Читать книгу The Little Book of Lent: Daily Reflections from the World’s Greatest Spiritual Writers - Arthur Howells - Страница 7

This anthology is composed of extracts from several spiritual writers who have become favourites of mine and to whom I frequently return. As we make our journey through Lent I hope that these readings, together with the scripture texts and prayers which accompany them, may encourage and challenge us and that through them God will speak to us.

There are many ways in which this book may be used. For most readers it will provide that little ‘extra’ to their daily Bible reading during this season. Others may find it helpful to meet with a friend or neighbour each day, spending some time pondering over the readings, sharing insights, listening to each other and simply being quiet before God. One of the effects of such listening is that we begin to appreciate that no two people pray in the same way and that the text or reading has a different message for each person. Then we may begin to appreciate that God has something to say to us through the insights of others.

It is my privilege to dedicate this small book to Graham Chadwick. He was a Welshman, born in 1923 and ordained in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, where he began his ministry as curate of Oystermouth, Swansea. He subsequently served as Diocesan Missioner in Lesotho, then as university chaplain at Swansea and in 1976 was consecrated Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman in the Province of South Africa. In 1982 his opposition to apartheid and vigorous support for his clergy, many of whom were tortured or imprisoned, led the civil authorities to expel him from the country. He returned to Wales, becoming assistant to the Bishop of St Asaph and subsequently to Bishop David Sheppard in Liverpool. Throughout this period he immersed himself in supporting and teaching those who felt called to accompany people on their prayer journey, especially by promoting the Ignatian Exercises, and travelled far and wide teaching and lecturing on the elements of prayer and spirituality. At the age of seventy-two, in 1995 he was appointed the first Director of Spirituality for Sarum College – a post he held for three years until his retirement, when he continued to exercise the role of spiritual director until his death in 2007. As well as being a skilled counsellor and teacher, he was a friend and encourager to many.

I am most grateful to Andrew Lyon of William Collins Publishers for all his help in getting this anthology published, to Rhona Bennett for editing the prayers and providing such valuable suggestions, and to the Archbishop of Wales for agreeing to write the foreword.

ARTHUR HOWELLS