Monthly Archives: May 2025

Prayer Card

Posted on by
Reply

I hold in my hand
the profession prayer card
of Sr Marie Placide.

The prayer card depicts
what the naked eye can see.

An empty altar in darkness,
its candles unlit
and a barely discernible figure
of a nun kneeling in prayer
as she gazes into the darkness.
A scene of solitude and blackness.

But as I contemplate the image
over some days
I gradually come to realise
that the prayer card also depicts
what eyes of faith can see.

Jesus hanging on the cross,
blood dripping from His side
into a chalice.
Blood also dripping
from Jesus’s pierced hands
and forming the words
“Graces and Mercy”.

Above Jesus’s head
hovers the Holy Ghost
while God the Father,
arms extended in benediction,
looks down at His son
on the cross.

Beside the cross
stands Our Lady,
Rosary beads in hand
and a lighted candle at her feet.

Light blazes
from Jesus on the cross,
and from God the Father,
the Holy Ghost and Our Lady.

A realization that every altar
is a truly sacred space
even when the chapel is,
to all appearances,
empty
because of the great sacrifice of love
that has been offered there.
A sense that, when I kneel in prayer
before the altar,
I am in a place that is, literally,
awesome.

And as I continue my morning prayer
I say a wee prayer
for Sr Marie Placide
(whom I have never met)
that she may draw ever closer
to Our Lord Jesus Christ
as she lives out her vocation
as an SSPX sister.

© Claire Murray, 11th May 2023

dav

Mourne Park

Posted on by
Reply

It’s a warm spring day,
as hot as summer,
and we drive to Mourne Park,
near Kilkeel
to go for a walk.

Sun-hats on as we step out
into a hot, dusty car park.
A short walk
along a concrete road
past calves snoozing in the sun
before stepping into the welcome shade
of woodland.
Pools of sunlight
and dappled shade.
The hyacinth scent of bluebells
and the raspberry fragrance
of Douglas Firs
has us sniffing air like Bisto kids
as we walk along.

The Whitewater River
slips slowly by,
pouring gently
over massive granite boulders
as a fish leaps
into the air.
Glassy, timeless waters!

A local rambler stops to chat,
recounting sightings
from decades of visiting Mourne Park –
a family of badgers
slipping down to the Whitewater
for a drink,
fox cubs playing
with their mother,
and a secret butterfly-filled path.

Mourne Park is her very own
little slice of Heaven,
this lady tells us.
A place where she feels
very close to nature
and very close to God.
From the mountain top
she loves to watch the lighthouse
which reminds her
that God is by her side,
constantly.

I think of the wee red sanctuary lamp
in the chapel,
my own constant reminder
that God is home
and I sense that, in this local lady,
I have found a kindred spirit.

We dander back to our car,
savouring the birdsong
that fills the air
and marvelling
at the quiet, peaceful beauty
in this very special place.

Today we spent a glorious spring day
in Mourne Park
and I’m convinced that,
when we were there,
God was very, very near!

© Claire Murray, 1st May 2025

Easter Hope

Posted on by
1

It’s the season of Easter,
a time of great hope
for Christians
and I see this hope reflected
as I’m out and about.

I see this hope in our garden
where a spikey lupin
and a dappled, heart-shaped flower
have sprouted tiny fragments of root
after a flower bed
was completely dug-over
in autumn.
Two truly triumphant survivors
that make me smile!

I see this hope
on an abandoned building site.
Rusty scaffolding here
has recently had a “make-over”
as the colourful Montana climber
clambered all over it,
festooning it in pale pink flowers.
Such beauty on a building site –
who would have thought?

I see this hope
at Banagher Glen
where a section of oak
which has been completely severed
from its roots,
is now sprouting tiny oak branches
as it lies alongside a steep, grassy bank
where water trickles by
and the afternoon sun gently shines.
Wonderful!

As I carry this Easter hope
in my heart,
I’m deeply aware
of Reshma and Dylan
who are currently undergoing
medical treatment.
For Reshma and her family
as well as for Dylan and Eimear,
the last few months have been
one … long … gruelling …
o – r – d – e – a – l.

Walking through Banagher
I place Reshma and her family
along with Dylan and Eimear
in the loving care
of God.
I pray that they, too,
may be filled with Easter hope.

And in a tree nearby,
a cuckoo calls.

© Claire Murray, 10th May, 2025

Not Having to go Home

Posted on by
Reply

We’re down in Newcastle
for the week.
Just the first day done so far
and we’re having a ball!

Stunning views of Slieve Donard
(and a red squirrel!)
from the living room window
as we eat breakfast.

A wee dander to Tollymore
along quiet country roads
lined with wild flowers
of pink and purple,
white and yellow.
Coffee in the sun
before we dander home again.

An afternoon walk in the sunshine
along Murlough beach
relishing the cool breeze,
gazing out at a shimmering, blue sea
and smiling at doggy-antics
along the strand.

An evening walk
along a bridle path
brings its own discoveries –
a freshly-excavated badger set,
leaping lambs, scurrying bunnies
and even a peacock or two!

All the while,
surrounded by birdsong
(no motorway traffic here!)

Best of all is the prospect
of doing it all again tomorrow
(please God!)
as we don’t have to go home again
for a whole week!

Life is tough, Lord.
Thank You for this wee break
from life’s trials.
Thank You for precious family time.
Thank You for the luxury
of a whole week together
in Newcastle.
(Yay!!!)

© Claire Murray, April 2025