Learning to be Quick to Listen

Richard Gillard’s "The Servant Song" is a staple in Catholic parishes, but it’s far more than just a catchy recessional hymn; it is a profound blueprint for lived discipleship . To truly pray with this song in daily life, we must move past the melody and sit with the radical vulnerability of the lyrics. When we sing, "Will you let me be your servant / Let me be as Christ to you," we are asking for the grace to see the face of Jesus in our coworkers, our difficult family members, and the strangers we encounter. Praying this song means transforming our morning commute or our household chores into an act of liturgical service. It challenges us to set aside our egos and ask, "How can I hold the light for you in this moment?" It’s a prayer of presence, reminding us that our primary vocation is to accompany one another through the shadows of this world. Actually living this prayer requires us to embrace the reciprocity of the Christian life. The song doesn'...

Born in Ireland around 600 AD, St. Fiacre was a figure destined for a life of learning and devotion. Though details of his early life are scarce, it's believed he came from a noble family, allowing him access to the era's centers of higher learning – monasteries . It was within these hallowed walls that Fiacre cultivated a profound understanding of horticulture, mastering the arts of planting, growing, and harvesting. His innate curiosity, fueled by the diverse plant life and remedies brought by visitors to the monastery, laid the groundwork for his future as a renowned herbalist. After his ordination, a yearning for silent contemplation led him to embrace the life of a hermit near Ireland's Nore River, where his burgeoning reputation for healing, his magnificent garden, and his undeniable holiness began to draw an ever-growing number of seekers. The solitude Fiacre so deeply cherished eventually gave way to the needs of the multitude. Seeking a return to quiet prayer, he...