Prayer/Guided Reflections Archives - Page 4 of 14

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Dr. Ansel Augustine

We continue our summer series, Pop-Up Prayer—brief interviews on the topic of prayer with prominent people in pastoral ministry from all over the country! In this episode, Dr. Ansel Augustine, Director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, talks about the need to see prayer as both an ongoing conversation with the Lord and something for which we need to carve out time. Be sure to check out the […]

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Elsy Arévalo

Joe Paprocki

Welcome to our new summer series, Pop-Up Prayer—brief interviews on the topic of prayer with prominent people in pastoral ministry from all over the country! We could all use some tips when it comes to prayer, especially during these very difficult and challenging times. In this episode, Elsy Arévalo, Instructor and Assistant Director of the Center for Religion and Spirituality at Loyola Marymount University, explains that prayer is not about us reaching out to God as […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Speaking God’s Language Through Silence

Joe Paprocki

When I was in high school, I remember being told by a Jesuit priest (one of my teachers) to listen for God in the silence. This was no easy task. First of all, it was not easy for me to find a quiet place in a home that I shared with my eight siblings! Second, when I did find some silence, I never heard God speaking to me. When I related this to the priest, […]

A Prayer to Listen to the Holy Spirit

Joe Paprocki

The Scriptures remind us that the voice of God often comes in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11–13). Practice listening for God’s voice, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to your group of Confirmation candidates, catechists, or other adults through a prayer service composed by Julianne Stanz. The prayer is inspired by Shhh…God Is in the Silence by Fiona Basile. A copy of the book is needed for the prayer service readings.

Preparing Prayer Experiences That Are Authentically Catholic

Joe Paprocki

One thing that many catechists struggle with is how to prepare and lead a simple prayer experience in a faith formation setting. Too often, we find ourselves searching the Internet for an inspirational poem or quote that speaks to the occasion, and we end up reciting that as the prayer while everyone else listens. While such poems or quotes may indeed be inspirational, it is important that our prayer experiences are authentically Catholic. That doesn’t […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: The Calming Effect of Praying the Rosary

Joe Paprocki

Many contemplative practices involve the use of a mantra, or the repetitive uttering of a sacred word or group of words (or sometimes a sound) in order to deepen one’s focus, avoid distractions, and create a sense of calm that permits one to enter into an “altered state.” Too often, Catholics are suspicious of such practices, thinking of them as foreign to our tradition. Nothing could be further from the truth! One of the best examples […]

Peace Prayer Coloring Pages

Joe Paprocki

The Peace Prayer, usually associated with St. Francis of Assisi, is a popular traditional prayer. Download a coloring page to use in introducing or meditating on this prayer’s famous first line, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” The Spanish version, “Señor, haz de mí un instrumento de tu paz,” is also available as a coloring page. The Peace Prayer is part of Finding God and Christ Our Life sessions in fourth and eighth […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Eucharistic Adoration

Joe Paprocki

“Let me look at you!” People use this phrase when they simply want to take in another’s appearance, either because they have not seen this person for a long time or the person has gotten all dressed up for a special occasion. In either case, the desire is to look upon the beauty of another person. In our Catholic Tradition, we have a practice that enables us to “look upon” the beauty of God. We […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Praying the Angelus

Joe Paprocki

We live in a world of notifications! A notification is an icon, a vibration, a ding, or some other sound that pops up on an electronic device to let us know that something new has happened or to remind us about something. Before the world of electronic devices, one notification that Catholics relied on was church bells, which would ring, not only when Mass was beginning on Sunday, but also daily at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 […]

The Examen Can Help Teens with Anxiety

Joe Paprocki

This pandemic has taken its emotional toll on all of us. Stephanie Clouatre Davis suggests that the Ignatian Examen can help teens with anxiety. She writes, “Praying the Examen can help teens become aware that God is gently accompanying them. And knowing that they are not alone can greatly reduce any feelings of anxiety.” Read the full article, Examen for Teens with Anxiety, on our sister site, LoyolaPress.com.