Our Prayer Life
In this new section we offer a series of prayers, reflections and other resources as an aid to deepening our spiritual life and developing a greater understanding of the scriptures.
Jesus models how to pray
Here are three things Jesus teaches us about prayer.
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Pray with authenticity. God cares about your heart, and He loves you deeply. We serve a personal and purposeful Father. So when we come to Him in prayer, we can be fully ourselves; transparent and authentic. You don’t need to worry about praying the 'right' words. Instead, focus on sharing personally about where you’re at, what you need, how thankful you are for His goodness in your life.
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Pray with the right attitude. When we read how Jesus prayed in the Bible, we see a pattern of adoration, reverence, awe, thanksgiving, and praise. If we’re not careful, we can cry out to God with our needs and forget how He’s already provided in our lives. Remember, God is holy and divine, greater and more wonderful than our wildest dreams. He’s not a genie waiting to grant our wishes. When you go to Him in prayer, position your heart with an attitude of connection with your loving Father before presenting your needs to Him.
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Pray, and keep praying. One of the most compelling reasons to bring our requests to God in prayer is that Jesus told us to. In Matthew 7, Jesus encourages us to ask and keep asking. When you feel defeated or burned out in your prayers, remember that God is always listening. And the Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf to advocate for your requests. Keep praying and don’t give up.
Prayers for Pentecost
As the Risen Jesus prepared to leave his work in the hands of his followers, he told them to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit. They gathered in the upper room and devoted themselves to constant prayer.
The days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost are often considered to be the first Novena. We are invited to join those first disciples in nine days of prayer to ask God to prepare us to receive the Spirit so that our courage, hope and joy may be renewed.
In God's Presence
The act of the presence of God.
The exercises you'll find here help us to begin prayer in the presence of God. In your imagination, become aware of God’s presence and attention to you in this very moment. It may be that you can imagine God’s face looking down upon you right now and smiling or simply the sense of God’s presence. Do whatever works best for you, whatever allows you to better recognise your creator present with you, here and now.
Praying with Mary
"Ask her to remind you that she intercedes for you before the throne of God everyday" Jane Trufant Harvey, author of 'Ask Her'
Especially in this month of May, we turn to Our Lady reflecting on her life of devotion and asking her to intercede for us.
There are many reflections and guides for praying the Rosary. Here's just a few:
Pray the Rosary like never before