Pray Always?

by Carmelite Sisters | May 16, 2023 12:05 am

“Seriously? Pray always?”

That is not an uncommon reaction to St. Paul’s admonition to pray always without ceasing. Does he know what we’re up against, the demands on our time and energy, the pace of our modern world, not to mention the fragility and inconsistency of our human nature? He can’t possibly mean always, as in, all the time and everywhere. Impossible!

Whenever the word “impossible” creeps into our vocabulary, we want to look again. Remember that line from scripture, “With God, all things are possible?” Very often the precise things we say are impossible are the things God wants to do in our lives by His power alone. And I suspect that if each of us looks closely we will discover this is the case in the task considered here.

For a moment, let’s look at another impossibility, “I am with you always.” Right now, as I type, I am sitting alone in a room in the convent. Just me and the computer and the other miscellaneous, inanimate objects in the room. Nobody else here. No one, that is, that I can see with my eyes or hear with my ears or touch with my hands. Ah, but the eyes of faith tell me something far different. And I can listen with my heart to a voice that speaks in silence. And my soul is being held and sustained by the creative touch of my God. Seriously? You can bet your life on it, because He gave His life for this very reason.

So let’s put these two impossibilities together. These days after Easter are a powerful time for us to rekindle our awareness of the presence of Jesus with us day in and day out. In the readings at Mass we hear about Him walking with His disciples on the road to Emmaus, fixing breakfast for His apostles on the seashore, and stretching out His hand to a follower lost in doubt. So what’s to stop Him from joining us on our commute to work? Or at the kitchen table with our cup of coffee? Or at the end of a day when prayer seems choked by doubt, regret and fear? Just being open to His presence is prayer: watching for signs of His love, listening for His words, and waiting for His healing touch. Because He is with us always, we can indeed pray always. Seriously.

By Sister Mary Louise, O.C.D.
Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles

Image credit: Photo by Tim Mossholder[1] on Unsplash[2]


To learn more about the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, read their biography below and visit their website[3].

We encourage you to support the work of the sisters with your prayers and through donations and planned giving. Click here[4] to learn more..

If you hear God calling you to the religious life, I encourage you to visit their vocations page[5]. – Deacon Mike

Or for more information, please contact:
Vocation Directress
920 East Alhambra Road
Alhambra, California 91801




Support Integrated Catholic Life. We strive to operate on a very small budget, but we need your help. Both one-time and monthly donations are welcome. Just $10 a month will help cover the cost of operating Integrated Catholic Life for one day! Please help us bring enriching and inspiring Catholic content to readers around the world by giving today. Thank you!

Please help spread the Gospel. Share this post with family and friends on Facebook and other social media.

Endnotes:
  1. Tim Mossholder: https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText
  2. Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/images/people?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText
  3. website: https://carmelitesistersocd.com/
  4. here: https://carmelitesistersocd.com/support/
  5. vocations page: https://carmelitesistersocd.com/vocations/

Source URL: https://integratedcatholiclife.org/2023/05/carmelite-sisters-pray-always-2/