prayingwithicons

Praying with Icons

Icons have been part of the Christian tradition for centuries. Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, writes: “We call them saints when what we really often mean to say is icon, star, hero, ones so possessed by an internal vision of divine goodness that they give us a glimpse of the face of God in the center of the human. They give us a taste of the possibilities of greatness in ourselves.”

Oftentimes in prayer, our imaginations can race in a distracted manner. Icons can help us to overcome distraction. They invite us to focus on an image of the holy that points the way to God. Icons take us beyond words and give us a visual reminder of God’s love for us. It is another way to ponder our faith and who God is. The icon conveys a story of faith, a work inspired by God. It is a tool of prayer, helping us to focus on the holy and suggest virtues for the spiritual journey.

Praying with Scripture
Reading and praying the scriptures invite us into an exploration of the Word of God.

Gardening as Prayer
There is something profound at work in gardening, perhaps, because plant life is created by God and, when we work with plants, we sense a closeness to God.

Praying the Rosary
Fingering and moving the beads can calm our spirit, help us focus, and integrate our senses of touch and sight into the experience of God.

Labyrinth Prayer
We walk the labyrinth as we pray or meditate and in the process learn to calm our minds, relax our bodies, and reduce stress by letting go of all that burdens us unnecessarily.

The Contemplative Prayer Walk
The prayer walk is a simple procession of contemplative peace.

Faith sharing Prayer of Small Church Communities
Small church communities provide the opportunity for each member to be valued, to be listened to, and to be empowered to have a voice and the courage to act on convictions.

Liturgy of the Hours, The Church’s Prayer
Liturgy of the Hours, daily office, morning and evening prayer – some of the many names for a prayer that is offered at fixed times of the day and night.

Prayer of Examen
The prayer of examen is an examination of our lives, a way of honestly assessing our lives in the light of God’s mercy. This prayer focuses our reflection on a narrow time span, perhaps the previous day or week.

Meditation as Prayer
In the Christian tradition, meditation is a method of prayer in which we spontaneously respond to God by pondering God’s activity and presence in human history and in our lives.

Centering Prayer
Centering prayer helps us come to contemplation. It seeks awareness of the presence of God by withdrawing our attention from the ordinary flow of thoughts.

Journaling as Prayer
Keeping a journal is a meaningful prayer practice. Putting thoughts on paper as we pray can help us to be more reflective about what we feel and think.

Praying with Icons
Oftentimes in prayer, our imaginations can race in a distracted manner. Icons can help us to overcome distraction. They invite us to focus on an image of the holy that points the way to God.