AMDG

Thanks be to God and the Blessed Mother of His Son for many blessings received during my recent 8-day guided retreat at St Beuno's Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Wales.

Dear Js. They raised me, so to speak – my convent school was in a Jesuit parish. They taught me how to think, as a young person, and when I became an adult they taught me the balance of faith and reason. One Jesuit in particular was a faithful friend for many decades until his death not so long ago.

I had always kind of followed the Js in the Great Dispute with the OPs about free will and grace... and then I got to know the OPs and heard their side of the story. As the time came for me to make a decision about becoming a Dominican, I confessed to a theologian friar that I thought I still might be a bit of a Molinist. He thought that, since I was not actually applying to be a friar, we could let that be our little secret...

Since then, I have learned a lot. I am no longer a 'secret Jesuit' or even a Molinist but a full-hearted and happy Dominican. That is what I remained throughout the eight blessed days of silence in the guided retreat at St Beuno's, learning once again, from a wonderful Ignatian retreat guide, the inestimable value to Christian spiritual life of the gift that is our brother St Ignatius of Loyola.

In the unlikely event that any of them is reading this, I'm remembering in my prayers of gratitude all my retreat companions, 'a very prayerful bunch', according to the director. God be with you. And may Our Lady preserve St Beuno's and all who sail in her.

Been a bit busy!

Our fraternity in Cambridge has been setting up a new blog/website. What with that and all the excitements following the annual congress in Hull, not to mention summer holidays, I haven't been here for a while.

Tsk. An idle blog is a waste of space. Must try harder!

If you want to check that I am still this side of Heaven, you may well find me over at the Cambridge Fraternity blog.

But not for the next couple of weeks. Off to St Beuno's. Eight days IGR (plus two travelling). Something I have always wanted to do but in past years when I could go they had no slot for me. And now, finally!  Hmm... scary or inspiring? I wonder...  Either way, I can't wait!

I love the Js. I was raised by them. Before Admission to the Dominicans I was wondering whether the OPs would actually accept me as I'd always felt very J-ish and was a bit unsure about The Great Dispute.

I confessed to an eminent friar-theologian that I might (whisper it!) be a bit of a Molinist on the quiet. He reassured me that since I wasn't applying to be a friar (tricky for a woman) we could safely let that be our little secret, implying, I supposed, 'You will learn, duckie, you will learn.' I have!

But I still love the Js. And funnily enough, one of the spiritual directors at St B's is (or was) a Dominican sister. I wonder who I'll get. Whoever you are, I am very grateful to you.