Catherine Sullivan
Our prayer life is the bedrock of our relationship with God. In prayer, we bring our requests to God, but we also allow God to fill us with grace. It is essential for ministry leaders to develop a habit of daily prayer, even (and especially!) when we feel like we don’t have enough time to pray. In this way, we can stay rooted to the source of love and mercy, so that we can extend that love and mercy to the people in our care.
If you don’t have a daily prayer routine, start small. Five to 10 minutes is all you need to develop a habit of prayer. Link this prayer time to a part of your day that is dependable, like your morning routine, your commute, or your bedtime routine. Choose one small or simple practice to focus on as you build your prayer habit. Some suggestions include reading the daily Mass readings, praying with one psalm a day (start with Psalm 1 and work your way to 150!), praying Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, or praying a decade of the rosary. Deciding how you will spend your time in prayer beforehand will help you make good use of it when it comes around!
If you do have a daily prayer routine, ask God how he may be calling you to go deeper in your prayer. Perhaps this will mean spending more time in prayer, trying a different style of prayer, or adding fasting or a weekly Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament to your prayer routine. Practicing a daily examen in the style of St. Ignatius of Loyola is a great way to discern how God is moving in your daily life, including in your prayer life.
Meeting with a certified spiritual director can also help you determine how God is calling you to go deeper in your prayer. In these meetings, you will share what God is doing in your life and receive personal suggestions for books to read or practices to try from your spiritual director as you grow in your relationship with God. If you are interested in finding a spiritual director, start by asking your personal network for local recommendations. There are also websites that list spiritual directors, some of whom will meet with you virtually. Just like hiring any other professional, make sure that the spiritual director you choose is trained and certified for this work.
Questions for reflection:
- What does my prayer routine look like right now? Do I feel called to make any changes?
- What types of prayer feel comfortable and familiar to me? Why do these types of prayer resonate with me?
- Are there any new types of prayer I’d like to try?
- Would a prayer partner or spiritual director help me to deepen my prayer life? If so, who might I ask to take on that role?
