Dear Friends,
The coming Christmas holidays can be a time of stress as we engage in the numerous preparations that are part of this time of the year. With so much emphasis placed on shopping, baking, holiday parties and gift giving it is easy to bypass an important prelude to the Christmas Season, namely, Advent. A beneficial way to enter Advent is through prayer. Prayer enables us to focus on the reason for the season: Jesus Christ and deepening our relationship with Him.
Many of us struggle with prayer or become disillusioned when we don’t see the results immediately. Jesus encouraged us to pray always and not become discouraged. If we struggle with prayer, we can take advice from the saints. These holy men and women also experienced challenges with prayer. In a recent article in the Heart of the Revival Newsletter, managing editor Sister Kathryn Hermes FSP provides several saintly models for us to emulate.
If staying awake or focused during prayer is our difficulty, then we have a companion in Saint Therese of Lisieux. Rather than becoming discouraged, the Little Flower reminds us how pleasing a sleeping child is to his or her parents.
If we find prayer boring, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorist order, reminds us that prayer isn’t about how we feel but its purpose is to praise God. Brother Lawrence, a medieval mystic, overcame boredom by practicing the art of recalling that he was in God’s presence no matter what task he was involved in. He included God in every moment of his day, making every moment a moment of grace.
A spiritual companion can help us in cultivating a deeper prayer life. Saint Louise de Marillac, a widow and single mother who was rejected by her in laws and left destitute, found spiritual companionship in Saint Vincent DePaul who provided her with the spiritual direction and support she needed. Together they co-founded the Daughters of Charity, a religious community still in existence today.
Contemporary models for holiness such as Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Bl. Carlo Acutis, and the Servant of God Michelle Duppong enriched their prayer lives through the rosary and Eucharistic Adoration. Establishing a relationship with Our Eucharistic Lord is a goal not only of the Eucharistic Revival but of our spiritual lives. Prayer is the first step in developing this intimacy. During this Advent Season, may we look to the saints, or even a prayer partner, for inspiration and encouragement.
Blessings,
Sister Marcella Louise Wallowicz CSFN
