Prayer
When We Don’t Have the Answers
Bishop David J. Bonnar Comments Off on When We Don’t Have the Answers
When my firstborn nephew, Sean, was just a little boy, he would incessantly ask his parents questions, especially after he discovered the word “why.” Even at a young age he articulated some rhetorical questions that had no direct answer. At one point, Sean asked his mom a God question of which my sister had no Read More
Spend Time in Prayer with Christ
Father Michael Ackerman Comments Off on Spend Time in Prayer with Christ
A retired priest friend of mine often jokingly tells me that he is always in a good mood because he is no longer a pastor. Initially, I thought that was a sardonic statement, since it always seemed to me exciting and a great blessing to shepherd God’s people. Now that I am a pastor, I Read More
Moments of Meditation for Priests
Father Edward Looney Comments Off on Moments of Meditation for Priests
Priests pray a lot. We pray and celebrate the holy Mass daily, pray the Liturgy of the Hours five times a day, make prayers of intercession for people who ask us, pray a Holy Hour and other devotional prayers like the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet. There are many scripted prayers that guide our Read More
Embracing Penitential Prayer
Father Ronald Patrick Raab Comments Off on Embracing Penitential Prayer
Prayer is not a commodity or an accomplishment. Prayer resides in the deepest silence of our being. Prayer is a relationship with divine love, and the words we utter come from our most profound needs. We don’t pray to make us look good. One aspect of liturgical prayer, however, is that of witness. During Lent, Read More
The Power of the Rosary
Father Dwight Longenecker Comments Off on The Power of the Rosary
Kimberly Hahn, the wife of Bible scholar and former Protestant minister Scott Hahn was once asked what three aspects of Catholicism were the most difficult for her to accept. She answered, “Mary, Mary and Mary.” It is difficult for most Catholics to understand the typical Protestant reserve about the Blessed Virgin Mary. They can see Read More
The Examen Prayer and the Priest
Father Timothy Gallagher Comments Off on The Examen Prayer and the Priest
When I wrote my book on the examen prayer, I interviewed several people who prayed it regularly. One person said, “Before I prayed the examen, I was reacting. Now I’m responding.” The difference between the two is great. In one, we live the day simply reacting to what happens; in the other, we choose our Read More
Moments for Priestly Meditation
Father Edward Looney Comments Off on Moments for Priestly Meditation
Priests pray a lot. We pray and celebrate the holy Mass daily, pray the Liturgy of the Hours five times a day, make prayers of intercession for people who ask us, pray a Holy Hour, and engage in other devotional prayers like the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. There are many scripted prayers that guide Read More
Heavy Lifting
Father Patrick Raab Comments Off on Heavy Lifting
As a priest, I do my share of heavy lifting. I don’t mean breaking down concrete walls, repaving the parking lot or remodeling the church. Instead, I stand at the altar in the church and raise my arms in prayer. I lift parishioners’ needs to God. I raise the hurts and indifferences of the world Read More