Person sitting at a wooden table, writing in a notebook with a blue pen.

PRAYER

Introduction

Prayer is like a conversation; it’s just with God. There are no tricks or best ways. Just like a conversation with a friend, we bring how we are and how we feel to God in each time of prayer.

In the Catholic Christian tradition there are some reflective practices that have proven to be very helpful and are used by many people today. We’ll begin with six of them.

Here is an idea to get started. Did you know the word ‘meditation’ means ‘chew’ (active prayer) and contemplation means ‘view’ (passive prayer)?

What type of prayer do you think works best for you?

As the journey unfolds and you complete the six reflective practices, you may learn a way of prayer that you prefer.

Be encouraged to try one practice three times to get an experience of how it works for you.

Practice

Whether we like to ‘chew’ or ‘view’, the 5 P’s can serve as a helpful pattern for practicing prayer.

This may be easy for you, or new for you. It requires some concentrated practice. Let’s give it a go.

  1. Preparation: Set a regular time for prayer. Choose a passage of scripture, a book, a song, or anything that helps you enter prayer.

  2. Place: Find a quiet spot where you can be alone and uninterrupted, helping you feel more connected to God’s presence.

  3. Posture: Our bodies are connected to our spirits. Find a relaxed, peaceful posture – a comfortable chair or sitting position that works for you. Lying down may lead to sleep!

  4. Presence: Start with a desire to be consciously aware of God’s presence. Invite God into your prayer time and acknowledge that you are in God’s world.

  5. Passage: Read (or listen to) a scripture passage, a paragraph from a book, or part of a podcast slowly and thoughtfully. Notice any words, ideas, thoughts, or feelings that arise and try to share these with God.

Open notebook with blank pages on a wooden surface, with a wooden pencil resting on it.

Reflection

  • PREPARE: What is the best ‘time’ for you to pray - what worked? What didn’t work?

  • PLACE: Where is the best ‘place’ for you to pray - what was your experience - can you think of a few places you could try in a week?

  • POSTURE: How do you help your body to relax and become peaceful and present to prayer?