It feels as though God has always been tugging at my sleeve. When I was at school, I seriously considered entering the convent, and read a very inspiring book about the Benedictine Rule. This is a document written by St. Benedict in the sixth century which set out how monasteries should be run. It became the foundation for organising religious life in community and much of it is still relevant today. I still remember a quote from the book, describing convents and monasteries “powerhouses of prayer”. I have always loved that image and it came back to me again on my recent retreat. I spent four days at the Friary of St. Francis at Alnmouth and was reminded of what a life steeped in prayer looks like. I had already decided that, as part of my retreat, I would follow the worship practices of the Franciscans brothers, who live and work at the Friary. Life revolves around prayer and worship. A bell rings ten minutes before each activity, including meals. Morning prayer is at 7am, midday prayer is followed by Mass, evening prayer is at 5pm, and Compline or night prayer at 9pm leads the community into silence, which remains in place until after breakfast the following day. It was an interesting experience to live life by the bell. I was on retreat, so my time between chapel sessions was my own to use and it was spent mainly in reading and reflecting on the Jesus that we meet in the gospels. I kept wondering how it would be to be trying to do the tasks of everyday life and keep having to stop to go to chapel and worship. Would I get cross that God was ‘interrupting my day’ or would I just get into the daily rhythm and become accustomed to managing my time accordingly?
In every prayer time, we remembered people in prayer – those in the local parish and in leadership in the Anglican communion, members of the Franciscan community all over the world and those in our own personal prayers. Many of these people were mentioned by name. It was lovely to hear one of my city centre clergy colleagues in Newcastle being prayed for on the first day I was there. There were two other aspects of this prayer-centred life which appealed to me. In my room was a note about what to do on the day of departure from the Friary. I was asked to strip and re-make the bed, and also say a prayer for the person who would next stay in the room. What a hospitable and welcoming thing to do! After lunch, before we left the dining room, we said the Lord’s prayer, on behalf of “those who will not pray today and those who do not pray.” On the days we are consumed by life and do not think of God, our brothers at the Friary are holding us up in prayer and praying on our behalf. A powerhouse of prayer indeed.
God bless
Cecilia
In every prayer time, we remembered people in prayer – those in the local parish and in leadership in the Anglican communion, members of the Franciscan community all over the world and those in our own personal prayers. Many of these people were mentioned by name. It was lovely to hear one of my city centre clergy colleagues in Newcastle being prayed for on the first day I was there. There were two other aspects of this prayer-centred life which appealed to me. In my room was a note about what to do on the day of departure from the Friary. I was asked to strip and re-make the bed, and also say a prayer for the person who would next stay in the room. What a hospitable and welcoming thing to do! After lunch, before we left the dining room, we said the Lord’s prayer, on behalf of “those who will not pray today and those who do not pray.” On the days we are consumed by life and do not think of God, our brothers at the Friary are holding us up in prayer and praying on our behalf. A powerhouse of prayer indeed.
God bless
Cecilia
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