Receive My Memory
As Christ lies in the darkness of death and loss this Holy Saturday, I’d like to share a story posted today on Image journal’s “Good Letters” blog.
Commonweal readers are likely to recognize the name of John B. Breslin, S.J., who for decades has written illuminating meditations on contemporary literature. A professor of English at institutions like Le Moyne and Marquette, Breslin edited the much-loved (but, alas, out of print) collection, The Substance of Things Hoped For: Short Fiction by Modern Catholic Authors. Both on the page and off, John has been an animated–and animating–presence for so many of us.
In today’s post, Evelyn Bence, a friend of John’s for many years, writes movingly of his entry into the world of Alzheimer’s. She writes with John’s own permission and blessing, as well as that of John’s superior. Her title alludes to the famous prayer of Ignatius of Loyola: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess.”
One of best friends died in 1989. I remember that it was a few days after the Loma Prieta earthquake. My friend’s name was Michael and he was a Jesuit. I visited him in the hospital the night before he died. He didn’t seem conscious so I asked the nurse if she thought he was conscious. She told me there was no way to really know. She added that normally the last sense to go is hearing. I took a chance and recited St. Ignatius prayer to my friend aloud. I don’t know if my friend prayed with me. It was then that this prayer became important to me
(Spanish)
Toma Señor, y recibe
toda mi libertad, mi memoria,
mi entendimiento, y toda mi voluntad.
todo lo que soy, todo lo que poseo.
Tú me lo diste; a tí, Señor, lo torno.
Todo es Tuyo.
Dispón de mi según Tu voluntad.
Dame tu amor y gracia,
que eso me baste.
(English)
Take, Lord, receive
all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, and my entire will,
all that I have and possess.
You have given all to me; to you, O Lord, I return it.
All is yours;
dispose of it as you will.
Give me your love and your grace,
for this is enough for me.
Used copies of “The Substance of things hoped for” are available here (at little to no cost):
http://www3.addall.com/New/compare.cgi?dispCurr=USD&id=63944&isbn=0385234287&location=10000&thetime=20090411153212&author=&title=&state=AK