Something that has become more and more apparent as my kids one-by-one enter adulthood, is that while my vocation as Mom never ends, it does change! I remember those days of mothering with littles running around the house. They needed me for the physical things; food, drink, shelter, safety, comfort, and clothing, and they were learning so much in terms of basic skills and interests, subjects at school, and picking up prayers, Bible stories and beliefs of our Catholic Faith.
St. Benedict, Teach Us to Pray
August 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
St. Benedict (480-547) rejected wealth and worldliness and became a hermit. He then founded 12 monasteries and wrote The Rule of St. Benedict requiring prayer, spiritual reading, manual labor, obedience and the development of hospitality, medical, educational and agricultural skills.
Saints Prayer Master Class:
St. Benedict taught about Prayer in The Rule. He recommended specific times throughout the day and night for study and prayer, often as a community: reading, teaching, memorizing and singing passages of Scripture. Other times of private, personal prayer were certainly also recommended for a deep and intimate prayer life and relationship with God.
St. Benedict recommended a balanced lifestyle of work and prayer, and living simply. He insisted that we should pray as we begin to work and as we work, with humility and reverence.
From various writings of St. Benedict on prayer, I think the most unique and specific approach to prayer was his recommended practice of prayer and work simultaneously. St. Benedict steered away from compartmentalizing these two fundamental aspects and practices so that one did not interrupt the other, and by consistently praying during work, study, rest, and while serving others, one could truly pray unceasingly.
Summary Sticky-Note
To make it easier to understand and keep it straight from the teaching on Prayer of other Saints and Theologians I have been studying, I put together a little Summary Sticky-Note and compiled my notes on St. Benedict’s Writings on Prayer including ‘prayer-requisites’ and Prompts to Pray, based primarily on The Rule of St. Benedict and his other writings summarized in this book: Augustine on Prayer by Fr. Thomas Hand
St. Benedict also spoke about the necessity of humility, reverence, silence, Scripture, perseverance, and continuity in this prayer from the heart.
- HUMILITY
- REVERENCE
- HEARTFELT
- SCRIPTURE
- PERSEVERANCE
- CONTINUOUS
Prompt Me to Pray!
And St. Benedict even had a specific Prompt to Pray as he lived at the Monastery of Monte Cassino!
More info in the St. Benedict PDF Note Bundle.
I will be adding over 30 PDF Note Bundles gradually to this NEW
Saints’ MasterClass on Prayer Series over at Arma Dei!
Saints Prayer Master Class:
St. Augustine PDF Note Bundle
Following a brief introduction of St. Benedict and his teaching on Prayer, I present Prayer-Requisites: important virtues, dispositions, and practices for personal prayer, based on the Key Writings of St. Benedict.
Each PDF Note Bundle includes a Summary Sticky-Note, along with insights into prayer and how St. Benedict might prompt us to pray.
St. Benedict might prompt us to pray:
Prompt me to pray without ceasing, St. Benedict.
St Augustine, Teach Us to Pray
August 1, 2024 by Leave a Comment
St. Augustine (354AD-430AD) was the son of St. Monica.
He spent many years living an immoral life, and renouncing Christianity. By the prayers of his mother and through the influence of St. Ambrose, he converted and became a theologian, philosopher, and the Bishop of Hippo, Roman North Africa.
While St Augustine’s teaching on prayer is found across his many writings, sermons and letters, we find prayer to be the primary focus of his letter to a Christian Roman noblewoman named Anicia Faltonia Proba.
St Augustine wrote the letter in response to Lady Proba’s questions to him on how she could pray better and pray as God would want her to pray. He assured her that she must already have a profound trust in God, as she was being prompted by the Holy Spirit with this desire to pursue better prayer.
I’ve been studying St. Augustine’s Teaching on Prayer, primarily from his letter to Lady Proba and through this awesome book Augustine on Prayer
Summary Sticky-Note
To make it easier to understand and keep it straight from the teaching on Prayer of other Saints and Theologians I have been studying, I put together a little Summary Sticky-Note and compiled my notes on St. Augustine’s Writings on Prayer including ‘prayer-requisites’ and Prompts to Pray!
I will be adding over 30 PDF Note Bundles gradually to this NEW
Saints’ MasterClass on Prayer Series over at Arma Dei!
Saints Prayer Master Class:
St. Augustine PDF Note Bundle
Following a brief introduction of St. Augustine and his teaching on Prayer, I present Prayer-Requisites: important virtues, dispositions, and practices for personal prayer, based on the Key Writings of St. Augustine.
Each PDF Note Bundle includes a Summary Sticky-Note, along with insights into prayer and how St. Augustine might prompt us to pray.
St. Augustine might prompt us to pray:
Desert Fathers, Teach Us to Pray!
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The Tradition of reciting The Jesus Prayer is referenced as early as 270 AD, in monastic communities, and was first introduced and practiced by the Desert Fathers.
The Jesus Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me”
This simple prayer combines adoration of the Glory of God with humble recognition of our sin.
The Jesus Prayer is a form of meditation, without relying on mental images or intellectual understanding but focusing on being attentive; recognizing the continual Presence of God, listening intently for His Response, and recognizing His Action in our lives. The intention of this prayer is to pursue holiness (through humility and purification) and union with God, rather than attaining insights into theological Truths.
The Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me” is a statement of Faith, confession of sin, and a plea for God’s Mercy, all at the same time. Through simple and constant repetition of this prayer, we try to maintain awareness that we are in God’s Presence. We are to prioritize attention with the heart over the mind. We are encouraged to recite the prayer thoughtfully and intentionally, without bringing to mind a visual image, and believing that the Lord sees us and listens to us at all times.
I’ve been studying The Desert Fathers’ teaching on Prayer, primarily through this awesome book
The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology*
Introducing our NEW Saints’ Master Class on Prayer
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This has been a labor of love for the last four years! We have just launched the Saints’ Master Class on Prayer!
This is a Study of the Key Writings on Prayer of >so far< 34 Saints and Theologians.
The PDF Summary Notes Bundles will be released gradually and they are all carefully formatted for quick study.
Each Note Bundle includes a quick biography and polaroid illustration of the Saint or Theologian.
I have tried to extract the key requirements for prayer, (according to the Saint) and these are the basic virtues, qualities, or dispositions most essential to personal prayer. I have also included key insights into prayer and any recommendations, instructions, or tips conducive to prayer. I have also included any prompts to pray the Saint or Theologian may have relied upon or recommended to others and I have conjectured how they might prompt us to pray today.
So far, you will find the Intro Note Bundle and the Note Bundle on The Desert Fathers (and The Jesus Prayer) and I will be posting Sneak Peeks here at Equipping Catholic Families.
We WON The Catholic Best Prayer Book Vote
July 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment
We are so excited to announce that we WON the Catholic Best Prayer Book 2024!
It is such an honor to be mentioned in the same list as Fr. Jacques Philippe, Brother Lawrence, and Fr. Alphonsus Liguori!
a HUGE THANK YOU to all those of you who took the time to vote for Prompt Me to Pray!
We are so encouraged by this WIN and it’s prompting us to continue with new Catholic products hopefully launching later this summer! Thank you!
We are ESPECIALLY excited for the opportunity to let people know about this very special book.
It’s a practical guide to more consistent, heartfelt prayer…for people of all ages! From the Confirmation candidate, to the University student seeking balance in work, study, and prayer, and to the Mom, whose life of serving little kids IS sanctifying prayer (but she could use a boost and some encouragement). The book is a great PROMPT for anyone seeking a more consistent, heartfelt prayer life and deeper relationship with Jesus.
CELEBRATE WITH US, by recommending Prompt Me to Pray to your favorite priest, prayer group leader, teacher, mom, Sacrament (or RCIA) candidate, school library or your own FAMILY.
Take advantage of our special deal to BUY ONE, get ONE FREE to give to your pastor or prayer group leader.
Make sure there are TWO copies of Prompt Me to Pray in your cart
and use the code: freebie4priest or freebie4prayergroup
to get one of the copies for FREE!
Also, check out our SHOPPE for #smalloverprime
While Amazon hosts Prime Day on July 11-12th,
we will be posting deals on our craft kits, this week, July 9-12 and extending our deal to get a FREE Prayer Book with the Purchase of Prompt Me to Pray or Super Saints Quizzing Cards!
from The Catholic Best
Our Winner: Prompt Me to Pray:
A Practical Plan for More Consistent Prayer from the Heart
by Monica McConkey
ABOUT THE BOOK
Prompt Me to Pray by Monica McConkey presents practical tips for prayer that can be easily customized to fit our busy lives, habits, daily tasks, and even our struggles. Recognizing our littleness as an inexhaustible source of Prompts to Pray helps us to reach out humbly in prayer when we need Him most and reminds us that God can use all things for good. The book features different approaches to heartfelt prayer including journaling and praying out loud, both spontaneous and classic prayers. It also includes journaling pages with specific writing prompts and prayers to customize your own personal plan for prayer, and a prayer vault of classic prayers and templates of full color pocket prayer prompts.
Our Runners Up!
Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart – Father Jacques Philippe
The Practice of the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence
Other Notable Submissions
I Believe in Love – Fr. Jean C. J. d’Elbée
Talking With God – St. Alphonsus Liguori
Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love
Last Minute LENT Print-and-Pray Craft Kits
February 14, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Have you thought of what you’d like to do for Lent this year?
Giving up something, adding a prayerful devotion, donating money or time for the needs of the poor?
Here are a couple links to print-and-pray craft kits that are EASY to adopt for a prayerFULL LENT, even if it’s totally LAST MINUTE!
Project: Prompt Me to Pray Craft Kit
This prayer-packed craft kit offers prayer prompt cards that can be strategically placed around your house to get the whole family praying more, from the heart!
Project: Prompt Me to Pray Craft Kit
$12.00 PDF Download
MORE INFO
Lent Challenge Calendar Craft Kit
The Lent Challenge Calendar offers black and white templates to help you
GIVE, PRAY and LOVE throughout the 40 days of Lent!
$10.00 PDF Download
MORE INFO
Hands-On Prayer Counters
The Hands-On Lenten Pack of Prayers Craft Kit includes coloring pages for the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary and the Divine Mercy along with specific prayer counter tools for each of the classic devotions including: Stations of the Cross Spinwheel, Rosary Prayer Counter, Divine Mercy Prayer Counter. Once laminated, the craft templates accommodate both lace-up and dry erase (coloring) prayer counting. The kit also includes 17 illustrated prayer cards including classic prayers as well as Lenten prayers for the Days of the Week.
$15.00 PDF Download
MORE INFO
Launch: {Project: Prompt Me to Pray} New Craft Kit
February 12, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Here is the proper launch for my NEWEST Craft Kit PDF!
I’m just trying to make it EASIER for all of us to pray unceasingly, from the heart.
My book talks about how we can customize our prompts to pray to fit our unique circumstances, daily routine, habits, and quirks, and now I’ve created a craft kit that can help you implement these habit-forming prayer prompts in your life!
Family of Birds; One Stone
No intention of hurting any birds, but if you place these prayer prompt cards around your house, your other family members might customize these same cards to their unique circumstances, daily routines, habits, and quirks.
Imagine each member of your family discovering a carefully placed prayer prompt card on the fridge, the bathroom mirror, or the inside of the front door at eye level. They might at least spark some conversation about prayer and could even become this year’s Lenten practice.
This is one of those practical prayer prompt ideas that can influence others, even visitors to your home, without you saying a word.
And if it does spark curiosity, and you’re asked about these little prayer prompt cards, you’ve got an opportunity to talk about prayer! You can remind them that prayer can be a simple conversation with God, inviting Him into every task, challenge or blessing of each day!
There is also a template of completely customizable prayer prompt cards to customize for those specific intentions, close to our hearts.
Every day, we face chores, tasks, challenges or pain that we’d rather not experience, but we can offer them up for a special intention, even for the person we are serving by completing the task.
We can use these prayer prompts to remind us to rely on Jesus when we’re struggling, to focus our prayer on the intentions of our hearts, to be thankful for everything that goes well in our lives, and to recognize our sins and express how sorry we are.
We can take a whole collection of cues, our daily to-do list, or even the inevitable distractions and turn them into prompts to pray.
These prayer prompt cards are physical reminders to pray more often throughout the rhythm of our lives, to recognize God’s Presence along with us at each moment and to pray unceasingly and let this developing prayer habit influence what we do and what we say, and what and how often we pray.
Willing to give Project: Prompt Me to Pray a try?
The Project: Prompt Me to Pray is a practical set of 24 (plus 6 formatted and customizable) Prayer Prompt Cards to be strategically placed around your home, work, car, and school to help us all pray without ceasing (Thessalonians 5:17) from the heart.
Many of the prayers are classic prayers Catholics have been saying for years.
Short Dart Prayers
Project: Prompt Me to Pray! >NEW< Craft Kit
February 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Project: Prompt Me to Pray
Project: Prompt Me to Pray MORE
Project: Prompt Me to Pray MORE from the HEART
Project: Prompt Me to Pray MORE
Project: Prompt Me to Pray MORE from the HEART
I’ve just finished creating this NEW Prayer-packed Craft Kit available as a PDF!
The Project: Prompt Me to Pray is a practical set of 24 (plus 6 formatted and customizable) Prayer Prompt Cards to be strategically placed around your home, work, car, and school to help us all pray without ceasing (
Thessalonians 5:17)
Prompt Me to Pray through Easter
February 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Prompt Me to Pray through EASTER is the next special guide to help apply the practical plan for consistent prayer from the heart of Monica’s newly released book Prompt Me to Pray to the Seasons, the Saints, and the Sacraments! We’re looking at the unique circumstances and graces available in these Catholic moments and mentored by these Catholic heroes to build the habit of prayer through extra timely
Prompts to Pray!
Prompt Me to Pray through EASTER journeys through the 50 days of Easter, including Divine Mercy Sunday, the Ascension of Jesus, and ending on the Solemnity of Pentecost. It’s a 44-page booklet with scripture, illustrations, and prayer prompts offering dispositions or practices for deeper prayer.
Reflections include:
