Prayer
Growing in the Life of Prayer and Spiritual Practices
Prayer is a way to connect with the Divine. The Catholic Faith is rich in spiritual practices including many different types of individual prayer, community prayer, and practices of caring. There are prayer forms that will be fruitful for anyone from the most traditional Catholic to someone who is spiritual but not religious. We invite you to learn about different prayer forms and spiritual practices. Try the ones that attract you. If you are not drawn to a practice, enjoy the fact that some others in the world-wide Catholic community enter into their faith this way.
Seasonal Prayers
The season of autumn invites us to reflect on transitions and changing times. The light lessens, the leaves turn from green to a myriad of reds, oranges and yellows, and the chill in the air signifies a shift in the weather. We shift from the carefree rhythms of the summer to the more rigid routines that mark the beginning of school year and busier times at work. As you are setting your intention and focus for your prayers this season, consider the prayer points for autumn prayers to meditate on this fall season!
This lovely prayer service from the Sisters of Mercy can be prayed alone or with others.
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The Calming Effect of Praying the Rosary
Many contemplative practices involve the use of a mantra, or the repetitive uttering of a sacred word or group of words (or sometimes a sound) in order to deepen one’s focus, avoid distractions, and create a sense of calm that permits one to enter into an “altered state.” Too often, Catholics are suspicious of such practices, thinking of them as foreign to our tradition. Nothing could be further from the truth! One of the best examples from our tradition is the praying of the Rosary, which involves the mantra-like repetition of prayers, namely the Hail Mary, which we recite 53 times as we reflect on a Mystery of the Rosary. People who regularly pray the Rosary will attest to the fact that the practice brings about a state of calm. In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, Joe Paprocki explores the calming effect of praying the Rosary as we enter into the Month of the Holy Rosary and prepare for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7.
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