Saturday, September 18, 2010

Praying for a better Prayer Life

At formation, we talked about struggles with prayer.

Finding time. Making time.

Dryness.

Wandering minds.

Just feeling as if one is going through the motions.

The director basically said that the important thing is to persevere even when the "feeling" is not there. The effort itself is of value - and it is building up spiritual muscles even if we are not aware. Plus, it may be the thing that is keeping us form going off the deep end into despair when our souls are plagued by dryness.

Keep on keeping on.

Amen.

Pax et bonum

3 comments:

Mike Farley said...

Amen! Thank you, Lee...

Do Not Be Anxious said...

My initial thought is to recall the Catholic radio psychologist I recently heard, counseling a mother: "Yes, you can make your teen go to mass, even if 'he get's noting out of it.' You make him do many other things for his own good which he doesn't want to do. Going to mass, mouthing the words, are forming habits, and habits often form before the wisdom that make us understand them."

I just happened to have posted some words about what I do when "I'm not in the mood for prayer" while on my way to the adoration chapel. I have a technique that often works for me.

I once heard that we should pray at least 4 hours a day. It took me years to make sense of that, and put it in my heart. Have courage, and perseverance my friend. No prayer goes unanswered; we just grow impatient.

kam said...

D.N.B.A is so right, persevere. Even in the dry times or if prayer just doesn't seem right, you do it anyway. And you keep doing it, keep going back into the silence, and after a while you really don't want anything else. k