In 2007, a friend gave me a book, Notes for Meditation, by W. E. Lutyens, Priest of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd. Soon after, I began to use that book for daily meditation. The book was printed in 1933 in London, England. The book is small and easily carried in a coat pocket and conducive to being taken along when traveling. There are a few hand written notes in pencil made by a previous owner who may have been in a religious order. On the inside back cover is written “For use in Chapel, Page 7” and on the inside cover sheet is a signed name dated 1934. I often wonder who the owners were in the 74 years before me, and how it came to America from England. But, I mostly wonder why my friend bought it, since at that time she was certainly not outwardly disposed to such a book, and what brought her to make it a gift to me. For I truly believe that it, like so much in life, is a gift of true mystery from God

Lutyens’ book follows the Church’s liturgical calendar beginning with the First Sunday of Advent. The meditation for each day is presented on one page. Apparently, the author’s intent was to stimulate rather than educate. Each daily meditation has a brief heading. That is followed by a scriptural reference. Then, each daily meditation is set in three sections; 1 – a reflective narrative on the cited scripture, 2 – an interpretive observation of the significance of the scripture to the world of Lutyens’ time, and 3 – an invitation to the reader to search the message of the scripture. Section 3 is often done in the form of questions. In Lutyens’ words, “They are designed to stimulate the mind to devotion by suggestion.”