I have been writing material about prayer for the Cathedral website after the Prayer & Spirituality Day – “Come and See” – on 2 February 2019, which enabled people to explore different spiritual practices and ways to pray.
The following are some excerpts. My later and complementary series of articles on Exploring Prayer may also be of interest.
God bless you in your journey of prayer.
-oOo-
From the Introduction
You are infinitely loved by God, and God is waiting and longing to be with you. Prayer is simply the expression of our relationship with God. But it is often mystified or diminished. We are providing this introduction to prayer with hope that it will help you deepen that relationship with God and draw you closer to the community of praying people in the Cathedral.
From “What is Prayer?”
Prayer is simply the expression of our relationship with God. This is both more and less than what we often make it!
Often prayer is reduced to intercession, asking God for things on behalf of others or ourselves. Imagine having a friend that only ever asks you to do things for them! In a good friendship you might also do things together, or natter about the state of the world, or argue and forgive, or sometimes simply spend time sitting side by side in silence.
On the other hand, prayer can be made very complicated. It can sometimes seem that you have to use a particular technique or combination of special words in order to get close to God. Yes, words and techniques can help, but they are not the be all and end all. Sometimes your friend would simply appreciate a listening ear.
At root, you are infinitely loved by God, and God is waiting and longing to be with you.
Starting Out
If you don’t know where to start, recognise that it’s a good thing that you want to start. That’s a prayer in itself. Archbishop Michael Ramsey once said: “if in sincerity you cannot say that you want God you can perhaps tell him that you want to want him; and if you cannot say even that perhaps you can say that you want to want to want him!”
Like life, prayer can be seen as a journey, a journey into God. No one has all the answers. The good news is that a lot of people having been journeying in prayer over the centuries, and have developed route maps and resources that can help you.
Two tips: do start small and manageable; and don’t feel guilty. The important thing is to begin. We are all beginners after all.
From “Prayer in the Cathedral”
The Building
The Cathedral is open during most of the day, seven days a week. Everyone is welcome to come in and pray, and there are many small chapels you can use for prayer. Note that the Cathedral has an admission charge for tourists, but there is never a charge for worship or prayer. Please tell the person on the welcome desk.
Let the building inspire you. It was built to the glory of God. Allow your eyes to be drawn up, and watch the play of light on the golden stone. Ponder the love and attention paid to the craft in wood and stone. Touch the walls and feel the prayer that has soaked into them over the centuries.
In particular, the Lady Chapel at the east end is is reserved for private prayer. There is also a board just outside where you can post specific requests for prayer. To its right is St Gabriel’s Chapel, where the blessed sacrament is reserved. Two to its left is the Speke Chantry Chapel. Here there are often materials, such as pebbles, you can use for sensory forms of prayer.
From “Resources for Prayer”
Daily Examen
“For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes.” – Dag Hammarskjöld
The Examen is a way of reflecting prayerfully on your day. It was originally developed by St Ignatius of Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises. It can be a very short prayer, or a period of longer reflection. It can prayed at any time, but is often prayed last thing at night.
The reflections can take many different forms.
For example, you might like to look back on your day and find three things you are grateful for. They can be large or small. Sometimes this can show the day’s events in a different light. Or you could find five things that have brought you joy. Again, they may be tiny, like a smile in the street. Alternatively, you could be aware of and reflect on these moments as they occur during the day.
The Jesuit priest William Barry suggests this practice. Cast your mind over the day; notice the moment in the day that provoke the strongest inner response, whether joy, anger, compassion, or sorrow. Have a conversation with God about where God might be in that moment and what God might be telling you through your feelings.
Another practice is to reflect on five themes and note one thing that gave you energy; one that drained your energy; one that brought you life; one that drained life; and one thing that brought you sorrow. Life and energy are not the same. For example, going for a long walk can bring life but drain energy; getting really angry can energise but drain life.
Whichever practice you choose, start with a period of silence, to let go of your immediate concerns and still yourself. It’s usually helpful to write down your reflections, whether or not you ever re-read them. (Although re-reading them can give you a sense of how God is working in your life journey.) Finish by offering your reflections back to God, and if you are praying the Examen at the end of the day, placing tomorrow in God’s hands. Then sleep well!