Lay down your head in peace

One of Australia’s most renowned sculptors. Tom Bass, died in January, aged 94. Many of his works are to be found in schools, churches and universities, and other government, corporate and religious institutions.

His bronze bas-relief of Ignatius of Loyola appeared on the front cover of the July/August 2006 edition of Madonna. It is part of a large sculpture now on the Ramsay Hall building at St Ignatius College, Riverview. Examples of his public work include The Trial of Socrates and The Idea of a University at Wilson Hall, Melbourne University, the winged figure of Ethos in Civic Square in Canberra and the lintel sculpture across the entrance of the National Library, Canberra.

In 1998 he published a collection of prayers, Occasional Prayers, dedicated, he says in the front of the book, to ‘those who yearn to find a way into the knowing that God is in us, in everything, and everywhere’. We wish him peace.

Day’s End Prayer
At the ending
of this day.
I reflect on
what I have done.
and on what has
come into my life,
and I ask
what new thing
have I learned?
What have I realised
or understood better?
How well
have I remembered
that God is 
in everything?
Is there anything
I regret
that I did
or did not do today?
Have I forgiven myself
or anyone who has offended me?
Has there been
love in this day.
given by me
or to me?
I give thanks for the love
and for the health
and energy
that I have enjoyed.
And if
there has been pain
I will look for
the hidden benefit
concealed in it.
Now at last
to lay down my head
in peace.
Amen.