Praying Your Way Through the Day
Submitted by: Seminarian Alex Cross
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Why bother with daily prayer? Isn't Mass on Sundays, and an occasional Rosary enough?
I remember when I was was in High School I did almost all of my praying in the 10 minutes before Mass started on Sundays. I'd ask God for help with upcoming school assignments and to keep me and my family safe. If I was feeling extra pious I'd pray for someone else in my life that I thought needed some extra help from God. However, as I got further into High School I began to realize that prayer was for more than just occasionally asking for things, and I came to realize that my day went better when I prayed early and often.
I came to realize that praying daily is an essential part of growing in the Spiritual life and growing closer to God.
The way I started and the easiest way for you to start is to add a few quick prayers into your day.
- This gets you praying.
- You learn some outstanding Catholic prayers.
- You frame the day in prayer, so that everything that you do leads to or comes from prayer.
- You turn to God in the fabric of everyday life. You begin to see God in everything that you do and hope to do.
The Daily Rhythm
You pray with the flow and rhythm of your ordinary day to develop a habit of daily Catholic prayer.
It’s easy to do this. There are three quick steps:
It’s easy to do this. There are three quick steps:
- Find some major points in your day
- Choose a quick prayer for each
- Say the chosen prayer at the right point in your day
It helps to print out the prayers you choose. Keep them with you. Commit to following them for one week so they become a habit.
Suggested Prayers
Both the Morning Offering and the Angelus are great prayers to get started with. As mentioned in the name the Morning Offering is typically prayed first thing in the morning.
The Angelus is typically prayed throughout the day at 12PM and 6PM. It commemorates Mary's "Fiat" in the Annunciation. It can be prayed in a group with a leader (V) and response (R) or individually.
Catholic Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen
The Angelus
V- The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R- And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Hail Mary....)
V- Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R- Be it done unto me according to thy word. (Hail Mary....)
V- And the Word was made Flesh.
R- And dwelt among us. (Hail Mary....)
V- Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R- That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts; that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
R- And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Hail Mary....)
V- Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R- Be it done unto me according to thy word. (Hail Mary....)
V- And the Word was made Flesh.
R- And dwelt among us. (Hail Mary....)
V- Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R- That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts; that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Summit Reflection Video for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time
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