Making Room for Prayer B Y REB EC CSONATAG A S ONT AG REBECCA
The majesty and magnificence of God is inescapable. It is in every single breath taken, of theGod windsisthat keep the birds The majesty and magnificence inescapable. It in is in the sky and, far above even that, the force that pins countless ery single breath taken, the winds that keep the birds in the stars to the fabric of the universe. Every beat of every y and, far above even that, the force that pins countless stars heart, every wave that has ever broken upon a shore: we are the fabric of thebyuniverse. Every beat of every enveloped constant reminders of God’s vast heart, love forevery us all. ave that How has ever broken upon a shore: we are enveloped is it that we could, even for a moment, forget the by profound grandeur andvast generosity of God’s onstant reminders of God’s love for us all.endless gifts?
plowing through white noise of daily ow is itThe thatrelentless we could, even for athe moment, forget the existence can stifle gratitude and wonder, even dimming our ofound grandeur and generosity of God’s endless gifts?
relationship with God. Annoyance, frustration, distraction and self absorption can derail even the most devoted of souls The relentless plowing through the whitelove noise of daily from their true calling, that is, to know, and serve God. istence can gratitude even are dimming And stifle it is through prayerand thatwonder these obstacles dissolvedour like the with morning sun burning away last night’s fog. distraction lationship God. Annoyance, frustration,
nd self-absorption can derail even the most devoted of souls is much more than a single act. It is, as stated by om theirPrayer true calling, that is, to know, love and serve God. the Catechism, the actual relationship itself between each nd it is through prayer that these obstacles are dissolved like individual and God. Anytime our hearts cry out our prayers e morning sun burning last night’s are heard, and thereaway are plenty of timesfog. prayer comes easily. Sometimes, though, it takes intentionality, maybe even the
setting more of a routine, for this intimate rayer is much thantoa make singleroom act.inItouris,lives as stated by the exchange with God, Jesus and the saints. Because regardless atechism, the actual relationship itself between eachof or notAnytime prayer takes effort, is always essential. dividualwhether and God. ouradded hearts cryitout our prayers e heard. And there are plenty of times prayer comes easy. Here are some steps you can take to carve out ometimes, though, it takesinintentionality, space for prayer your home. maybe even the tting of a routine, to make room in our lives for this timate exchange with God, Jesus and the saints. Because PICK A SPOT a placeorin not yourprayer home that willadded be devoted solely gardless Choose of whether takes effort, it isto prayer. Whether it’s an entire room, a chair by a window, or a ways essential.
pretty box holding your favorite book of prayers and a rosary, mark off a portion of your home for this singular purpose. Set some apart yoursteps sacred space from the hectic distractions of the are you can take to carve mundane so that your focus is with God and His Saints.
ere ut space for prayer in your life. FILL IT WITH GOOD THINGS
ICK A Remaining SPOT intent on your conversation with God is the hoose a goal. placeMeditating in your home thatvictory will be solely to on Christ’s overdevoted death while gazing ayer. Whether it’s an entire room, a chair by a window, or a etty box holding your favorite book of prayers and a rosary, ark off a portion of your home for this singular purpose. Set
at a crucifix can draw one closer into God’s great mystery. Likewise, an image the Virgin Jesus ongreat her myste crucifix can of draw one Mary closersnuggling into God’s lap can pull the mind and heart ever closer to understanding Likewise, an image of the Virgin Mary snuggling Jesus the love God has for each of us. Religious icons, carvings, her lap can pull the mind and heart ever closer paintings and more can be used to sharpen our focus on our understanding the love God has for each of us. Religio beloved Lord as our hearts spill forth.
icons, carvings, paintings and more can be used to sharp MAKE A RITUAL ourITfocus on our beloved Lord as our hearts spill forth. Rituals are a human invention that serve a human need. Jesus doesMAKE not become because you always use a kneeler ITmore A perfect RITUAL in your home’s prayer space. Likewise, God doesn’t need us to Rituals are a human invention that serve a human light a white candle blessed by a priest before we pray.
nee Jesus does not become more perfect because you always u yourprayer home’s space. Likewise, G Butawekneeler may needin it. Your ritualprayer is a customizable series doesn’t white candle blessed by a pri of steps. Andneed when us usedtotolight beginaand end time of intentional prayer, it enables us to leave the world of social media and before we pray.
cable news at the door. Genuflecting, kissing the cross, lighting a candle, playing a hymn, burning incense or using But we may need it. Your prayer ritual is a customizab set beginning and ending prayers: these are just a few ideas series of steps. And when used to begin and end time that can be personalized to help slip off the smothering mantle intentional prayer, it enablesasuswetogive leave the world of the world’s chaos and distraction ourselves and of soc and cable news theand door. our media full attention over to God’satlove care.Genuflecting, kissing t
cross, lighting a candle, playing a hymn, burning incense and ending prayers: these are just a f Prayer is a necessity and not luxury. It is a necessity for each ideas that can be apersonalized to help slip off t person in each family. Get up early or set aside time at night smothering mantle of the world’s chaos and distraction and share that time so that all in the household can grow in weBut give ourselves our stick full to attention overother to God’s lo God. when you find and the time, it and enable andmembers care. to do the same. family MAKE IT Aset HABIT using beginning
LikeMAKE all worthwhile there is growth and improvement IT Athings, HABIT withPrayer practice. Set a reminder youra phone is a necessity andonnot luxury.orItanisalarm a necessity on your clock. Keep doing it. Somedays you may feel like each person in each family. Get up early or set aside time you’re flying with the angels! Somedays, you will feel flat night and share that time so that all in the household c and uninspired. Somedays, it might feel completely forced. in relationships, God. But when find time, Butgrow with all there you is a lot to the be said juststick for to it a enable members to do showing up.other There family will be ups and downs butthe the same. trajectory, the ultimate path, is always closer and closer to God. There is nothing important than things, our relationship Like more all worthwhile therewith is God. growth a Make the space. improvement with practice. Set a reminder on your pho
or an alarm on your clock. But keep doing it. Somedays y FE A T U R E | 21 may feel like you’re flying with the angels! Somedays, y
