Today we begin by offering the Prayer of Abandonment. 

I’ve always had a special fondness for St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict. St. Gregory the Great records what little we know of her life, including the story of the last time she saw her brother in their annual meeting place between their two cloisters. As the day drew to a close, she begged her brother to remain there and talk with her through the night — but he was eager to get back to the monastery. Seeing further entreaty was pointless, she simply asked God to keep him from going. And God sent a storm. After talking through the night, brother and sister parted ways, and shortly after that Benedict saw a dove ascend to heaven, and understood his sister had died.

The silence of Scholastica is the theme of today’s “reflection for two.” How often do we find ourselves in a situation when the best and most uplifting thing we can do for our marriage is . . . to remain silent, and pray for God’s gentle action in our hearts?

Early in my marriage, I found it almost impossible to let a day go by without offering some kind of (unsolicited) wifely advice. (Most of it was ignored, but to his credit he never lost his temper!) As time went on, however, I realized that the constant criticism was eating away at his confidence, particularly where the kids were concerned. On the other hand, the more I affirmed my confidence in his ability to handle things, the more our family benefitted!

And so today, as you offer your “Prayer of Abandonment,” ask God to remind you (gently) the next time he wants you to follow the example of Scholastica, to say nothing at all and to ask him to reach your husband’s heart in a way you feel you cannot. God bless you!

If you are enjoying this Lenten series, please support the effort if possible by picking up a copy of Lent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Thank you!