Firstly, we shall meet Thursday, March 11, at 6:30 pm. Please bring a copy of the Divine Worship: Daily Office or Divine Office to pray Evensong.
Yesterday, during a text correspondence with a friend, he replied saying a mutual acquaintance was a “good resource.” Several hours after receiving the message, I finally replied with the following:
Yesterday, during a text correspondence with a friend, he replied saying a mutual acquaintance was a “good resource.” Several hours after receiving the message, I finally replied with the following:
Dialog partner, or even better spiritual friend. Persons made in the image of God can’t be resources. It’s contrary to our created nature.
My friend replied saying it was a good point, and that he doesn’t often think of words and phrases in that way. If language is one way that we form our imaginations, how do we combat being formed by language and ideas that are contra the truth? I believe one answer to this question is prayer as practice. But given there are many kinds of prayer, what kind shall we pray?
Well, there is one category that stands above all other prayers: liturgical. Liturgical offices are, by definition, meant for the whole body. But more than this, liturgical prayers are prayed with Christ. Of this category there are two primary liturgies: the first is the source and summit of our faith, the Divine Worship or Mass, and the second is the Daily Office, or Liturgy of Hours. It is this second liturgy that operates as the aforementioned prayer as practice. For to pray the Daily Office is one means by which we may tarry with Christ.
Consider all that was entailed in Christ’s entreaty to his disciples to keep vigil with him before he was taken away by soldiers. This same request is extended, not only to priests in His Church, but to all baptized persons. And thus it is a practice born of love—for to tarry with Christ in the labor of prayer is to will His good for His sake.
So, when you’re considering praying tomorrow, why not tarry with Our Lord for just a little while by joining in the prayers of the Church? You have only your life to lose, which is–by His grace–to your eternal good.
Consider all that was entailed in Christ’s entreaty to his disciples to keep vigil with him before he was taken away by soldiers. This same request is extended, not only to priests in His Church, but to all baptized persons. And thus it is a practice born of love—for to tarry with Christ in the labor of prayer is to will His good for His sake.
So, when you’re considering praying tomorrow, why not tarry with Our Lord for just a little while by joining in the prayers of the Church? You have only your life to lose, which is–by His grace–to your eternal good.
Ahmaud R. Templeton
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.