Did you know that every part of our life is meant to be powered by prayer…everything!
Is that even possible?
Since “with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26), the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
How?
Well, it starts with what we call “finite prayer.”
A finite prayer is one that has a beginning and an end. It’s active prayer. Examples would the rosary, a litany, or any spontaneous prayer.
But while it has starting and stopping points, finite, active prayer is meant to lead us to something deeper – habitual, or constant, prayer.
Constant prayer is the name of the game, the golden goose of the spiritual life.
Quoting the ancient monk Evagrius Ponticus, the Catechism states “we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing” (2742, italics mine).
Of course, we’re all familiar with St. Paul’s admonition to “pray constantly” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. As a kid I remember thinking, “Seriously, Paul? Not only are people going to think I’m nuts as I walk around muttering to myself, but multi-tasking is not natural to my gender.”
But before we knock Paul off of his high horse (again), let’s take a moment to see what he means.
Constant prayer is not an act of prayer, so to speak. Otherwise, we’d never be able to focus on our duties in life. It might even be dangerous! (Forget about texting, I’ve nearly wrecked my car on several occasions while attempting the rosary on the freeway.)
So what is Paul talking about?
He’s referring to a permanent attitude, one rooted in trustful surrender and merging of our will to God’s. It’s an inner peace that accepts whatever happens as God’s good will for our life.
Now don’t think he means we just sit back and do nothing. Rather, he means we have to develop an attitude of cheerful compliance founded on the knowledge that what God wants us to experience in life is best.
How do we attain this peaceful, permanent attitude of constant prayer? Again, primarily through finite prayer.
You see, constant prayer is fed by acts of finite prayer which operate on the “surface” of the soul.
Think of constant prayer as glowing embers down in your soul. They’re always hot, but not inflamed, so to speak.
Finite prayers are like little gusts of wind that come down, blowing across these embers, igniting a fire of love in our hearts that bursts into flame.
Finite prayers feed the flame so that we develop a life of constant prayer.
Of course, the reverse is also true.
Constant prayer feeds and fuels our acts of finite prayer so they become more focused and fruitful. And when we can establish a state of constant prayer, submitting ourselves gladly to God’s will, everything we do becomes an act of prayer.
image: Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
This article, How to Achieve Constant Prayer, was originally published by our friends at SpiritualDirection.com and is republished here with kind permission.
Matthew Leonard is an internationally-renowned speaker, author, podcaster, filmmaker, and host of the world-wide smash hit “Bible and the Virgin Mary” video series. He also serves as Executive Producer at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. A convert to Catholicism and former missionary to Latin America, Matthew is a frequent guest on radio and television programs across the country and hosts a very popular podcast on iTunes titled “The Art of Catholic”, which is heard in more than 170 countries around the world. Matthew is the writer, executive producer and host of the best-selling Bible and the Sacraments video series’ and is a featured speaker by Lighthouse Catholic Media. He also holds a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. In addition to numerous articles, he is the author of two books, “Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic” and “Prayer Works! Getting A Grip On Catholic Spirituality.” Matthew lives in Ohio with his wife Veronica and their six children. Learn more about him at MatthewSLeonard.com.