In my personal devotions today (4/3/13) I came across this prayer of abandonment and it resonated strongly in my spirit – although I cannot claim to have reached this place of self-abandonment, as Foucauld obviously had.

Charles de Foucauld (1858–1916) was a French Catholic ‘religious’ and priest living among the Tuareg peoples in the Sahara in Algeria, according to Wikipedia. He was assassinated in 1916 outside the door of the fort he built for protection of the Tuareg and is considered by the Catholic Church to be a martyr.

As is my wont, I often add inspirational quotes to images I consider to be appropriate, and this just seemed to fit together nicely – I hope you may agree. (Click on image to enlarge)

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Foucauld’s heart certainly mirrors that of Jesus, who’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane we recall from our reading of the Gospels … and which Eugene Peterson captures for us in his ‘Message’ Translation: …He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony. He told them (Peter, James & John) “I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me.” Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: “Papa, Father, you can—can’t you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?” …

For your information,  I often use the Northumbria Community website (http://www.northumbriacommunity.org) and pray their ‘daily office’, which I find authentic, refreshing and inspiring.