Penitential Prayer And Self-Denial

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Timothy_Garber

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In a thread I started a bit ago, someone (and I won’t say who, just in case) recommended that I “return to a life of penitential prayer and self-denial”. To be very honest, this intrigued me immensely, and I want to be able to do exactly that.

However, I have no idea where to start. I am a sixteen-year-old, tenth-grade student whose general schedule is wake up, go to school, come back, do homework, go to Tae Kwon Do, come back, eat dinner, finish homework, and then sleep.

I was wondering if any of you out there had a good suggestion on what I should do to “return to a life of penitential prayer and self-denial” that I long for, or at least where I can start.

Thanks in advance!
 
It sounds like you’re leading a pretty disciplined life, which can be pretty penitential in and of itself. Why don’t you just incorporate some regular prayer into your routine, and make an effort to sanctify your day as you go about your normal activities (the Liturgy of the Hours is an excellent way to do this, perhaps just praying Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer out of the book Shorter Christian Prayer–speak to your pastor about this and whether it’d be a good fit for you at this point). One of the most important things you can do in discernment is not to get ahead of yourself, but be honest with where you’re at. Right now you’re a 16-year old student with plenty to do, it seems like, so perhaps the best thing to do is keep working at that best you can and praying along the way, offering to God whatever work you’re doing for the good of your soul and of others. Know that you are in my prayers!

-ACEGC
 
It helps to have spiritual guidance. It might also help to check out St. Therese the Little Flower’s writings about the “Little Way” and how she used small ordinary things and turned them into great penances. She was either 24 or younger when she wrote it, I believe.
 
I can only find the Roman Rite liturgy of the hours. Is there a website for the Eastern Rite one?

I looked up the “little way” but I could only find what she did herself. Is there a website that can help me incorporate this into my life, through example or instruction?
 
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