Today was my parish’s retreat for the Religious Education teachers. It was a fantastic retreat, led by trusty Fr. L. We addressed all sorts of issues and discussed things such as the difference between teaching faith and teaching things like history. We discussed the three aspects of Christian life – poverty, chastity, and obedience and what those mean, what it means to take up our crosses and follow Christ, and how to relay the joy of our faith to those we are teaching.
One of the teachers mentioned that during Lent, on Holy Thursday after she left; she kept it conscious in her mind that the Mass was still going on, and that even though she was at work or home or at the store; she was still in Mass. It affected her in how she related to people in a very interesting way. She’s since adapted that thought to when she is done saying her Morning Prayers, she doesn’t say “Amen”. Rather, she keeps conscious of the fact that she has not closed her prayer and thus, her entire day is a prayer. She closes her day of prayer with Evening Prayers, in which she then says “Amen” after them.
Wow. That point’s stuck to me like glue. I am slowly introducing (still) the Liturgy of the Hours. So far, Compline has been the easiest for me to get put into my routine. Next will be Lauds, which will involve getting me out of bed just a little bit early each day. Which isn’t a bad thing, but since I have such a weird sleeping schedule it does get a little rough.
Entirely off topic, I found this prayer tonight by St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas and I are rather … close, as he’s been very faithful in teaming up with St. Joe of Cupertino for my scholastic needs. I reckon I should add St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, as well as my SaintPoppa, St. Benedict to the list of Saintly Scholastical Helpers.
ANYWAYS, the prayer:
Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
