In
our fast paced culture with all of its distractions and opportunities
to excel, prayer often suffers. Whether absorbed in accomplishing
some task or simply tuckered out from an exhausting day, nurturing
our souls is less than at the forefront of priorities. Oddly, for
reasons which would surely baffle, this disconnect similarly occurs
when seeking pursuits which are holy! Yet, no matter how ensconced in
the temporal or pious we may be, whispers from the Holy Spirit are
recognized as he labors to draw our attention, to draw our
lives.
Shamefully, there are times when I shorten Lauds and Vespers (morning and evening prayers drawn from the Liturgy of the Hours). Either I'm worn out, irritated by environmental impediments, or plain lazy. Compounding matters, devotions to our holy Lady are more likely to be skipped altogether.
In both accounts of shortcoming, more effort is being invested to prevent these deficiencies. The inherent problem is the ease with which time carved out for these special moments in relationship can be infringed upon.
Saint Francis de Sales, borrowing from Blessed Angela of Foligno, offers the following counsel: "[T]he prayer that is most acceptable to God is that which is made by force and constraint." Say what? Yeah, force and constraint are exactly what devotions feel like on those occasions when busyness rules my day. Don't persecute me for what you feel, too!
These feelings of spiritual dryness are precisely why I abandon going through the motions, so to speak. Ah, but Saint Francis further counters: "Such is the prayer to which we apply ourselves, not for the pleasure which we find in it, nor by inclination, but purely to please God...forcing aside the aridity and the distastes that oppose it."
One hundred years ago, there roamed three little Portuguese children who were privileged to repeatedly encounter visitations from the Mother of our Lord. Lucia Santos. Jacinta Marto. And, her younger brother, Francisco Marto. These gifts have become what are collectively known as the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. Briefly touching upon these revelations, the Blessed Virgin Mary had requested, among other things, that these simple peasant children pray the Rosary every single day.
For those of you familiar with this devotion, such can be cumbersome and time consuming. Albeit, wonderfully beautiful when not thinking about how long before such achieves conclusion! Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco apparently shared similar sentiments. They were known to have significantly abrogated the Rosary, only praying the first two words of each segment of prayer!
Whoa, I thought that their audacity was brash and more than a tad impious to trample one of traditions most revered devotions. Plus, how did this flippant behavior impact Mary? Though, secretly, I mulled the possibility with a smidgen of enthusiasm!
Concluding with Vespers one evening, after reflecting on the memorial of Saint Justin Marytr, I felt the Holy Spirit prod me towards the Rosary. Surprised that I was able to complete the Liturgy of the Hours without interruption just moments before, there was concern that any other prayer would be impractical.
If you haven't already noticed, I was in one of those moods where rebelliousness and self pampering were beginning to influence.
It is not clear whether Our Lady of Fatima or laziness spoke, but the appeal of the abrogated Rosary resonated. So, I indulged the allure of fastidiousness! But, in the far reaches of conscience was the concern that I was about to reduce this devotion to some superfluous muttering.
Trying to be reverent, some modicum of respect, I shut the door of my prayer closet when entering the ethereal realm in which the Rosary reveals. Honestly, not anticipating much. My heart was not rightly focused. Letting the Holy Spirit guide me, I opted to swim in the depths of the Sorrowful Mysteries. Unexpectedly, I prayed the words which Saint Justin calmly spoke (present tense) during his persecution and martyrdom (d. 165). How? I was there, in spirit, witnessing such, breathing the heaviness of the moment. Yet, he had no fear. If anything, Saint Justin was relieved and anticipating the ecstasy of the next life. This vignette was disarming, to say the least.
An incredible privilege to be a witness of triumphant fidelity!
What was anticipated to be a very short Rosary had in turn proved to overflow with richness. Each word, albeit only two at a time, possessed a unique vastness. On a side note, this prayer was anything but brief!
Saint Francis offers these closing insights: "The less we consult our own particular interest in the pursuit of virtue, the more brilliantly does the purity of divine love shine forth...."
I owe a debt of gratitude to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. Mary and Saint Justin, as well. Thank you.
Marana tha
Shamefully, there are times when I shorten Lauds and Vespers (morning and evening prayers drawn from the Liturgy of the Hours). Either I'm worn out, irritated by environmental impediments, or plain lazy. Compounding matters, devotions to our holy Lady are more likely to be skipped altogether.
In both accounts of shortcoming, more effort is being invested to prevent these deficiencies. The inherent problem is the ease with which time carved out for these special moments in relationship can be infringed upon.
Saint Francis de Sales, borrowing from Blessed Angela of Foligno, offers the following counsel: "[T]he prayer that is most acceptable to God is that which is made by force and constraint." Say what? Yeah, force and constraint are exactly what devotions feel like on those occasions when busyness rules my day. Don't persecute me for what you feel, too!
These feelings of spiritual dryness are precisely why I abandon going through the motions, so to speak. Ah, but Saint Francis further counters: "Such is the prayer to which we apply ourselves, not for the pleasure which we find in it, nor by inclination, but purely to please God...forcing aside the aridity and the distastes that oppose it."
One hundred years ago, there roamed three little Portuguese children who were privileged to repeatedly encounter visitations from the Mother of our Lord. Lucia Santos. Jacinta Marto. And, her younger brother, Francisco Marto. These gifts have become what are collectively known as the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. Briefly touching upon these revelations, the Blessed Virgin Mary had requested, among other things, that these simple peasant children pray the Rosary every single day.
For those of you familiar with this devotion, such can be cumbersome and time consuming. Albeit, wonderfully beautiful when not thinking about how long before such achieves conclusion! Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco apparently shared similar sentiments. They were known to have significantly abrogated the Rosary, only praying the first two words of each segment of prayer!
Whoa, I thought that their audacity was brash and more than a tad impious to trample one of traditions most revered devotions. Plus, how did this flippant behavior impact Mary? Though, secretly, I mulled the possibility with a smidgen of enthusiasm!
Concluding with Vespers one evening, after reflecting on the memorial of Saint Justin Marytr, I felt the Holy Spirit prod me towards the Rosary. Surprised that I was able to complete the Liturgy of the Hours without interruption just moments before, there was concern that any other prayer would be impractical.
If you haven't already noticed, I was in one of those moods where rebelliousness and self pampering were beginning to influence.
It is not clear whether Our Lady of Fatima or laziness spoke, but the appeal of the abrogated Rosary resonated. So, I indulged the allure of fastidiousness! But, in the far reaches of conscience was the concern that I was about to reduce this devotion to some superfluous muttering.
Trying to be reverent, some modicum of respect, I shut the door of my prayer closet when entering the ethereal realm in which the Rosary reveals. Honestly, not anticipating much. My heart was not rightly focused. Letting the Holy Spirit guide me, I opted to swim in the depths of the Sorrowful Mysteries. Unexpectedly, I prayed the words which Saint Justin calmly spoke (present tense) during his persecution and martyrdom (d. 165). How? I was there, in spirit, witnessing such, breathing the heaviness of the moment. Yet, he had no fear. If anything, Saint Justin was relieved and anticipating the ecstasy of the next life. This vignette was disarming, to say the least.
An incredible privilege to be a witness of triumphant fidelity!
What was anticipated to be a very short Rosary had in turn proved to overflow with richness. Each word, albeit only two at a time, possessed a unique vastness. On a side note, this prayer was anything but brief!
Saint Francis offers these closing insights: "The less we consult our own particular interest in the pursuit of virtue, the more brilliantly does the purity of divine love shine forth...."
I owe a debt of gratitude to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. Mary and Saint Justin, as well. Thank you.
Marana tha
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