Antiphonal Psalmody -- We're in this Together

During Arab Spring in 2011 my prayers were all over the place. I was praying so much I wound up in the hospital until my thyroid calmed down. We decided I would pray less and try to learn more about getting along with different cultures instead.

During my journey I learned that St. Aloysius Gonzaga was told to pray less, too. So far I've been attending annual Interreligious Dialogue Thanksgiving Service at the Abbey where we pray in front of each other. I was accepted as an Oblate of St. Benedict and learned about the different types and communities of monks.

Other ways I've learned is going to church talks, college lectures, retreats, networking and just getting out of doors. Not only learning about Muslims for example, or Vatican II, but with many types of people and hearing their stories.

I now have a more moderate and meaningful prayer life. Especially praying the Psalms in Divine Office. While praying the Psalms together we alternate groups, which is beautiful and nice to hear others praying. St. Ambrose of Milan, a Doctor of the Church, created the Antiphon; two sets of voices alternating.

Occasionally I join Morning Prayer at my Parish and have made new friends there. Also, many of us oblates in choir join the monks at the Abbey for Solemn Vespers once a month. What a privilege it is to be able to pray with others this way!

I can tell you, if you feel you are praying too hard on your own, you might try joining divineoffice.org sometimes or with your church for Morning Prayer. It's a blessing to join in public prayer. We really are in God's Kingdom.