“I cannot tell you,” an American priest and theologian once said, “how many graces our Lord has in store for us if we take the trouble of putting our thoughts on paper, and sharing these thoughts and experiences with others.” <br><br>It's an apt description when considering Denis à Ryckel<em> († 1471)</em>, a priest and religious who did not shy away from following the <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/following-the-difficult-path-of-prayer-in-a-fallen-world/?swcfpc=1">difficult path of prayer</a> </mark>and writing, eventually becoming a blessed whose Feast Day is 12 March.<br><br>Born in 1402 in present-day Belgium, Denis à Ryckel described himself as a man “with an iron head and a brazen stomach”. <br><br>Others described him as the Ecstatic Doctor, whose spirit of contemplation led to hours of ecstasy, and whose writing was an expression of his profound prayer. <br><br>Growing up, Denis was a very good student, but so anxious for knowledge that it “dulled his piety” somewhat—not enough, however, to prevent him from entering the Carthusian Order, which he did around the age of twenty-one. <br><br>As a Carthusian, Denis spent more than eight hours in prayer each day. In addition, he would often recite all the psalms. <br><br>His keen intellect became a vehicle for prayer. Skilled in language and quick to memorise, he read voraciously. And his theological writing seemed the outpouring of a heart on fire. <br><br>When Denis’ body was exhumed, a sweet scent wafted from his skull, and his right thumb and fore-finger—the writing fingers—were incorrupt. <br><br>Though not officially canonised, for Carthusians do not seek canonisation, he is revered as a blessed. <br><br><em>Prayerful reflection:</em> "<em>Father in heaven, through the prayers of Blessed Denis, teach me how to write prayerfully.</em>"<br><br>(<em>Photo: 'Portrait of a Carthusian' by Petrus Christus, circa 1446</em>.)<br><br><strong>This <em>Saint of the Week</em> profile first appeared in the July 2022 edition of the <em>Magnificat</em> spiritual guide and pray book, and in the thrice-weekly <em>Catholic Herald</em> newsletter. You can subscribe to <em>Magnificat</em> and the newsletter <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">here</mark></a>.</strong>
