Chatting about: Prayer

Sun chat: Prayer: w does Jesus’s humanity draw us deeper into prayer with God?
In what way is mental prayer “more profitable to your soul” than vocal prayer?
How can we better make time for meditation/prayer in our daily lives? What hinders this from happening?

Jun 18 2016, 7:32 PM

Dorothy Berman: Vocal prayer sometimes feels to me like those little cards that fall out of magazines. They come out when we join a community and try to consciously blend out voice with theirs. Mental prayer is not just reading the magazine but where we write our stories with God. I believe I can pray throughout my day, but meditation is the specified time I set aside for me and my Lord. It’s not so much time for me to “think” as to be with Him and rest quietly to listen….

Jun 18 2016, 7:33 PM

Dorothy Berman: Listening is kind of hard for me, but the grace and blessing come in the struggle.

7:22 PM

Lisa C: First question John 14:5-14

 

Lisa C: 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jun 19 2016, 7:23 PM

Lisa C: 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

7:24 PM

Lisa C: 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. 6, 7:25 PM

Lisa C: Jesus’ humanity is easy to relate to

Jun 19 2016, 7:25 PM

Carol Ann: Hi Everyone!

Jun 19 2016, 7:25 PM

VisitationSiste: The priest today said so simply thaT if Jesus needed to pray to stay in touch with His Father of course we do

Jun 19 2016, 7:25 PM

Lisa C: We can talk easily to him

Jun 19 2016, 7:25 PM

VisitationSiste: Since Jesus is God and is in complete union in the tTrinity the prayer reflects His humanity

, 7:27 PM

Lisa C: We cannot express ideas without words and pray is sharing ideas with God2016, 7:28 PM

VisitationSiste: Prayer is also listening7:28 PM

Lisa C: Yes

Jun 19 2016, 7:28 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Jesus uses concrete words and actions to reach out to us through the Scriptures. It is in reflecting on the words and actions of Jesus in Scripture that we meet Him in His humanity abd we are drawn into a deeper prayer as we reflect more deeply on His life. The deeper the reflection, the deeper the prayer; the deeper the prayer, the deeper the connection with God.

Jun 19 2016, 7:28 PM

Lisa C: Ideas in both directions

:29 PM

Carol Ann: I also find images inspire prayer. I think of the saying a picture paints a thousand words and often use symbols

Jun 19 2016, 7:29 PM

Lisa C: Mental prayer is personal between the person and God. It is an interaction between the soul and God. It is the person’s relationship with God. Vocal pray is reading the words of someone else. Vocal prayers are valuable ways to teach us about God and how to relate to Him, but mental pray is the real relationship we have with God. Mental prayer is like the kind of sharing and interacting families do at dinner every day to share the events of their lives and to give each other guidance. With mental pray

:29 PM

Lisa C: With mental prayer we also listen to what God has to say to us through the Holy Spirit, we also see His example through Jesus, and we experience the love our Father has for us. 0 PM

VisitationSiste: Sometimes someone else’s vocal prayers , say in a book, are very inspiritng and we can make them our ownPM

Lisa C: Yes, the vocal prayers teach us how to relate to God

Jun 19 2016, 7:31 PM

Lisa C: At Visitation we were blessed to have the Nuns teaching us all day. We prayed before every class. God was included in everything we learned about. For example in Science we learned the principles, but also talked about who created them. In History we not only learned about our country, but we also learned about the role of the Church and its missionaries. While learning to read our readers had families that went to church and said grace.

Jun 19 2016, 7:31 PM

Lisa C: During playtime outside we heard about birds and trees and weather and who made them all. God was included in everything all day long for eight years. During Religion class we were also taught to discuss things with God as the day proceeded. There was no way we could leave this school without God on our minds all day every day for the rest of our lives. It is now possible to feel God at my side with everything, especially during difficulty.

Jun 19 2016, 7:32 PM

Lisa C: Sitting with Jesus in Adoration is also a way to have an even more exclusive relationship that is not affected by events. It is about love and is more intimate.

2 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Vocal prayer is also a way of preparing for mental prayer. It helps us to, what I call, center down, put aside other things and then to be able to reflect. Preparation is important.

Jun 19 2016, 7:33 PM

Lisa, for the first question, quoting scripture was very helpful

Jun 19 2016, 7:38 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Lectio Divina is a form of mental prayer, is it not? I have gotten into the habit of writing my Lectios so that I do not fall asleep. Does that detract from its nature as mental prayer?

Jun 19 2016, 7:38 PM

Lisa C: Scripture is a way to find answers from God since it is His word

7:39 PM

Carol Ann: Judy, I do think lectionary is mental prayer because of how it focuses you into contemplationPM

Ruth (guest): Lisa, your so positive experience with the Visitation sister’s school was part of what drew me to visit there last fall. I am glad I did. :42 PM

Lisa C: Ruth, it is a wonderful school, and a wonderful order

Jun 19 2016, 7:42 PM

5 PM

VisitationSiste: St Jane de Chantal said a Visitandine’s prayer will eventually become a simple gaze upon God45 PM

Dawn L: lately I have been joining the community on Divine Office, an app and also a website. they pray the hours. what is nice about it is praying in a community, from all over the world, for those who are not in community or can attend morning Mass

Jun 19 2016, 7:45 PM

Guest6727 (guest): How beautiful !

Jun 19 2016, 7:46 PM

Carol Ann: I remember St Teresa of Avila said something similar. Do all the mystics reach that conclusion?

Jun 19 2016, 7:46 PM

Ruth (guest): There were times when it was, very, very hard, especially at the first “rehab” place. I kept praying for patience, then in prayer it became clear to me that it was the wrong prayer, that I should be praying for an alternative, a different in-patient rehab. By Saturday night I was ready to sign out AMA — “against medical advice” — if need be. It took four more days — calls to Medicare, learning the facts, the help of an admissions nurse at another rehab — but they did transfer me.

Jun 19 2016, 7:46 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) I think that is what we are all striving for, reaching that point where words are no longer necessary and there can be a simple communion of hearts with the Lord.

Jun 19 2016, 7:47 PM

Dawn L: Ah! a simple gaze

7:47 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes a deep intimacy in silence that is filled with Presence

Jun 19 2016, 7:47 PM

Lisa C: Contemplative prayer

, 7:48 PM

VisitationSiste: a being with:48 PM

Dawn L: or as the young priest said this morning….the ultimate goal is simply learning to hang out with Jesus

 

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Dawn, that’s a good way to put it!

Jun 19 2016, 7:49 PM

Lisa C: Like Jesus and the Father are one

Jun 19 2016, 7:50 PM

Guest6727 (guest): What I miss most about my Father was the times when we were just together no words spoken they were very special times . That’s what God wants us just to be together with Him all the time !

PM

Ruth (guest): “Hang out” — that’ll get through to a lot of young people.

Jun 19 2016, 7:50 PM

Dawn L: he, the priest, just said it so simply

9 2016, 7:50 PM

VisitationSiste: A beautiful way to spend one’s life6, 7:51 PM

Carol Ann: Those times seem to be few and far between in life. Not many are comfortable with silence

 

PM

VisitationSiste: True and more and more people are connected to devices. How will they ever sense God? 2 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) It’s frustrating for me since silence usually means fall asleep time for me.

Jun 19 2016, 7:52 PM

Guest6727 (guest): Yes Ruth !

Jun 19 2016, 7:52 PM

Carol Ann: It can be hard to stay awake.

Jun 19 2016, 7:52 PM

Dawn L: sleep can come easy.

6, 7:53 PM

VisitationSiste: Didn’t St Therese say that was ok?

Jun 19 2016, 7:53 PM

Ruth (guest): I always found that the presence of the Blessed Sacrament was a good help to just being with the Lord.

7:53 PM

Lisa C: Mother, they sense God through people who are one with Him, like we sense the Father through Jesus. That is why Visitandines have such an influence on students.

Jun 19 2016, 7:53 PM

VisitationSiste: The best for m

016, 7:54 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Yes, St Therese did say that she frequently fell asleep during meditatiohran: Hi!

Jun 19 2016, 7:55 PM

Ruth (guest): I thought it pretty insightful that SFdS gave advice about WHEN to do your meditative prayer — in the morning, when well rested from the night before, or just BEFORE dinner, in any case, not right after a meal because you are liable to be sleepy then.

 

VisitationSiste: That’s how we do it here

Jun 19 2016, 7:56 PM

Amy Cochran: I find mornings, and morning prayer, the best times

Jun 19 2016, 7:56 PM

Dawn L: This week I have written names next to the quest numbers…way better ( for me)

Jun 19 2016, 7:57 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Mornings are not good for me since I have a hard time getting my motor up and running. I guess I must be a night person because I find it easier to pray later in the day.

Jun 19 2016, 7:57 PM

Ruth (guest): What sort of names, Dawn?

Jun 19 2016, 7:57 PM

Amy Cochran: we have daily mass here at 8. after that meditative prayer comes easy

Jun 19 2016, 7:57 PM

Dawn L: last week I became distracted with who was saying what, then decided what was being said more important than who wa saying it. maybe

Jun 19 2016, 7:57 PM

Guest6727 (guest): Early morning has always been best time for me

2016, 7:59 PM

VisitationSiste: Mornings are good because they start the day with theLord but He can call us to be with Him at any time1 viewer

6, 7:59 PM

Dawn L: waking up with Jesus is best morning for me, just a simple thank you Lord for this new day8:00 PM

Carol Ann: Sometimes He wakes me up early so I can be with Him

Jun 19 2016, 8:00 PM

Guest6727 (guest): I remember 21 years ago visiting China everyone would be quit in the early morning time walking exercise prayer meditation it is I am sure a powerful time of prayer for the Body of Christ in China today as the church is exploding with new members !!!

Jun 19 2016, 8:01 PM

Ruth (guest): Thanksgiving seems to me to be the essence of prayer — and recognizing that every good thing — even what we work hard for — comes from God and is given to us to give Him glory.

Jun 19 2016, 8:01 PM

Guest6727 (guest): Quiet

8:02 PM

Lisa C: If that happens I pray later even to the point of forcing myself to stay awake to do it

Jun 19 2016, 8:02 PM

Carol Ann: Yes, an irregular work schedule makes keeping evening prayer at the same time

Jun 19 2016, 8:02 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Quest. #2 Mental prayer is more profitable than vocal prayer because our reflection on the Lord leads us to look at ourselves in relation to Him and to see in Him the pattern for our own lives. “Subsequently, we should resolve to make whatever changes necessary to be able to be more like Him. Also, mental prayer can more easily lead to contemplation

, 8:03 PM

Carol Ann: Judy, that’s beautiful

Jun 19 2016, 8:03 PM

Ruth (guest): Of course, Sister, but those “things” too can be brought to Him. I try to be as gentle with myself as He is. That was not always so. . .

Jun 19 2016, 8:03 PM

Lisa C: That goes for vocal prayer like rosaries, mental prayer can happen simultaneously with other things

Jun 19 2016, 8:04 PM

Lisa C: Hi Sister Mary Roberta

Jun 19 2016, 8:04 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: Hello!

 

Carol Ann: Hi Sr. Mary Roberta

hat’s true Lisa, but partly it seems to me, depending on what OTHER things we refer to. PM

Mary Roberta Viano: To encourage true prayer, I’ve always been told to constantly read a life of Our Lord: the Gospels or another good one, like Guardini’s life of Jesus.

Jun 19 2016, 8:06 PM

Lisa C: other things= everything

Jun 19 2016, 8:06 PM

Dawn L: the term ejaculatory prayer was new to me, but hearing the words I recognized it and comes throughout day esp busy day

PM

Mary Roberta Viano: That’s what I encourage our students to do during their busy school days – short ejaculatory prayers. PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Setting a set time for mental prayer each day is the best way to provide for that time. But things can hinder that such as scheduling too many chores and/or activities in our day. Another is giving in to a weakness for a particular form of entertainment which distracts us from entering into prayer. Sometime the need of another hinders us, for example a sick parent or child. Or occupational emergencies (having to work overtime) are another. And illness is another.

Jun 19 2016, 8:08 PM

Ruth (guest): For example, I may not always be thinking of God when I am doing mathematics, or researching a medical problem, but by “offering” these activities to the Lord at the beginning of the day and at the beginning of the activity, they, too, become a kind of prayer — and sometimes He gives us a moment here and there where the BEAUTY of a mathematical formula or the BEAUTY of His Divine Design in how he heals gives a moment of AWE and PRAISE.

8:09 PM

Guest6727 (guest): A great way to battle the business of life that can steal soo much away from our relationship with God ! , Ruth

Jun 19 2016, 8:09 PM

Carol Ann: Yes, Judy. I often find myself delaying evening prayer until bedtime, just to stay consistent and not miss it

:10 PM

VisitationSiste: An act of charity is also prayer

Jun 19 2016, 8:10 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: That’s what I love about religious life: Prayer is primary, part of our every day schedule.

Jun 19 2016, 8:10 PM

Carol Ann: I miss that so much

Jun 19 2016, 8:10 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: so it’s up to me to show up on time and stay focused

Jun 19 2016, 8:11 PM

Guest6727 (guest): Soo true Sister Susan !

Jun 19 2016, 8:11 PM

Dawn L: yes, Sr, St Therese I think she spoke of even the most simple action can be an act of love

Jun 19 2016, 8:11 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) I have been awed by occasions when I have been watching a TV program and I suddenly become aware of the Lord’s presence within and around me and He seems to be speaking to me.

Jun 19 2016, 8:11 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, cultivating that awareness of God’s continual presence to us is centra

:12 PM

Ruth (guest): Very definitely; especially when that Love is clearly meant to express HIS love —

 

VisitationSiste: I love the way we were taught to pray all our actions- like smoothing the purificator in the sacrisrrty- we would pray to smooth a soul from anxiety

Jun 19 2016, 8:14 PM

Ruth (guest): RoseAnn H and I are rapidly becoming real friends to one another — although it was her Charity to me — by driving me long distances when I needed the help, (The surgery was in Albany, 150 miles from here.)– that got it started.

4 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: I’m glad, too, there are so many 24/7 Adoration chapels in parishes everywhere. Sign up for an hour to be in Christ’s Presence.

Jun 19 2016, 8:15 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Sister Mary Roberta, I always seem to be startled when members of your community refer to themselves as Salesians. As a Salesian Cooperator ( within the Salesians of Don Bosco) it was quite some time before I learned that there are other Salesians too.l

Jun 19 2016, 8:15 PM

Carol Ann: I wonder how hard it is to start such a group

 

 

Mary Roberta Viano: I’m glad, too, there are so many 24/7 Adoration chapels in parishes everywhere. Sign up for an hour to be in Christ’s Presence.

Jun 19 2016, 8:15 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Sister Mary Roberta, I always seem to be startled when members of your community refer to themselves as Salesians. As a Salesian Cooperator ( within the Salesians of Don Bosco) it was quite some time before I learned that there are other Salesians too.l

Jun 19 2016, 8:15 PM

Carol Ann: I wonder how hard it is to start such a group

 

 

Mary Roberta Viano: The Salesian virtues of gentleness and humility help me offer each act with deep love. , 8:15 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Sister Mary Roberta, I always seem to be startled when members of your community refer to themselves as Salesians. As a Salesian Cooperator ( within the Salesians of Don Bosco) it was quite some time before I learned that there are other Salesians too.l

Jun 19 2016, 8:15 PM

Carol Ann: I wonder how hard it is to start such a group

PM

Mary Roberta Viano: The Don Bosco Salesians are 2-1/2 centuries later than the original Salesians – the Visitandines!

Jun 19 2016, 8:16 PM

Ruth (guest): Sr. Mary Roberta, I wish there were one near here. When I first came here, the toughest part of living here in the Adirondacks was not the snow and ice and thirty below zero days, it was the locked doors or unpredictable schedules of the churchs.

Jun 19 2016, 8:17 PM

Lisa C: How was the healing mass?

Jun 19 2016, 8:17 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) I suspect that one of the hardest things would be getting someone to coordinate the group, that is keeping track of the schedules and contacting substitutes when necessary.

Jun 19 2016, 8:17 PM

Guest6727 (guest): When we Love our Enemies this is a pure action of Love and Prayer that spreads God’s Love to others in an incredible way that goes on and on !

Jun 19 2016, 8:17 PM

Dawn L: Sr Mary Roberta….what a beautiful gift to have that around, to have Jesus around all the time !!

Jun 19 2016, 8:17 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: True, Ruth! Maybe you can ask your priest either to give you a key or leave church open when you know you can be there.

8 PM

Lisa C: Our church has a lock with a code that you can punch in

Jun 19 2016, 8:18 PM

VisitationSiste: The healing Msass was well attended and Fr was here about 3 hours- he knows what to pray for when he prays over you

Jun 19 2016, 8:18 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: how special!

Jun 19 2016, 8:19 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: Our own Sr. Rose has that capacity, too.

Jun 19 2016, 8:19 PM

Lisa C: We also have a chapel with a tabernacle with a door that you can open and close as you come and go 24/7

Jun 19 2016, 8:19 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: perfect, Lisa!

M

Mary Roberta Viano: As a convert, I really appreciate the fixed prayers, like the Rosary and Divine Mercy, which I pray every day.

Jun 19 2016, 8:20 PM

Lisa C: The Host is in a window and you can open the window

Jun 19 2016, 8:20 PM

Dawn L: we do not either have open doors to parishes that are far away. but I have found walking out in nature, hearing the silence, God’s creation waking, is also a great blessing

Jun 19 2016, 8:20 PM

Lisa C: Open the cover over the window

Jun 19 2016, 8:20 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: true, Dawn1

Jun 19 2016, 8:21 PM

Carol Ann: Here I also have trouble finding open churches

, 8:22 PM

Dawn L: so when I am tempted to become sorrowful about no parish near by, it was He who led me out to see and to hear all the hymn’s sung by the birds every morning

Jun 19 2016, 8:22 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: I like either silent prayer before Our Lord or the recited prayers, where I can focus on a word or phrase.

016, 8:23 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) At Mass this morning, Father announced that on the Fourth of July, the Marian Shrine will have a special time of prayer for life beginning at 10 AM with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the Rosary at 10:15 and then the usual Noon Mass.

Jun 19 2016, 8:23 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: I also like having a pocket Gospel I can pull out any time to hear Our Lord speaking to me.

8:23 PM

Ruth (guest): I’ve done that a number of times, as the pastors change; for decades I had no trouble getting access to the Blessed Sacrament, but here, the reactions I got . . . They were always a challenge to my Faith. Even Mass could become an obstacle. . . Eventually I started “commuting” about 35 miles per day to Mass and became a part of a parish that was not my geographical parish. It’s considerably better now. . . AND . . . usually I can get into the (new) Blessed Sacrament chapel in the hospital 5 miles away.

 

Mary Roberta Viano: and you can also pray meditatively as you drive, Ruth…

Jun 19 2016, 8:24 PM

Lisa C: Hospitals are wonderful, because they have chapels

Jun 19 2016, 8:24 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) Dawn, I too love to lie awake early in the morning to listen to the various birds’ songs. Some of them are rather amusing. My favorite is that of the cardinal, which is the only one I recognize for sure.

:25 PM

Ruth (guest): Nice idea, Sr. Mary Roberta. I like the Magnificat because it is so portable and has some good stuff in it . . .

Jun 19 2016, 8:25 PM

Ruth (guest): Also, it is a “simplified” version of the Divine Office and has daily Mass readings.

8:25 PM

Carol Ann: I do that all the time Sr, and often find that it is spontaneous, and always right when some b one near me needs itPM

Mary Roberta Viano: for sure, Carol Ann. Our Lord puts us with those we should pray for – and they for us.

Jun 19 2016, 8:27 PM

Dawn L: I found I can take early bus, 35 miles away to a pilgrimage parish, arrive by first Mass. they have Adoration first fridays, all day. its an old parish, over 100 yrs old.

Jun 19 2016, 8:27 PM

Guest6948 (guest): (Judy) I just had a thought.

Jun 19 2016, 8:27 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: nice, Dawn!

Jun 19 2016, 8:28 PM

Guest6727 (guest): I find it helpful even in public places to read God’s Word . I carry my Bible with me and take time to read wherever I am . I also like to write out scripture it helps me to focus on God even when there is soo many distractions around .It is a great comfort to others to have God’s Word present in daily life !

8:28 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: yes, and sometimes you can share a verse with someone beside you – a great conversation starter!

Jun 19 2016, 8:29 PM

VisitationSiste: His Word sinks into you and becomes part of the fiber of your being

6, 8:29 PM

Lisa C: I like that

Jun 19 2016, 8:29 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: or maybe try to memorize a verse a day

Jun 19 2016, 8:29 PM

Guest6948 (guest): Thinking about those moments when watching TV and the Lord reached out and touched me, I wonder if there is something to be said about spontaneous moments of reflection or even contemplation, those moments initiated by the Lord rather than by our feeble attempts to create an experience of deep mental prayer

:30 PM

Mary Roberta Viano: I like SFdS’s insistence that “one Our Father said devoutly is worth more than many prayers hurried over.”

Jun 19 2016, 8:30 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes Judy- the initiative from Him is so special