Prayer quotes from your Prayer Fraternity

QUOTES on PRAYER  from Mark Hart's book:  THE "R" FATHER:

 

 

"Being present to God takes prayer, a lot of prayer.  Prayer can't just come off the shelf on Sundays, holidays, or when Grandma is diagnosed with cancer.  No, prayer has to begin and end our day.  Prayer ultimately leads us to heaven because it constantly keeps us focused on our God."  (p. 46)

 

"Prayer is more than an inner monologue.  Prayer is a dialogue in which you learn about love.  Prayer isn't about changing other people; prayer is about changing your own heart.  The more we pray, the better we can know and discern "thy will," the will of God  Our lives are supposed to reaffirm God's plan for us, not our own."   (p. 91)

"Jesus taught us to pray.  Jesus "the Way" gave us the way.  If we believe these words that Christ entrusts to us in his prayer, this "R" Father, then our actions will follow our beliefs.  Make the resolution to change your prayer.  Schedule your week around prayer.  Pray with rhythm.  Read Scripture with a purpose.  Encounter the Eucharist, daily, with fervor.  Seek mercy with urgency in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Prepare for the Mass early by praying the readings ahead of time.  Be present to Christ throughout the day by praying the Angelus or the Liturgy of the Hours."  (p. 172)

 

"Prayer is the hinge pin that holds everything else together and keeps us moving forward.   Without prayer, everything falls apart.  Without prayer, we're not living, we're breathing.  Prayer is the most primal, most basic, and most important thing we can do as Christians.  Prayer is also the very first thing we should do when we get busy.   When we don't take time to pray, we may as well be saying that it's not as high a priority as other things in our lives that we do take time for.  We often need to admit that we don't make enough time to pray."  (p. 174)

 

(These quotes and many other wonderful comments are in this book by Mark Hart, published by The Word Among Us Press.)

   

Prayer to start a meeting

 

PRAYER OF ST. CLEMENT OF ROME

(you might find this a good prayer to start a meeting)

 

 

Almighty God,  

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

grant, we pray, that we might be grounded

and settled in your truth

by the coming of the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

 

What we do not know,   reveal to us;

what is lacking within us,   make complete;

that which we do know,    confirm in us;

and keep us blameless in your service,

through Christ our Lord.    AMEN.

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PRAYER

This prayer might be a good 'meeting starter' -- pray it and invite people's reactions to it.   The title was given by the author;  his name is only given as John, Upton, Long Island. 

 

A DIFFERENT  TYPE OF PRAYER

 

Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry, and spend a few precious moments with her children.

 

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

 

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

 

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

 

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love.   It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.   Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity.   Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love. 

WINTER HAS COME TO THE OZARKS

WINTER WONDERLAND

"It's looking a lot like Christmas!"    But it's actually January 20th!   A rarety here in southwest Missouri, a winter storm dumped inches of snow over the area over the last 12 hours.

 

It'd be a great day to be tucked away in one of the guestrooms on retreat!  Cozy;  prayerful; indulging oneself in the beauty of God's winter creation here at the Prayer Fraternity. 

 

With temps in the 20's,  we may keep it for a few days; but probably not for long.  It's quite beautiful and precious!

FINAL CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS

FAREWELL TO CHRISTMAS SEASON - 2010/2011

   (picture above is the nativity scene in our chapel)

As the Franciscan friars here at our Prayer Fraternity in Ava, MO celebrate liturgy today for the Feast of the BAPTISM OF THE LORD JESUS, we say farewell to the Christmas season for another year grateful for the gift of this and every Christmas.   Several final thoughts we'd like to share with you:

 

 

"It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you ..... Yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brothers and sisters and offer them your hand."       Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

 

 

"With each succeeding day of ... Christmas, we continue to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.  There is no power on earth great enough to silence the melody.  We sing even though there are rumors of wars and threats of terrorism.  We sing even though there are storm clouds on the horizon and blustering winds shaking the window frames.  We sing because the Son of God has become the Son of Man, God-With-Us.   We sing because the Eternal Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.   We sing because we have seen His glory, glory that is full of grace and truth.   We sing because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who came into the world to shield us from all that could harm us.  We sing because He is the Light of Life who is our strength in adversity."

 

"With Christ at our side, we will not walk the path of life alone.  Even though we are not righteous and devout, this child can replace our frustration with peace; our guilt with forgiveness; our anxiety with faith;  our depression with hope; and our confusion with clarity of sight.  As we gaze into the Child's eyes, we will come to realize that it is actually He who is cradling us in the palm of His hand.  There, wrapped in Love's embrace, let us sing the new hymn of creation and continue to make a joyful noise unto the Lord."      Fr. Jerome from the Trappist Abbey of Genesse in New York