Thursday’s Spiritual Smoothie: Praying the Hours

Posted by admin on May 6, 2010 under 4. Thursday's Spiritual Smoothie |

While familiar to anyone who is ordained or a member of a religious community, I think the Liturgy of the Hours is often the most overlooked and under-appreciated prayer within the Church.  Since Vatican II its profile has been raised, but it is still not as familiar to most Roman Catholics as the celebration of the Eucharist, Novena prayers, or any of the other ways we pray individually or communally.

In the midst of the craziness of the end of the semester, the rhythm of stopping at various points in the day to pray the words of Scripture, uniting in the continuous universal prayer of the Church, is a welcome reminder that we need balance in our lives.  And, hopefully, that our prayer to and praise of God is without ceasing.  Psalm 57, said this morning, proclaims the powerful statement: “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.”

Is our heart ready for all that will come, all that will be, all that has already taken place?  How do we embrace God in our daily life?  Can we and do we proclaim with confidence our trust in God, our openness to the workings of the Spirit, and our belief in the Risen Christ?  How do we communicate this readiness of heart to our students and those to whom we minister each day?  Perhaps today we can make sure our heart is open and ready to encounter God in all we meet.

Sarah Heiman is Campus Minister for Education and Spiritual Life at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.