GUEST columns This Christmas, pray together as a family It seems hard enough to find time to pray on your own, let alone to gather up the family and pray together. I have good news — not only is it possible but your family may start insisting on it! With Christmas right around the corner, there isn’t a better time to prepare for Jesus’ birth than prayer within the family. The best gift you can give someone for Christmas is the gift of prayer. What many people don’t realize is that there are different ways to pray. Before we determine how a family should pray together, or try to incorporate prayer into our family life, we must look first at what “prayer” means. One common misconception can be stated this way: “God already knows what I want so why do I need to pray?” A good response is that even though God knows what you want before you even ask Him for it, He still wants you to engage in a conversation with Him. From the Holy Bible, in the book of Matthew, Chapter 7, verses 7-8, Jesus says, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.” It’s important to realize that if God wants us to “ask” then He must be willing to “give.” Therefore, we have to ask and we ask by engaging in conversation. In Bryan Kassa SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS short, prayer is a conversation with God — not just any conversation but a conversation where you can raise your mind and heart to God. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of prayer. • Mass: Attending Mass is the most powerful prayer one can offer to God. There is no other gift that God loves to be offered than your presence at Mass joining the priest as he offers God the gift of His son, Jesus Christ. Every week Jesus invites us over His house (Church) for a meal (Eucharist). When mass is missed, not only are we not nourishing our soul with the meal He has prepared for us, but we are also declining Jesus’ invitation to come over to His house. St. Alphonsus said, “All the prayers and good works of the Angels and Saints put together, though of exceeding great merit and though they give unspeakable glory to God, are not comparable to even one Mass.” • Adoration: The root of the word “adoration” is “adore,” which is another word for worship. It is Jesus Christ in the Eucharist who is being worshiped when you enter an Adoration Chapel. One can speak to Jesus, who is the Eucharist at the Adoration Chapel, as you would talk to your best friend. If you don’t feel like talking then just your presence and visit is a prayer in itself. • Vocal Prayer: Vocal prayer consists of prayers that are said out loud either by yourself or with a group. Popular vocal prayers include the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Holy Rosary or your favorite novena prayer. • Meditation: Meditative prayer can be done in many different ways. For example, reading a Bible passage and then reflecting on it, reading a good Catholic book, appreciating nature and pondering God’s creation, or even writing a letter to God are all ways to use meditative prayer. St. Padre Pio said, “Through the study of books one seeks God; by meditation one finds Him.” Now let’s discuss how to incorporate these different ways of prayer into your family life. • Vocal / Meditative: Choose any day before the day your family usually attends mass and gather the family in a cozy spot in your home. Building a comfortable environment will help with prayer; for example, wearing pajamas around a warm fire to pray the Holy Rosary. The Holy Rosary offers both “vocal prayer” and “meditative prayer.” It is vocal because you’re reciting prayers out loud and meditative because each decade (10 beads) is attached to a “mystery.” The joyful mysteries are perfect meditations to prepare the family for Christmas. It is a great way to meditate on what happened to Jesus and Mary more than 2,000 years ago while vocally praying the prayers of the rosary. • Adoration: Get to mass 10 minutes early with your family to sit in front of the tabernacle in silence while adoring Jesus. If you have children, set their expectations in advance of what to do during these 10 minutes. Teach them to thank God for the blessings within your family as well as their ability to walk and breathe and have a home to live in and clothes to wear. For married couples, pray for your spouse. Ask God to help you help your spouse get to heaven since this is the main goal of marriage. Attend mass each week as a family. Remember, a family that prays together stays together. Bryan Kassa is a seminarian and will be ordained in three and a half years. BUY ONE DINNER ENTREE & GET A SECOND DINNER ENTREE OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE 50% OFF RESTRICTIONS APPLY. NOT VALID WITH OTHER OFFERS OR DISCOUNTS. MENTION THE CHALDEAN NEWS. MUST PRESENT COUPON 3354 W. 12 Mile Rd. Berkley, MI 48072 (248) 543-6299 www.mazzaindiancuisine.com 12 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER2011
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