Blogging from my cell phone is a new experience for me! I’m hanging out in Wilmington with one of my nuns and dear friend Ginny and can only access the Internet by my phone. Fortunately there’s a handy WordPress app for my phone.
So I’m in transit via car, feet, train, shuttle bus, and airplane today back to Chicago. I’m looking forward to the adventure and ever so glad I packed lightly!
I’ve had prayer and contemplative life on my mind and heart … Intensely since the Feast of Teresa of Avila. I’ll share more soon. Prayer (like myself today!) is often in transit, moving and changing, pausing, and sometimes even getting lost or stopped along the way. I have found it so helpful to be able to share with my nuns the journey of prayer. And so I’d like to open the door to you too. What way(s) of praying do you find yourself drawn to? Any “techniques” that you find helpful too (e.g., praying at same time; going for a run first)?
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P.S. Sister Maxine is also in transit so we will not have a midday prayer podcast today. Back tomorrow at noon Central Time.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
If you’re still with Ginny, give her my love!
Will let her know! Car ride complete. On Amtrak now with singing conductor.
singing is my favorite form of prayer. was it augustine who said, “(she) who sings prays twice”? most of my daily prayer is just ongoing conversation, but it gets very dry sometimes. singing helps. praying with others helps. also, i have prayer bowls, two bowls fasioned into one (ceramic) and throughout the week i place tiny papers with names or intentions in one bowl and, at some point, i sit down and burn the papers one by one in the other bowl… just a way to remember who and what to pray for and to make myself do it often.
p.s.–safe travels.
Peggy, it’s like you are here on the journey. I’m on topic 7. We have to organize some podcasts with you. Your lecture series on history of Women Religious in the US is AMAZING.
On airplane prepping for takeoff!
I find that I don’t often set aside time to pray because I seem to pray constantly through out the day. When I really pay attention to what I do during my day’s, I catch myself praying. A LOT! It reminds me about what St. Paul said, “Pray without ceasing.” Thus I try to remember those words and pray about everything I do.
But when I do set aside time for prayer, I use this advice given to me by a friend:
She told me once to bring a notepad when you seclude your self for your personal prayer. Why? Because sometimes you start to think of a million and one things that you have to do, she said sometimes she feels it’s God helping her keep her day organized. Thus instead of pushing the thoughts away, and forgetting everything you need to do, bring a notepad and write the thoughts down. In the end your prayer time is not ruined and neither is your day!
My prayer life used to be about petitions. Pray for this person and that cause, etc. I am also a singer so that was my favorite form of prayer. My spiritual director has been getting me to do a lot of praise prayer, the psalms, breviary, etc. and having me to praise God in reflection. In the quiet moments of my life, praising God for the beauty that surrounds us everyday, or for something so simple as a smile. It has helped me grow closer to God and even though I am nowhere near the place I want to be in my prayer life, I feel like I am on the right track for me. I pray best in the morning, but have evening prayers and the ongoing conversations as well. I have been finding it hard lately to stick to a schedule because my life has been so unscheduled these past weeks. Pray that I get back on a routine. How do you like to pray Sister Julie?
Hi Sister Julie,
During October, I was immersed with books/video about St. Teresa of Avila. I started by reading “Interior Castle” translated and edited by E. Allison Peers. Following your podcast with Guest, Mirabai Starr, I purchased and just finished the “Interior Castle” translated by Mirabai. And in several TV segments, EWTN hosted a video about St. Teresa’s life.
All were inspiring. I was grateful for the additional learning’s about contemplative life and now find I am better able to communicate with a family member who is reading St. John of The Cross’ “Dark Night of the Soul”.
I enjoy contemplative prayer in late afternoon when I am most engaged in this type of prayer during visits to our little, old and beautiful chapel where Adoration is open to the parish everyday. And, I love to listen to and sing Contemporary Christian Music, especially at Mass.
Because of the gorgeous autumn weather and colors, prayer has been full of praise during my afternoon or evening walk. The Rosary is my very favorite. Our Blessed Mother has intervened on my behalf …on many, many occasions.
Lifting you and Sister Maxine in prayer for safe travel.
God bless,
Kathleen
ps: I’m looking forward to hearing “Ask Sister” Podcast from Friday, 10/30/09 once it is posted. I wasn’t able to participate.
I’m just starting to get myself into a prayer routine. After much encouragement from a couple of sisters that I was on retreat (3 separate times), I’ve started to get into a routine. I used to pray at night before I went to bed, but I usually was too tired to really pray so it ended up a “Dear God, thank you for this day. Be with my friends” before I drifted off to sleep. And, prayer for me was always one sided. Me talking to God about what was going on and what I wasn’t liking and asking why he wouldn’t just show me where I was supposed to be going.
On these retreats, the sisters suggested that I try praying at the same time every (or every other) day. I’ve been praying when I get home from work around 5pm. It’s a great way for me to take time to distance myself from work and relax. I’ve been trying to listen to God more in prayer instead of constantly doing the talking. I have 2 index size cards that I created while on retreat over the summer. One says “speak” and the other says “listen.” I’m trying to accomplish those things during prayer time. I was also introduced to lectio divina on a retreat and I really enjoy that too.
Lately, I’ve found myself wanting to carve out more time for prayer. I’ll admit that I haven’t been sticking to my praying when I get home from work routine that much lately.
peace and prayers to all of you.
Thanks for the kind words, Julie! I would love to try podcasting–it would be a new experience. Glad you’re liking the lectures–they were a challenge to put together. Meanwhile, say a prayer for me. I’m giving a talk Wednesday on Catholics and Politics (actually, co-giving it with our retired Auxiliary Bishop, Tom Costello) at our university Newman Center.