Wednesday 12th August, 2009
ST JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL. Deuteronomy 34:1-12. Blessed be God who filled my soul with life! —Ps 65(66) :1-3, 5, 16-17. Matthew 18:15‑20.

  
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‘Where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them,’

Visitors to Loyola House at Guelph in Canada during the 40 day Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Institute notice something is different. The presence of 20-30 people spending hours a day in silent prayer creates the almost tangible atmosphere of an encounter with the transcendent.

In 2001, we had free time before we began the retreat proper. During the recreational time, a man in a wheelchair entered and just sat there, watching. Later I discovered he was John Veltri SJ, who with John English SJ, had founded the retreat centre. I realised then he had wanted to be with a group of people who were about to move into an encounter with God that could well change their lives.

Jesus, help me trust that you really will be with a group that gathers in your name and that you will grant what they ask.