Peace Be Still.

By David McDermott

This book, "Peace Be Still," is a book of inspired prayers written through turmoil, soul searching and pain to deepening faith, healing and calm.

There are homely resumes of the Psalms, reflections of the Holy Spirit and prayers prayers on the trials and tribulations of life and how faith can help overcome these.

They are written with humanity sensitivity and grace, reaching out to God, showing God's forgiveness and healing.

They are intended as a welcome gift, grounded in scripture for faithful Christians who are looking for words to express their devotion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456607616

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DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my sister Joyce.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people for their reviews and suggestions:

Julia Bolton Holloway- author

Fr John Michael ofm- author and priest

Brother Edward Egan CFC Congregation of Christian Brothers, retired teacher.

Traben Hass-author and associate Pastor

Deborah Voorhees-formerly of The Order of Julian.

Maria Kozak Gullo-Director www.thecontemplativeway.org

Debra Classen-author and Director www.contemplative-prayer.org

Also thanks and credit to Maria Hiles for the photographs of the stained glass windows from Penmon Priory, Anglesey and of the Priory itself.   You can find her photographs on Yahoo Flicker.   Kind permission to use the photographs was given by Penmon Priory church.

ALSO BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Prayers from Revelations of Divine Love

TRANSALTED FROM JULIAN OF NORWICH

INTRODUCTION

When I had completed the text for my first book, Prayers from Revelations of Divine Love, I had started to consider publication when my uncle died.   He had been the youngest amongst his brothers and sisters.   He had never married and lived with his sister in the family home.   She was the eldest who had also not married.   When he died she was then one hundred years old.   She was still of sound mind and active, determined not to go into a home.

After the funeral my sister and my brother-in-law went to Anglesey in North Wales for a short break.   While I was there my mind was in turmoil over the issue of the care of my aunt.   My cousin had stepped in and was caring for her, but it was going to be too much for one person to bear.   I can remember thinking about the folder I had at home waiting for action on the one hand and on the other hand the decision as to whether I would help care for my aunt.

While we were on the visit to Anglesey we went to Penmon Priory.   The Priory is now in ruins but the church is still in use and was open, and there is still a healing well there.   When we entered the church we all remarked about the beauty and sense of peace in the church.   There was a room where you could leave prayer requests and light candles.   There are many beautiful stained glass windows in the church.   As I sat near the back of the church I was especially struck by one window.   It depicted our Lord Jesus on the Sea of Galilee with his fearful disciples around him.   Our Lord’s hand is raised and above him is written the words, Peace be still.

After the visit to the priory I began to contemplate on the window and our Lord commanding the sea to be still.   Throughout the rest of the break we went to Church bay and others that I remembered as a child.   The beauty of the Island and the sounds of nature were very restorative but my mind was still in turmoil.   Sometimes I would wake up and not be able to go back to sleep thinking about it.   One night I thought of our Lord’s words, Peace be still, and I thought about letting go of my own thoughts and imagining the storm of my own mind being calmed by our Lord.   I imagined my desire to lay my head on the Lord’s breast, not petitioning him for anything but laying my head down as a trustful child.   As I stopped thinking my own thoughts and imagined that scene on the boat I began to feel a sense of peace within.   I fell asleep and when I awoke I felt for the first time that I would be able to have peace by letting go of my own agenda which had seemed so urgent.   After waking refreshed I felt guidance to let go and let God guide me.   I went into my study and put the folder away containing the text for my book and all the papers relating to it.

I went to live at my aunt’s house, coming back to my own house once a week when my cousin helped by coming up for an afternoon.   My other cousin who first stepped in to help continued to visit, giving me a break.

My aunt had many visitors from the church that she still attended and that gave me a break in the afternoons.   During the breaks I was able to go out for walks, there was a large beautiful park nearby that I enjoyed throughout the remaining seasons that my aunt survived.

Throughout those breaks I began to contemplate on the stained glass window with the words, Peace be still.   I had the inspiration for the first prayer of my second book that I based on my experience.   I thought I would call the book, Peace be still.   On those walks I had inspiration for other prayers and made notes when I could.

My aunt survived her brother by just over another year.   She died on Christmas Eve, missing her one hundred and second Birthday on 10th January.   Up until her death she was still active going to the church and shops when she could.   After her death me, my sister and cousins cleared the house and I saw to the probate.

When everything was completed I took up the folder and began to look for a publisher.   My first book was published two and a half years after I had completed it.   Looking back now five years after it was completed I see that peace came not in my own agenda, or in my will that seemed so urgent, but in our Lord’s agenda in what seemed to be his will.   My book was merely postponed from publication, but through the turmoil and anguish of that decision to postpone the inspiration for the second book was given.

Throughout our lives they say that we will either care for someone or we will be cared for, and sometimes we have to make decisions and sacrifices for loved ones.   We also will all face trials and tribulations in our lives.   The mystic Julian of Norwich wrote that our Lord revealed that we will be tempest tossed, we will be work weary, we will be discomforted, but we will not be overcome.

I pray that as you read these prayers you will reflect on any turmoil in your life and remember the words, Peace be still.   If the Lord could calm the seas in a storm then just as he cares for his children with infinite love so he will calm the storms of their turmoil.   Just turn to him as a trusting child, seek his love within by following the guidance of his will.

PREFACE

I have divided these prayers into three parts.   The first part is prayers reflecting on the fruit of the living Holy Spirit in relation to its transforming power to change our selfish nature to the divine nature.   The second part is my own prayers that have been written after inspiration from periods of contemplation.   The third part is short resume prayers based on the Psalms.

The Psalms are familiar, eternal and steadfast but may these prayers be an additional different look at them.   May they declare God’s love through the fulfilment of the gospel in our redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ.   May they show their significance to our trials and tribulations in our temporal life today.

I hope that all the prayers will be useful and inspiring to all who seek the reality of God within themselves.   The mystic Mother Julian of Norwich was shown by our Lord Jesus that God exists in the soul of man.   Through our steadfast faith and the union of our will with His the transforming power of the Holy Spirit can transform our selfish nature to be a partaker of the divine nature, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our temporal life.   Through the fruit of the Holy Spirit God’s love can make us compassionate.   But without that transforming power our own efforts are a futile presumption.   Our soul can be windows to the three properties that he revealed to Mother Julian of Norwich, his light, love and life.

I hope you will also find strength from reading the prayers that will give you direction on your path towards God.   They could be used as a compliment to Bible study or before contemplative and petitioning prayer.   The prayers are for anybody who wishes to deepen their spiritual life.   They can be read in any order, perhaps for some area of individual need or urgent event.

Through the reading of the prayers I hope that you will find the tranquillity and peace that can be given by God regardless of our temporal trials and tribulations.   May they give you enlightenment in any darkness you are experiencing, giving you instead joy and comfort in your seeking a nearness to God.

God speaks to us with the still small voice within us.   May you hear that voice through the Holy Spirit, through contemplation and a reading of the Psalms.

The Lord gives us the inborn desire to know him more perfectly, but we have to go to him, to seek him.   God reveals himself to responsive hearts.   Through the Holy Spirit he can awaken emotions of joy, hope, peace and confirmation of his love.   We in turn can offer our praise and devotion to God, using our gifts in the building of his kingdom on earth.

As God revealed to Mother Julian of Norwich that His love is within us He will never fail us.   Julian wrote that we may be tempest tossed and turned, but we will never be overcome.   Through your steadfast faith and union with God’s will may you become a branch in God’s vineyard.

PENMON PRIORY ANGLESEY NORTH WALES

As I found my inspiration for Peace be still after a visit to Penmon Priory I thought I would include some of my experiences of the visit.   It is situated in quite a remote and beautiful part of Anglesey.   I hope that all who read Peace be still will be inspired to visit it, to experience its peace, beauty and take the healing waters.

Penmon Priory was founded in the 6th Century by St. Seiriol.   When I visited Penmon Priory I was pleased to see that the 12th Century church is still active and open daily to the public.   When I entered the church I was struck by its peace and beauty.   There is a room that houses some ancient Celtic crosses and a room where you can leave prayer requests and light candles.   The stained glass windows are glorious; I thought they were the most striking feature of the church.

The Holy Well named after St. Seiriol is situated not far from the grave yard, it is quite small but accessible with some seating and is enclosed.   There is also the dovecote, still accessible and I found the inside fascinating.   The ruins of the monastery are there with detailed information giving an illustrated insight into the monastic life.   I came away from Penmon Priory feeling uplifted and inspired.

After your visit if you have time go up the toll road toward the Point of Puffin Island where you will be