What Is the Best Way to Pray?

Periodically, as Minister General of the Confraternity of Penitents, I get asked, "What is the best way to pray"? People who ask this question generally want to know if the Divine Office counts more with God, or will bring them closer to God, than, for example, the Rosary. Or they may want a professional opinion, not that I am a professional on prayer by any means, on whether they should gravitate more to contemplative prayer rather than continuing to pray the novenas and chaplets that comprise much of their prayer time. Is it better to read Scripture slowly and meditate on it, practicing lectio divina, or merely sit before the Blessed Sacrament and BE before the Lord? The best answer to this "What is the best way to pray" question was shared with me by Robert Arthur Hall, a prisoner who is an Affiliate of the Confraternity of Penitents.

Robert contacted us at least fifteen years ago and has been in touch ever since. Since having a stroke which has compromised his ability to write, he prefers to use email for corresponding. So do I, but not every prison has email. I'm glad Robert's does. Robert calls himself "brother sparrow" and the lower case letters are intentional. They reveal his humility as surely as the name he has chosen, for Christ said that no sparrow will fall to the ground without our Father's leave (Matthew 10:29). Robert sees himself as one of those sparrows. Would that we all saw ourselves in this humble way!

br. sparrow writes spiritual reflections which he shares, via email, with an ever increasing list of other Catholic "sparrows" who want to share in his insights. Robert shared the following reflection which tells what he feels is the best way to pray. I could not agree more. He has given permission to share this. Here is Robert's reflection.

"Peace! In prayer I ride the ''high horse.'' By the way that is where the phrase ''get off your high horse'' came from, but it has changed in meaning from the first use of it. In medieval times when an army was marching towards an enemy they would place thirty or forty sergeant-at-arms, who were usually knights, in the front van guard...they were usually the first to run into and strike the enemy. Because of their dangerous place before their army they rode the ''high horse.'' Literally the high horse was loaded with every kind of weapon that could be carried so that if a weapon was lost or broken in combat the knight could then grasp another replacement from off the saddle and continue to fight. The knights carried maces, morning stars, short sword, broad sword, battle axes, lances and so on. The knight road a warhorse that was large and could withstand the heavy knight and extra weapons. Needless to say these knights riding the high horse were very formidable.

"When I read in Ephesians 6 concerning the armor of God it struck me that prayer was very much like spiritual warfare. Being armed with prayer was paramount in walking with the Lord. Ah, but what kind of prayer? A wise saying that applies here is:

''The best way to pray...is...the way you pray best.''

"Taking the idea of the high horse it was clear to see that a Christians should avail themselves of EVERY KIND OF PRAYER AVAILABLE TO THEM. Knowing about the types of prayer and how to use them each means the Christians can consider themselves to be ''well-armed Christians.'' Finding the prayer style that you are comfortable with is literally ''the way you pray best.''

"The Christian should find out what each form of prayer is and what it will do for their individual needs in meeting and knowing who God is in their lives. In being familiar with each kind of prayer does NOT mean they have to utilize it but rather can then base their decisions of their individual needs. (Variety is the spice of life!)

"I have spent a number of years in reading about and trying different prayer techniques. For ME ONLY I have found I like something about all forms of prayer and I readily use them as interchangeable in my daily prayer life. I easily compare this type of praying as riding ''the high horse of prayer.'' Each day I start off with the Divine Office (a permanent prayer). Then I go to the Sacred Heart devotion (permanent prayer) and with those said I move out into the day. I may pray a chaplet and then pray the Scriptures. Then there is the Jesus Prayer if called for. Then there is meditation. There is ''contemplation'' and a time to be quiet. The Way of the Cross is excellent also. Then there is just plain talking to God which I've to be very good. What I'm saying is that it does not matter in which way you pray but rather THAT YOU PRAY. God will meet you no matter which way you pray JUST THAT YOU PRAY. God has spoken to my heart when I've been praying the Rosary as well as when I was in contemplation or when in Scripture. You make it a point to spend time reaching for God and He will make it a Divine Point to reach out to you. And that my little sparrow friends does not get any better that that.

pax et bonum
bro. sparrow"

If anyone wants to be on Robert's email list, please email me directly at copenitents@yahoo.com and I will share your email with Robert. He will then sign your email up on his email list and you will receive an email from the prison system email CorrLinks Now the next part is really important. CorrLinks will email YOU and say that a prisoner wishes to contact you. It will NOT tell you WHO the prisoner is but you will know it is Robert because who else in prison has your email? When you receive this, within ten days you must follow the instructions in the CorrLinks email and APPROVE his contacting you. You will have sign in with YOUR email and a password THAT YOU CREATE FOR CORRLINKS. Do NOT use your email password! Make up some password for CorrLinks you will remember like CorrLinks123 or Robert456 or something. Then follow instructions for approving to receive email from him. You will also want to be notified by CorrLinks when Robert sends an email to you. I can give those who wish those specific instructions. There is no charge to you for this service, by the way. I have used it for a few years with several prisoners in the Confraternity of Penitents Alessandro Prison Ministry, and it has worked very well.

Why not pray about whether or not you want to be on Robert's email list? What is the best way to pray about that? Why, brother sparrow has already chirped that answer into your ear!

--Madeline Pecora Nugent, CFP