Real Love

Well, it is indeed all about LOVE. My retreat is over after 30 days of silence, prayer, reading, and reflection. And man what a splendid time guaranteed for all by the Master of the Universe. In a few days I will post a little dialogue that explains what this was all about. For now I am doing some other studying. Our group is doing a close examination of the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, and later this month I will be volunteering at the Oakland County Jail as a prison chaplain. Thanks for all the prayers that folks sent our way, and many many of you were in my prayers in particular.

For the next three months, I am living here at the Jesuit novitiate north of Detroit: 2599 Harvard Rd., Berkley, MI 48072.

All You Need Is Love

During the month of February (Feb 3 to March 5) myself and five other Jesuits will be engaged with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola ... the 30-day silent retreat. This retreat will be held at the Colombiere Center, a Jesuit retreat house just north of Detroit. This is also the location of our Jesuit infirmary, where all of us (Chicago and Detroit provinces) end up when we can no longer slurp our soup! Here is a shot of the building itself. See more at the "see my photos" link to the left.

Please pray for us during February, and feel free to convey to me any intentions you might have as we pray. Use the email link at the top left of this page (before Friday Feb 3). To see more of what this tertianship experience is about, click: http://www.jesuits-chi.org/publications/Partners/Partners_fall_2005/FA05_Formation.pdf

Much of this retreat will be spent reflecting upon the many magnificent gifts I have received from God ... many of which have come from knowing the people I love and care for. If you are reading this, that most likely includes YOU! So, thanks for showing me a little bit more of what God means by "LOVE."

Thanks very much for your love and prayers. Peace to all.

Long, Long, Long

Greetings from Detroit.

This is a view from my bedroom window here at the Jesuit novitiate in Berkley, Michigan. While the novices are away, five others and I are here until May as we complete our "tertianship" experiement. The final stage of formation before final vows. Thus far we have been reading closely the autobiography of Ignatius and now we are studying the history of the Jesuits.

Next up is the LONG retreat. Remember that we will be in seclusion up at our retreat house in Clarkston, Michigan for the "long retreat" ... the full 30-day Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. Please keep us in prayer.

Plus, if you have any intentions or prayer requests for me, please send them before Feb 1 to my email address: pafbanks@yahoo.com

If you would like more info about the tertianship stage, please click this link to read about us ...

http://www.jesuits-chi.org/publications/Partners/Partners_fall_2005/FA05_Formation.pdf

Peace to all.

Magical Mystery Tour

Bonjour from France. Here I am in front of Le Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris. But the mystery is to look closely to actually find me. Then look closely for the rising moon.

The pilgrimage to Paris was superb and relaxing. January is not the best time for tourism, so the city was mine for the asking. However, some chilly and cloudy mornings made it impossible to see much of this beautiful city. In this photo to the right, don't worry about not seeing the upper portion of the Eiffel Tower; it is covered in fog. And it was not a good idea to sip a cold drink at an outdoor cafe on the Champs-Elysses. But inside worked fine. And the museums!

See more photos on my Flickr site, the link is here just to the left on my blog page. Au revoir.

It's All Too Much

"It's All too much for me to take, the love that's shining all around us" Even though these are the words of the late great George Harrison, I apply them here to my visit last fall to Peru and especially to Machu Picchu.

This is the only picture that proves I was actually there, and I want to thank Nigel Young for passing it along. As many of you know from prevuious posts, I found a spiritual and very lasting peace in Peru. It has nourished me in the last few months and remains in my heart as a place of great power.

Having said that, I wish everyone the best of New Years ... expect the best and take advantage of the possibilities during the 12 days of Christmas. 2006 will only come this way but once. I pass on to you the words of the famed Megan McKenna, ...

"There is an ancient tradition that God gives each of us a gift for each of these 12 days ... but they are wrapped in the new clothes and rags, and papers of Incarnation ... so sometimes it's hard to recognize the gift until you open it, or you miss it, or don't think it's what you had in mind etc. So I pray you are alert to catch the gifts of God these 12 days ... they are always gifts of light and joy and hope ... and may the new year coming towards us be filled with peace, ever more peace for all of us and earth."

Visit Megan at http://meganmckenna.org/

With all the best wishes for a great year, I remain yours in the Lord.
Patrick

Let It Be

Gloria In Excelsis Deo
et Pax Hominibus Bonae Voluntatis

Imagine

Imagine all the people living life in peace.