Prayer…what’s your favorite?

We start learning prayers as small children, around the dinner table, in church, at school. I often recite them without thinking. It’s like putting on a familiar comfy robe, it’s comforting even if I am not sure why.

St. Paul in his writing told us to pray without ceasing. Is that actually possible?

In 2008, I had a transformative prayer experience. I attended a 7 day silent retreat in Nevers, France about the prayer to the heart of Jesus. I had never heard of this prayer before and I spent a week learning about it and praying with it.

Each day we prayed together, had mass, and the priest preaching the retreat would give talks on prayer. I paid attention more than usual because all of it was happening in French, my second language. I had to be intentional because I wanted to really understand what was happening.

Père Cantet told us that the prayer was designed to be prayed constantly, no matter what you were doing, walking, eating, working, etc. I can still picture him telling us- You are eating breakfast, you can pray while you spread the jam on the bread. We practiced taking walks in the garden and praying. There are still moments when I find myself reciting the prayer while walking or while in adoration- almost without realizing it.

A week flew by almost without me realizing it. We ended that retreat by gathering around the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette and we were all touching her glass casket. We prayed a Hail Mary in every language that was represented in the group and then in our common language, French. I have never had an experience quite like that one.

No matter where you are in your prayer life, take some time to try out different kinds of prayer. You may find out that you are drawn to a whole new prayer type, that comes with new experiences. In this adventure, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.