I
started reading an online book/diary by Dorothy Day (of the Catholic
Worker) that describes the life of women on the farm in 1948. No easy
life, that's for sure. The book can be found on the Catholic Worker
site and is called "On Pilgrimage."
Anyway,
I thought you might be interested in a description by Dorothy of how
she prays for friends who are in sorrow. Here is an excerpt in her own
words:
"We
are so far from church, and the snow kept us from getting to Mass
Sunday. So we read the epistle and gospel for the day and have been
doing it daily since. Sunday’s epistle was about the marriage feast of
Cana. When my friends are in sorrow and trouble, or even when they are
just without spirit, I like to pray, “Jesus, they have no wine,” or
“Mary, they have no wine.” It is a good prayer for many sad hearts
today." (January 19, 1948)
Isn't that a great way to pray with scripture?
When
you say, "Jesus (or Mary), they have no wine," you are making a
statement and asking for help. Praying like this makes scripture
personal and intimately connects our needs to the events in the life of
Jesus.
Praying like this immediately removes any perceived distance standing between us and Christ.
If
you struggle with prayer and scripture, use this method described by
Dorothy Day to simplify things. It may just refresh your prayer life
and allow you to hear God in a new way.
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