Stuff said by the late Cardinal Baum

[Maxirad]

When the late Cardinal William Wakefield Baum says “should” in a certain part of this video, does he mean “must”? What if one is too tired to properly pray at bedtime?

 

[christofirst]

I think it is a matter of priorities. If one decides that they are too tired to pray before bed, they might ask themselves, “Was I too tired to watch TV before bed? Too tired to check Facebook one last time before bed? If a good friend called on the phone right before bed, would I say, ‘Can’t talk now, too tired,’ or would I suddenly find that I wasn’t so tired after all?”

I would also question the notion of “properly praying,” as though if I am not able to say a certain amount of prayers for a certain length of time, it is no use praying at all. This would be a mistake, for we can always lift our minds to God in prayer. If a person is truly exhausted, they can briefly offer that exhaustion up to God in prayer, and then resume their usual prayers when they are not so tired. If they find they are always too tired to pray, it would lead back to the idea of priorities.

These are just a few thoughts, and thank you for posting the video. I must say I was not that aware of Cardinal Baum until I read about his death, but what I am learning about him now is leading to great admiration.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I would also question the notion of “properly praying,” as though if I am not able to say a certain amount of prayers for a certain length of time, it is no use praying at all. This would be a mistake, for we can always lift our minds to God in prayer. If a person is truly exhausted, they can briefly offer that exhaustion up to God in prayer, and then resume their usual prayers when they are not so tired. If they find they are always too tired to pray, it would lead back to the idea of priorities.

I agree. Priests are committed to saying certain prayers at certain times of day, in a certain format. We are free to pray in our own ways, and any time. It’s always struck me as curious why we pray before meals, using a “mealtime” prayer that says nothing about mealtime.

Why not just think any time, “bless us, oh Lord, and these, they gifts which we are about to receive, through Christ our Lord, amen.”

Why does it have to be food? Why not the gift of our next breath of air? How about that we get to walk into a warm house, or go to Mass?

I also like to plug “contemplative prayer” which the CCC says a Catholic “should” advance to, although unfortunately a lot of us cradle Catholics never even heard of it.

Here’s an really great, easy to read book that’s also on Kindle and Audible (with author as narrator) by a Jesuit. It was used as a text for intro prayer classes at Kenrick seminary a couple years ago, which is how it came to my attention.

It covers vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer, and very useful talks about all the distracting thoughts that might compete for your attention while you’re praying.

There is also a Look Inside at Amazon:

Armchair Mystic: Easing Into Contemplative Prayer Paperback – April 1, 2001
by Mark E. Thibodeaux S.J. (Author)