We walk by faith: Accessible spiritual contemplation for all

Accessible Ignation Contemplation

There are many introductions to Ignatian contemplation available today. However, most of them—much like Ignatius himself—rely heavily on the sense of sight to help readers enter prayer through the Gospel stories.

Fr Justin Glyn SJ and Sr Mary O’Shannessy FCJ are both legally blind Ignatian religious. Through their own experience of prayer, they have developed adaptations to Ignatian contemplation that make the tradition more accessible. Drawing on this experience, they propose a more inclusive approach—one designed to support people with a wide range of disabilities, including sensory and cognitive disabilities.

Their current project is titled We Walk By Faith: Accessible Spiritual Contemplation for All. The book is expected to be approximately 80,000 words and is divided into two main parts:

1. Rest Awhile with Matthew, Mark, or Luke

• A shorter set of contemplations that move through the Synoptic Gospels.

• Designed especially for people with intellectual or other impairments, and for those who have limited time for prayer.

2. Stay Awhile with Matthew, Mark, or Luke

• A longer, more detailed set of contemplations on the Synoptic Gospels.

• Written in a more reflective and discursive style.

How the contemplations work

Both sections progress sequentially through the narrative passages of the three Synoptic Gospels.
Each contemplation includes:

• an accessible and gentle introduction to the Gospel scene,

• followed by a set of guiding questions that support the person praying—either individually or with the help of a spiritual director.

The aim of this work is to offer an Ignatian prayer experience that welcomes everyone, regardless of ability, sensory experience, or learning style.

Hosted by Catholic Religious Australia, the project was formally launched on 3rd December 2025—the International Day of Persons with Disability on 3 December. By happy coincidence, this is also the feast of Ignatius’ friend, companion and missionary, St Francis Xavier. The authors hope that as people “have a go”, they will get feedback to help them hone and refine the contemplations.

About the authors

Sr Mary O’Shannessy FCJ is a member of an Ignatian Congregation of sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus. She is a qualified teacher, pastoral care coordinator and spiritual director, with a Bachelor of Philosophy of Education (vision impairment) from the Birmingham University, England. After many years of teaching children with multiple disabilities, she moved to visiting adults with special needs, especially sight problems. Now retired, she volunteers with Vision Australia to support older people suffering sight loss.

Fr Justin Glyn SJ is General Counsel of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Australia (both a civil and canon lawyer), a tutor of law and Russian at Newman College and has written on disability in the Church as well as assisting in the promotion of disability theology within the Catholic Church (especially as Consultor to the Congregation for Laity Family and Life). He lectures Canon Law at University of Divinity (Catholic Theological College) and is a fellow of the Loyola Institute within Australian Catholic University (of which he is an Honorary Fellow).