55 Ways to Pray

Quickies:
Some things you can do quickly and/or many times a day

Jesus Breathing: Breathe in and say the name of Jesus, exhale thinking about what is troubling you and imagine it leaving with your breath. Repeat 10 times
Bathroom: Pray while in the bathroom, hey you know you are going to be there, might as well!
Memory verse: Choose a verse a week to memorize and repeat it several times a day
OF HM GB: Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Yell at God - if you are frustrated, let God know! Don't worry, God can handle it, plus Moses did it so why can't we.

5 min energy
Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing

Bible 5+ - Spend five minutes reading the bible
CCC 5+ Spend five minutes reading the Catechism
Walk - Go for one! even if it is around the cubicles or to the vending machine and back. If you can, go outside for a few minutes
Prayer book: Keep a prayer book at your desk or in your car and consult it as needed
Online devotions: There are so many options try: Pod casts at SQPN and Busted Halo, also http://www.creighton.edu/ click "ministry" then "daily reflections"

Long Term
These are things to develop a routine of prayer, and your personal spirituality

Grace Builds on Nature
Each of the following may not typically be considered spiritual, but with a slightly different focus they can be.

Running: If this is something you enjoy, try adding a spiritual component to this by offering the run to God as a prayer
Sports: Similar to the one above but offer the joy of competition and the fun of playing to God
Walk in nature: For the less athletic of us, or for non athletic times. But don't just walk, take in the sights and sounds around you and look for God in them.
Be alone (not Starbucks alone): I mean really alone, no one else around, Just you and God!
Be home a few nights a week: Don't be so busy that you have no time at home for chores, enjoying your space, just be!
Quit something: sometimes this is just what you need to relieve the stress. Just because it is good doesn't mean it's God's will now.
Change involvements: From time to time it is good to try something new. Same ole same ole often makes the same ole - old!
Sleep: Really! like 8 hours a night (and maybe a nap or two) Cookies and milk can't hurt either!
H2O: This really does a body good. God made us around 60% water. It must be important!
Veggies: Eat them! Don't like them? Tough! At least try them from time to time. Try different recipes!
No phone zone: For an hour, a day, a weekend
Silence all electronic devices: For an hour, a day, a weekend. These things are only 10-15 years old. we got by without them for centuries! give it a try.
Married? Have sex!: Sex is more than just a roll in the hay. It is a primary way married people express and experience their unity. What a great gift from God
Single? Don't!: Since this great gift is created for marriage, staying chaste as a single person in and of itself is an act of prayer.

Spiritual Apples:
The following things are daily practices that help develop a deeper and growing spiritual life.

Start the Day: Come up with a phrase start your day thinking about God. Also have your time of prayer before you do anything else
Lectio Divina: This is a particular way to pray the scriptures. For more information go to: http://www.stbartsfw.org/yam/lectio-divina.shtml
Daily readings: You can find these at www.usccb.org/nab/bible/ or possibly in your parish bulletin
Mass - duh! Winning! Most parishes have mass daily, some even at noon. Check the diocesan website for mass times
Adoration: Time with Jesus is what prayer is all about. Not every parish offers this devotion so check around
Reconciliation: The Churches mandates this once a year! This is not like the speed limit, as in the most you can go. It is the least! Sins, forgiven! What's not to like?
Confessor: Take reconciliation to the next level and find a priest to go to on a regular basis. Doing so helps you build a relationship with this person for deeper reflection on sin and more pathways out of it.
Spiritual Direction: This is a person you meet with to discuss spiritual matters. It can be your confessor, but it can also be anyone you look up to as a spiritual leader.
Contemplation: This is the practice of being quiet and contemplating something. This thing can be a plant, a word, a piece of art, really anything. As you contemplate it look for God in it. What does this thing say about God? What might God be saying to you in this thing?
Spiritual reading: Any type of book that is spiritual in nature. Kind of like self help, but from a spiritual nature. Some options:
• Daily devotionals - Oswald, Word Among Us, Our Daily Bread
• Lives of saints
• Church Fathers
• Catholicism for dummies
Bible study: Take your reading to a new level. Learn about the author, the audience, the context, and the meaning today. Where? At your parish, online, UD's Catholic Biblical School.
Quiet: Take a daily time of quiet. In the car on the way to work, first five minutes when you get home, at lunch etc!
Group prayer: Gather a group of friends for prayer and praise
Worship Music: Through recorded music or live music at the Shepherds Cafe, First Wednesday's at St. Bart's or your own group.
Prayer list: Make a list of all the people you said you would pray for and pray for them daily. Idea: make an appointment on your phone with the list in the notes.
Prayer journal: Write to God like a diary. Dear God!
Rosary: If you do not know how there are plenty of resources on line and at Catholic book stores
Scriptural Rosary: This is a form of the ancient prayer that inserts a scripture verse between each Hail Mary. Find a free mp3 version at kolbe.franciscan.edu/rosary/
Liturgy of the Hours: This is the prayer of the Church second only to the Mass. Prayed by Priest and Religious as well as lay folks. You can do this in several book forms as well as on line
Group Liturgy of the Hours: Gather a group of friends one night a week for Evening Prayer. Simple, takes 30 minutes!
Examine conscience: Good daily practice before bed. Use the Catholic App it is great!
There's an app for that: Speaking of this there are also phone applications for most if not all of that which is on line.
Pray lyrics to worship songs: Have a favorite worship song? Just pray the lyric. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!
Married? Pray w/spouse: Using any of what has been mentioned
Kids? Family Prayer: Ditto, though make it age appropriate.
P.R.A.Y.: Praise and thank God, Repent of your sin, Ask for what you and those you love need, Yield to God's will.
Write your own: Write out your own prayers, from your heart to God's. They do not have to be beautiful, but they will be!
Fast from food: This is an ancient form of prayer. Don't go crazy and do a 30 day fast, but 24 hour fasts or skipping a meal as a form of prayer is good, especially when you are praying for a specific thing.
Mini Lents - Fast from something for a week. Ideas: ipod, TV, everything except water. You can make these kind of intense because this is just 7 days
End the Day: Have your last thoughts be of God. Pray as you drift to sleep, or before you go to bed.

Service
Doing acts of service is a great form or prayerful stress relieve because it takes the focus off of you and puts it on others. Some ideas are:
• Diocesan - Young Adult Council
• Parish - Eucharistic Ministry, CCD teacher, Youth Ministry volunteer, Pastoral Council etc.
• Community - Nursing homes, Food banks, Night Shelters, any agency that serves the poor
• Catholic Charities - has many, many opportunities!