Prayer is a great supplement to work. On the other hand, work can be the fulfillment of prayer. According to a Filipino aphorism, “God has mercy, but it is up to the person to carry out the work,” which is similar to the saying, “Just do your best, and God will do the rest.”  God can work through people, who still possess and practice free will. Yet this gift of choice is often taken for granted. Understandably, the nature of humans inclines – intentionally or not – toward error, including sin. Therefore prayer is needed for effective and efficient work, while work may be needed for God’s will to be accomplished, such as prayers to be answered.

As aforementioned, work can be the fulfillment of prayer. Indeed, for the unemployed, getting a job is a positive answer to their prayers. Nevertheless, to reach that point, much work is still involved. This includes further education, job hunting (which, a career coach once said, is already a “full-time job” in itself), volunteering and/or internships. The process would be at least more bearable through the aid of prayer, which can fortify faith, hope, and patience.

Work itself is an opportunity from God, whether it is merely a household chore or an office task. This allows humans to use their knowledge, skills, and talents. One may note a synonym of the term “work”: “function.” When an individual is able to work, he/she is said or known to function well. Sometimes, disabilities may limit the degrees of human functioning, yet many disabled people can still work and perform at least the basic functions in life. Thus, people owe God gratitude for the gift of work. While accomplishing a task and when it is finished, a person can [silently] thank the Lord.

Another beautiful prayer related to work is the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

This can remind people that work should have meaning/purpose, and peace can be both a cause to work for as well as the attitude and mode at work. A peaceful and supportive environment at the workplace is a good goal to strive for as this is also conducive to productivity. Studies have shown reduced productivity due to stress. Yet with regards to productivity, one attains peace and bears fruit only through God: Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Relationships at work can be guided by the Holy Spirit. Anyone can strive to follow the Ten Commandments, Jesus’ teachings, and his/her conscience during interactions and decision-making. Imagine such a workplace – with no gossip/rumors, with great teamwork, with respect… This sounds like a recipe for success with regards to the company’s mission, aims, and vision.

One can also remember that God is always the biggest and the best boss. He is the Leader who knows, sees, and hears everything; who loves communication; and who rewards His teammates accordingly.

Prayer works at/for work – do you agree?

Peace,
Diana

The title of Gregory F. A. Pierce’s book, Spirituality at Work: 10 Ways to Balance Your Life On-the-Job, already implies the necessity of balance at work. One of his recommendations was to have “sacred objects” in one’s workspace. This reminds me of an administrator who keeps a picture of Jesus as the wallpaper on his PC’s desktop and a photograph of [an icon of] Mother Mary on his desk. I believe they help him maintain balance throughout the day. Nevertheless, if a measure as such were against the workplace policy, then other “sacred objects” may suffice. These can include photographs of family, serving as both an inspiration to work and a reminder to pray – not only for oneself but also for them.

The following is an exemplary prayer to St. Joseph:

“Glorious St. Joseph,
model of all those who are devoted to labour,
obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously,
putting the call of dutyabove my many sins;
to work with thankfulness and joy,
considering it an honour to employ and develop,
by means of labour,
the gifts received from God;
to work with order,
peace, prudence and patience,
never surrendering to weariness or difficulties;
to work, above all,
with purity of intention,
and with detachment from self,
having always death before my eyes
and the account which I must render of time lost,
of talents wasted,
of good omitted,
of vain complacency in success
so fatal to the work of God.
All for Jesus,
all for Mary,
all after thy example,
O Patriarch Joseph.
Such shall be my motto in life and death.

Amen.”

(http://catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=780)

Work complemented with faith, as in the aforementioned prayer, echoes the words, “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others” (Colossians 3:23) as well as Jesus’ parable of the master who gives talents to his servants (Matthew 25: 14-30).

I believe that blessed are those whose work already involves prayer directly, such as the priests, nuns, and Catholic musicians. Yet spirituality can also be practiced and integrated in other careers, including healthcare as evidenced in the work of Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy. “Its mission…twofold – not only to gather various healthcare professionals into its organization, but also to offer quality educational programs that combine medicine, bioethics, and spirituality. Its goal…to bring into patient care a unique professional formation that integrates the best of medical science with biomedical ethics, Pastoral Care, Judeo-Christian Revelation and Divine Mercy spirituality.” (from Nursing with the Hands of Jesus by Marie F. Romagnano, 2010)

Praying at work can give courage, but this can also require courage, due to the varying situations in our world that may test our faith and faithfulness. Currently, many Catholic/Christian “sacred objects” have become source of controversy. Yet Hobby Lobby, for instance, is a private business where the Christian message abounds, particularly in much of its merchandise – this ideal has helped the company become worth billions of dollars.

Are you willing to take the same risk, though not truly for the sake of prosperity, but for God?

Peace,
Diana

A priest once said to pray every minute as much as possible. Thus, the workplace can be a venue of prayer. Yet is it appropriate? No one may actually know that an individual is at prayer if he/she indulges in this activity mentally. Multi-taskers are not the only ones capable of doing so, yet it might take practice for people to adopt the habit of praying at work.

A nurse I know prays, mostly internally, during her shift: to avoid confrontations; to forgive those who offend/hurt her; for strength, peace, courage, and peace as well as presence of mind; for the recovery of the patients; to always do the right action or say the right words… On several occasions, she has been blessed with the opportunity to pray with the patients – usually Christians and/or Catholics – as well as to give them spiritual support.  I believe the Holy Spirit helps her not only with the gift of counsel but also with the other gifts necessary to perform her duties. Indeed, one of her favorite prayers for work, especially during trials, is the invocation of the Holy Spirit.

Another individual, whose job involves machine repair, also silently calls the Holy Spirit to aid him in troubleshooting problems, especially when they seem difficult. The Holy Spirit enlightens him, presents solutions, and makes the work easier. Hard work, through God’s mercy, is reflected in the Biblical verse, “They were all trying to intimidate us, thinking, ‘They will be discouraged from continuing with the work, and it will never be completed.’ But instead, I then redoubled my efforts.” (Nehemiah 6:9) God gives the motivation not to surrender to our workload, which instead, should be “surrendered,” or offered up, to Him. Whatever job or tasks we have at the moment is part of the daily and/or long-term cross.

Recently, I was praying (nonverbally) the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy in my corner of the office during a gap at work. My boss arrived, which startled me that I almost dropped my rosary bracelet. He asked me what was going on, and I told him the truth – I was… praying. Thankfully, he is Catholic; he did not get angry. Yet this was a bit of a funny moment for me.

Prayer may not always be an appropriate excuse not to work, but prayer indeed can be a wonderful supplement/aid for work. Even the simple mantra of “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” may suffice while busy.

Do you pray at work?

“Practice makes perfect” is a common saying which can be applied to prayer: more leads to perfection of the soul. Indeed, no human is truly perfect, but everyone is called to be a saint and as Jesus said to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque regarding devotion to His Sacred Heart, “Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.” Prayer, if daily, becomes a commitment and eventually a positive habit. One can think of prayer as practice for heaven: if Mother Mary consistently offers her petitions as well as the world’s to her Son while the angels always sing God’s praises, humans on earth can expect to also pray in heaven. All of heaven’s inhabitants glorify God through worship, of which prayer is a key.

One idea about perfection is balance. This can mean peace in the midst of stress, satisfaction in life, fulfillment of potential, and/or well-roundedness. Prayer can aid in the achievement of balance. To find peace, some people may go on retreats. Just as Jesus’ time in the wilderness can also be considered a retreat, these prayerful and reflective moments may be spent in the quietness of retreat centers, such as those in proximity to nature. The retreat methods I have experienced are diverse: (1) reading and contemplating the 33 Days to Morning Glory, a book by Fr. Michael Gaitley; (2) the three-minute retreats at the Loyola Press website; and (3) the Busy Person’s Retreat with the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael both face-to-face and online (http://sanrafaelop.org/whatsgoingon/busypersonsretreat.htm). Little retreats can be done every day.

Satisfaction in life can come from a healthy sense of self-esteem, which can stem from balance and fulfillment of potential. This joy arises from doing God’s will that may be discerned through prayer, as well as trust in God. This echoes the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr:
“God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.”

Fulfillment of potential is accomplishing God’s will every day and in the long term. One potential of every human is to reach heaven, which may even extend to sainthood. As Anthony de Stefano said in Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To, one of the prayers to which God always answers yes is: “God, lead me to my destiny.” This destiny can be applied both in earthly life as well as in the afterlife. Satisfaction in life can be achieved if he/she does not fight against the destiny according to God’s plan.

“Perfect” can also mean “well-rounded.” Not all people are Renaissance men and women, but the Holy Spirit still bestows us with many gifts: wisdom, understanding, fear of the Lord, piety, knowledge, counsel, and fortitude (Isaiah 11:2). God expects us to use our gifts/talents wisely, including sharing them. For instance, my father recently started his hobby and mission of making rosaries, around one a day. He learned this craft from one member of a monthly prayer group we attend. But he ventured a bit further by creating pouches for the rosaries. Through prayer, one can eventually discover his/her talents and mission in life.

Finally, perfection can be viewed as goodness. This does not necessarily mean saints are sinless. Pope Benedict XVI said there is ““no saint, apart from the Blessed Virgin Mary, who has not also known sin, who has never fallen” (Catholic News Agency, Sept. 25, 2011). Yet saints have had a fear of offending God due to their love for Him. Sincere prayer, like those of the saints, pleases God.

Jesus was perfect, and Mother Mary was immaculate. But the fact that humans are not perfect is never an excuse to forgo the emulation of their holy ways. God can give us the strength and perseverance to follow Him if we pray for these graces…and if we pray continuously – beyond the weekends.

How do you view perfection? In your opinion, how can this be related to prayer?

Peace,
Diana

As various holy people have said, everyone is called to be holy, to be a saint. One of the keys to this path to is constant and daily prayer. Pope Benedict XVI offered a simple set of three strategies for sainthood. This includes “to begin and end the day in contact with God” (April 13, 2011, Zenit).

Therefore, sainthood involves prayer on weekdays and weekends. St. Benedict said, “Idleness is the enemy of the soul.” Laziness does not apply only to labor but also to prayer. When people neglect prayer, they hurt both themselves and God due to lack of communication, which weakens their relationship.  Some make excuses not to pray, but I think that making excuses to pray can be better. Nevertheless, one does not always need to verbalize excuses for prayer; these notifications may sometimes lie on the verge of boastfulness. Jesus said, “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:6)

Mother Mary has always encouraged prayer. She said to Lucia at Fatima, “Continue to pray the Rosary every day.” This instruction may be meant not only for Lucia, but for the whole world. Frequent and fervent prayers make the requester as well as Mother Mary and Jesus victorious. As Father Andrew Apostoli wrote in his book, Fatima for Today, “Remember, Mary wants our prayers; Mary needs our prayers for the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.”

This reminds of two ways to affect democratic policy. One is through petitions, with signatures collected, to campaign for a pressing issue and to increase awareness of it, particularly among policymakers. Another is by voting/elections. The aggregate of human voices saying the Rosary for a certain intention, for instance, is like the signed petition or the mass vote that Mother Mary then presents to God.

God also positively answers prayers when they are persistent and regular. Jesus told “a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”” (Luke 18:1)

Thus, when people make a request to God, they may turn to novenas, many of which run for nine consecutive days. Nevertheless, prayer should be a daily habit for continual blessings; to help Jesus and Mother Mary; and for a life of holiness.

Have you considered becoming a saint? Prayer is surely one step forward in this journey.

Peace,
Diana

Weekends usually spell “free time.” Sunday is recognized as time for church. For me, the first Friday to the first Sunday of every month are spent with prayer groups. Indeed, the weekend may provide ample time and reason for more prayer. Nevertheless, like with physical activity and diet, praying only during the weekend cannot be expected to result in optimal spiritual health and balance.

God is present among humankind every second in twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Why can’t humans offer at least a chunk of their time each day to God? If for instance, someone decides to dedicate one hour daily to prayer, he can divide it to thirty minutes in the morning upon waking up and thirty minutes at night/bedtime. This is similar to exercise, which can be done in portions, such as during each commercial break while watching television. Likewise, one method of maintaining/reducing weight is to eat small meals, snacks included, over a day’s course. Taking these concepts, one can also have breaks throughout the day for prayer. This may remind of Muslims having to pray five times a day. Can’t Christians also allot time for God?

Certain Catholic prayers are preferably said at specific hours. One such prayer is the Chaplet to the Divine Mercy, often known as the three o’clock (afternoon) prayer. This takes only about ten minutes. Whenever I visited the Philippines, I saw the shorter version broadcasted on television every afternoon. Another short prayer is the Angelus, at six o’ clock in the evening. A pilgrimage guide once said that when her children remind about the Angelus, they say it is time to say, “Hi” to Mother Mary. In the same way, frequent prayer can be compared to greeting God often. Lovers, for example, may communicate on a regular basis: sending several text messages, talking for hours on the phone, even Skyping or chatting on Facebook. God gives blessings all the time and even attempts to communicate with His beloved now and then. But are we available to listen and talk with him?

Nevertheless, God – and humans – can be flexible. Prayer breaks can be spontaneous, not rigidly set. In addition, prayer can be done while performing other tasks: doing the laundry, washing the dishes, gardening, sweeping the floor… Peggy Bowes also developed a workout plan combining the rosary and exercise, explained in her book, The Rosary Workout. With flexibility, people can be creative, and thus they can find ways to pray in between or during the activities on their busy schedules. One can pray in the midst of daily hassles, disappointments, and even the little joys/triumphs.

Moreover, humans always need God, and constant communication is therefore necessary. The benefits of prayer can be experienced more if this becomes a positive daily habit, not only for the weekend. St. Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Do you pray every day, and do you think this is important?

Certain individuals tend to be alone because they are shy/ introverted or ostracized. These people are sometimes labeled as “loners,” with a negative connotation.  To overcome situations of shyness or alienation, one can pray first for divine guidance and support. I believe the Holy Spirit can enlighten anyone with the right words and actions as long as the conscience is followed. In addition, God can utilize others to provide the opportunity to make friends as well as to serve Him.

Once, in the library, a young stranger sat beside me as I worked at a computer station. After greeting and observing me, she took and used my brush on her damp hair without my permission. In truth, I was shocked, but I did not complain. That evening, she walked with me halfway home. The next day, we met again – a rather unexpected occurrence for me – in the same place. She gave me a thank you card for being her friend – another surprise. Nevertheless, a bond developed between us: she often offered food, sometimes unfamiliar such as preserved spicy radish, as a present. I learned she loved to sing back in her homeland, so I encouraged her to perform at a few local concerts, which she enjoyed. Although she had other friends, I could sense she was avoided and/or ridiculed by other youth due to her accent, foreign culture, and seemingly eccentric ways. I believe that may have been a time when I also needed a new friend, and God fulfilled both our needs. How I have understood and empathized with her remains partly a mystery, yet I am grateful for our friendship. Shortly after I met her, she moved away to another city.

I hope that when people find a “loner,” they see Jesus in this individual and strive to comprehend his/her circumstances. Jesus said, “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me…’” (Matthew 25: 34-40)

Moreover, I hope that solitary persons, especially if ever feeling shy, lonely, or rejected, would remember the message of the Beatitudes. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” (Matthew 5:3, 5)

Prayer fosters personal growth, thus paving the way for relationships with God and other humans. Through constant reflection, the gift of understanding improves. With this aspect, introverts and extroverts can reach out to each other.

A few friends told me: before and during any human relationship, prayer should be first. I would like to extend their advice to the following words, “Before and during and after any walk in life, alone or not, prayer should be a priority.”

Are you a solitary or shy type of person? Even if not, have you made friends with someone who was alone?

Peace,
Diana

One definition of the word “alone” that comes to mind is “single,” particularly being unmarried or not involved in a romantic relationship. This may be why many people may associate the term “alone” with “lonely,” besides the fact that these share an obvious root, “lone.” Nevertheless, if one is currently without a partner, does this mean the person has to be unhappy? Prayer can help any single to be content with his/her present situation as well as to find a good mate, if the vocation of marriage is rightfully discerned.

St. Paul said in his First Letter to the Corinthians: “Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do… I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord… An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit… I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.” (Chapter 7) I believe he did not discourage marriage altogether. He may have wanted his fellow Christians to prioritize God, to remove envy (of others’ relationships and/or marriages), and to be grateful for all blessings, counted and uncounted.

Being single provides certain freedom or independence. For instance, singles may have less family worries than married couples. Singles may have fewer chances of arguments; the temptations that occur among singles versus married people may differ too. Being “alone” can result in less influence from others, such as in decision-making. Priests and nuns choose to be single to avoid materialism and to offer their whole being to God.

Suffering can still befall anyone, regardless of relationship status. Troubles may include unemployment and illness, and sometimes an individual may long for human comfort and support. Nevertheless, God always stays beside and grants whatever is truly needed. To find a significant other may not always be necessary, but I believe that to find God’s presence in life remains always necessary and best.

I remember one of my elementary school teachers telling the class that her boyfriend was Jesus Christ. This now reminds me of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, called “spouse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” due to her devotion and relationship with Him. Anyone, even singles, can be in love especially with God. He is always in love with humanity, His Church, His creation. Prayer can be a wonderful way to reciprocate this love. Can this be romantic love? This can be beyond or at least similar to romantic love due to admiration and acceptance of overall beauty, yet more of the spiritual aspect. I believe romantic love can be a metaphor for the relationship God wants His Church, His bride, to share with Him: to offer/sacrifice everything to Him, to know Him, and to trust Him.

People can pray to receive guidance in the search for a partner. Sometimes, this grace comes when least expected. My pilgrimage leader narrated a love story to our group: She first asked God, through Mother Mary, to lead her to the right man. The signs would be that he would present to her a rosary and a crucifix. After a significant amount of time had passed, she corresponded online with a man regarding a Marian pilgrimage. Without knowing about the signs she awaited, he sent her family a few rosaries as gifts. The woman remembered her request to God and Mother Mary, which she mentioned to him without revealing the nature of the second sign. The man prayed fervently in the Adoration Chapel. Soon, he gave her a crucifix: this had been ingrained in his mind during his prayer and meditation. With their prayers answered, the two soon married.

When an individual prays while alone, he/she is not truly on his/her own – God is just nearby.

Do you pray for love or for joy (with present circumstances) if you are single?

Peace,
Diana

Lenten season is a reflection of Jesus’ time spent alone in the wilderness, akin to the experiences of Moses and Elijah. Despite John Donne’s words, “No man is an island,” sparing some time for solitude can be healthy, as noted by Sherrie Bourg Carter, Psy.D. in her article: “6 Reasons You Should Spend More Time Alone” (Psychology Today). Among the benefits she listed are better creativity, increased concentration, improved relationships, and self-discovery. Alone is not always equivalent to lonely. Moreover, prayer can enrich this time for oneself.

The aforementioned advantages for solitude ring true for prayer as well. I remember a youth speaker who said that listening to Christian songs helped him focus on his studies. Private prayer and meditation allow deeper retrospect/contemplation with fewer distractions, thus aiding spiritual and emotional growth. Personal time and space is wonderful, like freedom, yet wisdom remains necessary in order to not take this opportunity for granted. I believe that a wise heart, hungry for God, would tend to seek Him on these occasions.

Temptations can still arise when alone. During Jesus’ fast, He faced temptations which He overcame. Thus, prayer is necessary all the time, even when no one is apparently around. In addition, since God is omnipresent and omniscient, this is still a great opportunity to understand and please Him more. One can read the Bible and other religious books, pray and meditate, and do creative works or even chores dedicated to the Lord.

Being alone does not have to be a time of fear. One can be reminded of the hymn, “Be Not Afraid” by John Michael Talbot. Solitude can be a time for courage, also through God who is still present and nearby. Taking Jesus’ solitary period again as an example, angels attended to Him. Similarly, everyone has a guardian angel for protection and guidance.

Other examples of unusual – even historical – private circumstances occurred early in the Gospel. One was when Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, met the angel in the temple. Another was during the Annunciation, when Mother Mary was alone in prayer, and soon afterwards as she traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Being alone with God provides the opportunity to be closer and more open to Him, to be less affected by outside influences, to find peace, and to be true to oneself as an individual, able to unleash the goodness within.

What do you feel when you are alone? Do you spend time for yourself? Do you pray in privacy?

Peace,
Diana

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which reminds of human (physical) origin and destination. This year was my first time to distribute ashes, wherein I would say, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Thus, Lent is a period for repentance, involving humility. In turn, ashes or dust can be a metaphor for humility akin to the description of “down-to-earth” with regards to personality.

Repentance is more of an inner transformation that may be radiated outward sometimes. This requires a realization of the problem, goal-setting, and action toward the goal. Due to human weakness, recidivism may occur, yet hopefully the lapses are only temporary. Lent provides ample time at least as a stepping stone toward long-term change. Goals need not be complicated: for instance, one goal may be as simple as smiling more often.

Prayer can lead to repentance as humility and reflection play significant roles. In addition, prayer strengthens the resolution and will to alter one’s behavior and attitude. Repentance also includes asking for God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness, all which help in the process of spiritual growth. Prayer, with repentance, can imbue a person with hope for a better future because he/she will focus on self-improvement.

The lack of remorse for sins is both hubris and ignorance due to the failure to accept the reality that humans are flawed. Lent presents the opportunity to recognize these shortcomings, such as through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to make reparation for them through prayer and penance. I believe that to God, justification of sins is unnecessary since He knows every reason behind every action, word, and thought.

I remember my early catechism days, when Lent was compared to the caterpillar’s incubation period inside the chrysalis. The bursting forth into maturity and beauty takes a struggle toward the end. Similarly, Lent can be a time of preparation – not literally dormant, but a time of prayer, service, and fasting. The climax comes during Holy Week, yet this should not mean that life and change go downhill or plateau afterward. Individuals can be like new butterflies, adapting to changes, such as flying instead of crawling, gathering nectar instead of eating leaves. From the human perspective, more people seem to show more appreciation for butterflies than for caterpillars. Similarly, through repentance, people can emerge as creatures beautiful inside and ultimately more so (even on the outside) in heaven.

A secret to prayerful repentance’s beauty is the openness of the heart to healing. This includes forgiveness in particular. Have you ever forgiven someone? Have you also ever received forgiveness? Have you ever forgiven yourself regarding those embarrassing moments? Doesn’t the gift of forgiveness feel wonderful, lightening the spiritual burdens?

Just as weight loss – a physical transformation – fills a person with positive pride, gratitude, and self-respect, so can repentance – the spiritual transformation. Even weight loss can be holistic, i.e. coupled with repentance and spiritual renewal. For instance, a person can abandon the vice of overeating/gluttony. One helpful resource for weight loss is the book, Craving Hope by Joni Woelfel: it includes quotes, prayer, and spiritual/emotional reflection as well as motivation.

The road to repentance proves to be not always easy. However, this can be facilitated by prayer. Creativity can arise through meditation; positive alternatives can be done instead of sinning: for example, sports or playing a musical instrument may be handy as a distraction against negative thoughts. Overall, prayer is listening and answering to God’s call – usually, He tells people to repent as well as to spread the message of repentance, similar to John the Baptist’s mission.

How does prayer help you during Lent?