“For me, prayer means launching out of the heart towards God; it means lifting up one’s eyes, quite simply, to heaven, a cry of grateful love, from the crest of joy or the trough of despair; it’s a vast, supernatural force which opens out my heart, and binds me close to Jesus.” – St. Therese of Lisieux
St. Therese’s autobiography The Story of a Soul contains a beautiful chapter on prayer, where the above quote comes from. (Here are FREE Audio versions, to listen with the kids.)
Lent is upon us! Yay! It comes when I need it most. How about you?
Lots of great stuff going on this year with my family, an engaged daughter, and a wedding to plan. Also a renovation of my 20+ year old kitchen after we had a fire in my old oven on New Year’s day!!
New adventures and new beginnings!
I thought about concentrating and focusing on prayer, for God calls us to prayer.
“Prayer is a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC, no. 2558)
Yes, I want to build a better habit of prayer this Lent!
This week as I was clearing up space to paint in the kitchen cupboards I found our old prayer journals. It was my hope that this would become a springboard for our family to come to a deeper understanding of prayer and in so doing increase and deepen our individual prayer lives.
However, it really only suited me! Haha!!! Sometimes our Lenten plans don’t work out the way we envision them.
However, there was a seed planted .
To this day I find a sense of focus when I write out my thoughts. I used Bishop Barron’s Journal for Advent and loved it so much that I will use the Lenten version this Lent.
Did you know that there are five basic ways of praying?
Adoration, Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving and Praise.
Each way of praying will be my personal journey this Lent. By utilizing these five paths, I have a ton of ideas to draw upon such as adding formal prayers, Scripture verses, prayers and litanies of the saints. And I can’t forget the people I promise to pray for, so I will add their intentions in my journal.
In the past I have experienced, quite nicely, vocal prayer but haven’t truly explored the other two expressions of prayer, meditation and contemplation. Perhaps giving time this Lent for true reflection will help me make it my own and discover my heart moving towards the One who longs to hear from me.
At Penance yesterday Father suggested that I follow Hebrews 3:13:
Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.
My family will come along for the ride too!
I will encourage my family to find ways to be re-educated in prayer too! Invitation is great too, joining me in vocal prayer, saying our rosary together and come with me to Adoration.
“The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer. …..the family is the ‘domestic church’ where God’s children learn to pray ‘as in the Church’ and to persevere in prayer.” (CCC, no. 2558)
I will make time for true silence, for God speaks to our souls.
“In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.”
Mother Teresa
I promise to add your intentions, please feel free to add them in the comments!
I gave a webinar a few weeks ago where I give the 5 Keys to Reimagine your Homeschool. Key #1 is : Prayer as the cornerstone of peace in your homeschool. It is so true! This Lent is a great time to begin your planning process for next year!
