There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
The prophetess Anna is a striking witness for us of the enduring power of daily prayer amidst whatever isolation we may experience in this time of pandemic, or in any other time when we might feel loss, alone, alienation, separateness from people we love. Anna is an elderly widow and ever faithful. She has a place for daily prayer. She inspires us to be attentive to making a sacred place that we might set aside for daily prayer, wherever we might live. Anna is deeply blessed by God in response to her faithfulness. She is with Simeon in the room where it happens – when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. She too can share the amazing words of Simeon and then tell the Good News: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples.” Given the core of Ignatian Spirituality, finding God in all things, let us never give up daily prayer and hope that leads to discovering sacred moments of God-with-us, more than we might ever imagine. —Rick Krivanka serves as Executive Director of the Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma, Ohio. O Spirit of God, we ask you to help orient —Excerpt from Hearts on Fire: Praying with Jesuits, and prayed in the daily staff huddle at Jesuit Retreat CenterNever give up prayer and hope
Prayer
all our actions by your inspirations,
carry them on by your gracious assistance,
that every prayer and work of ours
may always begin from you
and through you be happily ended. 
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Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.
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