Lenten Reflections

We asked spiritual directors in Loretto about their current spiritual practices and recommended practices for Lent.

Sister Johanna Brian SL

Practices close to my heart right now: “I live in conscious awareness that we are spinning out of control as a global society and that the source of the chaos is our failure to share, to change and to accept the reality that we are all one family together with all living beings on this planet Earth. My current spiritual practice is to devote serious time to the practice of contemplative prayer praying for the wisdom, clarity and energy to carry the fruits of my prayer forward into beneficial action to build a future where we can survive and thrive.”

Recommended spiritual practice for Lent: “I love Lent, which means springtime. My mind automatically goes to gardening and spring housecleaning – both of which bring a lot of work and a lot of emotional, mental and spiritual relief. I think the old categories of fasting, prayer and almsgiving are still wonderful implements to use in dealing with the physical, mental and spiritual rubbish that needs to go and the new growth that needs to come. I also find the energy generated by our common focus to be helpful to access the discipline I need to get started and keep at it for 40 days!”

Co-member Sandra Hareld

“The spiritual practice closest to my heart right now is my weekly Zoom community Hebrew chanting of Scripture from the Psalms, the Song of Songs and Isaiah. We are led by a New Mexican rabbi, Shefa Gold, who intersperses the chanting with her personal teachings, as well as readings from Sufi, Christian, Buddhist and Jewish spiritual teachers. I also practice contemplative prayer, both alone and with members of Loretto Link. My spiritual reading at this time is focused on the writings of John O’Donahue, Mirabai Starr and Father Richard Rohr. I meet once a week with a spiritual companion to share the gratitudes and struggles of our spiritual journeys.”

Sister Mary Ellen McElroy SL

My spiritual practices (as a human being who happens to be a spiritual director)

“For several years now, I pray in the morning for the suffering of our world. I remember in prayer many of those that I have met in spiritual direction in the past, and pray also for my family members, etc. Also daily I repeat the Pax Christi ‘Vow of Nonviolence’ and Teilhard Chardin’s ‘Consecration to the Holy Spirit.’

“During the day I try to be aware of the Spirit within me when I need Her help or when I realize that She is guiding me and loving me, and I just talk with Her. These are special moments when we laugh and cry or just remain in silence. She teaches me a lot!”

Co-member JoAnn Gates

“I’m deepening in my awareness of how my body, my nervous system and my spiritual well-being are intimately woven together, and so my commitment to exercise and yoga is growing, and it feels like another way to be present and aware. Also, I’m in a monthslong class/retreat on Ignatian spirituality through the lens of Teilhard de Chardin, and so my prayer has frequently become imagined conversations with the very-human, constantly-discerning and large-minded historical Jesus. The more I ‘get inside’ the humanity of Jesus and what burned in him, the more I want to live close to and out of the particular way that same Fire burns within me. That might sound very lofty; mostly it’s one slooow baby step after another!”

Co-member Kim Klein

What spiritual practices are close to your heart right now?

“I am practicing being curious. Every morning I think of all the people I will encounter during the day and think about what questions I can ask them to show that I am interested in them, I see and care about them. As a result I am much less impatient, and I find my daily life much more fascinating.”

Do you have any recommended spiritual practices for this season of Lent?

“I remind myself that Julian of Norwich, in the middle of a worldwide deadly plague, repeated over and over ‘All shall be well. All shall be well. All manner of things shall be well.’ She did not deny suffering but was convinced that God’s love would be the final word. What is happening now is not the end of the story, and our resilience is part of the final ending.”