May 2022

I recently learned that my aunt is part of a prayer group in her rural community.  “Oh!” I said.  “Ask them if they’d be interested in receiving a card of the month from me.”  “Sure!” was the response, followed by their addresses.  The first mailing— Blessings!— is set to go off tomorrow.  And, since the Trinity is at the heart of who and what we are— a community of faith regardless of where its members happen to be— I thought that maybe, just maybe, you might want to come along for the journey too.

Again I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatsoever, it shall be granted you by my Father in heaven.  Where two or more are gathered in my name, there in their midst am I (Matthew 18:19-20).

Ask, and you will receive.  Seek, and you will find.  Knock, and it will be opened to you.  For the one who asks, receives.  The one who seeks, finds.  The one who knocks, enters.  If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to anyone who asks him! (Matthew 7:7-8, 11).

“Father of Light from whom every good gift comes, send your Spirit into our lives with the power of a mighty wind and, by the flame of your wisdom, open the horizons of our minds” (Pentecost morning prayer).

Glory be to the Father, who by his almighty power and love created me, making me in the image and likeness of God.  Glory be to the Son, who by his precious blood delivered me from hell and opened for me the gates of heaven.  Glory be to the Holy Spirit, who has sanctified me in the sacrament of baptism and continues to sanctify me by the graces I receive daily from his bounty.  Glory be to the three adorable persons of the Holy Trinity now and forever.  Amen.

God becoming man is the great message of his love.  In it we humans see God’s face (St. Hildegard of Bingen).

“Wherever we are, it is our friends that make our world” (Henry Drummond).

May mailing (English & Spanish)

   

   

Ten tips for pray-ers from Sr. Jeanne Cmolik in Beyond the Habit blog

1. Keep it simple. You don’t have to be good at it.  Just do it!  Start now and for five minutes turn to God in your heart.  Author Anne Lamott says the three essential prayers are “help, thanks, and wow.”

2. Use your own words. You don’t talk with a friend using words from a book, do you?  Put aside the prayers written by someone else— beautiful as they may be— and speak from your heart.  God wants to hear your voice!

3. You don’t always have to use words. Sometimes the most precious time with a friend is sitting together in silence, looking at the autumn leaves or at a sunset.  You’re enjoying a deep connection; you’re just not using words.  Sit with God like that.  You can go to a beautiful place, but you don’t have to.  Just be with God.

4. Stay with it. So you’re tired; you’re not in the mood to pray.  You have a thousand things to do.  If this is important to you, make time to do it, even if you just sit and wait for God to show up.

5. Put your heart in it. Tell God why you have come.  Tell your friend that, more than anything, you want to be there, fully present, growing in love.

6. Be honest. It’s okay to tell God you’re having a bad day.  God knows it without you saying so.  Tell God what’s going on and what you would like to change.  Ask for help.

7. Sing, dance, or walk your prayer. God doesn’t mind if you fall asleep while you’re praying.  (I call it “resting in the Lord.”)  I think God actually enjoys seeing us dozing peacefully in our prayer like little children but, if you’d like to be more active in your prayer, sing a favorite song or hymn to God; do a dance for God; or take a walk in God’s creation, aware of the holy presence.

8. Say “thank you” before you say “please.” I think it’s a good strategy to thank God for gifts you’ve already been given before you ask for more.  Begin your prayer with a list of daily blessings.  (It puts God in a good mood!)  If you really get into this, you may even forget what you were going to ask for— or decide you don’t really need it.

9. Remember, God wants this relationship even more than you do. Spiritual writer Joan Chittister reminds us “the God we are seeking is also seeking us.”  I find this comforting because it means that, even if I get tired of trying to find God, God never gives up on finding me.

10. Don’t waste time and energy evaluating the quality of your prayer. That’s God’s business.  God doesn’t do report cards.  God’s just so happy when you take the time to deepen your friendship!

Bonus tip: Expect God to show up!  God always shows up.  We just don’t know where or when.  Believe this.  Watch for it.

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