July Reflection
Profile of Nano Nagle
In the face of fear, she chose to be daring,
In the face of anxiety, she chose to trust,
In the face of impossibility, she chose to begin.
To universal misery, she opposed ministry to persons,
To ignorance, knowledge,
To disillusionment, tenacity of purpose,
And to multiple vexations, singleness of heart.
Faced with failure, she held fast to hope,
Faced with death, she believed in a living future,
And a programme for that future she gave in one word, LOVE
Raphael Considine, pbvm
“Providence has ordered everything for the best”Nano Nagle (Letter 1V) (Letter X1V)
July’s reflections based on the saying above:
During my life, there have been incidents and I have wondered why this or that has happened - especially when its been difficult or I have struggled to accept the situation.
It is only in looking back that I can see the learning or the reason for being in a particular community/ministry. Sometimes what I have wanted to happen has happened but months or years later and I realise – it was God’s right time. I may still carry some hurt or burden, but reflecting on what Nano wrote c.250 years ago, and the difficulties and challenges that she underwent, I wonder at why I have carried a grudge instead of like Nano - saying “Providence has ordered everything for the best”. What has happened to me is because God allowed it to for a reason - to help me grow; to be in a particular place and a particular time to meet someone for some reason. What comes to mind is Cardinal Newman’s prayer...
“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.”
So for example - If the Ursulines had done what Nano wanted them to do - would we be here today?