Each month my Benedictine Sisters devote a day to silent prayer. They observe silence, spend time in reflection and engage in private prayer on the first Wednesday of every month. It’s heaven!
But since I work in a funny, loving and LOUD preschool classroom every day of the week, I can’t participate on Wednesdays. I try to take a Saturday each month for my own prayer day, so tomorrow will be it for January.
Boy, am I looking forward to it!
Sometimes I have no great plans and just wait to see where the Spirit moves me. Sometimes I read a book that I can reflect on and journey with.
A book that I have read recently and can recommend – it is fabulous! – Joyce Rupp’s Walk in a Relaxed Manner. If you are look for a good spiritual book to read you may want to check this out.
Tomorrow I do have some plans for Prayer Day. I am in the process of preparing to ask my community to make Perpetual Monastic Profession. It is hard to believe I am there already! So I plan to take time to reflect on my life as a Benedictine Sister these last 5-1/2 years. Then I will write the reflections down to share with Prioress Sister Sandra Brunenn. It should be a good, quiet and refreshing day!
srstefaniesabcsblog.smmsisters.org 
[…] Each month my Benedictine Sisters devote a day to silent prayer. They observe silence, spend time in reflection and engage in private prayer on the first Wednesday of every month. It’s heaven! Read the rest at Sister Stefanie’s ABCs! […]
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Hi, I’m an oblate from Knoxville, Iowa.
I received from the social action committee at St. Anthony’s, Knoxville:
Martha,
The social action committee is planning to show the Rice Bowl videos during Mass again this year and hope to develop some new “two week challenges” that tie in with the videos. One of the videos this year highlights an early childhood education program in Lesotho. We’re trying (unsuccessfully, so far!) to come up with a prayer, fasting, or almsgiving idea that would tie in with the content of the video. Given your work in the field, I’m wondering if you could watch the video (4 minutes) and let me know if you have any ideas. If you recall, last year we had a fasting challenge where folks drank only water for two weeks and donated the money they would have spent on other drinks; a giving challenge where folks put a kernel of corn in a cup each time they turned on a faucet and then donated some money for each kernel; and a prayer challenge where we gave them a prayer to pray everyday for two weeks. So, we’re trying to come up with some ideas along these lines.
Here’s the link to the video http://www.crsricebowl.org/stories-of-hope/ Click on the “week 3” tab to find the video on Lesotho.
Thanks!
—I’ve found a few things, but thought of you. Maybe you are aware of something? Thanks–don’t spend too much time on it, but any ideas are most welcome. martha
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You could praying to patron saint of children. Here are a few:
A Prayer for Children
God, Our Father, we pray that through Your intercession of St. Nicholas You will protect our children. Keep them safe from harm and help them grow and become worthy in Your sight. Give them strength to keep their Faith in You; and to keep alive their joy in Your creation. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Agnes
St. Agnes, although you were only a child, you believed that Jesus was always with you; help us to remember that he is also with us, and to remain true to his presence.
St. Agnes, you refused to give up your faith; help us to be proud of our faith, to love it, to be strong in it, and to give witness to it daily.
St. Agnes, patron saint of children, watch over the children of the world; keep them safe from harm; be with them in their hour of need; and always pray for them.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
A Prayer for Students
O glorious Saint Catherine, wise and prudent virgin, thou who didst set the knowledge of Jesus Christ above all other knowledge, obtain for us the grace to remain inviolably attached to the Catholic faith, and to seek in our studies and in our teaching only the extension of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord and of His Holy Church both in ourselves and in the souls of others. Amen.
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