Fathers of Saint Joseph – Meeting Notes [13th June 26]

Date: 13th June 2026

Location: St. Mary's, Pope's Quay, Cork

Opening Context

We began our meeting with a time of Adoration before reflecting together on the reading.

As our meeting took place on the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we were reminded of Mary's attentive heart, which treasured all things and pondered them in silence before God—a fitting example as we reflected on overcoming distraction in prayer (source).

Reflection Reading

Book: LEAD: The Four Marks of Fatherly Greatness

Author: Devin Schadt

Pillar: Pillar 1 – Listening to Discern Your Mission (Embracing Silence)

Reading: 43. Dealing with the Demon of Distraction

Pages: 123–124 (Examen: p. 444)

Sano di Pietro (c.1440) Saint Anthony the Abbot in the Wilderness. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/458967 (Accessed: 31 July 2026).

This week's reading focused on one of the greatest obstacles to prayer: distraction. Rather than seeing distractions as evidence that prayer is failing, the author encourages us to recognise them as opportunities to draw closer to God. Instead of suppressing distracting thoughts or abandoning prayer because our minds wander, we are invited to bring those distractions before the Lord and make them the very subject of our conversation with Him.

Drawing on The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and the wisdom of St Bernard of Clairvaux, the reading reminds us that the evil one seeks to discourage prayer by keeping our attention fixed on distractions rather than on God. Fathers are encouraged not to become discouraged when distractions arise, but to trust that God can transform even these moments into occasions of grace. Rather than fearing distraction, we are called to let it become a path that leads us back to Christ, who alone gives peace, wisdom and strength for our vocation.

Call to Action

The next time distractions arise during prayer, do not suppress them; instead, offer them to the Lord and ask Him to breathe His guidance and life into the situation.

Reflection Associated with the Reading

The accompanying Examen invites us to examine whether we intentionally create silence in our daily lives so that we can hear God's voice. It challenges us to consider what truly occupies our attention and whether we trust God enough to set aside regular time to listen to Him in stillness.

Shared Thoughts from the Group

• We reflected on how digital media has made distraction a constant part of modern life.

• Many recognised the challenge of managing technology within the home, both for ourselves and for our families.

• We acknowledged that we live in an increasingly noisy culture, making silence and attentive prayer more difficult than ever.

• Creating moments of silence requires intentional choices and discipline if we are to remain attentive to God.

Personal Reflections & Final Thought

One aspect of the reading that struck me most was its openness in speaking about the reality of spiritual warfare. For many years, one of the reasons I drifted away from the faith was because I convinced myself that evil spirits were merely superstition. Looking back, I realise that this was a way of protecting myself from a reality that felt frightening. Yet denying the existence of evil did not make me safer; it simply made me more vulnerable and left me searching for explanations that never fully matched reality.

Today I recognise that evil is real, but so too is God's infinitely greater power. We are never left to face these struggles alone. God never abandons those who place their trust in Him and continually offers His grace and protection through His angels, the saints, His Church and the loving intercession of Our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Distractions can certainly rob us of our time, our attention and the potential God has given us, but they never have the final word. God's mercy is always greater, patiently calling us back whenever we turn to Him in prayer.