Help For Catechists: November 2010

Multi-tasking to Increase Prayer

By Mary Lou Rosien

We are all busy.  We raise children, work, and, oh yeah, teach the faith.  There are always a million things to do and never enough time to do them all.  Often, our prayer life becomes the first victim of these circumstances.  I have crawled into bed at the end of a long day, only to realize that I have barely taken time to pray that day. Prayer is conversation with God. It is the way we develop our friendship, relationship and understanding of Him.  Without prayer we cannot move forward.  So what is the solution?

My oldest daughter was incredibly colicky.  She cried day and night.  Nighttime was really difficult for me, as I would be exhausted and even resentful that the only way to soothe her was to nurse her.  It felt like an intrusion on my body, sleep and time.  Then one day, God granted me the grace to see the situation differently.  I realized that I could quietly pray my Rosary as she nursed.  There were no distractions, and quite frankly, I had nothing better to do at 2 am.  My days of prayer multi-tasking had begun.

I discovered time to pray as I did the laundry or the dishes.  I would concentrate on each member of my family, as I touched their clothes or dishes, and I would pray for them. When I would rock a sick child at night, I would meditate on Mary rocking the Christ child and I enjoyed the quiet meditation.

These days, I like to pray as I workout.  Knowing that the two things are linked encourages me to not skip either.  I like the way my prayers intensify as my body floods with adrenaline.  I have always found it difficult to block out distractions in order to pray, but when I work out the distractions seem to fall away.  Peggy Bowes, author of, The Rosary Workout, (Beazalel Books, $19.99) puts it this way:

"Praying while exercising is more than simple multi-tasking. It is more of a synergy — the interaction of two things whose combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. You'll begin to view exercise as a means to '...glorify God in your body.' (1 Cor 6:20). At the same time, you'll find that the mind-clearing effect of exercise can greatly enhance prayer and meditation."

Her observation has definitely proved true for me.  So, my dear catechists, when prayer time becomes limited, try combining it with an activity you are already doing.  May God bless you.

Mary Lou Rosien writes from North Chili, NY.  She is the author of Managing Stress with the Help of Your Catholic Faith (OSV Publishing). Email her at mrosien@rochester.rr.com.