We are delighted to announce that Father Laurence Freeman OSB will lead a live meditation event in Dublin on the evening of Tuesday 13 September 2022. This will be our first national in-person event since the beginning of the pandemic and we are very excited to welcome Fr. Laurence back to Dublin.
The event will take place in the Church of the Ascension in Balally Parish on Cedar Road, Balally, Dublin, D16 E032 and will run from 7 – 9 p.m. It will be followed by refreshments in the Parish Centre. The theme for the evening of meditation and reflection will be ‘Meditation & Growth in Consciousness‘; it will focus on the basics of meditation and its fruits in deepening our consciousness of our true nature.
The evening will include two talks from Fr Laurence, two meditation sessions and an opportunity to pose questions to Laurence and to view a range of books and CDs on meditation.
While the event is free, we ask that you register your intention through Eventbrite by clicking here – click on TICKETS and then REGISTER, adding your name and email. This will help us to plan for the event and ensure adequate arrangements and refreshments! Those attending will have an opportunity to make an anonymous voluntary donation in the course of the evening. Book your free place now!.
BENEDICT
Find blessedness in blessing, peace in praise,
A modest, gentle, moderate attempt,
With nothing made too harsh or hard to bear,
No treating or retreating with contempt,
A little rule, a small obedience
That sets aside, and tills the chosen ground,
Fruitful humility, chosen innocence,
A binding by which freedom might be found
You call us all to live, and see good days,
Centre in Christ and enter in his peace,
To seek his Way amidst our many ways,
You sought to start a simple school of prayer,
To clear and keep for Love a sacred space
That we might be beginners in God’s grace.
Today is the feast day of St Benedict who is regarded as the father of Western monasticism. All of us who meditate and associate ourselves with the World Community for Christian Meditation are part of a world-wide Benedictine community. For Benedict, everything takes place within the context of community. whether he is talking about prayer, relationships, work, or any aspect of our lives. Benedict makes no reference to a specific place or location, but rather a way of life, based on the teaching of Jesus. Whether we live in a ‘monastery without walls’ or with other monastics, we are truly a part of a community and are united to one another. As John Main often said ‘Meditation creates community.’
In our last newsletter we gave you an opportunity to make a donation towards our work. All of our activities are voluntary and many people give freely of their time and energy to animate and support the community. We appreciate that others who were not in a position to volunteer might wish to support the community by making a donation. To date we have raised €925 and we are very grateful to all who made donations which ranged from €25 to €500. THANK YOU so much for your generosity!
We made the appeal for two reasons. Firstly because we have a number of standing costs which arise even when we were unable to organise events because of the pandemic. These repeating costs include public liability insurance, accountancy fee, website hosting, and bank charges and come to about €1,500 each year. And secondly, we were hoping to upgrade the technology behind our website. Because of your contributions we are now able to begin that work. Go raibh mle maith agaibh!
If you would like to make a donation you can do so at any time. The simplest way to make a payment to us right now is to make a payment from your online bank account to ours. Our bank account details (AIB, Blackrock) are as follows: IBAN: IE13 AIBK 9336 7811 7510 32 and Swift/BIC Number: AIBKIE2D
So that we can send you a receipt, we ask that you enter your email address when making the transfer in the space that will identify the person making the transfer. Alternatively you can send a cheque made out to Christian Meditation Ireland and send it to Noel Keating, 4 The Glade, Oak Park Road, Carlow, R93 DD76 and he will send you a receipt in due course, so be sure to include your name and address if sending a cheque.
Go to the Limits of Your Longing
by Rainer Maria Rilke
Listen
God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
then walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear:
You, sent out beyond your recall,
go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.
Flare up like a flame
and make big shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don’t let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand.
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