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At Prayer
In these pages are gathered together from Father Bede Jarrett's Meditations for Lay-folk some thoughts which will help us to understand and practise prayer better and better; an urgent need for all, because nothing is more important in our daily lives than prayer.
Prayer is as necessary for the supernatural life of the soul as the air we breathe is for the life of the body. When we pray, we most truly live. To pray in union with the prayer of Christ is to co-operate gloriously with the divine power that rules creation. Prayer is more powerful than wealth or knowledge—a greater force than all the material forces of the world combined; for prayer is a supernatural its efficacy comes from God, from the infinite merits of Christ. Prayer can obtain what only God can give—grace, pardon, the love of God, and eternal life which is the very end and purpose of the divine plan.
Prayer is as necessary for the supernatural life of the soul as the air we breathe is for the life of the body. When we pray, we most truly live. To pray in union with the prayer of Christ is to co-operate gloriously with the divine power that rules creation. Prayer is more powerful than wealth or knowledge—a greater force than all the material forces of the world combined; for prayer is a supernatural its efficacy comes from God, from the infinite merits of Christ. Prayer can obtain what only God can give—grace, pardon, the love of God, and eternal life which is the very end and purpose of the divine plan.
15 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2012
About the author
Bede Jarrett
70 books8 followersBorn in England in 1881, Jarrett entered the Dominican order in 1898. He then studied at Oxford and at Louvain, where he received an additional degree in theology. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1904, he was stationed at St. Dominic’s Priory in London. He was elected Provincial of the order and opened a new church and priory in London. He established an ongoing series of Thomistic lectures in London.
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November 28, 2020
This is among the finest reflections on prayer and how to pray that I came across and am likely to see surpassed, on par with Thomas Merton. This Dominican friar excels in his simplicity in how we should pray.
“The whole doctrine of prayer from its practical standpoint can be summed up by saying that it is talking to God as a friend talks with a friend.”
“God spoke to Moses, face to face, as a man is wont to speak to his friend.”
The Method of prayer:
1. Friendly Converse with God.
2. As simple and Natural as Talking
3. Prayer has its Silences
The Apostles asked Jesus “Teach us how to pray.” Jesus answered with “Thus shalt thou pray.” He did not teach them what words they should use but how they should pray. The Lord’s Prayer is easy and conversational. “The very want of connection between each petition, the staccato notes that mark off phrase from phrase, seem to suggest that it should be said very slowly, pausing after each group of notes to let their meaning and harmony echo to the base of the soul.”
“Prayer is too often robbed of all its effects, is reduced to hard and fast rules . . . As a consequence we get bored, and so no doubt does God.”
“But to contemplate is perfectly simple; to contemplate is to gaze.”
“Every Soul needs Silence.”
“Silence must precede speech . . . silence is the mother of thought.”
“His is the still small voice that is heard only when the whirlwind has passed. Now it is of supreme importance to me to hear what God has to say, far more important than His hearing what I have to say.”
“Let me learn silence in my life, for God does not shout.”
“The whole doctrine of prayer from its practical standpoint can be summed up by saying that it is talking to God as a friend talks with a friend.”
“God spoke to Moses, face to face, as a man is wont to speak to his friend.”
The Method of prayer:
1. Friendly Converse with God.
2. As simple and Natural as Talking
3. Prayer has its Silences
The Apostles asked Jesus “Teach us how to pray.” Jesus answered with “Thus shalt thou pray.” He did not teach them what words they should use but how they should pray. The Lord’s Prayer is easy and conversational. “The very want of connection between each petition, the staccato notes that mark off phrase from phrase, seem to suggest that it should be said very slowly, pausing after each group of notes to let their meaning and harmony echo to the base of the soul.”
“Prayer is too often robbed of all its effects, is reduced to hard and fast rules . . . As a consequence we get bored, and so no doubt does God.”
“But to contemplate is perfectly simple; to contemplate is to gaze.”
“Every Soul needs Silence.”
“Silence must precede speech . . . silence is the mother of thought.”
“His is the still small voice that is heard only when the whirlwind has passed. Now it is of supreme importance to me to hear what God has to say, far more important than His hearing what I have to say.”
“Let me learn silence in my life, for God does not shout.”
Displaying 1 of 1 review