How I pray: Norma Woodcock speaks to The Record’s Debbie Warrier.
Many years ago I prayed, “Jesus, teach me to pray so that I can reach you. I feel like there is a gulf between you and me.” The next thing I knew I was in a seminar down in Bunbury led by Fr John Prendiville the Jesuit. It was on the Ignatian way of Contemplation on a Gospel scene. I found that was exactly what I needed so I began to pray like that.
This form of prayer uses the power of your imagination. You read the Gospel and imagine the scene taking place before your eyes. Then you imagine that you are in the scene. You watch what Jesus is doing, what the other people are doing and you interact with Jesus. It is actually a component of St Ignatius’s classic, The Spiritual Exercises. That was his way of praying and it’s wonderful.
I love the action stories in the Gospels, for instance, when Jesus is healing someone or walking on water and St Peter is walking towards Him. Wherever Jesus is, whatever he is doing, that is where your contemplation begins. St Ignatius once said, “For it is not knowing much but realising and relishing things interiorly that satisfies and contents the soul.”
St Ignatius was the Founder of the Jesuits. I was very privileged to have spiritual direction from two wonderful Jesuits, Father Jim Dynon and Father Tim Quinlan. I also attend Mass and say the Rosary, of course. However, this deep and intimate prayer is the foundation of my daily prayer life. My prayer life has simplified and become more contemplative as my journey continues. The Ignatian form of prayer taps into wisdom.
As Director of the Centre for Catholic Spiritual Development and Prayer I find myself very busy. I produce Ignatian Meditation CDs. They are being used by hundreds of schools throughout Australia. A lot of individuals and Catholic groups use them as well. I teach a three day study unit on ‘Ignatian Imaginative Meditation’ that I run through my Centre. Notre Dame University has given Academic Credit to this Unit as well as a two day Unit on ‘Contemplation and Beyond’. I do a lot of Professional Development with School Staff.
This has been accredited by the Catholic Education Office. As well as this I provide spiritual direction for people through my office. I also give Missions in the Church. All my work has ecclesiastical approval. I love what I do.
I was Uniting Church, a Methodist, and became a Catholic when I married in 1965. Then there was a time I went away from the Church. It happened 35 years ago. There was a lot of pain in my heart and I felt like going to Mass wasn’t helping me. Without deep, intimate prayer we don’t realise how much we are loved by God.
I had a difficult childhood like many people do. I lost two babies. Mass was wonderful but it didn’t last for the rest of the week. Then someone said to me, “The thing is Norma, God won’t wait forever.” What I heard was this, that God wanted me. So I gave Him my life and here I am today. I have a peace and a joy now that the world cannot give. There is nothing as great and wonderful as our God.
If you have a story to tell please contact Debbie via debwarrier@hotmail.com