When someone thinks of prayer, the popular quote “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God . . .” often comes to mind. The
Catechism of the Catholic Church attributes this to St. John Damascene (645-749). Whatever we do on our part to pray, it is God’s grace that gifts us the effort to raise our minds and hearts to him.
It is interesting to note that St. John included the mind and not just the heart. As I read over and reflect on the passages of Scripture for the upcoming Sunday, I am praying. Sometimes those periods of prayer can be a struggle as I ponder what Jesus could have meant, why he did what he did and how the people must have felt in the story I am reading.
Then I do what I call my "sitting prayer." Several years ago, I read "The Cloud of Unknowing" one of the great Catholic spiritual classics written by an unknown author. The author, most likely a young monk, wrote down his instruction for another person. I sit in our dark chapel for 30 minutes. When my mind becomes a chatter of words, l do that which the Cloud’s author directs, I simply use a holy word to dispel the chatter.
I continue to sit quietly until the chapel clock has struck the half hour. I have also learned to ask for the grace of praying well—whatever that means—as I begin my time of sitting still. Only God knows how well one prays. In fact when one deals with mental chatter during prayer that can be a great gift of praise to God as well receiving great grace.
I believe that one of my favorite quotes of St. Teresa of Avila compliments St. John’s definition of prayer: “Mental prayer is, as I see it, simply a friendly intercourse and frequent solitary conversation with him who, as we know, loves us.”
Prayer indeed takes many forms. Whatever form it takes for you, pray as if everything depends on you doing it.