What is prayer?

Manuel: At the end of each day – when “the curtain” closes and the applauding hands are no longer audible, when our possible mask falls – a remarkably fragile person is discovered. What is discovered is a human being that, some argue, is not really ‘a person’ but an amalgam of images and masks.

I take this context to be an essential element when coming to define what prayer is. Personally, I take prayer to be essentially characterised by “silence”. This kind of silence is a silence to which one need not demonstrate, perform, or do anything. It is a silence in which one truly accepts one’s brokenness. This is indeed a very personal experience, featuring two faces which, at first glance, may seem distant or unbridgeable, namely: the face of a loving God and the face of a broken humanity. Indeed, because prayer is, in a deep sense, God’s love for our brokenness, for what we are.

Does society tend to look down upon certain forms of prayer?

Manuel: Society does look down upon certain forms of prayers. I’m afraid that many professions have attempted to interpret and thus reduce what goes on in the human heart when praying to God. Here, I also have in mind processions and pilgrimages. It seems that these forms of worship are practised mostly by the ‘working class’, and are looked down upon by the ‘middle class’. For instance, some have argued that people walk the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows simply because they identify their sorrows with those of Our Lady and not because they truly believe. This sounds like a gross generalisation! How can one argue that every person that walks behind the effigy of Our Lady of Sorrows does so simply because of this identification? To me, it seems more of a projection or an assumption to think so.

Moreover, many argue that we need a more authentic kind of religion. Although we must always strive more toward this, these critics frequently attempt to ‘disney-fy’ religion and equate it with mere entertainment. Unfortunately, locally there is a tendency to make novel kinds of entertainment out of Processions, but, again, it is grossly wrong to think that the ‘ill-intention’ of some people is everybody’s. Aestheticism (i.e. reducing worship to mere entertainment) is unfortunately a reality, but it is not the complete reality.

In one sense, all Feasts and with them all Processions are an important reminder (or should be) that divine love triumphs over death! They are also an expression of hope; a transgression of the ‘everyday’ to keep reminding us of the relation between hope and love.

What do you think is the relation between external forms of prayer and idolatry?

Manuel: Anybody who thinks of external forms of worship as blatant paganism (i.e. or as idolatry) is implicitly denouncing the Incarnation. This is because, Christ chose a human body to make the salvific mysteries present. Christ chose an external sign to express a spiritual reality.

In this light, the “symbol” should not be seen as being equally important as the representation. Indeed, after all, statues could in fact be potential means of idolatry and some people do have a faith that is indeed limited to only the days of the feast. But all of these cases misinterpret and misconstrue the fundamental role that “symbol” should play.

I was always intrigued when noticing that the people one never sees in church would turn up when the statue of Our Lady leaves its niche. While some may rush to accuse such people of hypocrisy, it is, I think, a mistake. This perspective often fails to take into account the internal journeys of people. While faith should not be linked exclusively to a statue, one should never eradicate any thread that holds the relationship of people to the faith (i.e. even though one’s faith shouldn’t and cannot only depend on a statue). The point here is that the atmosphere of the church, together with the aesthetics, could be a potential means for one to reinvigorate their faith. These ‘in-betweens’ (i.e. these signs and symbols) can make certain realities more present and reachable to us.

Sometimes, different people have different ways in which they access the sacred. Some access it through words, some through music, some through silence, and some others access it through pictures and sculptures.

This coming Sunday a pilgrimage with the Statue of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces will start at 4:15pm from the church of Żabbar. This is a pilgrimage that is enacted as a way of immersing us deeper in the spirt of Lent. On behalf of the committee of the People’s Sunday’s pilgrimage, we invite you to this event, with the participation of His Grace, Archbishop Scicluna.

Manuel Abdilla is 25 years old. He is currently occupying the role of a teacher at one of Malta’s local schools, and he is mainly interested in Art, Contemporary Philosophy, Literature, Liturgy, the history of the clergy post world war I and before Vatican II, and the history of the church during the reign of Pius XII.

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• The Importance of Wonder

The 20th century poet T.S Eliot wrote, “the child wonders at the Christmas Tree … let him continue in the spirit of wonder …  so that the reverence and the gaiety may not be forgotten in later experience, or in the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium, the awareness of death, the consciousness of failure, or the piety of the convert,  … let him continue in the spirit of wonder, so that before the end, the accumulated memories of annual emotion, may be concentrated into a great joy … because the beginning shall remind us of the end, and the first coming of the second coming”.

T.S Eliot was aware of how cynical and oppressed the tragedies of the world can make us, but he was also aware of our longing for something more than this world. He knew that the earth reflects a beauty and a joy whose origins surpass it. Like children, therefore, let us allow ourselves to be in awe! Let us allow ourselves to marvel with a keen and sensitive heart. The rest will follow suit!

• As with all Christian celebrations, at its heart, Advent is a time in which God continues to give Himself to us! But on our part, as human beings, what does it take for us to fully and authentically ‘receive’? 

Reflecting upon this, the German philosopher Joseph Pieper concludes that, “there can be no festivity when man, imagining himself self-sufficient, refuses to recognize that Goodness of things which goes far beyond any conceivable utility; it is the Goodness of reality taken as a whole which validates all other particular goods and which man himself can never produce nor simply translate into social or individual “welfare”. He truly receives it (God’s love and goodness) only when he accepts it as pure gift”.

Certain objects of this world cannot be made or seen as tools for us to simply use. Rather, they need to be appreciated for their own sake. In this, we can slowly discover that they are gifts given to us freely. This is what love does, after all. It gives freely. And it is only when we see creation as a free and pure gift given to us by God, that we can feel truly loved by God and understand what creation truly is.

• Seeing desires as pathways to God

In the words of St Augustine, “the entire life of a good Christian is a holy desire. What you desire, however, you don’t yet see. But by desiring you are made large enough, so that, when there comes what you should see, you may be filled”.

Augustine reminds us that desires are signs that need to be prudently understood and interpreted.  But desires are also bridges. In desiring beauty, we reach out to it. In desiring love, we seek it. This is all good, because God wants to us to be filled. And so, let us not tire to ask, to beg, to be open, to yearn! And in doing so, let us try to turn to God as well. Augustine knew too well that, ultimately, only God can fully and completely satisfy us.

• No wounds are too big for God

In one his poems St. Thomas More wrote, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal”.

Advent is a space in which Heaven can continue to penetrate and cultivate the earth. The earth is not fully separate from heaven, the two are not completely distinct. Indeed, in fact, the glory of earth is realised when God (heaven itself) is made one with it! This all culminates in the God-man; in Jesus himself, in him, the heaven and the earth are one.

• We’re all, in our unique ways, a faint image of God 

C.S Lewis, iconically known for crafting the Narnia book Series, noted that “we cannot conceive how the Divine Spirit dwelled within the created and human spirit of Jesus…. but what we can understand is that our own existence is a faint image of the Divine Incarnation itself… the same theme in a very minor key”.

We already harbour traces of God within us, and this can be discovered by us if we reflected deeply upon certain capacities and desires that we experience. Our nature, in its deepest core, longs for beauty, for love, for goodness, for truth – these are God’s fingerprints.

• Let yourself be perfected!

Finally, this Advent, with St. Theresa of Avila, let us express our humility and open our self to God’s healing grace. Time and again, St. Theresa prayed,

“I want to keep Advent in my soul, that is, a continual longing and waiting for this great Mystery wherein You, O Word, became flesh to show me the abyss of your redeeming sanctifying mercy….Come, O Lord, come! I too wish to run to You with love, but alas! My love is so limited, weak, and imperfect! Make it strong and generous; enable me to overcome myself, so that I can give myself entirely to You… What a consolation it will be, O Lord, at the moment of death to think that we shall be judged by Him whom we have loved above all things!”

Read more:

Astronomy and Faith – Universe of Faith

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These daily prayers below are taken from the youth prayer book YOUCAT and the Jesuit prayer book Hearts on Fire.
The text of each prayer can be found beneath each image.

Morning prayer – I Let My Joy Free (full-text)

Lord,
I let my joy free, like a bird, up to the sky.
The night has flown by, and I delight in the light.
Lord, I am happy this day, this morning.
The birds and the angels are singing, and I rejoice as well.
The universe and our hearts are open to your grace.
I feel my body alive,
and give thanks.

Lord, I delight in creation,
and the knowledge that you are behind it,
and beside, and before, and above it.
And in us too.
The Psalms sing of your love,
the prophets proclaim it,
and we experience it.

I let my joy free, like a bird, up to the sky.
A new day, that glistens and rustles
and rejoices with your love.
You make each day,
and each day you number
the curls on my head.
Allelulia, Lord.

A prayer from Africa

 
Mid-day prayer – Sometimes, For A Moment

Sometimes, for a moment,
I pause,
in the midst of the troubles of the day;
I close my eyes and ears,
and for a moment I am happy;
for I am not alone;
You are there, my God. Amen.

Evening prayer – Into Your Hands, Dear Lord

“Into your hands, dear Lord, I return this day.
You have given it to me, now I give it back to you.
Preserve in me what you have given me.
May the seed sprout that you have sown today,
and may you complete what I was only able to begin.”

A prayer for parents – For My Parents

O God whom we obey in honoring our parents,
look down mercifully, I beseech you, on those to whom in your providence I owe my being.
May they grow daily in faith, hope and charity.
Implant deeply in their hearts the conviction that as you are the beginning of all things so to you must all return.

Grant them health and prosperity while life lasts,
pour upon them the abundance of your grace.
Defend and preserve them by your all-powerful hand.
May my Christian life,
in meeting their fondest expectations
and fulfilling their hopes,
be the consolation of their last years.

May they die the death of the just.
May they pass quickly to their heavenly home,
and may I join them there,
their dutiful child for all eternity. Amen

Daniel A. Lord SJ

Read more:
– Catholic Prayers For Strength And Hope
– The Benefits Of Prayer On The Physical And Psychological Well-Being
– Prayers For Media

The post Daily Prayers appeared first on Universe of Faith.

1. Prayer For Media – Prayer For Better Communication

Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication that does not build communion.
Help us to remove the venom from our judgements.
Help us to speak about others as our brothers and sisters.
You are faithful and trustworthy; may our words be seeds of goodness for the world:

where there is shouting, let us practise listening;
where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony;

where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity;
where there is exclusion, let us offer solidarity;

where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety;
where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions;

where there is prejudice, let us awaken trust;
where there is hostility, let us bring respect;
where there is falsehood, let us bring truth.  Amen.

POPE FRANCIS, 52nd World Communications Day, 2018

2. Prayer For Media – Entangled In The Web 

Lord, Creator of the real world.
I bring before you all I find on the Internet:
the many words – both true and false,
the many people – near and far,
the many details – important and trivial,
the many images – of the best and worst in man.

Free me – where I’ve become entangled in the Web.
Heal me – where its images have wounded my soul.
Lead me back to the truth – where I’ve been led astray.

Help me to distinguish
the virtual from the real world,
to choose wisely the things that really matter,
to resist firmly all manipulation,
to use with measure what is set before me,
and bravely live my daily life with you.

GEORG LENGERKE – YOUCAT Youth Prayer Book

Read more:
– Top Pope Francis’ Media Quotes
– Catholic Prayers For Strength

The post Prayer for Media appeared first on Universe of Faith.

1. Prayer for strength – Heavy Hearted

Living God, you know how heavy my heart is,
and how tight my chest.
I can’t find a way out.
Help me, my God!
I know you care for me and love me,
and that you allow each trial I face.
I know you turn all things to good for me.
But help me –
do not let this fear overwhelm me.
I entrust this day to you,
and all my life.
Guide me where you will
and how you know is best for me.
For whether I live or die,
I am with you, and you are with me, my God. Amen.

DÖRTE SCHRÖMGES from the youth prayer book YOUCAT

2. In times of trail – Strengthen Hope In Us

We beg you, God of grace and eternal life,
increase and strengthen hope in us.
Grant us this virtue of the strong,
this strength of the confident,
this courage of the unshakable.
Then we can boldly grasp, again and again,
the challenges in our lives.
Then we will be filled with cheerful confidence
that we do not work in vain.
Then we can do our work and know that you
– without us and where our strength may fail-
still work your glory and our salvation,
according to your purpose.
Strengthen in us your hope. Amen.

KARL RAHNER from the youth prayer book YOUCAT 

3. In Sickness – Prayer For Strength

Lord, I have time. A great deal of time.
When I was healthy, I thought how beautiful it would be to have plenty of time.

Now I do have time, necessarily so.
But these hours and days are another kind of time. Time to think and time to ponder,
to question, and to make reproaches too.
So many things are going through my head.

Lord, I need you.
Help me to keep courageous, trusting, and confident in your goodness to us, your children.
May you be our God, in joy and suffering. Amen.

BLAISE PASCAL from the youth prayer book YOUCAT 

4. During long hardships – Patient Trust

6. Prayer for unemployment – Lord, We Have No Work!

“Lord God look down upon us! Look at this city, this island. Look upon our families.
Lord, you were not without a job, you were a carpenter, you were happy.
Lord, we have no work.
The idols want to rob us of our dignity. The unjust systems want to rob us of hope.
Lord, do not leave us on our own. Help us to help each other; so that we forget our selfishness a little and feel in our heart the “we”, the we of a people who want to keep on going.
Lord Jesus, you were never out of work, give us work and teach us to fight for work and bless us all. In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

POPE FRANCIS, Meeting with workers – Cagliari, 2013

Read more:
– Top Pope’s Quotes About Suffering
– My Psychosis Recovery: Love, Medicine And Faith

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Catholic Epiphany Prayer

“Breathe upon us gracious God, I pray, and show us this day Your Star which you did once show to the Magi, that as it formerly guided them to Christ, so, it may lead us to the Mysteries of Christ.”
Marsilio Ficino 1433-1499

Read more:
– Christmas Quotes By Famous People
– The Love Of Christmas In Famous Christmas Characters

The post Epiphany Prayer – Marsilio Ficino appeared first on Universe of Faith.

This prayer is based on the words of Jesus “let both grow together” when he was talking about wheat and weeds growing in the same field. 

Wheat and weeds:
let them grow together.

Arabs and Jews in Palestine:
let them grow together.

Greeks and Turks of the Balkans:
let them grow together.

Catholics and Protestants of Northern Ireland:
let them grow together.

Pros and Contras of Central America:
let them grow together.

Documented and undocumented aliens:
let them grow together.

Immigrants and Native Americans:
let them grow together.

Blacks and Whites of South Africa:
let them grow together.

Sikhs and Hindus of India:
let them grow together.

Revolutionaries and reactionaries:
let them grow together.

Russians and Americans:
let them grow together.

Religious leaders who lay and lighten burdens:
let them grow together.

Disciples prone to boasts and betrayals:
let them grow together.

People who wound and heal:
let them grow together.

Rich and poor, humble and haughty:
let them grow together.

Those whose thinking is similar and contrary:
let them grow together.

Those whose feelings are transparent or concealed:
let them grow together.

Days of sparseness and days of plenty:
let them grow together.

Winter, spring, summer, fall:
let them grow together.

All the seasons of one’s life:
let them grow together.

Joys and sorrow, laughter, tears:
let them grow together.

Strength and weakness:
let them grow together.

Doubt and faith:
let them grow together.

Denial and commitment:
let them grow together.

Preoccupation and freedom:
let them grow together.

Virtue and vice:
let them grow together.

Contemplation and action:
let them grow together.

Giving and receiving:
let them grow together.

The helpful and the helpless:
let them grow together.

Wisdom of the East and West:
let them grow together.

All contrarieties of the Spirit:
let them grow together.

Michael Moynahan, SJ

Excerpted and adapted from the book Hearts on Fire, edited by Michael Harter SJ, 2004, pgs 160-163.

Read more:

– Comparing Myself To Others – How To Stop

The post Litany of Contradictory Things appeared first on Universe of Faith.

This Radiating Christ prayer was a favourite prayer of Mother Teresa.
It is adapted from the original version of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly,
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.

Shine through us, and be so in us,
that every person we should come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus.
Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as you shine;
so to shine as to be a light to others;
the light, Jesus, will be all from you.

None of it will be ours.
It will be you shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best,
by shining on those around us.

Let us preach you without preaching:
not by words, but by our example,
by the catching force,
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear for you.
Amen.

Mother Teresa

Read more:
– “I Lived With Mother Teresa” – Mother Teresa Personality Traits
– “Life Is” – A Poem By Mother Teresa

The post Radiating Christ – a Prayer by Mother Teresa appeared first on Universe of Faith.

O when tomorrow dawns let not this Isle
Suffer contagion from all worldly dross,
Forget its annalled glory and the Cross
Or let its spirit sicken or its smile

So may this land ‘neath azure skies full grown
Be ever blest with sunlit happy days,
Its morrows rooted deep in ancient ways
In patina full clad as on its stone;

Great be its people and their heads held high,
Their hearts at peace and gentle as of old,
Model of races as in story told
Though semblance and humility belie;

And keep her, Great God, e’er free and sublime.
By man and nature loved, to end of time.

The post Poem – A Prayer for My Country appeared first on Universe of Faith.

“I found myself trapped within the same circle of prayer”

Unfortunately, however, I found myself trapped within the same circle of prayer: the same ideas, the same vocabulary, the same line of thought. Thanking Jesus became a ritualistic formality instead of a heartfelt prayer of gratitude. Therefore, lately I was praying about how to pray. I told God that I am running out of ideas about how I should pray. I was afraid that prayer was becoming another task in my To Do List which I had to check out to make sure that the deeds of my day would be accomplished.

God hears our prayer. After a week of praying to pray better, the session of the spiritual community I attend to was about ‘My Prayer Life’. We all voiced our concerns regarding our prayer time.  A friend within the community disclosed my same concern about praying for the same things in the same way. She suggested the following site which guides your prayer time through a short reflection, an extract from the Scripture and other resources which help your prayer be more meaningful and fruitful. I found it useful.

http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/an-ignatian-prayer-adventure

“from working my prayers to letting myself be worked upon.”

During the mentioned session of our spiritual community, a point which came out was our general concern about not praying well, our need to give Jesus a good prayer daily. The following reflection (which I found in the abovementioned link) put me in the proper frame of mind:

Prayer has far more to do with what God wants to do in us than with our trying to “reach or “realize, still less “entertain, God in prayer. This truth eliminates anxiety and concern as to the success or non-success of our prayer, for we can be quite certain that, if we want to pray and give the time to prayer, God is always successful and that is what matters. . . . What we think of as our search for God is, in reality, a response to the divine Lover drawing us to himself. There is never a moment when divine Love is not at work. . . . our part is to let ourselves be loved, let ourselves be given to, let ourselves be worked upon by this great God and made capable of total union with Him.

 Happy Prayer Time! =)

Sarah

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