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Prayer
One of my favorite quotes that keeps me on track and stills my heart …
Prayer is the quiet readiness to be addressed.
- Gregory Baum, Canadian Roman Catholic theologian
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{ 21 comments }
not sure I get this…when I first read it, it stressed me out because I took it to mean that prayer should be addressed like a task that needs to be addressed, and that task is “quiet readiness”? It’s another thing on my To Do list? To me, the beauty of prayer is that that it is the great “untask”.
Perhaps he might mean that the definition of prayer is simply to be open to what God is trying to tell us? Is that how you take this quote?
I love this! waiting, quieting, to be called by God….sometimes prayer is simply being ready to hear what God says….
Why quote a dissenting theologian whose major accomplishment was leading Canadian Catholics to dissent from the Chruch’s teaching on contraception in Humanae Vitae?
MK … I understand this quote kind of like what Jo wrote … I don’t think of it in terms of a task but that God has something to communicate to me, God has a good word to say to me. And not just a word or a message, but God wants to engage with me personally.
Augustine … My choice of quotation was not meant as a theological endorsement or political stance. I simply found some of Baum’s words to be inspiring. I found his expression to be life-giving to me and to help me in my life of prayer.
Dear Sr. Julie, I agree that prayer is being open to the call of God. I have heard the voice of God in several situations.
Sounds like another way to enjoin us to listen for that “still, small voice”, an image I love and have to keep reminding myself of. (“Shut up and listen, girl; give God a chance to get a word in edgewise!”)
Sister Julie ~
Oh, this is a very good quote.
“Prayer is the quiet readiness to be addressed.”
It turns the idea of prayer on its head for me.
It reminds me of Taoism’s Wu Wei: the Action of Non-Action.
It also brings to my mind 1 Kings 19:11-13 where God comes to Elijah as a gentle whisper.
Instead of my searching for God ~in my frenetic desire ~ calling out and addressing Him , the emphasis shifts from me and my doing to one of being in a state of quiet receptivity so that I am ready when God addresses me.
Sister Julie,
Thank you so much for this quote! All day I have felt the call to simply pray but I tend to think that means I need to talk to God about something, but really the call is from God asking me to sit down and simply listen…to be with Him, in His presence.
You know it is funny when you have those days were the message appears to keep hitting you on the head. Do any of you have days like that?
With a grateful heart,
Regina
I have met with Gregory Baum a couple of times. He is a Catholic in good standing and, in fact, an old friend of Benedict XVI. That is a lovely saying of his which I will keep in my heart.
Oooh. I need to write this one down…
wow, how true. i used to get angry and once i told a friend, “i talk and talk and god is nowhere.” she said, “maybe you need to try being quiet.” we want to be in control, pour out our needs to a god who already knows them, make god understand when god understands better than we are able… waiting is so hard. but if we wait, god speaks, and if we are truly listening, we hear.
When I used to teach Gr. 2, one of our test questions was,
Q. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is talking and listening to God.
Sometimes the teacher learns right along with the students.
BTW, I have formatted that quote into a card that I can keep in my breviary, on my desk, etc. (Sometimes I need a gentle reminder; sometimes I need a brick bat!) I rank this quote right up there with a quote from St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”
oooh … that’s a good one, Sister Julie, CSSF. I’ll have to add that to my quotes collection on the sidebar.
Apropos: http://rcspiritualdirection.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-is-prayer-part-iv.html
Julie,
Thanks for this–I didn’t know Gregory actually said this, but it doesn’t surprise me. I did my doctoral dissertation with him in Toronto He is an amazing, holy man who knows the reality of this definition–with a wicked sense of ecclesiastical humour! (Canadian spelling deliberate).
Personally, my favorite quotes I found on this site:
This magnificent refuge is inside you. Enter. Shatter the darkness that shrouds the doorway. Step around the poisonous vipers that slither at your feet, attempting to throw you of your course. Be bold. Be humble. Put away the incense and forget the incantations they taught you. Ask no permission from the authorities. Slip away. Close your eyes and follow your breath to the still place that leads to the invisible path that leads you home. — Saint Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle
It helps me find God. God is present in our souls and that is where we can look to find Him. Really, Catholicism isn’t about the creeds we say, or the priest’s teachings (but don’t get me wrong, I love the priests), but it is about our faith in Jesus Christ, Our Lord. It helps me get my mind straight and more knowing of my goals in life.
I love the quote,will help keep me on track too.
Hi, Julie and All,
I am reminded – once again – how difficult, how overwhelming, how much a relief it is to accept, even for a moment, that we have a God whose delight it is to seek us out. To seek me out. Can I ever get that, really?
I had to think about this for a while, I agree with the writter. Sometimes it takes the quietness of prayer to hear what’s going on inside ourselves. It is easier for me to listen to what God is telling me if I am still and in prayer. God bless !!
Prayer is being with God.
Sometimes you talk. Sometimes you listen. Sometimes you listen but don’t hear anything. That happens a lot, maybe because even though you’re trying to be with God you’re still too focused on yourself or something else, or maybe because He isn’t talking. But always you are simply being with God. You are ready to hear.