Adult / Couple
Pray!
Here is a way to pray the prayer that Jesus taught us -
The Our Father
Take a moment to quiet oneself and be aware of God's presence.
Begin in the name of our creator God who callus us each by name, our redeemer in whom the depth and openendedness of God's love is made real to us, and our Spirit God who is alive within each each of us energizing our hope and our faithfulness to our call.
Now open your hands and look at your palms -
these hands which were once so very tiny
these hands which have known loneliness
these hands which have known hard work
these hands which sometimes ache with pain
these hands which have given and received love.
Cup these hands and place within them the gift of yourself,
all that you are and all that you hope to be.
Straighten your arms and present this gift before you to pray Our Father
our gracious and loving God who nourishes and blesses each of us with more than any
earthly parent could ever give.
Lift your hands, raising this self gift to our God who art in heaven.
We look beyond ourselves, to
the God with is somehow always more,
the God who remains mystery with our lives,
the God who exceeds our expectations,
the God who calls us to live in trust and in hope.
Hallowed be thy name.
Now bring y our hands to rest in a place just in front of your heart.
Let your fingers point toward the sky
and your palms face toward one another without touching
forming a halo of prayer with enough room for the Holy Spirit.
For the God we worship is not only beyond us bit within us as well;
a God who chooses to dwell within the inmost recesses of our heart.
This place, too, is holy, hallowed ground.
Reach your left arm and hand forward into the future praying Thy kingdom come.
Let your right hand follow in a two handed whole hearted commitment to faith - Thy will be done
Lower your hands and round your arms letting your fingertips touch - on earth
The earth we are to honor and cherish, let us celebrate the
circle of unity that is this world as we pray for a deeper
respect and reverence for our mother earth.
Once again, lift the palms of your hands up beyond yourself as we pray - As it is in heaven
for we must return day in and day out from the rising of the sun
to its setting to continue to give praise and thanks to our God.
Let your hands form a small rice bowl held just in front of your mouth.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Let us pray for the millions of people each day that go hungry,
for the thousands who die each day because of starvation.
We pray that our hand and hearts might be freed to share
what the Lord has given us in abundance.
Let your right hand be raised high and then slowly lowered
letting your palm pass in front of your right check, not quite touching -
Forgive us our trespasses.
God's hand is raised not to smite us but to heal us.
Allow yourself to feel the healing presence of the Lord's love.
Imagine his grace full of love flowing from your hand, blessing your own body.
For as often as we fail, we must continue to return to the Lord, to look on that Holy Face
and see, not judgment, but continued love.
Remembering your neighbor (family member, etc.) pray with arms outstretched,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Allow your fists to be clenched and your arms to be crossed as you feel the weight and burden of your own sin.
Lead us not into temptation
Feel the even greater power of the Lord's strength and love in your life.
Unlocking your arms, unfolding your hands, opening your heart -
But deliver us from evil.
AMEN
The Our Father
Take a moment to quiet oneself and be aware of God's presence.
Begin in the name of our creator God who callus us each by name, our redeemer in whom the depth and openendedness of God's love is made real to us, and our Spirit God who is alive within each each of us energizing our hope and our faithfulness to our call.
Now open your hands and look at your palms -
these hands which were once so very tiny
these hands which have known loneliness
these hands which have known hard work
these hands which sometimes ache with pain
these hands which have given and received love.
Cup these hands and place within them the gift of yourself,
all that you are and all that you hope to be.
Straighten your arms and present this gift before you to pray Our Father
our gracious and loving God who nourishes and blesses each of us with more than any
earthly parent could ever give.
Lift your hands, raising this self gift to our God who art in heaven.
We look beyond ourselves, to
the God with is somehow always more,
the God who remains mystery with our lives,
the God who exceeds our expectations,
the God who calls us to live in trust and in hope.
Hallowed be thy name.
Now bring y our hands to rest in a place just in front of your heart.
Let your fingers point toward the sky
and your palms face toward one another without touching
forming a halo of prayer with enough room for the Holy Spirit.
For the God we worship is not only beyond us bit within us as well;
a God who chooses to dwell within the inmost recesses of our heart.
This place, too, is holy, hallowed ground.
Reach your left arm and hand forward into the future praying Thy kingdom come.
Let your right hand follow in a two handed whole hearted commitment to faith - Thy will be done
Lower your hands and round your arms letting your fingertips touch - on earth
The earth we are to honor and cherish, let us celebrate the
circle of unity that is this world as we pray for a deeper
respect and reverence for our mother earth.
Once again, lift the palms of your hands up beyond yourself as we pray - As it is in heaven
for we must return day in and day out from the rising of the sun
to its setting to continue to give praise and thanks to our God.
Let your hands form a small rice bowl held just in front of your mouth.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Let us pray for the millions of people each day that go hungry,
for the thousands who die each day because of starvation.
We pray that our hand and hearts might be freed to share
what the Lord has given us in abundance.
Let your right hand be raised high and then slowly lowered
letting your palm pass in front of your right check, not quite touching -
Forgive us our trespasses.
God's hand is raised not to smite us but to heal us.
Allow yourself to feel the healing presence of the Lord's love.
Imagine his grace full of love flowing from your hand, blessing your own body.
For as often as we fail, we must continue to return to the Lord, to look on that Holy Face
and see, not judgment, but continued love.
Remembering your neighbor (family member, etc.) pray with arms outstretched,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Allow your fists to be clenched and your arms to be crossed as you feel the weight and burden of your own sin.
Lead us not into temptation
Feel the even greater power of the Lord's strength and love in your life.
Unlocking your arms, unfolding your hands, opening your heart -
But deliver us from evil.
AMEN
Learn!
Centering Prayer, an ancient method, is based on the conviction that in our deepest self we can find God. In this prayer we open our minds and hearts to the presence of God within us. God calls to us in friendship. In this kind of prayer we let go of the things that get in the way of our friendship with God. We wait for God as we would for a friend. It takes time…we need to learn to just BE with God, as we would just be in the presence of a very good friend. We do not use thoughts or words – conversation. We let go of all so we can just sit in the presence of God.
Choose a sacred word or mantra as a symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within. A short one or two syllable phrase without strong emotional content works best. Choices might be: Abba, Jesus, Spirit, Wisdom, Peace, Home, Shalom. Pick your own. There is nothing magical about this and no “best word”. Use your intuition and find the best word for you.
Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Keep your back straight, not slumped. Remain reasonably comfortable, so as to maintain the position with little effort and not be distracted by it. Your hands can be in a salms-open position as a sign of receptivity or folded in your lap, or open and extended.
Close your eyes and let go of what is going on around you. Silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
When you become aware of thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word. Thoughts (feelings, perceptions, images, associations) are inevitable. Do not think of them as an obstacle. Just gently return to your sacred word. The sacred word functions as an anchor to allow you to be in the “depth of the river” while the “boats” of mental traffic float by without you being hijacked by them. Do not be surprised if you spend the whole prayer period letting go of thoughts and feelings. Over time, you will experience something happening in your life – a new sense of peace, a new awareness of God’s great love for you. Be patient! Prayer takes practice.
At the end of the prayer period remain in silence for two or three minutes with your eyes closed. This allows time for your psyche to readjust to the external senses and enable you to bring awareness of silence in daily life.
Choose a sacred word or mantra as a symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within. A short one or two syllable phrase without strong emotional content works best. Choices might be: Abba, Jesus, Spirit, Wisdom, Peace, Home, Shalom. Pick your own. There is nothing magical about this and no “best word”. Use your intuition and find the best word for you.
Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Keep your back straight, not slumped. Remain reasonably comfortable, so as to maintain the position with little effort and not be distracted by it. Your hands can be in a salms-open position as a sign of receptivity or folded in your lap, or open and extended.
Close your eyes and let go of what is going on around you. Silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
When you become aware of thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word. Thoughts (feelings, perceptions, images, associations) are inevitable. Do not think of them as an obstacle. Just gently return to your sacred word. The sacred word functions as an anchor to allow you to be in the “depth of the river” while the “boats” of mental traffic float by without you being hijacked by them. Do not be surprised if you spend the whole prayer period letting go of thoughts and feelings. Over time, you will experience something happening in your life – a new sense of peace, a new awareness of God’s great love for you. Be patient! Prayer takes practice.
At the end of the prayer period remain in silence for two or three minutes with your eyes closed. This allows time for your psyche to readjust to the external senses and enable you to bring awareness of silence in daily life.
Do!
Some Pathways of Personal Prayer
Lectio Divina
This is a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures that enables
the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God.
The first step is reading or listening to the word of God, the second step is pondering that word in one's heart, the third step is loving conversation with God, and the fourth step is simply "being" in the presence of God.
Traditional Catholic Prayers
Such prayers include the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic Adoration.
Praying with Music
Listening and praying with sacred music is a common form of personal and/or communal prayer.
In today's technological world we have such easy access to sacred music and the music we sing at weekend Liturgy. Just go to YouTube and put in the name of the piece of music you want to listen to and then enjoy!
Praying with Scripture
Praying with scripture, besides Lectio Divina, may take a variety of forms. It may include reading the scripture passage and some commentary on it, letting deeper understanding lead once to a deeper union with God. It may include journaling, during which one dialogues with the scripture passage or character from the passage.
Guided Imagery
The person using this form of prayer is gently centered than guided through the use of one's senses to experience prayer using one's imagination. St. Ignatius was a strong advocate of using one's senses in individual prayer to fully immerse one's self in the scripture, especially the Gospel scene through their senses and to imagine themselves as a character in the passage.
Praying with Movement
People comfortable with dance and gestures often like to pray in bodily form through dance and ritual movement.
Praying with the Arts
Clay, watercolor, sketching, all can be tools to help one express and deepen one's relationship with God. For example, painting a picture may be a form of communication with God.
Experiencing God In Nature
Many Christians will tell you that one of the places that they find easiest to commune with God is in nature. Walking, hiking, sitting by a favorite creek or field, all are ways to be with God in prayer.
During this next month, try a new prayer form or try several new ways of praying. You might find a favorite new way of being in union with God.
And do join in the Parish celebrations of the Triduum:
Holy Thursday, March 29: 7:00 pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
Good Friday, March 30: 7:00 pm
Easter Vigil, March 31: 8:30 pm
Lectio Divina
This is a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures that enables
the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God.
The first step is reading or listening to the word of God, the second step is pondering that word in one's heart, the third step is loving conversation with God, and the fourth step is simply "being" in the presence of God.
Traditional Catholic Prayers
Such prayers include the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic Adoration.
Praying with Music
Listening and praying with sacred music is a common form of personal and/or communal prayer.
In today's technological world we have such easy access to sacred music and the music we sing at weekend Liturgy. Just go to YouTube and put in the name of the piece of music you want to listen to and then enjoy!
Praying with Scripture
Praying with scripture, besides Lectio Divina, may take a variety of forms. It may include reading the scripture passage and some commentary on it, letting deeper understanding lead once to a deeper union with God. It may include journaling, during which one dialogues with the scripture passage or character from the passage.
Guided Imagery
The person using this form of prayer is gently centered than guided through the use of one's senses to experience prayer using one's imagination. St. Ignatius was a strong advocate of using one's senses in individual prayer to fully immerse one's self in the scripture, especially the Gospel scene through their senses and to imagine themselves as a character in the passage.
Praying with Movement
People comfortable with dance and gestures often like to pray in bodily form through dance and ritual movement.
Praying with the Arts
Clay, watercolor, sketching, all can be tools to help one express and deepen one's relationship with God. For example, painting a picture may be a form of communication with God.
Experiencing God In Nature
Many Christians will tell you that one of the places that they find easiest to commune with God is in nature. Walking, hiking, sitting by a favorite creek or field, all are ways to be with God in prayer.
During this next month, try a new prayer form or try several new ways of praying. You might find a favorite new way of being in union with God.
And do join in the Parish celebrations of the Triduum:
Holy Thursday, March 29: 7:00 pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
Good Friday, March 30: 7:00 pm
Easter Vigil, March 31: 8:30 pm
