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Voices
Margaret Silf

Margaret Silf is passionate about making Christian spirituality, and especially Ignatian spirituality, accessible to people with no theological background. Her columns reflect her experiential approach, drawing connections between the eternal truths of the Christian vision and the moment-by-moment events and choices of everyday living.

Margaret lives in her native England. She is married with a grown daughter, and holds a BA degree in English from London University and a Masters degree from Keele University. Trained by Jesuits of the British Province in spiritual companionship, she left paid employment as a technical author in the computer industry in 2000, to devote her time to writing, and accompanying others on their spiritual journey through retreats, workshops and days of reflection.

She has written many books on the spiritual journey for 21st century pilgrims, including Inner Compass, Close to the Heart, Wayfaring, Sacred Spaces, and the CPA award winning The Gift of Prayer. Her latest titles are Wise Choices (Bluebridge) and Roots and Wings: The Human Journey from a Speck of Stardust to a Spark of God (Eerdmanns).

Articles by Margaret Silf
Columns
Take Nothing for the Journey
Margaret Silf
I have learned the hard way - through many a tortured battle with airport scales around the world - to travel light. So my modest 14 kilograms caused no convulsions at the Manchester airport, and I confidently watched the check-in attendant fasten the label around my bag, designating its intended de
Columns
Touching the Tears
Margaret Silf
Lisa and Louise had never met until the morning of July 7, 2005, when they found themselves sitting next to each other on the top deck of a No. 30 bus in London’s commuter traffic. They would probably never have spoken to each other even then, given that legendary British reserve, but events w
Columns
Seen as in a Mirror
Margaret Silf
I had never been inside an ambulance before. I didn’t for a moment expect to discover that night what the inside of an ambulance looks like. But that’s lifeone minute we have an agenda, the next minute our best-laid plans lie in pieces all over the floor of our lives. That’s supposed to be one of the things that makes God laughpeople who make plans. I guess I should say that as we sped through the streets to the emergency room, I saw the events of my life passing in front of me, but no such thing. In fact, let’s be honest, the cause of the drama was not nearly so serious as it might sound, and deep down I knew that. I was inside an ambulance more as a result of medical overkill and family panic than for any other reason.

Instead, as we sped through the deepening twilight, a line from a song I had recently heard for the first time drifted through my mind, a song by the St. Louis Jesuits, with the refrain:

O Beauty ever ancient, O beauty ever new:
Columns
The Old and the New
Margaret Silf
Sometimes resurrection happens right under your nose. Maybe that’s especially possible when the land is watered by soft rains, most of which fall upon less than appreciative heads, and smiled upon by sunny spring days, a rare treat that can all too easily be missed if you blink. Such a land is
Faith in Focus
Almsgiving
Margaret Silf
It was a fascinating little church, tucked away in the back streets of Toronto. The guide pointed out with pride the frescoes and the stained glass windows of this hidden jewel. We arrived at a three-panelled window right at the back of the building. This is Faith, Hope and Charity,’ she said,