As we begin a new school year it’s a very Ignatian practice to reflect on the past and contemplate our present situation and what we believe we are being guided to in the future.
Meditating on the ‘now’ in the presence of God helps us determine the better way forward. For our new students and families this contemplation may have seemingly endless possibilities and a sense of great excitement. For some in our college community this contemplation may be difficult or even seem limited dependent on their situation. Regardless of where you find yourself you can be inspired by St Ignatius who, at Manresa and guided by God, was transformed and found a new and greater purpose.
At present many of us find ourselves concerned about COVID and frustrated about the ongoing disruptions to our daily lives.
We are all a little wound up or maybe even feel trapped by things we can’t necessarily control. For me the present reminds me of a yo-yo trick, the cat’s cradle, that I never perfected in my youth. My attempts at the cat’s cradle would invariably end up in a lengthy period of untangling the string of my yo-yo. But even though it was a challenge, it was well worth it. I was lucky enough to have one of the Coke-a-Cola yo-yos and the string for those cost more than a Chomp bar at the Milk Bar.
Although I never perfected the cats’ cradle I got better at it and the time it took to untangle the mess became shorter over time. Along the way my patience grew without me noticing. My confidence and objectivity grew as I knew that my attempt would get close but probably fail, and when it all went wrong the tangle wasn’t as bad.
As we begin the year I think this is a fitting allegory for where we find ourselves today. We can’t control what happens around us, but we can refine our focus and we will have a better outcome in the future.
If when you take a moment to meditate on the present you find that you feel tangled up by something take some time to be in that situation and consider it carefully. You may be joyfully tangled in all that is vying for your attention or you may feel a little trapped by things beyond your control. Regardless of what you observe ensure that God is part of this review. On this theme I suggest Pope Francis’ favourite prayer might be a go to. Francis offers this prayer that may help you over the next few weeks as you consider the present and seek God’s insight for a way to proceed.
Pope Francis’ Prayer to Our Lady, Undoer of knots:
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love,
Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need,
Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart,
cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.
You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots.
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the Evil One himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands, there is no knot that cannot be undone.
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with your Son and my liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot [Mention your petition here].
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope.
O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.
Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, O safe refuge.
Amen
I hope that the time you spend meditating on the present and your desire for God’s insight for the future is fulfilled and that Mary may intercede for you and undo the knots you may not be able to on your own.
Brendan Nicholls is liturgy coordinator at St Ignatius College, Geelong.