Reflecting on Nano Nagle’s life
By Maria Owen of the Friends of Nano:
A Reflection on Nano Nagle through reading “The Story of Nano Nagle, A Life Lived on the Razor’s Edge” by Anne Lyons pbvm.
This account of Nano Nagle’s life was published in 2021. On first inspection the 61-page book seems designed to be a ‘quick read’ but then you notice the thoughts ‘For Pondering’ at the end of each chapter and discover that the book is challenging the reader to reflect upon Nano’s life.
In the English Province, as many of our Presentation People (Sisters, Associates & Friends of Nano) have been unable to meet in person for the past two years, we decided to use this book as the framework for our monthly zoom meetings. Although the same format is used for each session, the role of ‘hosting’ and presenting each Chapter has been shared among various participants. After a short welcome and the Nano Nagle Prayer, the chapter is introduced. Small group sharing (15mins) leads to ‘feedback’ in a Plenary session and the Meeting concludes with a suitable song and the Prayer for the Beatification of Nano. Keeping each session to one hour encourages us to focus our thoughts, especially as everyone is encouraged to read and prepare the chapter prior to the session.
Anne Lyons tells us, “Nano is not some unreachable human being. She can be a good companion to us. She was not flawless. She knew times of impatience, anger, frustrations, and vexations. ……………… “She experienced the daily toil of existence with its successes and failures but matched it with deep contemplative prayer. An earthenware vessel, her strength lay in the Lord, and she found in him the courage and spiritual power she needed to rise again and again and continue on her spiritual journey, the lamp of her life forever aglow with God’s love.”
The Nano Nagle Prayer
Lord God, You raise up people from age to age to speak anew Your Word to us
and to show us your ways. Such is Nano Nagle.
In days when courage is needed, You give us this woman of strength
to walk before us with conviction.
In days of great change, You present us with a prophet whose faith is firm.
As the light of her lantern brought hope into the lives made wretched
by poverty and oppression, so may she inspire us
to compassionate action for those in need around us. Amen
Venerable Nano Nagle (1718-1784) lived in Ireland during the ‘Penal Times’ when Irish Catholics faced severe restrictions to education, ownership of property and freedom of religious worship. Although family circumstances guaranteed her a life of security, wealth and privilege, Nano had a series of awakenings and, from 1754 until her death, risked her life in championing the cause of the poor by educating the children of Cork, visiting the sick, the aged and prisoners (her Lantern Work). To secure continuation of her work, Nano asked the Ursulines to come to Cork. Building a Convent was costly and disappointing when the nuns were unable to leave their enclosure and teach in Nano’s schools.
In the face of adversity Nano wrote: ‘You must think the Almighty permits everything for the best. You will see with His assistance, everything promises well’.
So Nano began again, at 57, and on Christmas Eve 1775 she and three companions began formal preparations for taking religious vows on 24th June 1776. When, a year later, the new foundation came into being, it was marked by inviting fifty destitute people to Christmas Dinner.
“Not Words but Deeds” – Nagle family motto
