In the midst of a family crisis, I found refuge in the words of the prayer Jesus gave us. When we are open to the Holy Spirit, the Father shines His purifying light on us. The process is often painful, though, because when the light of the Father comes into our hearts and lives, the…… Continue reading In a Crisis, I Found Refuge in Infused Prayer
Tag: prayer
Man-Made Spirituality versus Communion With God
Attendance at Mass, regular confession, spiritual exercises, fasting, and prayer are wonderful vehicles of grace but if we think pious activities alone will sanctify us, we will only appear holy on the outside like the Pharisees: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,…… Continue reading Man-Made Spirituality versus Communion With God
When I Pray, I Never Have to Say Goodbye
I am not just reciting theology when I remind you there is neither time nor distance when we live and move and breathe in the Spirit. When someone dies or moves far away, I don’t have to say goodbye just whisper hello, a different kind of hello which moves with the speed of light to…… Continue reading When I Pray, I Never Have to Say Goodbye
God Saved Me From Myself
Christian spirituality, inner transformation, and contemplation are not at all what I first imagined them to be. I initially began the inner journey striving, depending on my discipline and willpower. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN, l failed miserably. Striving to transform spiritually into a person of Love and Light is sort of like an ant straining and trying to…… Continue reading God Saved Me From Myself
Mystical Union Is Not a Fairytale — It’s Child’s Play
Twenty-five years ago, my husband discovered a book at a Trappist monastery which questioned my basic premise about the nature of reality, rekindled joy in my drooping spirit then challenged me to change and to live in mystical union with Christ. Although many Carmelites might not recommend this book as a valid description of pure…… Continue reading Mystical Union Is Not a Fairytale — It’s Child’s Play
An Interview on Christian Prayer With David Torkington
The Christian mystical tradition continually asserts that any man-made means or techniques cannot attain true contemplation, which is a pure gift of God.
Pope Francis: Family Prayer
Prayer must be rooted in love. For his 100th general audience,Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the family by considering family prayer. In his opening statements, the pope pointed out that most people find it difficult to find time to pray. Pope Francis teaches that love of God, not guilt will inspire us to pray.…… Continue reading Pope Francis: Family Prayer
Joy IS Prayer
As a Christian, living in the Mystical Body off Christ, I can choose to live in the joy of the Lord or stay in my misery, isolated from the Spirit of God who dwells within. When I live in my head, I live in a prison of whirling thoughts cut off from others and God. If…… Continue reading Joy IS Prayer
Pope Francis Catecheses on the Family: Pray!
On Wednesday, March 25, in the Church the Annunciation, Pope Francis celebrated the Incarnation as Archangel Gabriel visited the humble Maiden of Nazareth and announced she would conceive and give birth to the Son of God. The pope incorporated this feast day into his Wednesday address as he continued his course of catechesis on the family…… Continue reading Pope Francis Catecheses on the Family: Pray!
Prayer Means Never Having to Say Goodbye: “Worth Revisiting!” Wednesday
linking to http://www.theologyisaverb.com and http://www.reconciledtoyou.com/rty-blog.html.#WorthRevisit Our whispered hello to God and each other is called prayer. I am not just reciting theology when I remind you that there is neither time nor distance when we live and move and breathe in the Spirit. When someone dies or moves far away, I don’t have to say good-bye…… Continue reading Prayer Means Never Having to Say Goodbye: “Worth Revisiting!” Wednesday
The True Nature of Mercy and Prayer
“Mercy is not something God has, but something God is.” A.W. Tozer Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His Voice in the depth of our hearts. Mother Teresa
Plea for Prayers: Baby Facing Major Neuro- and Plastic Surgery
Craniosynostosis – the coronal suture has prematurely fused My ten month old grandson is a happy, quick, engaging little fellow who was born with the plates of his skull fused together prematurely. As a result, he is facing major surgery to cut the plates and reshape his head which has grown lopsided. Emmett’s surgery is…… Continue reading Plea for Prayers: Baby Facing Major Neuro- and Plastic Surgery
7 Quick Spiritual Gardening Takes
1 Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden. Robert Brault One is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth. by Dorothy Frances Gurney I always let my kids dig in the dirt with me, even if they pulled flowers instead of…… Continue reading 7 Quick Spiritual Gardening Takes
Honest Prayer
Real prayer Is not a mental exercise, a game. Honest prayer Opens our core, our heart to the Almighty, The Creator of the universe. Such prayer is necessarily humble because He is God and we are not. No room for pride; He knows us better than we know ourselves. . Stark prayer is rooted in…… Continue reading Honest Prayer
Sanctity: Giving God His Job Back
Listen to this astounding quote on the definition of a saint: “In fact, a saint is not one who carries out great feats based on the excellence of his human qualities, but one who allows Christ to penetrate their soul, to act through their person, He being the real protagonistof all their actions and desires, who inspires every initiative and sustains every silence. To let oneself be…… Continue reading Sanctity: Giving God His Job Back
Should You Smoke While You Pray?
While I was still in university, a Jesuit once asked me this question, ‘Is it alright for someone to smoke while they pray?’ My immediate, indignant response was, ‘Of course not.’ So he challenged me, ‘Would it be alright for someone to pray while they smoke?’ Don’t you love how the Jesuit mind works? One…… Continue reading Should You Smoke While You Pray?
THERE ARE PEOPLE PRAYING FOR YOU
THERE ARE PEOPLE PRAYING FOR YOU WHOM YOU HAVE NEVER MET. YOU ARE PART OF AN INVISIBLE NETWORK, A PULSATING, LIVING NETWORK OF LOVE. IT IS A NETWORK, A PULSATING, LIVING NETWORK WHICH IS JUST LIKE THE VEINS AND CAPILLARIES IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, FLOWING WITH THE SPIRIT. THOUGHTS,…… Continue reading THERE ARE PEOPLE PRAYING FOR YOU
WISDOM FROM The Orthodox Church: St. John of Kronstadt
Quotes from St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ “When you are praying, watch over yourself so that not only your outward man prays, but your inward one also. Wherever I am, as soon as I raise the eyes of my heart in my affliction to God, the Lover of men immediately answers my faith…… Continue reading WISDOM FROM The Orthodox Church: St. John of Kronstadt
About Christian Prayer: With David Torkington
I discovered a wonderful blog written by a man of prayer who considers it his life’s work to share the joy of true Christian prayer and to teach people how to pray. He has also published countless books. In his own words David says,” All my writings try to promote the Christian way of prayer,…… Continue reading About Christian Prayer: With David Torkington
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