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Power of Prayer
People of faith have known the power of prayer since time began. Now even the secular worlds of psychology and medicine are catching on. Studies have shown that prayer (and meditation) can help heal. Hospitals across the land have even bolstered their "prayer therapy" for the sick and recovering. At the very least, prayers are comforting in times of need. Try praying daily to experience how the God of the ages will work a miracle in your life. Here's a morning prayer for healing that you can use as a guideline: "Father God, I thank You for creating me in Your image. I praise You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I confess that You are the God that heals, my Great Physician. I ask You to heal my body from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I pray that You would regenerate every bone, joint, tendon, ligament, tissue, organ, and cell of my body. This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. " Learn From the Biblical Example All of the great heroes of the Bible, from Abraham to Hannah (the mother of the prophet Samuel) to John the Beloved, were people of fervent faith and devotion. One after another, they demonstrated the power and peace available through prayer and communion with the Creator. courtesy of Dr Jordan Rubin from the Biblical Health Institute |
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Prayer - Path
towards Perfect Love
"Dear children! Also today I call
all of you for your hearts to blaze with more ardent love for the Crucified, and
do not forget that, out of love for you, He gave His life so that you may be
saved. Little children, meditate and pray that your heart may be open to God's
love. Thank you for having responded to my call."
Medjugorje Message of September 25, 2007 courtesy of Steve and Ana Shawl at www.medjugorje.org |
| Question &
Answer
"I know I ought to pray more, but it seems like every time I try to pray my mind begins to wander. What can I do?"
Read Billy Graham's response: courtesy of BillyGraham.com |
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Catechism
Quiz Common Questions About the Mystery of Prayer by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M. The topic of prayer might cause some readers a bit of conflict. On the one hand, our faith tells us that God undoubtedly listens and responds to our prayers. But on the other hand, some of us might wonder whether or not God has really responded to our requests in the past. This is an honest concern about one of the deepest mysteries of our faith. In fact, we can add a few other questions about prayer that might consume us: If God knows everything, then why bother praying? Is prayer a waste of time? Would a person show greater faith if he or she didn’t beg for things, trusting that God would always provide? Other good questions about prayer might rumble around in our minds from time to time. By the way, such questions are not a sign of lack of faith on our part; they are simply our desire to try to find answers. What do we mean by mystery? First of all, we have to understand that our relationship with God is filled with mystery. I’ve mentioned before, however, that a mystery is not when we don’t know anything; rather, it is when we don’t know everything. Imagine this setting: You are sitting on the beach in California, looking out at the vast Pacific Ocean. In your hand you hold a teaspoon. If the Pacific Ocean represents God’s wisdom and knowledge and the teaspoon symbolizes your human capacity to understand the mysteries of God, then you have some little idea of how gigantic the distance between God’s knowledge and ours is. In fact, it’s infinite. Thus, it is essential that we accept the reality that we can never fully understand almighty God more than Job could when he was trying to figure out what he had done so wrong to suffer so much. But that does not mean that we are in a hopeless situation. Not at all. Who is the God we pray to? God is creator, giver of all life and the one whom Jesus called Father (Mt 9:1). Jesus talks about the relationship we have with God and God with us. We are dear to God beyond our wildest dreams. We are not just God’s creation; we are his children, made in God’s image and likeness. God loves us so much that he would die for us—and as a matter of fact, Jesus, son of God, did exactly that. Parents truly love their children, but God’s love for his children is infinite. Even knowing that, we still have questions. There is one thing we can never doubt: Praying is what God wants us to do. It’s what Jesus taught his disciples to do with the incomparable Our Father. It is what Jesus, in his human nature, did himself. Jesus prayed before choosing his apostles (Lk 6:13-14); he prayed in raising the dead to life (Jn 11:41ff); he prayed during the Last Supper (Jn 17:1-26); he prayed during the Passion in the garden (Mk 14:35); and he prayed as he hung on the cross (Lk 23:34). What is marvelous about all this is that, in more than one instance, we know the very words Jesus offered to his Father in his prayer. We really don’t need to find another reason to pray: It is Jesus’ teaching for all his disciples. However, we would pray even if Jesus didn’t teach us, because that is our nature. When we find ourselves in great danger or struggling with a major problem, we inevitably discover that we are praying. When in danger, we feel very small, helpless and inadequate. We instinctively seek the aid of the person we believe the most powerful. Even as children, our first reaction to fear was to turn to mother, who in our little eyes could keep us safe. Ever hear the saying, “There are no atheists in foxholes”? An atheist may deny that, probably not from the foxhole. Why pray? Doesn’t God know everything? Yes, indeed. God knows all. But we are called to prayer to inform God of our needs. God doesn’t need our prayers. We pray because we need to remind ourselves of our relationship with God and to remind ourselves of our needs and the needs of others. Would we display more faith if we didn’t pray and just let God help us? Well, that’s what we do most of the time. We trust the Lord to care for us. In fact, there are simply too many things that we are not even aware of. We could never completely know our needs much less the needs of all those people important to us. Practically speaking, part of our faith is putting ourselves in the providential hands of God. As far as God knowing the future (and he surely does), some might ask, “What does prayer matter since the future is going to happen anyway?" It does matter. What happens down the road is determined by what we do in the present. God knows the future certainly, but our lives today, with our unique circumstances , are very much involved in bringing about the future. And so we pray for what we believe to be best for us and our loved ones just as Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Common Questions About the Mystery of Prayer (Part 2) by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M. Is prayer a real form of communication? It is essential that we realize that prayer has nothing to do with magic. Magic is based on illusion and the unreal. Prayer, on the other hand, is a real aspect of our loving, dependent and trusting relationship with God. It is as real as our faith is real, even though both involve mystery. While prayer can become “magical” to us (because there is always the little child within us that believes in magic), it is actually an act of faith and trust. Jesus said we need not multiply prayers. Some may think that saying more prayers increases our chances of influencing God. This is not true. Two rosaries are not better than one. In addition, if you can’t finish a rosary because you fall asleep at night, your prayer is not lessened. Remember, God is not an accountant. Prayer is in the heart, not on the lips. When we mix prayer with numbers, we may place more emphasis on the number rather than the prayer itself and more emphasis on us than upon the God to whom we pray. For example, novenas are a popular form of prayer with many people. There is nothing wrong with designating a number of days to pray for a particular need. However, the number of days doesn't help or lessen the power of the prayer. Such superstition is directed toward material things that are given unwarranted power. In prayer, power is to be given to God and God alone. Prayer is not aimed at manipulating God to do what we want. We sincerely pray for what we think we need and what is best for us and those around us, and it is perfectly fine to ask God for those things. We pray for health, good grades and safe travel. But we know that to neglect health, to skip studying or to drive at dangerous speeds and then pray for good health, high grades and safety on the highway would make a mockery of prayer. God expects us to use the intelligence and common sense that he gave us. How do we pray? People often get the idea that prayer is difficult. However, prayer is simply talking with God about our lives and needs and asking him to give us “our daily bread.” Prayer is also speaking in words of praise and thanks. It need not be formal; God isn’t concerned with that. God reads the language of the heart, whether it is the heart of a child heart or the heart of a mystic. People pray in all different ways. “I love you, Lord” are simple yet very important words. Would a wife or husband ever get tired of hearing “I love you” from a spouse? If you think about it, prayers become the very same loving words we address to our closest loved ones in our lives right here and now, except they are addressed to the Lord. In my own life, I have developed a habit of talking and praying to God during the day. Whenever something good happens in my life, no matter how insignificant it might seem to be, I pray, “Thank you, Lord.” It doesn’t mean the event or situation is “religious.” I’ll express thanks for small things like a good meal or even a safe journey home from work. And whenever I need help or find myself experiencing difficulty, even in the smallest situation, I pray, “Lord, help me.” No matter what it might be that I need. “Help, Lord” is just a two-word prayer, but it is an earnest petition to God. You would be surprised how often there is opportunity each day to pray, “Help me, Lord” or “Thank you, Lord.” But just think of those sacred moments for prayer when you come back to your pew after receiving the Eucharist with Jesus himself within you. You’ve already said “Amen” (which means “I believe”) when the priest or eucharistic minister holds the host before you and says, “The Body of Christ.” This is the time to sit in silence, talk to Jesus and pray for your loved ones and your needs. You’ve heard Jesus speak or act in the Gospel readings. Now he is personally within your body and your heart. We believe we are made in God’s image and likeness. We believe our destiny is to be with God and our loved ones for all eternity in heaven. Prayer is simply talking with God about our needs and hopes as we walk that journey each day. courtesy of Friar Jack at AmericanCatholic.org |
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Basics to Prayer
What Does the Bible Have to Say About Prayer?Have you struggled with prayer? Does prayer seem like an exercise in eloquent speech that you just don't possess? Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved only for clergy and the religiously devout. Prayer is simply communicating with God - listening and talking to Him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words. If prayer is a difficult area for you, learn these basics principles of prayer and how to apply them in your life.
What Does the Bible Have to Say About Prayer?The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. The first mention of prayer is found in Genesis, chapter 4. Genesis 4:26
What is the Correct Posture for Prayer?There is no correct or certain posture for prayer. In the Bible people prayed on their knees (1 Kings 8:45), bowing (Exodus 4:31), on their faces before God (2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 26:39), and standing (1 Kings 8:22). You may pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud -- however you are most comfortable and least distracted.
Should I Use Eloquent Words?Your prayers need not be wordy or impressive in speech. Matthew 6:7 Ecclesiastes 5:2
Why Should I Pray?
Zechariah 13:9 John 15:7
Matthew 26:41 Luke 18:1 Ephesians 6:18 (See also - Matthew 7:7 and 1 Timothy 2:8)
What If I Don't Know How to Pray?The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer when you don't know how to pray. Romans 8:26-27
Are There Requirements for Successful Prayer?Yes, there are some requirements found in the Bible for successful prayer. Successful prayer requires: • A humble heart 2 Chronicles 7:14 • Wholeheartedness Jeremiah 29:13 • Faith Mark 11:24 • Righteousness James 5:16 • Obedience 1 John 3:22
Does God Hear and Answer Prayer?Yes, God hears and answers prayer. Here are several examples of this promise from the Bible. Psalm 34:17 Psalm 91:15 Also:
Why are Some Prayers Not Answered?Sometimes our prayers are not answered. The Bible gives several reasons or causes for failure in prayer: • Disobedience -
Deuteronomy 1:45;
1 Samuel 14:37 Sometimes our prayers are refused. Prayer must be in accord with God's divine will. 1 John 5:14 (See also -Deuteronomy 3:26; Ezekiel 20:3)
Should I Pray Alone or with Others?God wants us to pray together with others believers. Matthew 18:19 Luke 1:10 Acts 1:14 God also wants us to pray alone and in secret: Matthew 6:6 Mark 1:35 Luke 5:15-16 Luke 6:12 courtesy of Christianity.about.com |
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FROM THE HEART OF REXELLA VAN IMPE
Father, Are You Listening? I constantly stand amazed by the beauty and the divine order of God's world all around me. Like the heralds of old, the brilliant changing color of the autumn leaves has come to announce - in your life and mine - the close of yet another season of our lives. Slowly, Summer slips behind us like a long forgotten friend. Its fond memories of lazy retreats and family fun nourish a sense of warmth and joy in our hearts that will serve to sustain us through the long, chilly months of winter that lie ahead. But before winter comes knocking on our door, God supplies us with a divine gift of His grace - a last minute opportunity called the fall - a final few days of good weather in which you and I can finish any projects that we have yet to accomplish in 2005. Enough can't be said about how vitally important this time of year is for you and me. What we do in the next few days and weeks could determine whether the unfulfilled dreams of 2005 will ever truly become reality in our lives - or fall by the wayside of good intentions. But, don't rush too quickly! Any job worth doing is worth doing well ... and any skyscraper that expects to rise up into the realms of the heavenlies must first be built upon a strong and well-planned foundation on the ground. That firm foundation for you and me, I believe, is ...
THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER Before we ever begin to work on the long anticipated hopes and dreams we desire to see accomplished by the end of the year, it is vital that you and I ask the Lord in prayer to send His favor and to smile upon us with the blessings we are hoping to receive. For some, I realize, prayer is a difficult task. Down through the years I have had many people approach me, frustrated about the subject of prayer and ready to throw in the proverbial towel, making a statement something like this: "Rexella, I kneel on my knees in prayer and it seems as if my words rise up to the ceiling and bounce back down into my face ... I feel as if nothing is accomplished through my praying." As I hear statements like this, I begin to ponder how we could ever feel such a weakness about prayer since the Psalmist declared: "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1). When God promises that He will hear our cry, why are we so anemic when it comes to receiving answers to our prayers? First of all, I believe you and I need to realize the true source of spiritual power. It isn't found within the strength of our own flesh. Such power can only be found in the person of the Holy Spirit. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). But, God chooses to use five channels to reveal His spiritual power and glory to those around us... Who we are among men. What we do before men. What we say before men. What we freely give of our possessions to God. What we dare to claim in Jesus' name in prayer. The first four of these are always limited by the scope of what we have and those with whom we come into contact. But the fifth channel - the aspect of prayer - is where you and I have the opportunity to leave the realm of the limited circumstances of our natural world and enter the realm of unlimited supernatural possibilities in God. Prayer is as infinite as God is sovereign. Prayer can leap over any boundaries -span any distance - and does not balk at any obstacle. It can reach all men, everywhere. The only limit to the power of our prayers is our own complacency in not going to prayer and claiming our petitions in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. By neglecting our opportunity to pray, we neglect the greatest channel through which the Holy Spirit can do His work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. As a matter of fact, the Apostle James gave a very strong indictment about the neglect of prayer in the church in James the fourth chapter, as he said, "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2). One of the great pioneers of religious radio, M.R. DeHaan, once said of prayer: "I would far rather have the power of prayer to move the very powers of heaven, than to have the power of preaching to move the very masses on earth." That's an incredible statement from someone who helped to impact millions of souls for Jesus Christ! If there is limitless power to our prayers and they can be used by God to accomplish so much for His Kingdom ... why do we neglect prayer? I believe that many of us are confused about the art of praying. We have yet to learn the practical "how to's" of prayer, so that the practice of praying can be both a powerful and rewarding experience for us. Therefore, I believe we should go to the greatest authority of all, our Lord Jesus, and ask Him how to pray. The disciples, as devout Jews who had been praying all of their lives, saw the impact of Jesus' ministry and realized their own weakness in prayer. So they came to Him one day and confessed their need before the Master saying: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). In response, Jesus gave the disciples what we commonly call the Lord's Prayer. The entire foundational passage on prayer can be found in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:5-13.
NEGATIVE FORCES IN PRAYER Before teaching this model Prayer to His disciples, it should be noted that Jesus provided two practices of prayer common in that day, that would cause the disciple's prayers to become ineffective. You and I would do well to take these two warnings into account for our own prayer life, also. First, Jesus warned against being hypocritical in our prayers and wanting to be seen by others as we pray. Such a warning should cause each one of us to ask ourselves, "Where do I feel I do my best praying?" If your answer is that you pray at your best in front of others at church or during your family mealtime ... it could be that you are praying with the wrong motives. Perhaps you would rather be heard men than by God. Jesus said, "When THOU prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:5-6). I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a sanctified place where you can go to pray to your Heavenly Father. It could be a special chair, or a corner of the room, that you have chosen to set apart for your personal communion time with God. But make sure that it is a place where you can be alone with God ... and go there often. (Perhaps you can tell your family about your special place, so that whenever you are there, they will know not to disturb you as you commune with God.) Our primary motive in having this season of prayer is not to impress the people around us- or to even necessarily have our petitions answered by God - but to draw into perfect fellowship and oneness with God Himself. This is why Jesus emphasized the need for our prayers to be for God's ears only! Jesus set the example for us in Luke 6:12: "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12). He went to a place alone, where He could fellowship with God the Father. He continued in prayer all night. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will draw you into being alone with God for extended periods of time. Let God have that freedom, and let it go on for as long as time permits. My experience has been that such seasons of extended prayer seemingly pass very quickly ... and they have proven to be among the most enjoyable moments of my life! In contrast, our public prayers should be very short. This is the example that Jesus set as well. In the Upper Room, the High Priestly Prayer of John 17 was only about 2-1/2 minutes in length. The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is only 30 seconds long. For this reason, family prayers and prayer in the church should be brief. While it is a beautiful experience to pray with others ... we have a far more excellent opportunity to enter into the presence of God alone and lengthily when only God's ears can hear our request. Jesus separated Himself from His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, so He could be alone with His Father in prayer. He did this because sometimes burdens can be so intense - our need so deeply rooted in our soul - that only God can understand. Next, Jesus warned not to use vain repetition in our prayers. Prayer is not a chant. Prayer does not consist of a proven formula of just the right words, spoken in just the right order, to bring just the right answer from God. We do not move the hand of God through prayer - but rather, the hand of God moves us, in His Sovereign direction, to bring about His results. Prayer is a conversation with God Almighty Himself. It involves both talking to and listening to a loving Father and Friend. Jesus did not want His disciples to be caught up in the heathen's religious practices of using "prayer wheels" to bring results from the gods. In this practice, a prayer is recorded on each spoke of a wheel and a series of progressive prayers are spoken as the wheel is turned. What our Lord desired was for His disciples to pray earnestly and intensely from the heart ... not with some series of prayers learned by rote. With these warnings placed in the forefront of His disciple's minds, Jesus then instructed them in the art of the Model Prayer which we will go through next week. courtesy of JVIM.com |
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FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE
Prayer Prayer is a necessity if one is to experience true revival in his heart. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Modern Christians know little about this most effectual ministry. Jesus did. He said in Luke 18:1, Men ought always to pray and not to faint. Christ rose up early in the morning to pray (see Mark 1:35). He continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12). Multitudes will rise up early to fish, ski, and golf, while others will sit up until the small hours of the morning watching vampires, witches, and bloodsuckers on "Shock Theatre." How different these Christians are from Christ, after whom Christianity is named. These so-called followers need a heaven-shaking revival of body and soul. Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ, practiced what he preached. He said, Continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12); Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18); Continue in prayer (Colossians 4:2); and Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In other periods of American history, entire cities and counties were deluged with revival as thousands per week-up to one million total-were converted. The secret was prayer. Finney describes the times of agonizing prayer that transpired in his day in his book Revival Lectures. He states: "Men prayed until their clothing was soaked through with perspiration. Some bled like Christ did in Luke 22:44. Two prayed themselves to death before the age of 40. To many it appeared as foolishness, but cities were turned upside down for Christ." Would to God that we had prayer warriors like this in every major city where the Jack Van Impe Crusades are conducted. Oh, to see a revival where sin is put out of business; where movie houses, brothels, massage parlors, and pornography dens are barricaded because the power of God, through prayer, has padlocked Satan's establishments. Christian, pray without ceasing!
Confession Prayer, however, is meaningless without confession because God's holiness demands it. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalm 66:18). Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear (Isaiah 59:1,2). This is why 1 John 1:9 states, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and, just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. courtesy of JVIM.com |
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From AmericanCatholic.org
Praying together Recommending liturgical prayer, John
Vianney would say, “Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there:
If you set it on fire it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these
straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like
a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.” courtesy of AmericanCatholic.org |
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From AmericanCatholic.org
Pathways of Prayer by Friar Jack Wintz, O.F.M. http://www.americancatholic.org · Prayer: Recognizing what we already have · Finding your own pathways · Familiar prayers · Prayers of praise You and I are sometimes like radios or TV sets that are not properly tuned in to a station or channel. The news announcers or entertainers are out there talking or singing away. The station is sending out live signals. But if we have not turned on our sets or failed to dial in the station correctly, there will be no communication! This is often our problem with God. God is out there—as well as inside us—beaming forth love, goodness and inspiration. But it’s lost on us because we fail to pray, that is, we fail to tune in or open ourselves to God’s loving presence. Actually, there are many prayer paths to God available to us today. In recent years, new approaches to prayer and contemplation have been developed. As a Franciscan friar and writer, I have collected over the years many ideas for enriching our prayer life. They come from books and articles, from interviews with spiritual advisers as well as from my own prayer experience. In the next two E-spirations, I will suggest several practical methods or pathways to prayer, through which the spirit leads us into living union with God. But first let me make a few introductory points: Prayer: Recognizing what we already have Whether we know it or not, we are already in the presence of God and united with God because God is everywhere. Prayer helps us bring to consciousness this precious bond we have with God and his saving love. As Thomas Merton points out: “In prayer we discover what we already have…. We already have everything, but we don’t know it and we don’t experience what we already possess…. The whole thing boils down to giving ourselves in prayer a chance to realize that we have what we seek. We don’t have to rush after it. It is there all the time and, if we give it time, it will make itself known to us.” The problem is, we are not aware of the union with God we already possess. Father William Johnston, S.J., author of several books on prayer, insists that “many people experience God, but don’t recognize their own experience…. It’s like the two disciples going to Emmaus. They met Jesus on the road but they thought he was a stranger. Only afterward did they look back and say, ‘were not our hearts burning within us when we were talking with him?’ They had not recognized Jesus, but afterwards they did.” Like grace, of course, God’s presence is a gift, and we cannot force ourselves into living communion with God by a sheer act of will. Human friendship is similar. We cannot force another man or woman to be our friend or lover. We can only offer our friendship to another and then humbly await the gift of his or her friendship. The essence of prayer consists in this humble waiting—in a childlike spirit of openness, expectation and listening. To pray means to make ourselves present and available to God so that we are truly ready to open the door when Jesus comes and knocks. Finding your own pathways Each of us is wise to find the styles of prayer that suit us. The Holy Spirit is the only true teacher of prayer, and without preconceived ideas we must let the spirit draw us to those ways of prayer that work best for us. If any of the following suggestions are helpful for you, wonderful. If any seem out of sync with your temperament or cause anxiety, steer clear of those. Any good spiritual director will warn you against methods of prayer that do not harmonize with your spiritual gifts. With this in mind, feel free to explore the following approaches to prayer. I trust that some of them—if adapted to your needs—can lead to a richer union with God. * Familiar prayers. The Our Father, the Come Holy Spirit, the Stations of the Cross, the rosary and the Peace Prayer of St. Francis are but a few samples of Catholicism’s rich tradition of prayer. And when slowly pondered, the sentiments and phrases of the Our Father or Come Holy Spirit, for example, have great potential as passageways into the presence of God. We should not overlook the Eucharist as Christianity’s most perfect prayer and primary pathway leading us as a body of believers—and as individuals—into union with God. * Prayers of praise. Praise is a form of prayer that belongs near the top of anyone’s list. Joyful and free, it preserves us from the false notion that prayer is cheerless. Praise is the bubbling over of the spirit. Often the spirit’s first impulse within us is that of bursting into praise and thanksgiving. Surely, one of our deepest human instincts is adoration, and we do well to let the spirit flow freely through us in words of praise. The Our Father recognizes this in its first exclamation: “Hallowed be thy name!” Praise and adoration take us from our self-preoccupation and lead us outward to God and to the creation that bears God’s imprint. This is the key to the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, according to Franciscan author Murray Bodo: “St. Francis praises God through Brother Sun and Sister Moon, Brother Wind and Sister Water and all creatures.” Like St. Francis, the spirit prompts us to celebrate our brotherhood and sisterhood with other creatures and praise God, not in isolation from creation, but through sunlight, rain, wind and flowers. Maybe it’s a good time for you and me to spend some time praising God in an outdoor park or garden or at the lake or sea.
courtesy of AmericanCatholic.org |