As you know there are 2 types of Prayer: Personal and Community based.
Within these types of prayer we also have 2 distinct styles: Vocal and Contemplative.
Perhaps you might even be wondering What is Prayer anyway?
Before I consider this, let's explore what happens in a conversation:
1. Usually there are 2 or more people
involved. when one person is talking, the other is listening. Next time
you are with a group of people, look at this and see that even when there is more
than 2 people, inevitably there will be 2 people engaged in these roles of
talking and listening.
2. When the person is listening,
he/she needs to be fully engaged in the conversation. Have you ever had a
conversation with a person whose listening skills were limited or perhaps they
were not even listening at all- just waiting for a moment to jump in and talk?
3. There is a rhythm to the
conversation- what we talk about is usually what we or our friends are
interested in, talk over a concern, problem in the world that saddens us or an
exciting event in our lives.
4. We need time: sometimes with friends,
we are able to pick up where we left off. However, when we see/contact friends
on a regular basis, we deepen the relationship. As we deepen the relationship,
we are able to be together and be comfortable without either speaking.
The same happens when we pray.
We are conversing with God and God is conversing with us. Just like a
normal conversation, we need to share as we speak but also listen with our
heart. You know the old saying"' God gave us one mouth but 2 ears''.
We need to be listening to God as He speaks to us in our heart and with regular
meeting, we can be at one with Him without the need to speak. We are in His
presence and He is in ours.
COMMUNITY BASED
Prayer in this type is community based- it is a prayer where people are gathered. Examples of this include:
(a) Holy Mass.
(b) Office of the Church: where people gather to say morning, evening or night prayer/
(c) Stations of the Cross: This is a meditation that can be said personally or community based. Often it is community based and used during Lent.
(d) Paraliturgy: A school group may meet together to have a Para liturgy to highlight a particular feast or season of the year.
(e)Rosary: This can be both personal or community based. Some parishes have the rosary recited before or after daily Mass.
(f) exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.
In all of these community-based prayers mentioned you will note that the elements of conversation are present. In each of these prayer types, although vocal, there is time within them for silence and for listening. The challenge with community based prayer is for us to add that extra dimension of community and still be focused within ourselves to God.
PERSONAL PRAYER
Personal Prayer then is a conversation with God. We talk with Him as our best friend. We talk about what is going well in our lives and give Him thanks. We talk with Him about our weaknesses/fault/failures and ask for strength and commitment to improve in these areas. We share our concerns about our family, parish, friends and world. There may be people in our circle who have asked for our prayers. In personal prayer, we may pray for them.
Sometimes our prayer will be spontaneous such as when we are driving along in our car and of course a regular time of prayer each day at the beginning and/or end of the day.
Other times, we will use formal prayers such as Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be- formal because they are structured and already composed as distinct from our own prayer with God that comes from our own heart. When we know these prayers well, there can be a tendency to rush them and not think about what we are saying. One Father or Glory be said slowly thinking about the words and with a good intention of heart is possibly better in God's sight than 5 glory be's rushed and no thought to it.
So now the question arises: What about my prayer life during Lent. The church encourages to focus on prayer during Lent along with fasting and almsgiving.
Questions to consider in reviewing our prayer lives?
1. How do I see prayer in relation to my relationship with God- who is God for me?
2.What is going well in my prayer life- do I have a regular time/place for my prayer time?
3.Are there times in the day that I could refocus my attention to God and say hello again as a friend?
4. Have I always prayed the same way for years- is there another form of prayer to explore this Lent?
5. How much of my prayer time is talking and how much is listening to God?
6. How will I focus more on prayer this Lent?
7. What excuses do I use/have used not to pray- what are the hindrances and what can I do to overcome them?
There are many fine books on prayer to read. Many explore types to explore such as contemplative prayer, centering prayer, meditative prayer. Perhaps reading a book in relation to a different style of prayer might be helpful too. Remember reading about something is not the same as doing. So explore a different style and practise it.
I have to say that prayer for me has changed over the years. As I live on my own, I tend to incorporate community based prayer such as Office as I am praying in community. This helps to balance my personal prayer life. Years ago, I craved to have my own personal prayer time but my circumstances limited me to what I craved. Now I am on my own, I do have plenty of opportunities for personal prayer. I have to say though, I don't always take up all the opportunities given. Switching off the TV and having some prayer time instead is a decision and an action of turning it off. I am trying to do more of it in Lent.
May this blessed time of Lent help our prayer lives grow.
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