Category Archives: Catholic Prayer

Keeping the Sabbath

Keeping the Sabbath day holy would seem basic to the Christian faith, since it’s the 4th Commandment.  Yet few Christians – even committed ones – agree in how to carry this out. What was God getting at when He delivered this commandment … Continue reading

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Humble Trust

My parish’s Men’s Bible Study is going through Exodus, having completed Genesis last year. As in Genesis, the theme of humble trust repeatedly emerges. It’s a great antidote to prideful mistrust – the “If I were God…” syndrome, with symptoms like, “Lord, hasn’t … Continue reading

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Delight

In today’s gospel, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we hear the Father’s voice, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I delight.” And when we look at Jesus, of course, what’s not to delight in? He’s a … Continue reading

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The “Mother Wound”

The concept of the “father wound” is a familiar one in popular psychology; that of the “mother wound” is less so. In our frantic, exhausted society, the ability of women to mother their children is strained by careers, soccer, and … Continue reading

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Anxiety and Trust, Part II

As noted in my last post, as we look out at world news, including our own backyard, there is much that provokes anxiety and hampers trust. Now, I’ve often noted: “If I thought that there was no God – no … Continue reading

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The Eucharist as Radiation Therapy

Eucharistic adoration and radiation therapy aren’t terms most of us naturally link. But as a Catholic and a psychologist, I’ve found that they have much in common. I recently gave a talk about this link at a local Catholic event, … Continue reading

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Dryness in Prayer, Part III

So how, practically, does one do contemplative prayer? Simply sit with the Lord: make an act of faith that He is gazing on you with love, give Him complete permission to do w/ you what He wills. Make an act … Continue reading

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Dryness in Prayer, Part II

So how do I know that the Lord may be calling me to contemplative prayer? The following “signs” are derived from two of the masters of the Christian spiritual life, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. … Continue reading

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Dryness in Prayer, Part I

Dryness in prayer is an inevitable stage in the life of the committed Christian. Not many who reach that stage of dryness have any idea how to proceed. Hence, these posts on the topic. The source of much of the material, besides the counsel of some … Continue reading

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