In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort
"Footsteps Online"
November 2003 (Volume 8, Issue 2)
Journeying in Faith with Jesus Wisdom
Eileen Bulley, an Associate of the Daughters of Wisdom in Scotland, writes of an experience of growing in Wisdom.
"Footsteps": a wiser man than I once said "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single footstep", and this is true of all journeys, both physical and spiritual, that we make. Some time ago a group of women-friends and I took a short trip from our homes in Paisley to Nunraw Abbey near Haddington. This journey took about an hour and a half so no great length of time. We hoped that the journey that we would make once we arrived would be, if not great in duration, one of great reward.
I was returning to Nunraw after an absence of a couple of years during which time I had been ill, and unable to make the trip, but now I felt happy and blessed to be a part of this group, which was to make a short retreat as "Women of Wisdom", associates of the Daughters of Wisdom.
Daughter of Wisdom Sr. Maria Maguire was to be our guide on this journey we were to make together. Gently and knowledgeably she took us a step at a time until we gained the strength to open our hearts and minds to one another, and to realise that not one among us would judge our innermost feelings with anything other than our own small stock of wisdom that over the period of a few years had grown with each similar journey we had made together.
The theme of our Retreat was "Journeying in faith with Jesus Wisdom", and we worked in three small groups, having previously decided what each group's topic was going to be.
Our first session was entitled "Inner Journey". The journey we make within ourselves, and with each other. We looked at trust, consolation, hope and faith and finally the 'sacrament' of "Letting Go".
We read a poem about how we all wear masks to cover any number of things that happen to us as individuals. I found this to be very true of myself, especially over the past two years when I had been so ill. There had been times when inside I felt lost and sometimes without hope of ever getting better, but on the outside I put on a brave face for my family and friends. I know that some others at this meeting also realised that at different times in their lives they had done the same thing, i.e. worn a mask. However, they too had at some time undertaken in their own way the 'sacrament' of "Letting Go", and accepting God into their hearts and minds. We had all been better able to cope with the problems life sent our way, because we realised, with each footstep, that God was with us.
Our second session was "The road to Emmaus". This included the reading of St. Luke's Gospel when the two disciples were walking along the road. We tried to imagine ourselves making this journey in the same frame of mind as the disciples were in at that time. After a short discussion we had a break of forty minutes to reflect on things. We could wander outside or wherever we felt most comfortable. We could choose to be alone or join some of the others. I myself walked with two friends and although we did not make notes or consciously talk about the reading itself we discussed the ways our own lives were going at present. We felt the need for God's support and wisdom to help us on the journey we were undertaking at that moment.
On our return to the group we discussed various things that had come to light during our forty minutes' reflection. For me it was related to a journey I had made many years ago when I was baptised. I then took God into myself. It was now a time to reaffirm my commitment to God and thank Him for His Wisdom in bringing into my life the friendship of those with me at this time. These friends have given me their friendship and loving support during my illness. Many prayers were said for me during this time and I was so very grateful to have the opportunity to say "thank you!"
Our last session was "The faith journey continues". This was a reminder that "Wisdom" challenges us daily to live with God in our lives and to try and use the Wisdom and Love He has bestowed upon us as we journey through life. We had a reading and hymns during this last get together and were able to collect our final thoughts on the discussions that had gone before. The women in the last group had created a small service of anointing. This consisted of each of us being anointed with the "Oil of Gladness". We then received a small lighted candle to be "a light in God's world". We then stood in a circle and joined hands to create a circle of LIGHT and WISDOM, and to receive God's Blessing as we continued to journey back into our daily lives.
May Wisdom he in our minds, and in our thinking.
May Wisdom he in our hearts, and in our perceiving.
May Wisdom be in our mouths, and in our speaking.
May Wisdom he in our hands, and in our working.
May Wisdom be in our feet, and in our walking.
May Wisdom be in our bodies, and in our loving.
May Wisdom be in us all the days of our lives.
