Comments on: Prayer http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:58:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/#comment-5147 Sister Julie Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:21:47 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=522#comment-5147 Thanks for writing, Kairos. I heard Patricia Hampl speak once at the Festival of Faith and Writing. Very insightful. I too enjoyed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FVirgin-Time-Search-Contemplative-Life%2Fdp%2F0865477167%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1213665474%26sr%3D1-1&tag=anusli-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" rel="nofollow">Virgin Time: In Search of the Contemplative Life</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=anusli-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> ... I love the line you pulled out of her book! Thanks for writing, Kairos. I heard Patricia Hampl speak once at the Festival of Faith and Writing. Very insightful. I too enjoyed Virgin Time: In Search of the Contemplative Life … I love the line you pulled out of her book!

]]> By: kairos http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/#comment-5136 kairos Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:50:18 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=522#comment-5136 I arrived here by way of looking for verification of a prayer by Fr. Pedro Arrupe. I've since been reading through the threads, nodding all the while, and thinking, "God bless serendipity!" As to prayer: Like <i>alicemary</i>, I find the phrase ’be still and know that I am God’ opens me up and settles me down; it reminds me - again - who's in charge. I also agree that prayer is more than supplication or adoration (though it is certainly that, too), or as Martin Matry says, <i>"I have never believed that prayer has to be something that you're uttering all the time. I think it's a way of life; it's a conversation with God."</i> As such, the best conversations in my life are the ones where I listen more, talk less; why would it be any other way with God? I'll close with this other perspective on prayer from Patricia Hampl's, <i>Virgin Time: In Search of the Contemplative Life</i> which I access often: "What is prayer? I make a list: Praise. Gratitude. Begging/pleading/cutting deals. Fruitless whining and pulling. Focus. There the list breaks off; I had found my word. Prayer only looks like an act of language; fundamentally it is a position, a placement of oneself. Focus. Get there, and all that's left to say is the words. They come: from ancient times … from the surprisingly eloquent heart … from the gush and chatter of the day's detail longing to be rendered." I arrived here by way of looking for verification of a prayer by Fr. Pedro Arrupe. I’ve since been reading through the threads, nodding all the while, and thinking, “God bless serendipity!”

As to prayer: Like alicemary, I find the phrase ’be still and know that I am God’ opens me up and settles me down; it reminds me – again – who’s in charge. I also agree that prayer is more than supplication or adoration (though it is certainly that, too), or as Martin Matry says, “I have never believed that prayer has to be something that you’re uttering all the time. I think it’s a way of life; it’s a conversation with God.” As such, the best conversations in my life are the ones where I listen more, talk less; why would it be any other way with God?

I’ll close with this other perspective on prayer from Patricia Hampl’s, Virgin Time: In Search of the Contemplative Life which I access often:

“What is prayer? I make a list: Praise. Gratitude. Begging/pleading/cutting deals. Fruitless whining and pulling. Focus. There the list breaks off; I had found my word. Prayer only looks like an act of language; fundamentally it is a position, a placement of oneself. Focus. Get there, and all that’s left to say is the words. They come: from ancient times … from the surprisingly eloquent heart … from the gush and chatter of the day’s detail longing to be rendered.”

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/#comment-5128 Sister Julie Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:48:51 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=522#comment-5128 My prayers are with Drew, Toni and yourself. Thanks, John -- enjoy your visit with your family. This is a great time of year in Chicago! My prayers are with Drew, Toni and yourself.

Thanks, John — enjoy your visit with your family. This is a great time of year in Chicago!

]]> By: John http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/#comment-5082 John Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:08:25 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=522#comment-5082 Sister, I have been a cyclist for nearly 40 years and about 15 years ago became a reader/student of Thomas Merton and it was then I realised that much of my time on the bike has been spent in contemplation! Quite often I return from a long ride and can't for the life of me remember several miles of the ride...I just "zone out" in that groove. Perhaps I will reach "enlightenment" on the bike...hopefully not on a fast downhill! Thanks for the words, love your site! I will be in Chicago next week to spoil our grandkids (and see our daughter too, I guess) I hope wometime to bring my bike! Blessings, John Collins Sister, I have been a cyclist for nearly 40 years and about 15 years ago became a reader/student of Thomas Merton and it was then I realised that much of my time on the bike has been spent in contemplation! Quite often I return from a long ride and can’t for the life of me remember several miles of the ride…I just “zone out” in that groove. Perhaps I will reach “enlightenment” on the bike…hopefully not on a fast downhill! Thanks for the words, love your site! I will be in Chicago next week to spoil our grandkids (and see our daughter too, I guess) I hope wometime to bring my bike!

Blessings,
John Collins

]]> By: Sally M. http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/#comment-5068 Sally M. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:47:06 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=522#comment-5068 Pls pray for healing for my 35 yr. old cousin Drew who has ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). Pls also pray for Toni's conversion back to our Church. Thank you and God bless you all! Sally Pls pray for healing for my 35 yr. old cousin Drew who has ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease).

Pls also pray for Toni’s conversion back to our Church.

Thank you and God bless you all!

Sally

]]> By: alicemary http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/#comment-5022 alicemary Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:18:44 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=522#comment-5022 I love to think on the phrase....'be still and know that I am God'. For me, it is always hard to communicate with God in words. Usually it comes out sounding like a laundry list of give me's and please grant to me's. When I am surrounded by nature I usually can feel His subtle touch and I feel His presence deep in my heart. I love to say the Office, but sometimes the words are merely that and I dont have the discipline to say...God is here too, stick it out. I guess I always thought that at my age I would just have a certain comfort level with Him, but when I truly make 'contact', it feels like a supernova exploding. Interesting thoughts Sister I love to think on the phrase….’be still and know that I am God’. For me, it is always hard to communicate with God in words. Usually it comes out sounding like a laundry list of give me’s and please grant to me’s. When I am surrounded by nature I usually can feel His subtle touch and I feel His presence deep in my heart. I love to say the Office, but sometimes the words are merely that and I dont have the discipline to say…God is here too, stick it out. I guess I always thought that at my age I would just have a certain comfort level with Him, but when I truly make ‘contact’, it feels like a supernova exploding. Interesting thoughts Sister

]]> By: Andy Knight http://anunslife.org/2008/06/12/prayer/#comment-5014 Andy Knight Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:54:49 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=522#comment-5014 Great post about prayer. Thanks for the reminder that God wants to share time with us. He is wanting to meet our needs, though sometimes instead of meeting a surface need, He meets a need that is much deeper and more profound, doesn't he? He's not always predictable, but he's always reliable. Have a great day! Great post about prayer. Thanks for the reminder that God wants to share time with us. He is wanting to meet our needs, though sometimes instead of meeting a surface need, He meets a need that is much deeper and more profound, doesn’t he? He’s not always predictable, but he’s always reliable. Have a great day!

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