Week One: Show Up

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Just show up.

All relationships are based on time shared. The first step to prayer?
Realize that God is already present. Just turn your mind to Him, and you are already praying.
Week Two
Family Wisdom: The Interior Cell
- The saints are our extended family in faith, and we have the great gift of learning from both their experiences and their mistakes. This week, consider what St. Elizabeth of the Trinity has to say about prayer.
  
  St. Elizabeth pictured her heart as an "interior cell" where God lived, and where she could find Him at any moment by simply turning her mind to Him.
  "You must build a little cell in your soul as I do. Remember that God is there and enter it from time to time…when you feel nervous or unhappy, quickly seek refuge there and tell the Master all about it. Ah, if you got to know Him a little, prayer wouldn’t bore you anymore; to me it seems to be rest, relaxation."
- St. Elizabeth writes that our "cells"--our hearts--may start out cluttered or dirty, or even with the door shut. To cultivate a life of prayer, we have to open the door of our cells to the Lord, allow Him to dwell within us, and act as good hosts.
  We may need to clear out some clutter or open a window and let in fresh air. Once we have made room, we can bring gifts of love to expand the cell and make it more welcoming--offerings of humility, praise, peace, love, and mercy; offerings of patience or prayer or simply time spent attending to His presence.
  The beauty of this interior cell is that we may enter it at any moment of the day. The first step to prayer is simply recognizing the Lord who is always present to us and accepting His invitation to conversation.
- What about distractions?
  
  They're normal! Practicing the presence of God at all times is the goal, but we are surrounded by noise that constantly draws us away. This week, don't worry so much about distractions. As long as you are making space for prayer and silence, you're moving in the right direction.
  Don't worry about distractions, don't have an agenda, just step into the silence of your heart and share what you bring with the Lord who dwells there.
  There's no part of your life He is not interested in, even the things that distract you.
- Pray
  
  "Remain in me, Lord." A short phrase to repeat this week.
  "Jesus, I trust that You always hear me and, in Your goodness, always respond to me." From the Litany of Trust
  Psalm of the Week
  Psalm 139
  "Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, there you are."
Read
- In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart, the Journal of a Priest at Prayer.
  "This is how I would have you pray for the time being. Take the time to come before Me. Seek My Face. When you pray in this way I will draw you close to My Heart. Pray using My Mother's Rosary, even when you feel that your prayer is empty or mechanical, or when you are beset by distractions. The decision to pray pleases My Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of My Mother.
  The time you offer to us, when you pray...becomes precious in our eyes and is of immense benefit to your soul and to the souls or whom you pray...let nothing keep you from seeking My Face and My heart in prayer."
- The Catechism #2726
  Did you know that Part IV of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is all about prayer? While it continues to convey essential teachings of the faith, like the first three parts, Part IV has the feeling of spiritual reading and is an incredibly fruitful way to enter into the Catechism.
  "In the battle of prayer, we must face in ourselves and around us erroneous notions of prayer. Some people view prayer as a simple psychological activity, others as an effort of concentration to reach a mental void. Still others reduce prayer to ritual words and postures. Many Christians unconsciously regard prayer as an occupation that is incompatible with all the other things they have to do: they 'don't have the time.' Those who seek God by prayer are quickly discouraged because they do not know that prayer comes also from the Holy Spirit and not from themselves alone."
Act
- Make the time
  Look at your schedule. Find a time to dedicate ten minutes to silent prayer every day this week. If you forget one day, just set a reminder and return tomorrow.
- Show up for Mass
  Not one minute before the bell rings, but five or ten minutes early so that you can quiet your heart, bring your intentions to mind, and prepare yourself to celebrate the liturgy!
- Give Up One Background Noise
  Just pick one - Social media, music, audiobooks, podcasts, television, radio...make one adjustment to your routine to open up more space to think, pray, and encounter.

Family Wisdom: The Interior Cell

St. Elizabeth writes that our "cells"--our hearts--may start out cluttered or dirty, or even with the door shut. To cultivate a life of prayer, we have to open the door of our cells to the Lord, allow Him to dwell within us, and act as good hosts.

The beauty of this interior cell is that we may enter it at any moment of the day. The first step to prayer is simply recognizing the Lord who is always present to us and accepting His invitation to conversation.

What about distractions?

They're normal! Practicing the presence of God at all times is the goal, but we are surrounded by noise that constantly draws us away. This week, don't worry so much about distractions. As long as you are making space for prayer and silence, you're moving in the right direction.

Don't worry about distractions, don't have an agenda, just step into the silence of your heart and share what you bring with the Lord who dwells there.

There's no part of your life He is not interested in, even the things that distract you.

Pray

"Remain in me, Lord." A short phrase to repeat this week.

"Jesus, I trust that You always hear me and, in Your goodness, always respond to me." From the Litany of Trust

Psalm of the Week

Psalm 139

"Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, there you are."

Read

In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart, the Journal of a Priest at Prayer.

The time you offer to us, when you pray...becomes precious in our eyes and is of immense benefit to your soul and to the souls or whom you pray...let nothing keep you from seeking My Face and My heart in prayer."

The Catechism #2726

Did you know that Part IV of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is all about prayer? While it continues to convey essential teachings of the faith, like the first three parts, Part IV has the feeling of spiritual reading and is an incredibly fruitful way to enter into the Catechism.

Act

Make the time

Look at your schedule. Find a time to dedicate ten minutes to silent prayer every day this week. If you forget one day, just set a reminder and return tomorrow.

Show up for Mass

Not one minute before the bell rings, but five or ten minutes early so that you can quiet your heart, bring your intentions to mind, and prepare yourself to celebrate the liturgy!

Give Up One Background Noise

Just pick one - Social media, music, audiobooks, podcasts, television, radio...make one adjustment to your routine to open up more space to think, pray, and encounter.