Notes on Prayer

Just a few notions about Prayer today, taken from the retreat talks we heard last week:

·         Most of the time, time for prayer must be set at the expense of other pursuits or entertainments. Because of this, there is always a sacrificial quality to prayer.

·         Prayer requires us to deliberately expel from consciousness anything that would distract: memories, aggravations, resentments, regrets, plans for the future.

·         We must curtail our servitude to functional rationality. Let what comes up come up without censoring or trying to organize anything.

·         Prayer is an act of giving, so give what you have. Let go of any and all preconceived notions of what prayer is supposed to be like or what formulae it must follow.

·         “Mud prayer” (i.e., prayer at its most disorganized, even lazy, negative or discheveled thoughts) is powerful prayer. Don’t restrain it.

·         There are always reasons for not praying: don’t pay attention to them.

·         Mark 1:25  “Jesus went out and away to a quiet place.” We do well to do the same. Have a particular place for prayer that is different from what we usually use. Get away as much as possible.

·         The highest form of prayer is apophatic: quiet stillness.

·         We don’t have to stage-manage our prayer. Just set back and allow it to happen. “Let it all hang out.” Give voice to those things which you usually wouldn’t dare uttering. God knows all. He already knows what you’re trying to hold back. Don’t hold anything back. Give all you have, no  matter how disfigured it might seem to you.

God bless you!