Getting started - Spirituality & prayer

life4seekers homepage - spirituality & prayer - Getting started

Prayer is a life-changing good habit. The best thing to do is to simply start and persevere. Just as with training in other fields, it's something that has to be worked at, practised and experimented with. Starting to pray is a decision you will never regret.

There is no right or wrong way to speak to God. It is what's in your heart that matters. As you make a prayer ask yourself, "Am I just reciting this or do my words really come from the heart?" Be honest as you pray and look into your heart and ask yourself if your prayer is sincere.

Make a decision to start.

Set time aside to pray as "Prayer time".

Choose your location - the garden, a Church, your living room etc.

Plan what you're going to say and do. For example, just have a chat, say the Our Father, read a short extract from the Bible.

Image of lots of different coloured hearts


	"It is most important that the heart should be present to Him to whom we are speaking in prayer." Catechism of the Catholic Church 2700

It's okay to pray for something for yourself.

It's okay to pray for someone you know, or don't know.

It's okay to pray for an event to happen or to ask for something not to happen.

You don't have to be 'religious' to pray.

The person you are praying for does not need to accept or acknowledge the prayer.

You don't have to use special words or language.

You do not have to be kneeling down.

You do not have to say the words out loud.

A good web page dedicated to daily prayer can be found at: http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/cmo-retreat.html

Colour illustration by Elizabeth Wang:

Heart-felt Petitions and Intercessions

www.radiantlight.org.uk

Being part of a community and praying as a community is a very important part of Catholic life. We meet to pray together at least once a week, usually on a Sunday, at a celebration called Holy Mass. We believe prayer is very powerful especially when it involves large numbers of people. Here are some examples of the things we often pray for:

For the safety and care for innocent people in war torn countries.

For the protection of children around the world.

A safe journey 'home' for loved ones who have died.

To give courage to those who suffer from life threatening illnesses, and support for those that tend to their needs.

For the protection of the animal kingdom.

You can think of your own. Find a few quiet minutes and add some of your own needs.


	"Don't ever be ashamed to pray or feel prevented by thinking yourself unworthy in any way. The fact is, whatever terrible things you might have done, praying will always turn your energy around for the better." Barefoot Doctor's handbook for the Urban Warrior, pg. 136.

Do you have a prayer you have written, or that you feel is special and could offer encouragement to others? We'd like to have a copy of if and may put it on our site at a later date.

Send your prayer as an e-mail attachment to: prayers@life4seekers.co.uk

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Getting started :
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Your guide for this section is Fran. She is 45, and was born in Birmingham. Click here to read her story.

This is a website of the Catholic Enquiry Office; part of an Agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

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