~~~surrender to the influence of the Holy Spirit, becoming calm, recollected in order to grow docile as He prays in us ~~~making way for someone greater than we, letting the Son's joy and love for the Father awaken in us and fill us to overflowing.... ~~~allowing the Spirit-the Son's love for the Father-to spring from heart to lips...Authentic prayer must echo the Son's love......... ~~~placing ourselves at God's disposal for a moment or two, so that He can accomplish in us what He has always wanted to do...but we've never given Him the chance.......... ~~~most simply, being 'with' God. Believing in His loving presence even when not feeling it, and trying to be present to Him in faith, in loving attention, in mysterious oneness..... by Fr. Gabriel O' Donnell, OP
Poe Jphn Paul 2 , when he was a young priest called down to San GIovanni to see Padre Pio. He thought, he said, that he would meet a frail , thin white faced sad kind of a person, a kind of wan mystic. Instead of which he said he mat a stocky, big guy who always seemed to be laughing. Such a good discription of the frouits of prayer in a person's life. Laughter and joy. Padre Pio was asked one time about his huge,miraculous apostolate and he said, 'I am only a humble Friar who likes to pray' That just about sums it up.
For me, prayer is simply being with God. I share my life with Him and He shares his life with me. One must pray with the heart for a true relationship. One needs to think about what they are saying etc.. We are aware of this in any other relationship, yet, not always aware of this in our relationship with God and so are surprised when change doesn't happen. If I pray the Our Father daily from my heart.. and am aware that I am asking for God's will on Earth to be done, beginning with me... well... one of two things should happen. Either I begin to change and live the Our Father or I stop praying as my conscience won't allow me to continue and not change. One can't have two masters..
my favorite form of prayer is simply going to adoration. It is my 1:1 face-time with Jesus and I wouldn't miss it for the world!! sometimes I am so tired, or have had a bad day or gotten more bad news and I don't have the energy to say a rosary at adoration, so I just say Jesus...this is all I got for you today...me just sitting here in a numb-like state...please give me Your peace. and although I may not feel changed when I leave, I know over time I will. adoration is what keeps me going and carrying my cross...it is where I run to when it gets too heavy.
