“If you have lost the taste for prayer, you will regain the desire for it by humbly returning to its practice”
Blessed Paul VI
It takes between 18-254 days for the average human person to form a habit. Creating and sticking to routines can be hard work. It requires dedication and commitment in spirit, mind, and body. As Catholics we recognize and believe that the most important practice we can cultivate is daily prayer. Without prayer there is no growth in the spiritual life. Prayer is like water for our souls!
Prayer takes many forms. We pray when we participate in the Sacraments and even our daily work can be a prayer when offered to Our Lord. Daily Mental prayer, direct conversation with Our Lord is also vital if we want to strengthen our relationship with Him. Among the Saints, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Alphonsus Ligiouri, champions of spiritual formation, both encouraged the vitality of daily mental prayer in our journey towards Heaven. As in any relationship, if we don’t spend time talking, the relationship will fail or simply fade. Why would we risk that in our relationship with God? Yet many of us do so regularly!
Lenten Check-In
I began this Lent with the knowledge that I had greatly fallen behind in my commitment to daily mental prayer. What was once, a full hour of silence and scripture each morning had a become a fifteen-minute rush with a loud mental check list of everything I need to do before the house playing in my head. I knew I needed to do better! I knew I could do better as I already had! I was feeling the effects of my lack of prayer manifesting in loneliness, anxiety, and uncertainty when it comes to making decisions.
This Lent I began with a commitment to do better. With three young boys, a dog, and 2 working parents, mornings in the Buzza house are conduits of chaos. As I began my Lenten journey, I quickly realized what I did the night before dictated how much prayer time I would get each morning. These nightly acts of preparation I now understand to be acts of love when done with the intention to spend more time with our Lord and love my family.
As Lent ends, I still need to do better. I’m frustrated. I’m utterly weak and dependent on a Savior who will die and rise to new life for me in just a couple of days. Setting a goal to recommit to longer daily mental prayer allowed me to see more clearly how dependent I am on the Lord in literally every aspect of my life. Without the intention to serve Him and let Him love through me, even my daily structure falls apart!
Practical Tips
If you are struggling making time for prayer, you are not alone! Below are practical tips on how to recommit to or begin a habit of daily mental prayer:
- Pick a realistic time
- Many saints and theologians suggest starting your day with a period of mental prayer. If this currently seems difficult for your lifestyle, consider starting wherever you can with an amount of time you believe you can give! The most important thing you can do is start somewhere! Set incremental goals if necessary!
- Eliminate Distractions
- Do dishes the night before, pack lunches etc. Rid yourself of tasks or items that would distract you from silence and stillness during your prayer time.
- Use Failure as An Invitation to Modify
- Don’t give up if you don’t hit your daily prayer goal! Use it as an opportunity to understand what the Lord may be calling you to change.
- Recognize Your Prayer Time Will Be Attacked
- Let’s face it, the devil doesn’t like people who are close to God. Spiritual warfare is real, pray prayers of protection and ask for strength to overcome temptations and distractions!