PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER

 PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER

            One of the biggest complaints I hear about the battle for prayer are the omnipresent distractions.  One of the first things I was taught when I became serious about having a prayer life and seeking the Lord everyday was the necessity for removing outward distractions over which I had control.  This meant choosing a daily time for prayer when I would less likely be interrupted.  I also learned that the tv and the radio have to be turned off, not only during prayer but in the time immediately preceding it.  The phone should be muted or, better, put in the other room.  Email and text messages and social media can wait.  Thinking about what your sister had for dinner last night or fretting over something dumb said by a politician is not a good way to start off your prayer!  St. Charles Borromeo used to admonish his priests that if they felt distracted by various thoughts when celebrating Mass they should consider what they thinking or talking about in the sacristy beforehand.

Tiredness is a big distraction.  A person who is serious about prayer will try to give God his or her best time.  It is important to choose the part of the day when one is least likely to fall asleep.  For most people, that would be early in the morning.  I fought the battle for morning meditation well into my seminary formation, often falling asleep in the chapel before Matins.  But with perseverance I became a morning person.  It is possible, barring a health impediment, to develop good sleeping habits that will bear fruit in better prayer and better health.  One is not alone in the battle, however – coffee is a great ally!  At any rate, the battle for prayer is usually won the night before.  Forget the late-night show and sports.  Go to sleep at an hour that will allow you to pray in the mornings, if that is your best time. 

I realize that it can be difficult to find quiet time because of work and children.  For some parents, their quiet time is when the children go to bed.  I have seen families, however, where children are taught to respect mommy and daddy’s “quiet time,” just as they are taught not to interrupt mommy or daddy at certain hours when they are working from home.  I also see many parents able to manage their time for a workout, which is important to their physical and mental health and good for the entire family.  However, spiritual health is even more important, and it cannot be maintained without a commitment to daily prayer.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen always encouraged priests and bishops to commit to a holy hour of prayer each day.  This amount of time is not always possible for lay persons because of work and family commitments.  However, the amount of time is not as important as consistency.  Twenty-minutes dedicated to meditative prayer five, six or even seven days a week will take a person further in his or her relationship with the Lord than one hour every two weeks.  Don’t be discouraged by distractions, from wherever they may come, and don’t be turned off by repeated failure.  The battle for prayer is won by perseverance.             

 Distraction in prayer, actually, can be helpful to our spiritual growth.  More about this next week…

FATHER SCOTT