Prayer in New Ways

Every week on Thursdays the school starts the day with Hora Santa, which means Holy Hour.  Typically, adoration here is very structured.  Guided prayers, reflections being read, bible verses, songs, more structured prayers, more guided reflections, more songs... you get the picture.   Every week although the songs, readings, and reflections change, the structure is the same.  There is little time for the students to pray in their own way.

Well, last week on Thursday I was responsible for planning the reflections for Holy Hour.  I decided to change the structure a little bit.  My thought was a little less talking, a lot more prayer.  I also wanted to encourage the students to pray in a new way, their own way.  After the opening song and standard prayers,  I had one of my students read Luke 11: 9-13.

So I say to you: Ask and it will be give to you;

See and you will find;

Knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives;

The one who seeks finds;

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of your fathers, if your son asks for a fish, 

will give him a snake instead?

Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, though you are evil, 

know how to give good gifts to your children,

How much more will your Father in heaven

give the Holy Spirt to those who ask him!

Another student then read a reflection about opening your heart to God, asking for what you need and trusting that our Loving Father in heaven will provide.  I then encourage the students to write a letter to God, thanking Him for what He has blessed them with and asking for what they need.  I encouraged them to either write a letter or draw a picture or sit quietly and pray. The students seemed really into it! 

After about 10 minutes of prayer in their own way, we had another reading and reflection that my students prepared.  Then during the song "Lord, I need you" by Matt Maher played by our wonderful Mr. Wilmer, the students presented their letters to Jesus.  They were so reverent and prayerful.  It was absolutely beautiful watching the students of the school physically and spiritually come to Jesus. 

 When adoration was over I was just overwhelmed with the joy and beauty of the Holy Hour.  My students wrote journal entries about Holy Hour that day and how they enjoyed being able to pray in a new way.  One girl wrote about how she loves to write and she never realized the opportunity to pray through writing.  I was just amazed at the little seeds planted in their hearts.

A beautiful sight

God is so good!
 I hope that my students continue to discover new ways to pray
because our life is a never ending prayer to a loving God!