A city based enclosed order of nuns has produced a book aimed at calming and nourishing the soul.
The Poor Clare contemplative nuns who came to Galway in 1642 and live at Nuns’ Island, say the book which was published today (Thursday ) highlights the importance of allowing our souls to become tranquil.
In Calm the Soul: A Book of Simple Wisdom and Prayer the sisters draw on the fruits of their monastic lives and suggest simple practices to help nourish our souls and find a sense of calm in today’s world.
With practical advice in preparing for prayer, the Poor Clares, whose lives centre around prayer and reflection, look at the importance of silence in our lives. They suggest ways we can slowly build up the amount of time spent in prayer, silence and meditation to achieve a sense of peace and wellbeing in our daily lives.
Combining reflections on familiar prayers, such as the Our Father and Hail Mary with meditations on Scripture and prayers for specific needs such as depression, self-esteem and sickness, Calm the Soul is an inspiring book of simple spirituality which aims to offer faith and hope to anyone seeking solace in today’s world.
“To allow the word of God to work on us we need to let silence penetrate our souls,” say the Sisters. “We must allow our souls to become tranquil. Then, like drops of water sinking into a still pond we let the ripples go forth, touching the deepest recesses of our hearts. Let the sound of these words of the Lord echo and re-echo within you and find a home there.”
The Order of St Clare was founded by St Clare, a contemporary of St Francis of Assisi in Italy in 1212 and first came to Ireland in 1629. St Clare was the first woman in the church to write the Rule of Life for religious women.
There are five Poor Clare monasteries in Ireland. Though they are enclosed and unable to leave the monastery more than a few times a year the sisters regularly receive visitors who draw on the sense of calm and peace of the community there.
The Poor Clares take vows of poverty and enclosure. Their day centres around a balanced rhythm of work and prayer. They say prayer is the golden thread which permeates and sanctifies their daily activities.
