Thursday, August 21, 2008

Deep Experiences of Prayer

A quote from Mary Bride Claire:

Our life together must allow for deep experiences of prayer.

One of the most interesting challenges in religious life is prayer. Each Sister is expected to take time each day for deep personal meditation, for community prayer and for Eucharist. These are the mainstay of religious life.

There are other devotions that Sisters also use; the rosary, holy hours, midday prayer, examin, Stations of the Cross, Divine Mercy Chaplet, novenas, 30 days' prayer and a host of others depending on the religious community.

But if you notice the one form of prayer that is not there is a sharing of our prayer with others. Faith sharing, Bible study, and prayer groups are not part of the required prayer. Yet, it is in these experiences that one grows as well in depth of prayer. Some are reluctant to share their deep faith with their peers, though they may readily do it with others.

We do not like to speak of our deepest emotions and our deepest feelings. Sometimes the words are inadequate. This, I think is a part of the human condition. But to grow and to nurture the future of religious life we are called to do it, to share and to risk in order to further the kingdom. Our life together depends upon it.

Today look where you could be doing some deep sharing-sharing your wisdom, sharing you spirituality, sharing your faith.

www.sistersofmercy.org

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