I have just been through a very revivifying experience that I would like to share.

I have spent 30 days on retreat, doing the exercises of St Ignatius away from TV, news, phones, etc in silence. And I realised again how great is God’s love for each of us. Not only does He forgive us any sin, no matter how great, so long as we are ready to forgive others and to repent, but He loves us in the same way and “measure” as He loves His Son Jesus Christ.

“I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.” – John 17: 22-23.

That was part of our Lord’s prayer to His Father just before the Passion. And in the exercises of St Ignatius 232 we are told to “dwell on my position before God, the angels and saints all seeking to favour me”. What more do we want?

God loves us as much as He loves His Son, and all the heavenly hosts are seeking to favour us! Isn’t it wonderful?

I would like to thank Fr P. Deguara SJ for his direction, without whom this experience would have been impossible, as well as Vicky Byrne, Sr Eustachia Schembri and Laurence Koppe, with whom I shared this experience.

M. Tellus Abela

SWIEQI