(July 28, 2019) Lectionary: 111
Gospel: Luke 11: 1-13
Have your most recent prayers been prayers of praise, petition, or sorrow? Which kind of prayer do you need to practice more often?
ACTS
Adoration
Each day provides opportunities to adore the Holy Trinity. Who can help but adore the Creator when standing on the ocean’s shore, watching sea life at play? Lately, I’ve been thinking much about the enormous gift of Jesus’ Death on the Cross, and I simply adore Jesus as Savior and Lord. When ideas for an article or presentation come to mind, I stop and adore the Holy Spirit, my source of inspiration. These simple prayers of adoration help me remain mindful of the greatness of God in the world around me and in my own life.
Contrition
As I continue my journey of faith, I realize more and more my own need for forgiveness, understanding, and compassion. Over time, this realization has enabled me to pray that God would love and bless those who have most deeply hurt me. Knowing that I cannot undo the past, and mindful of my sins and failings in the present, I turn to God and pray, “Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Thanksgiving
Many years ago, while leading a Lent retreat, I invited participants to adapt a practice long-held by our Jewish sisters and brothers—that of praising and thanking God 100 times throughout the day. For example, when waking up in the morning, thank God for the gift of a new day. When brushing your teeth, thank God for the gift of water. When dressing for the day, thank God for the gift of clothing. On a subsequent visit to the parish, a man who had attended the Lent retreat shared with me that he made the 100 daily prayers his Lenten discipline, and his life was changed because of that practice. I use this practice as a helpful reminder that no matter what I am going through, there is always much for which to be thankful.
Supplication
These days, I find myself praying many prayers of supplication. In conversation with friends and with strangers, I am often asked to pray for a person or a situation. And when I say, “I’ll pray for you,” I mean it! That is why I keep a prayer list near the spot where I most often sit to pray. There are prayers that always remain on the list—for family members, for protection, and for wisdom in my work—and there are prayer requests that are for a short time or a specific situation. Having recently read a wonderful devotional book on Our Lady of Guadalupe, I also ask Our Lady to wrap in her beautiful cloak and her loving embrace the people for whom I am praying.
ACTS: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication.
This simple acronym is a wonderful invitation to keep our prayer lives in balance. Which kind of prayer do you need to practice more often?
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.