A bizarre, thought-provoking quote made me reflect seriously: “Dating should be less about matching outwards circumstance than meeting your inner necessity”. An amazing quote for human dating! But much more interesting is when I was dated by an extraordinary Being, an unfathomable Power, which my limited nature humbly calls God!

I don’t blame you if are laughing at my subsequent strange reflections. Perhaps the more incredulous they look, the more truth lies beneath their uncomplicated words. Nevertheless, their spirit simply verifies their authenticity, for it to be embraced and interiorised. I have always been taught and told thousands of times, that God works in mysterious ways. I’m sure that he does, otherwise how can he behave divinely, at least with me?

Some weeks ago, a lady generously gave me a wonderful whitish rosary bead, together with a cute booklet entitled ‘A Rosary to the Holy Spirit’. Both the booklet and the bead fascinated me. I never knew that there is such a thing as a Rosary to the Holy Spirit. As I leafed through the booklet, I was discouraged at first. In fact, for a time, I decided to shelve the booklet and rosary beads altogether, until one day, I deeply felt that God was seriously knocking on my heart’s door. As days rolled by, my innermost being was craving for God.

Fortunately, my decisive return to Mater Dei Hospital to resume my pastoral work as one of the on-duty chaplains helped me a great deal.

Following many internal no’s to interiority with God, my soul finally surrendered to him with a resounding though shaking yes. Immediately, I phoned the Poor Clares Monastery to confirm my innermost will in accepting God’s date. The Mother Superior gave me permission to spend some time in this spiritual oasis.

Since nature’s beauty leaves me dumbfounded, I chose the monastery’s huge garden to meditate and pray this extraordinary prayer. The ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’ prayer set me on track. “Come oh Holy Spirit, Creator, visit our minds, fill with your grace the hearts that you created”. I was deeply struck by an initial prayer-phrase which plainly asked Father God to help me taste, in the Holy Spirit, true knowledge and “to always enjoy his comfort”. Awesome!

The Holy Spirit Rosary is made up of seven biblical mysteries. Jesus is conceived within the blessed womb of the Virgin Mary, thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:31-35). Jesus is consecrated Messiah by the Holy Spirit in the River Jordan (Luke 3:21-22). Jesus dies on the cross to free the world from sin and give the world the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 1:28-30). Jesus gives the apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they may forgive sins (John 20:19-23). Jesus and the Father, on the occasion of Pentecost, give outpourings of the Holy Spirit: The Church, constituted in power, opens itself up to the mission of the world (Acts 2:1-4). For the first time, the Holy Spirit comes down upon pagans (Acts 10:44-48). Lastly, the Holy Spirit guides the Church at all times by giving it his gifts (Rom 8:26-27).

Each mystery follows this pattern. On the gold-coloured bead, one prays an our Father. On the silver coloured bead, a Hail Mary. While on the seven white-coloured beads, the person ardently prays: “Come oh Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful, illuminate within them the fire of your love”. The Rosary concludes with heartfelt litanies and an act of consecration to the Holy Spirit.

The internal peace and joy, which flowed from my heart, left me no doubt that God has successfully dated me!

■ Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Gwann