How to Pray. Five simple tips.

By Jillian Cooke, MAPM, MTh
Fr. Kolbe Missionary of the Immaculata


Prayer is such an intimate thing that it is difficult to teach others how to pray. I, for one, don't think it is really possible. We can really only teach them about prayer and set a good example. There are so many things that we mere human beings can't teach, and so we praise God for sending us the Holy Spirit!

First: Invoke the Holy Spirit. Trust the Holy Spirit.

Second: Take advantage of the quiet. All the kids asleep? Long commute? Laying awake at night? Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead your prayer, your thoughts, your emotions.

Third: Be consistent and constant. The greatest prayer in the world is the surrender of our will to the will of the Lord. We wear the miraculous medal, and thus pray 24/7 for Our Lady's intercession. Prayer does not require a lot of time, only intention. Come up with something that will trigger your memory - whenever you wash your hands, whenever you turn on the stove or oven, whenever you get in the car, before meals, when a kid cries, when you arrive somewhere, etc. Before you know it your day is full of invocations... prayer. In addition, you are consistently brought back to the presence of the Spirit in your life and the comfort and power He brings.

Fourth: Be confident as talking to your dearest friend and perfect spouse. Be confident that he is closer to you than you are to yourself (paraphrasing St. Teresa), and that He will guide and protect you. Don't waste energy and time wondering if you are "praying right!" When these thoughts begin to plague you, remember that you never wonder if you and your best friend are "doing friendship" right.

Fifth: Immerse yourself in the sacraments. There is no higher form of prayer. Ask for the grace of a rich interior life, trust in the abundant graces that pour into your soul in confession and at the Holy Mass.  

Thoughts and Questions always appreciated! 
Know someone who would be interested, please share. 

Peter and Judas: A Difference of Hope

By Jillian Cooke, MTh, MAPM

Fr. Kolbe Missionary of the Immaculata

The difference between Peter and Judas was contrasted during today's homily. While the priest focused on the repentance of the two, my mind asked why one would become the Pope and the other take his own life? 

After all, Peter wept bitterly and Judas threw the 13 pieces of silver back. Up to that point the two men had denied Our Lord and admitted they were wrong. It is true that Judas' offense is terribly grievous, but God's mercy is amazingly immense. What if Judas had gone out and wept bitterly and confronted the Lord with the words of "doubting Thomas" - my Lord and my God? We know that he did not, but instead took matters into his own hands, despairing of God's mercy, and controlling matters unto the end. Peter, on the other hand, was more like the child caught in the wrong - crying bitterly, because he had offended His Lord and God. Peter was more in love with God than afraid of his punishments. Peter had hope. 

Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.  (CCC 1817) Peter had hope. Judas did not. 

- We desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness. 

Hope is not wishing, or even expecting, good things in this life. Rather, it puts the soul at ease through turmoil and difficulties, because it is not looking for happiness here and now - but in the next. A hopeful person rejoices in the kingdom of God that is present today, in the sacraments, in the Church, in the life of grace.... and waits in anticipation for the fulfillment of God's promises in the next. 

- We place our trust in God's promises. Hope is certain. It does not depend on the goodness of human beings or the accuracy of science. Hope is not a false optimism that "it will definitely not rain tomorrow," while clouds gather beyond our sight.  It is certain, because it is trusting that the Lord keeps his promises. He has promised eternal life for those who eat his body and drink his blood worthily. He has promised that all things turn to good for all those who love him. He has promised that heaven is ours if we unite ourselves to him, as the branch is united to the vine. Hope is being certain about what God has promised, and therefore, we do not rely on our own strength. 

- We do not rely on our own strength, but on the grace of the Holy Spirit. Presumption tells us that we will get to heaven, because we've done so much good in this life. We will get to heaven, because we've gone to Mass every day. We will get to heaven, because we are good. This becomes the prayer of the Pharisee who prays "to himself" and thanks the heavens that he is not a sinner. We can't get ourselves into heaven without taking up our cross and following him. It is the LORD who makes it bearable. Without him we are nothing, but hope reminds us that we DO HAVE HIM, and so we do not take upon ourselves our own punishment. As it is the Lord's to reward, it is the Lord to punish. We go to confession to ask forgiveness and be forgiven, but we do not beat ourselves up and take matters into our own hands. This is the more subtle side of presumption and doubt,  but each side can be a slippery path to despair - the opposite of hope. 

This deeper understanding of hope emphasizes that while Judas was a man of despair, Peter was a man of hope. He wept and allowed God to dry his tears. He fell, and got up again. Peter's hope became so great that he gave his life for Christ, confident in the promise of eternal joy that awaited those who love God. Peter allowed his love for God to carry him beyond his sins and weaknesses. In a nutshell, he know longer stopped at the cross, but looked to the resurrection. Peter knew that Hope Saves!

We pray during this holy week to be like Peter - aware of our weakness, repentant of our sins, accepting the love of God, and ready to embrace the cross with HOPE. 

St. Francis on the Holy Eucharist

"...I beg you to show the greatest possible reverence and honour for the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ through whom all things, whether on the earth or in the heavens, have been brought to peace and reconciled with Almighty God." 

- St. Francis (Omnibus of Sources, Letter to all the Faithful)

"...It is really the Spirit of God who dwells in his faithful who receive the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord, Anyone who does not have this Spirit and presumes to receive him eats and drinks judgement to himself (1Cor 11:29). And so we may ask in the words of Scripture, 'Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart? (Ps 4:3) ... Every day he humbles himself just as he did when he came from his heavenly throne (Wis. 18:15) into the Virgin's womb; every day he comes to us and lets us see him in abjection, when he descends from the bosom of the Father in the hands of the priest at the altar. He shows himself to us in this sacred bread just as he once appeared to his apostles in real flesh. With their own eyes they saw only his flesh, but they believed that we was God, becuse they contemplated him with the eyes of the Spirit. We, too, with our own eyes, see only bread and wine, but we must see further and firmly believe that this is his most holy Body and Blood, living and true. In this way our Lord remains continually with his followers, as he promised, "Behold, I am with you all the days, even unto the consummation fo the world (Mt. 28:20)."

Its Black and White.

Perusing the internet one discovers that a vast majority of the population believes that they know exactly what the Catholic Church needs. 

The Church needs someone liberal and conservative, strict and compassionate, quiet and gregarious, loving and stern, passionate and calm, and he must be African, South American, European, but not American. 

Oh, this man must be progressive in the face of modern moral dilemmas and traditional in the face of modern liturgical dilemmas. He must stand proudly Catholic, profess the one, true, faith - but let everyone else live their lives in peace - when he isn't busy guiding over a billion people. He should be young with aged wisdom, never wear red shoes, and speak at least seven languages. 

Marriage and life must be a top priority, but he should "stay out of the bedroom." Immigration reform should be another top priority, but he should stick with the rules. The horrific scandal must be a top priority, so there should be women priests. Liturgy must be a top priority, what's wrong with it anyway? Education, Mission, War, Discrimination, all must be a top priority. At the bottom of the priority list, but not too far down, he must choose a name. 

Of course, even when considering the true qualities needed to be a holy Pope, no one man can fit the profile without the grace of the Holy Spirit. Finding him among the 1.18 billion Catholics is a chore, much less 115 Cardinals. That's why we rejoice that he isn't really running the ship - just helping to steer it in the right direction. He's a vicar - in place - of Christ. The visible presence, an instrument. 

So we pray that all our Church fathers, the Cardinals in particular, are also instruments of His love and Wisdom. After all, the only thing black and white in this whole matter - is the smoke.

Unnoticed Loss in the Decline of Imagination

Wow. This title is full of generalizations, which I do not at all condone. But, sometimes generalizations are very near the truth. I'm convinced this is the case. After all, how many people really notice the decline in the USE of imagination among young people (and therefore grown up kids)? Who knows. But how many of these people notice the effect this has on prayer? I venture to guess: not too many. Furthermore, I dare to suggest that this effect is a negative one. That's right. The misuse, abuse, and lack of use of the imagination negatively impacts our prayer life.

First off, what is imagination? It is, basically, our ability to form mental images and concepts about something that is not present to us. It takes all sorts of things we have experienced, and combines them in to fantastic images.  From there new ideas can be formed, and brought into reality through expression and creative arts.  Without imagination we find ourselves confusing reality with fantasy, and the experience of the unseen is - well - unimaginable.

One beautiful and essential form of prayer is meditation. According to Father Hardon's Catholic Dictionary meditation is "that form of mental prayer in which the mind, in God's presence, thinks about God and divine things." Thinking about God and divine things requires imagination: the piecing together of all we hear and experience about God. Meditation is principally concerned with the mysteries of the faith. Again, imagination is essential. 

I wonder what would happen if young children, in addition to (or at times even instead of) memorized vocal prayer were encouraged to write a story about Jesus as prayer? Or listen to a story and share what they felt, what they saw, what they think... Begin and end with the sign of the cross and a prayer to the Holy Spirit.  Nourish their imagination at all levels, and a vital aspect of prayer will be strengthened. 

Then, it is only left for us big kids ....  

The Spirit Really Confuses Things

These profound words were uttered by a young adult recently. I couldn't help but smile as he continued, "I mean, c'mon. We've got the Father - ok, I can handle that - and if he's a Father, then he has to have a Son. That makes sense. The Son is human like us. Alright, I can sort of get it. Makes sense. Then, you throw the Spirit in there and I lose everything."

Most, if not all, honest people will have to admit having felt this way before. Most, if not all of us, come to recognize the Spirit relatively late in our journey of faith.  And, yet, to the Spirit is attributed our personal experience with God - our encountering him in our daily life.

Therefore, I beg to differ from the young adult quoted above. We know the Spirit, intimately.  After all, the Spirit is Love. Love is creative. In every creative event in our lives, every moment that we are becoming the person we are intended by God, the Spirit is at work.

That's right. Burn with love for God? Tears of Joy and Repentance? Courage under fire?  Moved to pray?  Received the Eucharist? Wondered about something good? Reverent fear of God? Know your catechism and Scripture? Persevering in virtue? Felt peace? The Spirit.

Next time you are tempted to "give up" on the Spirit - stop and remember - everything you've ever experienced about God, everything you've learned, everything you've felt, everything you've desired to know, every holy motivation, every worthy accomplishment, every step in the right direction, is indication of His presence. If you know that God exists, you know the Spirit... as familiar and wonderful, mysterious and easily to forget as the air we breathe!

This is for us! The Spirit!

Fr. Kolbe Missionaries. All Rights Reserved.

"Know Mary, love Mary, serve Mary, obey Mary in order to know Jesus, love him, be near him, to feel that he is truly Spouse, as well as Brother, and so enter into the intimacy of love with God.  Draw near to the Father, believe in what he asks, what he has given, and what he wants from us. And drawn near to the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit makes us so fruitful as to be able to love, offer, generate, and even die. This is for us!...


This month of may ought to be a fruitful month. The Holy Spirit must be particularly present in all of you, the Son must stir within you, and the Madonna must inspire every means of making yourselves worthy so that other souls might know these mysteries of love and salvation..."

Fr. Faccenda, OVS IX, pg. 197-198, April 30, 1992

Be not afraid.... Be it done unto me...

At Mass today we heard the beautiful story of the Annunciation. And, we - with many young people throughout the month of December - have meditated on the power and beauty of that moment. Virtues the young people found in Mary included peace, awe, and humility. But, perhaps the one that was most often cited, and most often sought, is the virtue of courage.

Just as gentility makes a man more a man, courage makes a woman more a woman. This is not a virtue of physical strength and mental audacity. It is a virtue that is not afraid to submit to the Power of God. The courage of Our Lady flies in the face of modern renditions of this virtue, as it stares impossiblity in the face and finds the possible in the God.

It is human to fear; it is grace to go forward anyway. It is a great grace to stare at your own insecurities, feel the weight of your own weaknesses, sense the dread of a grueling work ahead of you, and to nonetheless open yourself to the Power of the Spirit - overshadowing you in the sacraments of the Church - and to utter with Mary: Be it done unto me, according to your Word!

This is courage. This is the gift of Christmas... our weakness, insecurity, and anxiety overpowered by our Great and Glorious God. Our bodies still ache, our hearts still throb, and our minds still wander, but the Power of God is upon us and the Christ is in our midst.

Be not afraid. Go to do His Will.