How deep is our need for prayer?
'Man is in search of God. In the act of creation, God calls every being from nothingness into existence. "Crowned with glory and honour," man is, after the angels, capable of acknowledging 'how majestic is the name of the Lord in all the earth.' Even after losing, through sin, his likeness to God, man remains an image of his Creator, and retains the desire for the One who calls him into existence. All religions bear witness to men's essential need for God.' (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2566)
What then is prayer?
The Little Flower of Jesus, St. Therese of Lisieux describes prayer as: 'For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy.' How many of us would dearly love to have a similar attitude of prayer? - if it were not for the bustle in our lives? - if it were not for the demands of time on us? - if it were not for all the other commitments in the course of our day? How many of us feel that the Little Way of St. Therese is just too difficult in contemporary life?
And yet, read again what she is saying to us. Prayer is a surge of the heart - how long would that take? - a second or two? Prayer is a simple look turned toward heaven - how many precious seconds is that? Prayer is a cry of recognition and love - now, a cry may take a little longer, because this cry of recognition and love embraces both trial and joy. This is probably the hard bit. This is turning to God in the Spirit of Faith and recognising and loving him in any given situation. This means pausing for a moment, and asking God to come into our lives in moments of joy and in moments of trial.
Prayer can be an integral part of everyday life. Prayer can be wordless. Prayer is an attitude of heart. Prayer is an act of faith.
'Man is in search of God. In the act of creation, God calls every being from nothingness into existence. "Crowned with glory and honour," man is, after the angels, capable of acknowledging 'how majestic is the name of the Lord in all the earth.' Even after losing, through sin, his likeness to God, man remains an image of his Creator, and retains the desire for the One who calls him into existence. All religions bear witness to men's essential need for God.' (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2566)
What then is prayer?
The Little Flower of Jesus, St. Therese of Lisieux describes prayer as: 'For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy.' How many of us would dearly love to have a similar attitude of prayer? - if it were not for the bustle in our lives? - if it were not for the demands of time on us? - if it were not for all the other commitments in the course of our day? How many of us feel that the Little Way of St. Therese is just too difficult in contemporary life?
And yet, read again what she is saying to us. Prayer is a surge of the heart - how long would that take? - a second or two? Prayer is a simple look turned toward heaven - how many precious seconds is that? Prayer is a cry of recognition and love - now, a cry may take a little longer, because this cry of recognition and love embraces both trial and joy. This is probably the hard bit. This is turning to God in the Spirit of Faith and recognising and loving him in any given situation. This means pausing for a moment, and asking God to come into our lives in moments of joy and in moments of trial.
Prayer can be an integral part of everyday life. Prayer can be wordless. Prayer is an attitude of heart. Prayer is an act of faith.
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