Pope Benedict XVI encouraged us to go deeper in our prayer life using a classical method, lectio divina. The late pontiff strongly exhorted followers of Christ to utilise the Word of God as fertile ground for delving into the depths of prayer. This blog sets out the steps the Holy Father suggested to motivate us to never tire in growing in our union with God through a deeper prayer life.
“Stabat mater dolorosa – The Sorrowful Mother was standing.” This is the first line of one of the most celebrated Catholic hymns sung by Catholics for over eight centuries when walking from one station of the Cross to the next. The Stabat Mater teaches us that every fallen child of Adam and Eve benefits from uniting sacrificially with Jesus and Mary. Meditate on the first three stanzas in this blog.
Consecrate your marriage to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus with this beautiful prayer, asking Jesus to be at the centre of your marriage.
When there is an awareness of danger or evil, these prayers may be recited to seek God’s mercy and intervention. These powerful prayers also serve as a reminder that our authentic prayers are never solitary. We are never alone in praying for what is good. The angels and saints are constant in union with us in prayer.
To protect yourself from the powers of darkness, immediate prayers can be used on occasions of perceived danger or temptation. This blog, extracted from the CTS book Deliver Us From Evil and offered to the faithful by the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, provides prayers for immediate use in those times.
Jesus is calling each of us to enter into deep friendship with Him in prayer. To establish this intimate friendship with Jesus, spend one hour a day with Him and He will bless the other twenty-three hours of your day! Why do we do this? Because it is Jesus who is calling us to Himself so that we can avoid sin and practise virtue and He can help us through the trials and sufferings of this life until we rejoice with Him for ever in heaven! Find guidance for this daily hour with Jesus in this blog.
