Pray Like a Monk

Pray

like a Monk

by Dr. Edward Mulholland

Living near an abbey can be a lot like being an avid fan of the PGA Tour. You frequently watch people who are doing something at a level way beyond your wildest dreams. I can be at Mass, seeing one of the monks in prayer, in rapt concentration, only to realize that my mind has gone from Monday’s meeting agenda to my end-of-the-month checking balance to frustration at my team’s poor playoff performance. It’s a bit like watching Bubba Watson try to put the right amount of hook on a fairway iron, all-the-while knowing that trying not to hook the ball is as far as you’ve ever gotten. Is it best just to give up and leave things to the pros?

Well, maybe for golf it could be, but prayer, for any follower of Christ, is a must. It’s a non-negotiable. So how can I try to pray like a monk, even if I’ll never pray like a monk does? After much trial and even more error, I think I’ve come up with some practical steps that may help correct your spiritual slice:

Pray at Work: When St. Benedict chose Ora et Labora, pray and work, as the foundation of monastic life, he wasn’t just giving the monks’ schedule in shorthand. Sure, they have times of prayer and times of work. But St. Benedict didn’t want them to be praying or working, but praying and working. While at work, take time to remember that we do all we do under God’s watchful eye. Offer up your time of work. Ask for guidance when things get tough. Thank Him when things go well. Ask God to bless the people you work with. (For example, if you can be open about your faith at work, say, “God bless you” in your e-mails, but not as an automated response. Write it each time, so it can be a prayer.) Work at Prayer: St. Benedict also wanted his monks to know that Ora et Labora implied that prayer was tough. It doesn’t come easy to us fallen beings. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2725-2745) even calls it a “battle.” So we can’t expect it to be easy. So, just as in a workout, set goals. Try 15 minutes of mental prayer, reflecting on a text of Scripture. Try to work your way to 30 minutes. And, since the battle is a struggle, offer even that up for a good intention.

Be realistic: When I was discussing difficulties at prayer with Fr. Meinrad Miller, he once told me, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t.” Make those goals realistic. Spending two hours at 3 a.m. in adoration will probably not leave you sharp as a tack the next day.

The duties of your state in life as a spouse, parent, employee, citizen are part of your devotion to God. So find a prayer life that fits into that, and don’t set up some pie-in-the-sky false dichotomy which is just a lame excuse like, “Since I can’t pray a full hour in total quiet I might as well not pray at all.” That’s as bogus as saying, “I shouldn’t even golf if I can’t shoot a 72.” Be simple: There are many great books on prayer, but none substitute for actually engaging in mental prayer. Don’t lose time debating how to start, just start. Talk to God about your life, consider how great He is and how little you are. Ponder that He created you with a purpose – a mission, and ask Him to show you what that means for today, not for the next ten years, just for today. And among the many books out there, only one is a must-read: the Book, Sacred Scripture. Read the Gospel – try to put yourself into the scene. What is Jesus like? What is he asking of his followers? Ask Him to show you how that applies to you in the circumstances of your day. Use every club in your bag: (Another silly golf analogy, but here goes.) Nobody plays 18 holes with one club (though

I think Adam Sandler just used a hockey stick in a movie.) Prayer takes different forms and they are all important. Ponder God’s greatness and marvel at it. Say, “Wow, You are awesome, God!” That’s a prayer of adoration or praise. Recognize the many times you have failed to live up to his expectations. Don’t beat yourself up over it, but fall at his feet and ask his forgiveness. That’s prayer of contrition. One very important prayer is thanksgiving. Thank God for favors big and small. The more you do, the more you will see how active He really is in your everyday life. And since He cares so much and is so powerful, ask Him for help in big matters and even in little ones. That’s prayer of petition or supplication. When you feel distracted or dry in one form of prayer, switch out your club and try another.

If I had one last hint, it would be don’t pray solo. And that is true even when you’re alone. A monk knows his brothers have his back, even when he’s alone in the chapel. He also knows that his Mother in heaven is praying for him and with him. That’s true of you, too. Ask Our Lady to help you in prayer. She lived her life without sin, so she’s a zero handicap! Pray with and for your family, too. Whenever any of you pray, the whole family is somehow present.

So even though we may not even gain the perfection of a model monk in prayer, that’s no excuse not to try our level best. These simple tips will get you started. No shot is ever useless as long we’re aiming at the flagstick. No prayer is every wasted as long as we’re aiming at our final goal: to know, love, and serve God in this life and to be happy with him forever in the next.