Praying the Hours
Have you joined in the experiment? In last week’s sermon and newsletter (both are on St. Luke’s website), I invited everyone to try an age-old, but new to most of us, spiritual discipline of Praying the Hours.
In her book, sevensacredpauses, Sister Macrina describes how Praying the Hours has come to us through the monastic tradition. She readily admits that taking time to enter a church seven times a day plus the middle of the night isn’t realistic. Yet, marking the Hours of Prayer throughout the day in the midst of all that is happening can make us more mindful of God’s presence and the many graces of the day.
Since last week, I have changed my mind about the option of marking fewer than seven hours. We still have choices about how much time we spend with each “Hour,” but doing all seven can really help us be mindful, aware, loved and loving all day long. So, please do all seven – just take the time allowed by the actual time and situation. Use what works for you – thirty seconds, two minutes, five minutes, etc. Use a prayer, song, scripture, devotional – or simply be quiet for a time.
Remember, the Hours in simple terms are Before Dawn (getting out bed), Sunrise, 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, Sunset and Bedtime. It will take a while to remember each Hour and get in rhythm. If you forget, move on and don’t worry – God’s grace was there anyway. Just work at remembering – a pause or a little longer – and be mindful of God and the people and opportunities around you.
On Sunday I will have a prayer card for you as an option. This uses four of the Hours from The Book of Common Prayer with a few more added to make it seven. That may help some people get started. I will also make this available on my “Grace Notes” blog.
Let me know how this is going for you. I would like to know I have some company in this spiritual experiment – this journey.
Blessings,
Fr. Lee+
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Being born into Christianity I have never not known of the Divine. I bear witness to the marvellous works of our Saviour nearly every day. My favourite pause-phrase is "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace." (I didn't realize it was part of a greater prayer.) Though the sentence remains the same- I find the meaning is ever stretching and morphing to accommodate every circumstance known to me thus far. Thank you for being on-line. When I find my self paralysed by depression- I believe this will help me to feel closer to home and also help my children who suffer from mental-illness as well. Slainte Mhath.
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