Silent Prayer
I will be the first to tell you that everyone needs time for silent prayer during the day. I will also be the first to admit that this is oh! so hard for me to accomplish! Therefore, I am a huge advocate of what my friend calls “moving prayer”. For mommies and other people on the move, it is essential to remain connected to God throughout the day, even as you engage in other tasks.
Kitchen Moving Prayer
I am especially aware of the available mental energy for “moving prayer” as I work in the kitchen. The multitude of mundane tasks that I work my way through while making a meal include: chopping vegetables, setting the table, gathering ingredients, storing leftovers, washing dishes…and the list could go on. I make it a point to harness some of my surplus intellectual space during these times, and I pray.
How often do you find that you have something repetitive “in your head”? If you’re a parent, it’s likely to be the ABCs or “Elmo’s World” theme song, and if you’re a normal person, perhaps the song you last heard in your car is stuck in there. Your head, I mean, not the car.
From ABCs to Lord Have Mercy
When I find my mind doing something repetitive, that’s my cue to switch over to the prayer station: I convince my mind to pray a repetitive prayer instead. We Catholics have lots of them. Honestly, the Hail Mary is a bit long for me while I’m working. I get distracted! My favorite is, “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.” It’s from the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and it has just the right rhythm to chop food by. I don’t count ten of them, I just go until I have to focus my brain on dinner again.
If you’re not Catholic and not comfortable with these prayers, I would encourage you to try something like this:
- A favorite praise song
- “Lord, have mercy”
- “Christ, have mercy”
- “Jesus, remember me”
- repeat the Name of Jesus
- “Bless my family, Lord”
or any phrase that you feel is worthwhile to share with the Lord rather than your ABCs!
Especially as we work our way through Lent this year, I want to challenge you to be prayerful in the kitchen. If you can harness your repetitive mind and turn it towards God with this method, please try it! The world needs our prayers.
Hungry for more? Related posts:
Thanks for the comment! I would love to participate in the carnival!
Your site looks great, and it’s right up my alley. I’m hoping to develop my blog more in the future. I don’t feel obligated to blog for anyone else really, but I’ve always felt a call to minister through writing. I’d love for my blog to become a better ministry tool as I continue to grow in my walk with the Lord.
Looking forward to seeing more from you! Take care!
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How about the classic Eastern Christian prayer “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”? That’s what we traditionally pray on the chotki – a knotted rope that looks a bit like a rosary. The idea is to have the prayer of the publican (see Luke 18:9–14) become as natural as breathing in and out.
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Twitter: sarahsmusings
// Mar 7, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I love the Divine Mercy chaplet too! I found that the way that they sing it on EWTN often gets stuck in my head – but it is so beautiful that I don’t mind at all!
Great post!
Best,
Sarah
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Twitter: sarahsmusings
// Mar 7, 2009 at 5:28 pm
One more note:
I also love the Orthodox Jesus Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Very easy to memorize and just a perfectly complete prayer. It can be prayed with a prayer rope, or simply while working. Enjoy!
Best,
Sarah
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Thanks for linking back to this, Katie! I have been trying to renew my morning offering throughout the day, which includes praying for the souls in purgatory (we were discussing in Bible study that since Catholics are the only ones that pray for those souls anymore, we really have the weight on our shoulders!). I have also been saying the St. Andrew Novena since his Nov 30 feast day – and am saying it two extra times for two friends, and it really sets the tone for the sewing I’ve been doing.
Something I’ve really been thinking about lately is HOW I’m praying – sure, sometimes I get a bit distracted and the prayers kind of take to the background of my thoughts and actions, but instead of thinking of it as “bad prayer” since I’m distracted, I think of it more as making my duties and tasks more prayerful. We came across the verse about the Holy Spirit turning our prayers into grunts and groans (wait, that wasn’t on this post . . . I know I just read it on one of yours!!) and that makes me think that ALL our prayers, even the most pious, fall short in some way. That isn’t a bad thing – we’re human, after all. But it makes me feel a bit better about my attempts.
Lenetta @ Nettacow´s last blog ..Frugal Advent Wreath
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Katie Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Well said, Lenetta! I’m particularly struck by the Catholics praying for souls in Purgatory issue…very good and weighty point. More prayer! Thank you for the encouragement – Katie
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I love that two people recommended this on the same day. It has a great rhythm — the Church Fathers and God the Father know what they’re doing — they really work with our humanity! I’m so happy you stopped by — your blog is filled with great information, too, Sarah.
Katie
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I’m practicing this one with my breathing already. I’m happy to have a great idea — thank you!
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