and that “The sound of personal lament is both ancient and timeless”. Fr Cullen reminds us that when we pray in attentive inner silence we catch the echo of the voice of God in surprising places and people – a source of healing. He notes “In a world where some political leaders bellow with crass indifference and order assaults on compassion, let us be attentive to the movement of the Spirit and know that it is in the love of God we find rest.”
Zaoro Hyacinthe Loua SJ is executive director of Solidarity with South Sudan, an organisation of religious women and men who serve and help the poor. He has written an article about the work of the organisation, founded in 2008 in response to a request from the Catholic bishops of Sudan. Zaoro says that “Since its creation, Solidarity with South Sudan succeeded in training 834 primary school teachers, 393 nurses and midwives, over 2700 farmers, and more than 3000 pastoral agents.” The organisation has remained in the country throughout repeated cycles of civil war, and has continued to work responding to emergencies. “It is a country that is suffering, but it’s people show extraordinary resilience and hope for the future. It is a privilege to be here.”
Brendan McManus SJ shares his advice on coping with phobias. He recently had to face a phobia relating to a medical procedure himself. He shares, “It can really help to create a mantra or phrase that you repeat to yourself often, for example ‘Be still and know that I am God’ is a very consoling phrase when you are in an emotional storm and need to find calm, or ‘I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe’.”
Gerard Conden is parish priest of Killavullen, County Cork and Director of Mission and Ministry in the Diocese of Cloyne. He has written a piece on welcoming the new Pope Leo XIV. He comments “Few people recognised the name Robert Prevost. Yet the speed with which the cardinals chose the new Pope suggests that there was considerable support for his election, even prior to the conclave”.
The Messenger has all its regular features as well, – reflections, scripture, cookery, crosswords, children’s pages, nature focus, and RE:LINK.
