Sheila Waller suggested that we use the prayer card above. It was printed by Malling Abbey, where she meets with the West Malling Julian meeting. It says that the waiting and the stillness IS the prayer. It appears to have been individually typed. It is referred to as ‘PAX 688’. Original card and text©️Malling Abbey.
If you want to find out more about the Anglican Benedictine community there, visit https://www.mallingabbey.org/
Here are two quotations from ‘The Sayings of the Fathers’, who wrote in the second and third centuries, from Jill Duff and Nicholas Heale, ‘Held in God’s Gaze’.
Abba Anthony said, ‘I do not fear God any more, but love him – because “love casts out fear”’ (1 John 4:18)
Some brothers, accompanied by some seculars (lay people), came towards the Abbot Felix and asked him if he would utter a teaching for them. And the old man was silent. But when they persisted at length with their request, he said, ‘You want to hear a teaching?’ and they said, ‘Of course, Father’.
So the old man said, ‘These days there are no teachings. When the brothers used to make enquiry of the elders, and they did as they had been instructed, God granted the means to speak. But now, because they question everything, and do not put it into practice, God has withdrawn this grace of teaching from the elders; nor can they find anything to say, since no one heeds what they have to say.’
Hearing this, the brothers sighed deeply and said, ‘Pray for us, Father’. ©️Nicholas Heale
Then Nicholas speaks about the true basis of the ‘spiritual life’, from his own experience:
‘Even so, something has continued to beguile me, to seduce me.
“O Lord, you have enticed me and I was enticed;
You have overpowered me, and you have prevailed . Jer.20:7.
It is this that I understand to be the basis of ‘the spiritual life’.” ©️Nicholas Heale
Jill Duff and Nicholas Heale, ‘Held in God’s Gaze’. Their book continues with many other rich examples of how they have been inspired by people through the ages.
This Enticing God is referred to by John Francis Friendship in this poem, written while on retreat last month. He spent time in silent prayer in front of the circular bread reserved from a celebration of Communion.
LOVE BADE ME WELCOME (II) – John Francis Friendship.
Love draws us here,
His Presence a magnet
attracting a hidden likeness
He knows we have but
only perceived in hints
and guesses by us.
Moments when a Light breaks through
but then, withdraws that we should ever
seek Him.
Here is that Presence –
that white circle of beauty
shining brightly through the glass,
holding us in Love
until the moment we must
leave (for it is we, not Him,
who must depart).
©️ John-Francis Friendship 2026
The first line is drawn from George Herbert’s poem of that name.
In his sonnet ‘East London’, Matthew Arnold 1822 – 1888 wrote about meeting a preacher who found strength from a similar source, albeit of a contrasting Christian tradition:
‘Twas August, and the fierce sun overhead
Smote on the squalid streets of Bethnal Green,
And the pale weaver, through his windows seen
In Spitalfields, looked thrice dispirited.
I met a preacher there I knew, and said:
‘Ill and overworked, how fare you in this scene?’
‘Bravely!’ said he: ‘’For I of late have been
Much cheered with thoughts of Christ, the living bread.’
And from William Barclay (1907 – 1978), ‘Jesus as they Saw Him’, on the Manna provided by God on the escape across the desert, referred to by Jesus when he called himself ‘the Bread of Life’ (John 6:35).
The qualities of the manna were even more wonderful. The manna was said to be angels’ food, distilled from the upper light, ‘the dew from above’. It was said to answer to every taste and every age. It varied in itself according to the need and wish and condition of the eater. Whatever the eater needed, that the manna was. Here then is the claim of Jesus that, whatever be the need of any man, he can satisfy it. ©️William Barclay 1962
In our silence, we come to receive the living spiritual bread of the presence of Christ among us. It is not only the hope of the glory to come, but it is glory here and now. ©️ Blog Editor
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