Tag: prayer
I have seen the Holy Spirit dwelling in You
There were two brothers living together in a cell whose patience and humility were universally praised by many of the holy fathers. Hearing about this a certain holy man decided to find out whether their humility was really perfect and went to visit them. They greeted him gladly and after the customary psalms and prayers… Read More ›
Contemplative Prayer
Contemplation becomes a way of life. I don’t like to think of it so much as something I do but something I am, so I often use the phrase-the contemplative stance. It’s a way of living, moving, and being in this world. I fully admit that we don’t live all of our twenty-four hours there…. Read More ›
Five Ways to Pray Always: Part 6, Eating in Solidarity
[click here to view part five of this seven part series] Eating in Solidarity Most of us spend a good bit of our waking (and even dreaming!) hours thinking about, planning, preparing and eating food. It’s one of those very mundane tasks like reading the newspaper and washing behind the ears. What we eat and… Read More ›
Five Ways to Pray Always: Part 5, Walking With Jesus
[click here to view part four of this seven part series] Walking With Jesus We are accustomed to saying, “I’m going to take a walk”–a phrase which points to a kind of possessive, “I’m in control” attitude. Perhaps it’s because we usually view walking in terms of going somewhere, accomplishing something, getting from here to… Read More ›
“Breastplate” of St. Patrick
I bind to myself today The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity: I believe the Trinity in the Unity The Creator of the Universe. I bind to myself today The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism, The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial, The virtue of His Resurrection with… Read More ›
Five Ways to Pray Always: Part 4, Breathing the Breath of God
[click here to view part three of this seven part series] Breathing the Breath of God One of the post-Resurrection accounts in John’s Gospel says that Jesus extended his peace to the disciples and then breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It is the very same breath of God that the Creator breathed… Read More ›
Prayer to St. Benedict
Glorious Saint Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace! Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God. To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me. Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference… Read More ›
On the Observance of Lent: Lent in the Rule
The burial of “alleluia.” Saint Benedict touches on Lent again and again in the Rule, especially when he is talking about the Divine Office. There is that one chapter about the times of saying alleluia. From the holy feast of Easter until Pentecost, “alleluia” is always said with both the psalms and the responsorials. Every… Read More ›
Five Ways to Pray Always: Part 3, Seeing Through God’s Eyes
[click here to view part two of this seven part series] Seeing Through God’s Eyes The essence of contemplation is seeing all of creation through God’s eyes. We’ve all had contemplative experiences, but perhaps we didn’t know it was contemplation. Watching the slow, multicolored sunset with simple, childlike awe to the point where we simply… Read More ›