Excellent point!
:tiphat:
That’s OK. I just offered FWIW, with the idea that the particular prayers that are causing anxiety if they are not said, are precisely the ones to skip. Your idea about LOTH is another good way to go, but frankly my wife used to do that and it’s quite a commitment.
This is why my dh and I pray Morning and Evening Prayer only. For lay people the LOTH is more devotional than liturgical. For instance, the hymn and the Psalm prayers need not be recited. Also, the Psalms, etc. may simply be read instead of voiced. This last option is perfectly legitimate for anyone, religious as well as lay people.
I don’t agree though that vocal prayer is the “meat and potatoes” or “bread and butter” or whatever, of prayer. To me, a constant awareness of God and His glory that is evident in everything – which is kind of a contemplative approach to an active life – is my “meat and potatoes.” If I open my mouth and say something that’s gravy. But this is me. Others may take it FWIW.
Well, recited prayers (note I don’t mean it has to be vocal–they can simply be read
) are needed by most people because it keeps most of us on track. It’s very easy to let our own thoughts become a substitute for real prayer. Those who have exercised constant awareness usually don’t have that problem, but for most, especially those trying to keep themselves consistent, regular prayer is best. One must “work” ones way up to mental prayer as ones main kind of prayer.
Can you think of a better measure of spiritual maturity, than the production of spiritual fruit? You shall know them by their fruits? What better way to judge any form of personal-spiritual growth than whether it causes us to be more “fruity” in the spirit?
I’m sorry but that wasn’t my point–my fault, I’m sure.
What I mean is that we ourselves are not always the best judge of our spiritual growth. Using the fruits of the Spirit might actually put some people back because they will be overwhelmed or they’ll think they have gained what they haven’t. Either one is a pitfall we need to be aware of.
Getting an SD is very good, but frankly it seems they are few and far between, and most posters on CAF that talked about finding one don’t seem to succeed at it very often. So that’s great advice, but I think it’s OK to go from the heart on this one. If I’m anxious or worried or judgmental or angry or those things Jesus counseled us how to avoid, then I’m not going to produce fruit. If I am at peace and serenity, I will.
You bring up a good point about SDs. I’m one of those people for whom a spiritual director isn’t really an option, either. Good spiritual reading can fill that gap for most, I think. We’re fortunate to have so much good material available to us in our times. I agree that being at peace is an indication that we are bearing fruit, but again, it is possible to mistake complacency for peace. We need some kind of guide to our consciences, be it our confessor, an SD or the saints’ writings. I don’t think anyone should wing it without some kind of guidance.
I’ve had a spiritual director. He is the one who told me there were other ways to pray than with my mouth moving. Strange I never even heard of contemplative prayer in my decades as an active cradle Catholic, when the CCC says it’s the one that all prayer should lead to.
Which was fine direction for you since he knows you. However, what is fine for one person may not be helpful to another. Most people haven’t a clue what contemplative prayer is–not even meditation. It’s generally best to begin at the beginning, as the OP needs to do, and progress from there.
