the battle of praying more, part 1
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If you've been looking for answers (or dare I say, a quick fix?!) on how to deepen your faith as a busy Catholic…
You're not alone!
Sometimes I get so frustrated with what feels like an impossible situation. I love my family and want to give them my best. But how can I keep up with the work of my primary vocation as wife and mother, plus my own wants/desires, plus my own spiritual life?
Now you've heard me talk about fitting in pockets of prayer throughout my day (if you want help doing this, check out my free guide!). But even this sometimes seems overwhelming to do.
And sometimes I'm just too distracted/busy.
Or lazy and don't want to.😬
So I decided to look into what our Holy Mother Church has to say about prayer to see if I can find some encouragement for our situation.
Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing an email series on the Battle of Praying More. It will have excerpts on prayer from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with my interpretation of how they apply to busy Catholic moms and can help encourage us to pray more.
The Battle of Praying More PART 1
Did you know that article 2 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is titled the BATTLE OF PRAYER. I think that as a busy Catholic mom, it is important to take a closer look at this section and discern how it can help us grow in holiness.
Some excerpts from the first paragraph (number 2725) - bold/underline added by me:
The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle.
Prayer is a battle! It's NOT easy. As Christians, we know that God didn't promise life would be easy. We know there's value and redemption in suffering. But even though we know it…..it's still hard to accept!
Maybe by acknowledging the hardness of it all and identifying the possible trip ups, can help us persevere. Because anything worth having takes work - right?
And we need to remember who are we battling with…..
Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempterwho does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God……The “spiritual battle” of the Christian’s new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer.
We are battling with ourselves and the Enemy. Spiritual warfare prayers are so important! (my favorite booklet for this)
But we must also battle with ourselves. Which can be difficult and complicated!
The Catechism goes on in paragraph 2726:
Many Christians unconsciously regard prayer as an occupation that is incompatible with all the other things they have to do: they “don’t have the time.”
"Unconsciously."
That is so true! I know better than to say I don't have the time, because I have time for whatever I prioritize. And choosing to not prioritize prayer time is my default. As a mom, I usually put everyone else's needs first. So personal prayer time almost always falls to the bottom.
Let's recap the problem with praying more:
1️⃣ prayer is a battle
2️⃣ we're fighting against ourselves and the Enemy to pray more
3️⃣ part of the battle is that we (at least most of us) unconsciously think of prayer as low priority
I think the next sentence from the Catechism is part of the answer to our problem!
Those who seek God by prayer are quickly discouraged because they do not know that prayer comes also from the Holy Spirit and not from themselves alone.
We HAVE to remember that we are not alone in prayer! It comes from the Holy Spirit. He wants us to pray more! And help us pray better.
But also it's still good enough when it's messy prayer. Or interrupted prayer. Or distracted prayer. God just wants us to show up. To try. He knows our hearts!
The Baltimore Catechism says: God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
God desires us to grow in holiness, so we can be happy with Him in Heaven. So I think step 1 to winning the battle of prayer, is to ask the Holy Spirit to help.
Let's call on Him more. Ask him to help you pray more. If needed, ask him to help you desire to pray more.
Ask him to help not just when you find time to dedicate to prayer, but also in the every day moments. Next time you're frustrated with your kids - pray Come, Holy Spirit.
I promise, whatever effort you put forth - God will help multiply and grow❤️
Check back next week for part 2!
My encouragement for you (and me!) to seek the sacred this week:
Prayer to the Holy Spirit. Try saying this prayer every day (or as often as you remember):
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.
and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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