Do you hit your knees before you are even awake enough to function every morning? I’d like to, but I have to admit I’m struggling with daily prayer and routine.
Between getting sucked into the computer at all hours of the day and a 2-year-old who still gets up and needs only Mommy much earlier than I usually get up in the morning, I’m not setting aside a regular time to pray by myself.
It’s good that we have family prayer at night where we offer up intentions, and it’s good that I pray with my kids on the way to school to offer up our days. Most nights my husband and I take the time to talk to God together as we get into bed (or I join him for prayer before heading back to work). That’s good, but it’s not personal prayer.
I hit Sunday Mass, of course, and again once mid-week, and my moms’ Bible study is an important chance to connect (although I’ve been terrible at keeping up on the work on my own since the day of the week changed a year ago). I’ve always been a fan of moving prayer, which I was failing to incorporate into my days during the summer and have recently been mildly successful at reviving. That’s good, too, but it’s still lacking.
When I write it down, that all sounds like a decent prayer life, but both quality and quantity aren’t what they seem. Besides that, as any good friend knows, if you’re not spending quality one-on-one time with someone, your relationship starts to get superficial and not as important. It works the same way with God. When the relationship is as it should be, one should crave their personal prayer time with Him, not avoid it. I told you waaaaaay back when Lent ended in early April about my goals for keeping personal prayer time and what a struggle it is to carve out the right time and keep it consistent. The new baby threw off my previous system (yes, she’s two now), and once I started blogging, I never really recovered, never found a time that worked consistently.
My excuses: Morning is so often Leah-interrupted and sometimes my chance to finish a post; naptime is first of all sporadic at best, and when I do get some midday time I feel pressured to spend some QT with big brother Paul and rush to get a few things done before the always-too-early waking up; prayer while rocking/nursing Leah to sleep is a recipe for me to fall asleep, guaranteed; and after the kids’ bedtime routine it always seems as though I’m rushing to do X, Y, or Z: get some kitchen work done, start date night, or start work time. Well, phooey. Pretty sorry excuses, don’t you think?
I feel like I’ve been saying I need a kick in the pants to get my prayer life back on track for two years straight.
Funny, rambling and whining about my shoddy personal prayer life is not at all the point of this post. I suppose I share with you to beg your help in two ways: first, would you please pray for me that I get that kick in the pants (and heed it) and make a time for regular alone time with God, and second, do you have any other ideas for me? What works for you, especially moms of young children?
Structuring your Personal Prayer with the Saints
Although most are preparing for Halloween this weekend, I have to admit I’m kind of geeked about All Saints’ Day on Monday. I already said all I know about Halloween last year: Holy Budget Decorating (includes history of Halloween) and A Sweet-Less Trick-or-Treat. Of course, how to make crispy soaked pumpkin seeds and some recipes for healthy pumpkin cookies and healthy pumpkin muffins won’t hurt either. 
Dedicating a particular saint to each of my regular intentions, as I told you in the Easter Season Mary and Martha Moment here, is still likely my best way of at least breaking back into the habit of regular personal prayer. It gives me a quick, meaningful structure and helps me remember those who are important to me.
When I listed the saints I use for my personal prayer intentions, mostly for my family members, a reader requested a follow-up post explaining why I chose each patron saint. Now, six months later, I’m finally making that happen (no Mary and Martha Moments for six months…think that’s evidence of the state of my personal prayer life?).
Patron Saints by Topic
The power of a quick Google search never ceases to amaze me. If you want to know the patron saint for – truly – any topic in the world, these two resources ought to do it:
- Index of Patron Saints by Topic (including links to calendar of feast days) – I’d recommend using ctrl+F (the “find” function) to search for the topic you’re interested in and see the list of any patron saints applicable. Clicking the the saints’ name takes you to a short biography including any other topics the saint is related to.
- Patron Saints Alphabetically – in case you wonder what a particular saint is related to.
I just discovered that the patron saint of computer users and the Internet is St. Isidore of Seville. We have a St. Isidore Parish here in town, right off a highway, so I decided I can offer up my work on the computer to him every time I pass that church. Inserting reminders into your life like that is never a bad thing! He also got added to my prayers intention list.
The Whys
My list includes some of my favorite saints, patron saints of my family members based on their Christian names, and some chosen because their patronage topic seemed appropriate. I’ll annotate the list I shared with you in April:
- St. Joseph – for my husband: He is the clear patron saint of Holy Fathers and also of workers
- St. Paul – for my son: Namesake
- St. Katharine Drexel – for my daughter: Namesake, her middle name – we chose St. Katharine because she is an American saint, one who renounced her rich life and became a religious sister (nun), taught poor minority children in Native American and African American communities and founded Xavier University. She doesn’t seem to be patron of anything, poor girl, but I appreciate her heart for teaching and love for the poor and marginalized.
- Mary, Mother of God – for patience in parenting for myself: One of a handful of patrons for motherhood; the perfect role model for all women.
- I offer up my: time, money, parenting, daily duty
- St. Monica – for my parents and in-laws (I figure she prayed for her son, but she can pray for my parents, too. I don’t know if there is a patron saint of parents!) Monica was St. Augustine’s mother, who prayed him from a high sinner to a great Bishop and Father of the Church. Sts. Anne and Joachim, Jesus’s parents, are some patrons of parents as well, but I have a special appreciation for St. Monica’s tenacity in prayers for conversion.
- St. Michael the Archangel – for my brother in the armed forces: Depicted with a sword for good reason. He’s the head soldier in the battle against the forces of evil, both in this world and the next. I trust him to intercede for my brother when he’s in combat (he did a tour in Iraq) and as he battles spiritual doubt. His patronage runs for pages and includes soldiers and “against temptation.” If you don’t know the St. Michael the Archangel prayer, learn it now.
- St. Maria Goretti – for my sister and brother-in-law, newly married: Because of St. Maria Goretti’s story, dying at age 12 because she refused a rapist in the name of purity, I have always thought her a patron of purity. Officially it turns out she is not, but I love to rely on her to watch over new married couples and those in a dating or engaged relationship.
- St. Benedict – for my work, my writing, discernment about jobs: I have always thought of St. Benedict as a good patron of worthwhile work, because his monastic rule is, “My work is my prayer” or “pray and work.” The only official patron of workers is St. Joseph. Appropriate patrons of writers would include St. Francis de Sales, St. John the Apostle, St. Lucy, and St. Paul the Apostle (wow, some heavy hitters there!). I also love that St. Isidore is patron saint of computer work, which is definitely what I do.
- St. Martin de Porres – for the USA and the conversion of President Obama: This was not my idea, but came from someone at my women’s Bible study. St. Martin is patron of both African Americans and social justice, as well as public education and public health.
- For an end to abortion and contraception
- St. Gerard – for all my pregnant friends (16 at one point – too many to keep track of!! God knows my heart…): an official patron of expectant mothers, on whom I’ve relied since learning that friend has a relic of his that she clutches during labor.
- Blessed Mother Teresa – for all sick, especially…(here I can add people as I learn of illnesses): Although not an official patron of the sick, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
I’ve added a few intentions at the bottom of the list, for various friends on and offline, since then. That’s always the way it is with prayer lists, isn’t it? The more you pray, the more you think of that you need to pray for. Holiness proliferates holiness, just as kindness proliferates kindness when in a group of people. I think that’s a good sign that you’re doing something right.
One Day Left…
Don’t forget today is the last day to get in on the fermented cod liver oil giveaway (20 winners!), and you have through the end of the weekend to win Michele Augur’s Herbal Nurturing Guide.
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I smiled when I saw St. Martin de Porres on your list…we have a candle with his picture on it (even though we’re Presbyterian
) since my Peruvian husband remembers how he was celebrated in Lima. I think this post is one of the very few times I’ve heard him mentioned outside of conversations with my in-laws.
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Baptist girl here! Two thoughts: Really like All-Saints Day, and dedicating that day to pray for all of the “living saints” we know. In our part of the country (Branson, MO) we have more fall festivals than true halloween celebrations. Area churches and organizations this weekend will have festivals with fair-type games and activities, the usual sweets and fun stuff…but in a safe environment, and with a positive message. Takes the “yuck” out of halloween for our young folks.
Thought two, to all “Marthas” out there: if prayer life is suffering, maybe it’s time to let something go????? I typed that very gently, trust me. It’s hard. But seriously: is there anything…and I do mean ANYTHING…more important than your connection with God? Okay, you can’t drop the kids… “sorry little ones, mommy doesn’t have time to devote to you anymore, so….” But there should be something that can slide to the back burner. Don’t let it become a pride issue.
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Karen,
A good and important push, and one every person needs to discern.
Catholics have all saints day to ask those who are passed on and most definitely in Heaven to pray for US, and then the next day is all souls’ day, to pray for anyone who has died, for their safe passage to Heaven. Both of those are decidedly Catholic, of course, since other Christians don’t pray for the dead.
Love what your churches are doing in your area – Katie
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Can I ask which mothers’ Bible study you are doing? My Familia group is finishing up our final year and we are looking for another specifically Catholic Bible study we could do next year. Thanks!
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Sarah W Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Have you ever heard of Catholic Scripture Study? This is a GREAT program and authentically Catholic through and through. (It has an impramatur and everything) It is easy for any parish or group outside of a parish to do since they give you everything you need: lessons, commentary and DVD lectures by a great priest. (“Bible Study in a Box” they call it!) The study commentaries are written by Catholic scholars such as Scott Hahn, Steve Ray, Mark Shea and others. http://www.cssprogram.net
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Teri,
Katie
We’re on our second year of using the Great Adventure series with Jeff Cavin. http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/ We are doing Revelation right now and did the Bible Timeline last year. I’ve been part of a few others before that; email me if you want me to send you those (not at home right now to look them up). Jeff CAvins is GREAT!
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The conversion of President Obama? You want him to become Catholic? If so, pretty presumptuous. If you are implying he is not Christian, then you are listening to people who are bigoted beyond reason.
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Sarah W Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Maybe it is just a Catholic thing, but we routinely pray for the “conversion” of people, countries, etc. It is not so much a prayer for them to convert to Catholicism, but a prayer for their conversion of heart towards the Lord. We ALL are in need of conversion, even those of us who are already professed Christians.
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rhiamom Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Then why not pray for the conversion of the entire US? Why single out President Obama? I seem to recall that at Mass we pray for all our leaders, including the President, by name, but not for his “conversion.” It’s quite an insult, actually.
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Rhiamom,
Katie
I do pray for the whole country, but this was a particular prayer that other moms at my Bible study encouraged for the end to abortion. I do appreciate your honesty, and I hope that we are on good terms, in spite of the fact that we may have a difference of opinion. Thank you, and I hope I explained the intention clearly this time.
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Karen Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Wow, rhiamom, I’m sorry. You missed the point of the post…
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rhiamom Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I didn’t miss the point of the post. I pointed out something I found to be totally inappropriate and insulting within an otherwise excellent post. KS isn’t usually a mouthpiece for that kind of thing, and I thought she’d appreciate knowing that some people find that bit offensive.
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Rhiamom,
Sorry about that, neither. I should have changed the wording after I had this conversation with a reader the first time I posted my list. Obama is pro-choice: therefore, as one who believes that God loves and has created all life, I believe he needs a conversion of heart. Not a conversion to any particular faith, but a change of heart in his respect for life at all stages.
Sorry about the confusion,
Katie
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Katie, I could have written this post too!! I will definitely do my best to remember to pray for you, especially when one of your posts hits my inbox or I am thinking about something I learned from your blog, which is pretty often!
It’s funny, b/c I have been thinking lately about what am I doing for MY ongoing faith formation? I too go to Bible study once a week and have for several years, and this is good for learning about the scriptures and fellowship with other Catholics, but it’s only once a week and I am going to take an indefinite break next year when I start my homeschooling journey.
I try to teach my children about the faith, I try to maintain my home, nurture my relationship with my husband… but my relationship with God is so often going to the back burner. That’s backwards!
Last lent I found myself more motivated to bolster my prayer life and I comitted to really try to do a daily meditation. I did well for several days, and maybe decently for Lent, but now it seems good if I do that once a month.
I have a very good friend who quotes someone else with regard to prayer, “Don’t wait for the best time, pray the first time.” I have a similar situation with my kids being 4 and 22 months. One of them is usually waking me up earlier than I want, or if I get out of bed, the little one will wake up and I’m having to attend to their needs from the moment my feet hit the floor. And they have “mommy magnet” so if they don’t see or hear me for a few minutes, they usually find me!
Anyways, when I was being somewhat successful at doing a daily meditation, the fact that it was Lent provided additional motivation, but if I ever woke up before I “wanted” to, instead of pulling the covers over my head and trying to get an extra 15 or 20 min of sleep, (which honestly almost never happens, I just laze in bed, but I’m still awake) I got myself out of bed to pray. I went in my closet, turned on the light and used a book called “The Better Part” (what a coincidence?
)to help guide my meditations/prayers. For the beginning of one’s mediation, the book suggests some openers for the first step, “Concentrate” where I pray, “God, you made this appointment with me. You have something to say to me. I want to hear your words for me today.” Sometimes repeating that phrase to myself, “God, you made this appointment with me” helped me to get out of bed.
Anyways, the good part was that I experienced a lot of fruits from that prayer in the first few days and that also helped to keep me coming back for more. But it is SO hard to maintain the routine everyday, particularly with the unpredictability of small children.
Well maybe now that you have written about something already on my mind I will find the “re-motivation” to get myself out of bed or go ahead and steal a few minutes at the beginning of nap time or even after the kids have gone to bed and I will offer the sacrafice of making that time for you and all mothers like us who struggle to do it. And maybe you can do the same.
(I’m sure I’ll be prone to “backsliding” but I’ll take a kick in the pants whenever God sends one!)
Also, just 10 minutes is enough time to do a good meditation. Just like you try to date your kids for 10 min at a time.
If it’s any consolation to you, I still haven’t gotten back to my routines since my last “baby” was born either!
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Oh my goodness — YES! Ever since the arrival of my second almost 2 years ago, finding time for my daily time with the Lord has been such a struggle! And let’s face it — cooking the way we do is very time consuming. But I have had some very wise older women counsel me to just relax and remember that this is just a season in life and that focusing on my home and my kids is a way to worship. Soon enough the house will be quiet and we will once again have more time on our hands!
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The only thing that is working for me right now, is to prepare the 3 boys breakfasts, then mine (I often eat something different for various reasons) By the time the business of attending to everyone is done, they are full and happy to play in the toy room for 15 min while I have a cup of tea and do my bible readings. I have been working that schedule for almost 2 months, and only miss on the days we eat breakfast on the run (2ish times a week)
The past week, I am now trying to add 15 min of exercise on the end of that. The boys are free to play upstairs or come down with me and it has been going good. I just keep praying for the grace to continue, because I am really bad at sticking with anything
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Hi Katie,
very vulnerable, touching post and I love how open you are about your faith. As a fellow Catholic and sister in Christ, I would challenge you(just like you challenge us) to speak to a priest and find a spiritual director. At one time, before I had my first and only child at the moment(who is also nearing 2), I had a great spiritual director and BOY. He kicked me in the pants, every time we met. He was a regular confessor, too.
So, instead of focusing on more regular daily prayer (which you seem to be doing)I think the closer you are to the Sacraments, the better off you will be. Maybe try getting to Mass twice during the week, or even more? I mean, typing this I have to chuckle because could I do it with ONE kid? It’ll be hard but that frequent receiving of Christ will undoubtably help! And regular Confession, maybe weekly? I know it seems like a lot but just keeping your soul as clean as possible will inevitably lead you closer to Him.
Last, and I am sure this is a very unpopular idea, is have you considered giving up the internet for Lent? I did this last year and it was very HARD and very rewarding. I still used it for my email(since I lived far from immediate family at the time) and to check out library books but that was it. Of course you could modify it but you even mentioned how much the internet sucks you in. If you find yourself immeditely thinking, “No way. Now way could I DO that”, maybe God is really leading your heart to that type of sacrafice? He wants all of us, not just a little bit. I have to remind myself of that, too!
As a mom with a young child, personal prayer time is at a premium! We pray as a family in the morning, and in the evening and manage one rosary a day(struggling!!!) and we get to weekly Mass and maybe monthly Confession? I know we are not perfect, but I know we are being perfected! Just like you and your family, one baby step at a time
.
I will definitely prayer for you, as will my husband. I love your blog and your gifts and talents you offer to the www are invaluable, really. But when all is said and done, Katie–I’d rather see you in Heaven than see another one of your blog posts.
That sounds awful, but I know you get me on that. Don’t give the internet the best of yourself! Save that for God and family!!! You can do it!
Ah, such a rambly post and I apologize. I hope that helps a bit? I’ll be praying for you, girl. I loved your saint lineup by the way!
we have a few in common. We also pray to St. Gerard, and St. Monica!
Oh, one last thing: The Immitation of Christ is AMAZING. Life changing. If you haven’t already read it, maybe take a look?
God bless you and your family!
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Sara,
I do very much appreciate your loving discipline! I am open to a spiritual director, but I don’t think I know the right person right now. I do think if God wants me to have one, He’ll bring that person into my life.
Confession, on the other hand, is a God-inspired idea. I went monthly for 5 first Saturdays a few years ago, and it was the best thing I’ve done. Lately it’s been just Advent and Lent (phooey). Regular confession is definitely going in my calendar! Thank you.
The Internet is a tricky one, since this is my JOB. I gave up Twitter for Lent, which can take 5-30 minutes a day. I’ll probably do that again, I imagine. It was good for me as a discipline. I will pray about what else I might need to let go of, during Lent or Advent or always. My to-do lists are very, very long and so much online.
Thank you, thank you, for the bootmark on my behind.
Katie
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I found myself in a similar situation when my fourth baby was born ( he’s one now). I realized while in church one day that I never go a day without checking my email ( several times!) but I was skipping prayers and scripture reading some days. Since, like you, my “routine” is set by an early rising little one, it’s hard to have a set time for praying and reading. Instead, I don’t get on my computer until I’ve spent that time in prayer and scripture study.
My rotineless routine I
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Oops, baby submitted that for me!
I was going to say, my routine-less routine is also a way of showing the Lord what my priorities are; that he matters to me more than spending time on the computer does.
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Chanelle and Kimi,
Katie
Ach, I used to try that routine, but just got lazy. You are right; if it’s the end of the day and I haven’t talked to God one-on-one yet, who am I to see what Twitter says? Love you gals!
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I’ve also often had the rule with myself that I wouldn’t open my computer until I had read my Bible and prayed. If you are a blogger with work that has to get done, this really helps you get your devotions in!
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From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
2752 Prayer presupposes an effort, a fight against ourselves and the wiles of the Tempter. The battle of prayer is inseparable from the necessary “spiritual battle” to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ: we pray as we live, because we live as we pray.
I’m happy to pray for you in this battle and good for you for being humble enough to ask for help.
I just finished reading The Mother of the Little Flower: Zelie Martin (1831-1877) and WOW! She was a working mother, too. It was very helpful.
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Barbara,
Katie
The more I am reminded of the BATTLE, the more I feel strengthened to fight it. It’s one of Satan’s most effective tactics against me to make me think all is well, that there’s no battle at all. Thank you for the necessary reminder, daily!
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Katie first – what an excellent post. I think when you talk about your own struggles it blesses you as well as us (your readers). We just started asking St Thomas Aquinas to protect and be present with the kids; I carpool with another Catholic family so we just do it on the way to school
I don’t want to discourage you in any way from reching your goals of prayer, but I also think that serving our family is a form of worship and prayer. It was several years ago, but I read a book by Anne (a lay apostle) and there was some mention of mothers of young children not having enough time to pray, and her words were something to the effect of ‘your season of life right now is not to be kneeling in prayer all the time. That comes at another time – right now, you have to take care of your kids’. Mary knows our struggle and intercedes for us. God Bless you, my friend! I know exactly what you mean; thanks for sharing this.
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Jen,
Katie
I read that book too! Powerful stuff; I should probably read it again. I’ve started teaching my son the St. Michael the Archangel prayer on the way to school after an excellent discussion at my Bible study about the spiritual battle we send our kids into when they leave the van and head into the school building. He’s picking it up already, and it gives me such peace to have added such powerful intercession to my morning routine.
Thank you for this encouragement –
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Gosh, I can’t give you any tips. I do the same things you do: pray when I can. I pray with the kids sometimes at meals, or when we start our day, or if they really “need some help” with their attitude that day! lol. But, I’m not even consistent there. Praying while driving…or at night when everyone’s asleep….
Children do interrupt, don’t they? My son does this too.
And really I just wanted to say, I’m right there with you. Hopefully we can both make it a priority!
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What a great post!
I am Nazarene and find time (almost!) every morning to read the Bible. Because I am not Catholic, I don’t know if it is important for you to be alone. I do my time with my 18 mo old and she has her ‘blanket time’.
We have a Keepers of the Home group here, and one of the mothers shared this tip. My 18 mo old is trained (well, still working on it!) to stay on her blanket and play with her toys next to me until the timer goes off. We are only up to 10 minutes right now, but I am training towards 20. If she gets off, she gets a little (I emphasize little!) swat on her leg with a very flexible spatula, and she is put back on the blanket. Her pride is hurt way more than her leg!
It took a week of training for her to stay on the blanket for 3 minutes, and now we are up to 10. She gets time to play by herself (youngest of 3) and I get my reading time in.
She is also trained to stay on the chair in the kitchen in the morning as I get my husbands breakfast and lunch ready. She likes getting up early with mommy but I was too stressed with her underfoot! After a week of putting her back on the chair with her bottle and telling her to stay on the chair, she runs to the chair to wait for her bottle. She then waves bye-bye to daddy and runs to the living room for her blanket time.
I pray one of these wonderful comments will give you what you are looking for.
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Katie Reply:
October 30th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Kristina,
Something about your suggestion made me realize that it’s just about DOING IT. I need to just do it. Thank you for that.
It’s not important to be 100% alone to pray, just that when I pray out loud w/my kids, it’s “Thank you God for this sunny day, bless Daddy at work…” Kid-style prayers. There’s a difference between that and adult offerings like, “God, I give you myself today. Mold me. Transform me. Help me to be a holy mother…” So I just need to be alone in my thoughts, and not fall asleep. I can do that!
Katie
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I also struggle with this. I only have one child right now (2 years), but the lack of routine tends to lead to me remembering at the end of the day that I’ve failed to make time for personal prayer. My daughter and I usually have a prayer together in the living room when we get up in the morning. When we’re done, she usually heads for something to play with, and I try to take a moment (and often it really is just a moment or two) to say a personal prayer. I do not set a goal of 5 minutes or 10 minutes alone, because it just never happens. That minute or two makes a huge difference when I remember it, and as others have said, I think God makes up the difference for those of us who do what we can while we have small children demanding our attention. This is definitely something I need to continue working on, though, as it is hardly routine at this point. Thanks for the post.
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This has really been a struggle for me too. I’m a very busy mom of 5 children, ages 8 – 1, homeschooling them (3rd grade, 2nd grade and Kindgerarten). We don’t do a lot out of the house, but keep busy enough in the house.
Most importantly, I have finally internalized the 5 P’s. Several sources say our priorities must go in the following order: First, Prayer (time with God). Second, Person (time taking care of your needs). Third, Partner (time to spend nurturing your relationship with your husband). Fourth, Parent (time spent nurturing your children and taking care of their needs.) Fifth, Provider, time spent caring for the house, food, etc. I have known this for some time, but now I’m finally beginning to follow this order. Putting prayer first–I can’t do anything else until my prayer has begun my day (I begin with my husband saying a Morning Offering and morning prayer in the Magnificat) has truly revolutionized my life in the last couple months.
My formal prayer time was virtually non-existent prior to a couple of months ago when we switched parishes (we’re Catholic, NFP users too). The priest there is very orthodox. He advised my husband and I that there are non-negotiables for every Catholic. These include: 15 minutes of Scripture reflection daily, 20 minutes of spiritual reading daily (with the saints, etc.), the Angelus, a daily Rosary, and a daily Examination of Conscience (I have recently learned to not examine your conscience nightly is actually a venial sin!) In addition, Pope Benedict XVI has recently asked Catholics to go to confession monthly.
Following is our current schedule. We (my husband and I) get up 1.5 hours before the children so we have time to exercise, pray, shower, dress etc (caring for “P” needs 1 and 2) before the children even get up. Then, the Scripture and Spiritual Reading get tucked into the day in a “lull” (these I’m still trying to get into a routine with our busy homeschooling schedules), the Angelus gets said before lunch with everyone, Rosary in the evening with the whole family, and the Examen of Conscience before bed.
Typing this it sounds like a lot. But it (after a couple months of effort) is truly becoming “routine”. It also has become my strength. The Sacraments, especially Communion and Confession too, are a tremendous source of grace and strength. We also began attending Mass once in the evening during the week earlier this summer. Pope Pius X says “Holy Communion is the shortest way to heaven.”
The new church year beginning with Advent is a wonderful time to renew your relationship with God, in preparation for the birth of His Son. Advent may more better be described as God waiting for us, than we waiting for him!
And, we too, pray for the conversion of President Obama and other leaders of the church and government to truly turn their hearts to Christ, life, and faith.
God bless you in your journey,
Rebecca
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Katie,
I totally agree about feeling that there is not enough God in my life even though I try! I enjoyed the comments here, too. Thanks! Also, a great book is “The Mother’s Rule of Life” by Pierlot.
I don’t know who said the quote but I find it helpful, “children spell “love” t-i-m-e.” Our children are only young once and they learn so much from us, even the negative things and our unspoken attitudes, just by living in close contact with us. My mother always says that you don’t know what your children will come to you and say one day (things she didn’t even notice that they noticed!) – ugh! I look at my daughter and see someone who has been given to me and my husband, only us, and we are in charge of so much responsibility! Sometimes helping others and giving them a lot of ourselves actually hurts our spouse and children. I have to let go sometimes and let other people in other family situations (or lack of family) do things I have essentially closed the door on due to my current vocation and obligations. It’s hard sometimes! We are adults and can change our behavior and schedules but children rely on us wholly and are unable to change things in their life (they can’t totally express themselves the way we do). I agree with the other comments that there are different seasons in one’s life. We have to prayerfully know when to just be “simple, little me” at certain times. God has great things for us at all times though! God bless you, and thinking of you, Katie!
Love, M
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Katie,
I am a mom of 5 kids, ages 14 to under 1 year old. Based on my experience, I recommend that you do not view this season of young children as a reason for your prayer life to lack on a daily basis. This time will not be intense private prayer that will occur when your children are older, but you do need daily prayer with small kids. Just think if you wait until they are older, you will wait 3 years or more for your prayer life. Just reevaluate what you think is needed. I don’t mean this to be harsh, but people use to tell me the same thing when I had just 2 young kids and I really regret that I did not develop the discipline of prayer during that time. Prayer is a discipline and it needs to be viewed as such.
Items I do are to prayer for 1 minute each hour, keep a jar of prayers and pull one whenever I have a few minutes, pray when taking my temp in the morning (also use NFP), pray during riding my exercise bike, get a daily email prayer and scripture, and maybe most importantly with a teenager, I pray when I start to get mad (at least most of the time). Maybe I don’t get the long prayer time I wish to have, but I do get to pray everyday and it makes me feel great that another day has not passed without me speaking to Our Loving Father!
I understand not having a spiritual adviser available, however, maybe you have a close friend who can keep you accountable. It will be painful to admit to someone each time you fail, but in the long run, it will help you to grow as long as you can choose a person who will do this lovingly and not hold it over you.
The more you pray, the easier it is to find more times to pray. The most important thing to do, however, is just to pray! Start somewhere, try it for a couple of weeks, and if it doesn’t work, try something else. And ask God for the help you need to pray. For a long time, my first prayer was just, please Dear God, help me to pray! He hears us and He answers our prayers.
Remember, God loves you. And “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.” ~Blessed Mother Teresa
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Katie Reply:
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:02 am
Becky,
An inspired comment to be sure! I hope lots of people make it down this far to read this reminder. The best part for me was just to remember that I can ask God to help me pray more. (Duh.)
My Bible Study this week was really convicting (Rev. Ch 2, the letters to each of the 7 churches). Some of the problems the churches were called out on were so obviously my own: complacency, not being ready, needing to go back to the “first things” I did when my prayer life was more robust. God always takes care of us, in so many ways!
Thank you for being one of those ways –
Katie
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I’m glad you clarified that, Katie, as I was wondering the same thing. I really enjoy your blog, and I was glad to find out that I had simply misunderstood you.
Wouldn’t it sound silly, though, if I said that I am praying for your conversion to my way of thinking?
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Sarah W Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 9:51 am
It only sounds silly if you are a relativist.
We aren’t praying for someone’s conversion to “MY” way of thinking or “HER” way of thinking, but the coversion of their heart to THE Truth (with a capital T.)
But again, if you don’t believe there is any absolute truth, then it would sound ego centric and arbitrary.
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