by Sr. Sheila Campbell MMM                            Ireland                          05.04.2025

“Wherever you are, whatever you do, let there be in your heart a space for others to be, so that, unafraid, they may experience themselves as loved and so be healed.” 7:3

The quote above comes from our MMM Constitutions. What are the Constitutions? They are our rule of life, our guiding principles, something we cherish and try to live up to.  Wisely this section is in a chapter called Hospitality.  Hospitality is an MMM ‘flavour’ that we learnt from the Benedictines.

Now, just saying the words does not make them happen!  Recently I came across the words above just when I was exploding with anger at the words and actions of some of our world’s politicians.  Can I hold a space in my heart for others to be?  I wasn’t very good at it that day!

The first question is: “Is there space in my heart at all?”  I can get so self-centred or inner-focused that my heart hardens, and I don’t think of others at all – not even enough to reject them!  My first task this Lent is to widen my heart – let others in.  How do I do that?  I think the key is to listen to them. Really listening means going beyond my own pre-conceived ideas about their culture, race, gender etc.  Just treating them as a fellow human being, struggling to find a way through life as I am myself.  That is the first grace I ask for.

Can I love this other person in a way that they feel loved, accepted and so healed?  The key to this one is a constant remembering on how I am loved. I am loved by God, by my natural family and by my MMM family. I know I also have a few close friends who love me too. Can I bask in this love and pray that it reaches out to others?

This Lent for me is all about space, love and acceptance. How is your Lent going?