A Deeper Look at the Charisms: Prayer
What do we mean when we say, "Duchesne Pioneers Pray Without Ceasing?" The line comes from St. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. Surely, he can't mean we need to pray every single moment? We've all got a ton of things to do. So how can we live out this instruction? Here are three ways from the Catholic tradition, with St. Rose Philippine Duchesne as our guide.
First, we need dedicated time for daily prayer. Just like we make time for dates with our spouse or coffee with friends, we need specific time to talk with God. This requires planning, discipline, and humility. Better to actually pray for 10 minutes a day than aim for 30 minutes and never reach it. It helps to plan your next day's prayer the night before, choosing a time and a devotion or meditation. Philippine was devoted to her regular prayer time in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament.
Second, we can practice what the tradition calls "recollection": remembering God throughout the day in simple prayer and glances of the mind. You notice a beautiful sunrise. That's an opportunity to give thanks to God. You encounter a challenging situation with your child. That's a time to ask for God's help. We can keep up a conversation with God all day. One of Philippine's short prayers: "Strengthen in us, O God, the work You have begun in us."
Third, we can offer up our works as prayer. God knows we have duties to attend to, but they can become prayer too. In the morning, we can offer God all our good works. Then when we're working, conversing with our children, attending to the household, all these things take on a new character, becoming a source of sanctification for us. Philippine made her offering this way: "Jesus, I live for Thee, I labor for Thee, I desire only Thee. Thou in me and I in Thee; Thou with me and I with Thee; Thou all mine and I all Thine."
God desires to draw us near to Him through prayer. When we strive to pray without ceasing, and when we ask for His help, our lives are transformed as we live in His Presence.