I’ve been a priest a little over a month now and as I reflect on the people I’ve talked to and the stories I’ve heard, especially from young adults, a constant theme I’ve seen is the lack of prayer in our lives.  Prayer is always a touchy subject to bring up because we may want to take the “humble” way out and say our prayer can be better (even if we feel we’re pretty good at it), or we’re too hard on ourselves, or we really do need to pray more, or we just don’t pray at all.  When thinking of those I’ve talked to and counseled, the majority don’t pray at all or don’t pray enough.  We need to pray!

Pope Francis says over and over again that we need to have a true encounter with Jesus Christ.  Well, we encounter God most intimately in our hearts.  Yes, we encounter God in our neighbor, the Sacraments, holy places, and so on; however, we encounter God MOST INTIMATELY in our hearts…and this is done in and through prayer.  Prayer comes in a beautiful variety of forms, words, sounds, books, languages, instruments, styles, and rituals.  We need to explore as many as possible until we find the way that works best for us and when we find that way of praying that works we need to DO IT! Every day! Without fail!

The evil one (the devil) doesn’t want us to pray.  He wants our focus off God and placed on other things like wealth, pleasure, power, and honor.  The evil one knows that when our focus isn’t on God that he can manipulate us, distract us, and tempt us into committing those same sins we seem to always commit and from there he will continue to manipulate us to commit more serious sins.  But if we keep our focus on God and orient ourselves toward God every day through prayer, then all the other stuff will fall into place.  If we cultivate a life of prayer then we will se our true identity as beloved daughters and sons of God, we will see others with the same identity and treat ourselves and others with the love that God has for us.  

Prayer is essential to living a happy, full, and glorified life of grace.  My encouragement to those I meet and counsel is to discern in prayer and/or with a spiritual director what you can reasonably do in your day to pray every day.  Can you say a rosary or the divine mercy chaplet every day?  Can you sit in silence for a certain amount of time (10, 20, 40, or even 60 minutes)?  Can you attend daily mass?  Whatever it is that you, the Lord, and maybe your spiritual director (if you have one) decide on make sure you do it every day.  The evil one is going to throw every temptation and distraction at you to deter you from daily prayer and that is when you need to add something extra to upset him.  If you committed to pray 10 min each day and you feel tempted to skip it or just do 5 of the 10 min…then do 11 minutes.  

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said in a general audience on prayer that “if you learn to be quiet, you will find your vocation.”  By quieting our lives of the usual noise from our phones, computers, relationships, and the world in general we leave a safe space open for God to speak to us.  It will be awkward at times but I encourage you to push through the awkward and open your heart and mind to God’s awesome grace.  The Lord desires to speak to you and walk with you.  Don’t be afraid of intimacy with the Lord.  He loves you! You are who he desires.  Let Him in.