On passing the church

[mom2em]

This is something I have been curious about. I don’t cross myself when we drive past a Catholic church. Mind you, it’s not out of disrespect. I do lower my head as we drive by or even well before and until we pass, say “Thank you Jesus” and follow that with a Glory Be. Sometimes I will leave it there or I might add something, depending on what is happening at the moment. Even for churchs of other denominations I will close my eyes and thank Jesus. Is it not the same if I haven’t crossed myself? It was a habit I got into after returning to the church and my father, who wasn’t particularly fond of the idea at the time, was driving. I didn’t want to start an argument or anything like that. So it was something I just … kind of did. Hoping, it was still as respectful.

Passing cemetery’s I will say a prayer for the dead. Hearing an ambulance, I will say a Hail Mary and ask that the Lord be with the rescue workers and those needing their services. Is there a small particular prayer perhaps for this kind of situation?

I would love to know, to learn some more, smaller prayers that might be said through out the day. Something that I might be able to involve my 5 year old in.

At night time, our bed time prayers together are “Dear Lord thank you for today, for my family, for your love, your mercy and forgiveness. Please watch over me, my family, the Pope, Fr. S, Msgr. W, Fr. C and all your religious” one part of the Divine Mercy Chaplet (Eternal Father/For the sake of His) then Faustina’s Oh My Jesus. Then we will say “Evening Praise (by Thomas Ken)” that we learned together from the back of our Sunday Missal. Prayer to the guardian angel, a Hail Mary and an Our Father. So the bulk of her prayers, are before bed. Though we say grace before each meal.

I need to get her and myself into morning prayer. But I am hoping to start at first with something small. Would love some suggestions. I kind of regret not having thought to ask this before at the start of Lent.

(did any of that post make sense? )

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I would love to know, to learn some more, smaller prayers that might be said through out the day. Something that I might be able to involve my 5 year old in.

I like your idea about “small” prayer. How about the “smallest” prayer at all? Silence! When I was young I never knew of contemplative prayer, although the CCC goes so far as to say our prayer life “should” advance to true union, which is achieved by contemplative (silent) prayer. CCC 2700-2724 covers vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer.

Example from that section:

CCC 2709
What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: “Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” Contemplative prayer seeks him “whom my soul loves.” It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.

Alan

 

[mom2em]

I like your idea about “small” prayer. How about the “smallest” prayer at all? Silence! When I was young I never knew of contemplative prayer, although the CCC goes so far as to say our prayer life “should” advance to true union, which is achieved by contemplative (silent) prayer. CCC 2700-2724 covers vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer.

Example from that section:

CCC 2709
What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: “Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” Contemplative prayer seeks him “whom my soul loves.” It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.

Alan

Thank you.

This has reminded me. Once I get over this terrible flu, I should like to take my daughter to Adoration. Perhaps not for a long time. If I thought I could have something ready and I were better by Good Friday, I would take her for an hour. The “could you not watch with me an hour” pierces my heart especially hard. I signed up for my first hour last Good Friday and I fretted. Being newly returned, I was so unsure of what I was expected to do. But I just knew, I HAD to take an hour. I couldn’t turn away. If I could instill that feeling in my daughter, while young … oh my.

I don’t know if I explained that well or if it just came out as gibberish. But thank you for reminding me, that taking her to Adoration is something I want to do. Instead, it is something that has slipped my mind. shamefully so.