Many times, this blog has noted the depth and breadth of devotions within the Catholic Church. The dizzying array of options can lead to paralysis; having too many options and simply choosing none of them. The truth is that the best kind of prayer is the one that gets prayed.

Like diet, exercise, or any other lifestyle improvement we daydream about, many of us have visions of the perfect prayer life. It’s monastic, regimented, always perfect, and in the most beautiful of settings. The reality is that if you want quiet prayer in a house of children, it likely has to be before the sun comes up or long after it’s gone down. Even hiding in your room for less than five minutes is likely to set off the world’s greatest Search and Rescue efforts orchestrated by your children.

We need, and benefit from, all types of prayer. Group prayer, liturgical prayer, family prayer, and private prayer, it all places our day on pause and elevates our selves to communion with the God who created us. So there’s no point in designing the perfect prayer program, or waiting for just a few quiet moments during that nap time that’s unlikely to yield the intended results.

Simply pray, now.

Tags: Spirituality