Devotions

Time for Prayer

Prayerfulness is deeply a part of you: in body, mind and spirit.

Some thoughts to keep in mind

Peace and quietness are often hard to find in our busy lives, at home or in work. When we are troubled, or have a great sadness we can find it even more difficult to be at peace in ourselves.

Being still with the Lord, giving just a few minutes to him each day will lead you to deep inner peace, calmness and the joy of knowing the Lord is near.

Set aside 15 minutes a couple of times each day to sit alone without distraction. No phones, no television; and no talking. Even if you have a busy day, there are moments before and after you can set aside. Even if there is noise around you, people chattering, children playing, this is your moment of stillness for yourself and given to the Lord. Be honest, don’t pretend you are so busy you cannot find time. Keep to this and find the calmness and inner peace that comes from the Lord.

In this stillness take time to read a passage from the bible. We are listening to the Word of God. Then in our prayers we are answering him, responding to his Word.

It is a conversation – a conversation the Lord started.

He invites us to sit with him; to speak with him. Take it slowly. No rushing.

Calmness, quietness and peace.

“…..in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

About Prayerfulness.com

Prayerfulness is deeply a part of you: in body, mind and spirit.

Everyone can be Prayerful.

Prayerfulness is a state of being deeply a part of you in your body, mind and spirit. Whether you are a person of faith and religion, or a person with no particular faith or religion Prayerfulness is for you. It may be called by another name or practice or discipline – but it is essentially the same kind of thing.

It is our search for inner quietness and peace that comes from spending some time each day, or even your whole day, in stillness and reflection.

It is also a discipline through which we connect and find balance – within ourselves, with each other and with the world around us.

The state of being and discipline of Prayerfulness can be followed in moments of quiet, in community gatherings – and when we are at work and play – it can be with you all the time – deeply in your body, mind and spirit.

For those who have a faith or are part of a religion, Prayerfulness can be rooted in that faith and in the history and traditions of that religion. It finds expression in the customs and practices of their religion.

For people of the world faiths their Prayerfulness is deeply rooted in their history and religion. In them we have wonderful examples of devotion and daily prayer. We can learn from each other.

For the Christian their Prayerfulness is rooted in two thousand years of tradition, teaching and learning, and in the Scriptures – and in turn it is rooted in about a further three thousand years of the Jewish faith and history. For us today, in this rich tradition and history there are many examples and practices to learn from and to follow in our own daily prayer and worship.

We can discover and learn from Scripture and the living traditions of the Church, expressed in its many forms and communities around the world.

The Lord himself has given us, and continues to give us, an intimate example and teaching of how to be Prayerful.

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Prayerfulness is a conversation – a conversation the Lord started.

Prayerfulness.com hopes to support you in your own Prayerfulness and in your daily prayer and reflection.

There are:

examples of daily prayer
links to websites that have an extensive range and examples of prayer;
there is a page with prayers for yourself and loved ones, friends and neighbours;
a page for prayers of thanksgiving;
and you can follow the Sunday scripture readings in your times of prayer and reflection.

Welcome to Prayerfulness.com
Prayerfulness.com hopes to support you in your own Prayerfulness and in your daily prayer and reflection.
There are some examples of daily prayer, and links to websites that have an extensive range and examples of prayer; there is a page where you can share your prayers for yourself and loved ones, friends and neighbours; a page for your prayers of thanksgiving; and you can follow the daily scripture readings in your times of prayer and reflection.
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Deep in us is the desire to find and speak with our Creator, who has called all of us from all eternity to know, love and honour. Each day we are searching. The Creator wishes to be found. Also we can find the Creator through each other, through the world around us and within ourselves.

The Lord Jesus has shown us the way to find him. The followers of the Lord shared may days and months with him, and shared in daily prayer and the festivals and celebrations of the Hebrew calendar. They also saw him in quiet prayer and knew that he would often be alone in prayer. This had a such a profound affect on them, they wanted to imitate him. So they asked him: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11.1-4; see also Matthew 6:7-13). He taught them and us The Lord’s Prayer as a model for what we should pray.
(See Daily Prayers/Prayers 1).

It is a conversation – a conversation the Lord started.

In calm and trust and quietness be still and find the Lord of all creation and life. Then through your life share what you have found with all around you.
Let us pray … together.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING

Prayerfulness is deeply a part of you: in body, mind and spirit.

Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
Night Prayer

PRIVATE PRAYER and COMMUNITY PRAYER

Your Prayerfulness can be a quiet moment, a meditation, a thanksgiving, or a time for calling on the Lord for help and guidance, and praying for your needs and the needs of others.
You can offer moments of prayer throughout your whole day – alone and privately within yourself. You can also have set times in the day when you are quiet and in prayer.
Then at times you may wish to gather with others to share this time of prayer, and of worship; and so share and be part of a community of prayer.
AND you can offer or say a set of prayers alone and privately, that will also be said or offered by others in their quiet time.
This way you are part of a community of prayer when alone and when you gather together.

Use no words, or just one word or a phrase; or read or recite a set of prayers

Each day set aside time for daily prayer – to be still and quiet. (See Time for Prayer)

You do not need to use lots of words. Read the Gospels of St Matthew 6:1-15 and St Luke 11:2-4, Jesus gives us the Lord’s Pray, the Our Father.

At times it will be enough to be still, and at times it will be enough and wonderful just to say and repeat one word or a short phrase, or to repeat just one prayer. This could be your MANTRA: a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. Many who have grown in Prayerfulness follow this way of prayer or meditation or deep contemplation.

You could simply say and repeat in your mind or aloud:

Father
Son
Holy Spirit
Jesus
My Lord and my God
Jesus I trust in You
My God I praise You
My God I thank You
My God I love You

…or read or recite a set of prayers

Often also it is wonderful, and helpful, and can also be a meditation, to read or recite a set of prayers. This would also include a passage from the bible or from another writer whose work you have found inspiring and helpful.

In your Prayerfulness and in these times:

offer prayers of praise
of love
of thanksgiving
and you can offer prayers seeking the Lord’s help for your needs and the needs of all around you (See Your Prayers)

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Examples:

The examples included in Prayerfulness.com are suggested sets of prayers to help you:

Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
Night Prayer

There are more suggestions in the HOURS OF THE DAY and in DEVOTIONS.

Follow the DAILY READINGS from Scripture, and read and reflect on them as part of your daily prayer.

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Always begin by saying:

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”.

- This on it own can be a wonderful prayer.
- Offer your day, your time and your prayer by proclaiming these Names; and each time you begin and end your prayer.
- In your prayer or at the end of your prayer you could also say:

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen”.

Sunday Scripture Readings

Prayerfulness is deeply a part of you: in body, mind and spirit.

This week’s readings from Scripture

Follow the Sunday readings from Scripture, and read and reflect on them as part of your daily prayer.

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Today's Prayer

Lord, teach us to pray.

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Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reproduced with Permission.
Excerpt from THE GRAIL PSALMS, with permission of A P Watt at United Agents on behalf of The Grail, England. Copyright © 1963 by The Grail, England.
Copyright © 2019-2024 Prayerfulness.com. Users must not reproduce, download, store in any medium, distribute, transmit or retransmit or manipulate any text contained in this website except for non-commercial worship purposes. Thank you.

Scripture Reading Through the Year

Prayerfulness is deeply a part of you: in body, mind and spirit.

Follow the daily readings from Scripture, and read and reflect on them as part of your daily prayer.

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Day

Date

Old or New
Testament Reading

Psalm or Song

New Testament Reading

Gospel Reading

MAY 2020

Friday 1 Acts 9:1–20 Ps 116 John 6:52–59
Saturday 2 Acts 9:31–42 Ps 115 John 6:60-69

Fourth Sunday of Easter 3 Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Ps 22 1 Pet 2:20-25 John 10:1-10
Monday 4 Acts 11:1–18 Ps 41:2-6 John 10:11–18
Tuesday 5 Acts 11:19–26 Ps 86 John 10:22–30
Wednesday 6 Acts 12:24 – 13:5 Ps 66 John 12:44–50
Thursday 7 Acts 13:13–25 Ps 88:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27 John 13:13–20
Friday 8 Acts 13:26–33 Ps 2:6–11 John 14:1–6
Saturday 9 Acts 13:44–52 Ps 97 John 14:7–14

Fifth Sunday of Easter 10 Acts 6:1-7 Ps 32:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 1 Pet 2:4-9 John 14:1-12
Monday 11 Acts 14:5–18 Ps 113b:1–4, 15–16 John 14:21–26
Tuesday 12 Acts 14:19–28 Ps 144:10–13, 21 John 14:27–31
Wednesday 13 Acts 15:1–6 Ps 121:1–5 John 15:1–8
Thursday 14 Acts 15:7–21 Ps 95:1–3, 10 John 15:9–11
Friday 15 Acts 15:22–31 Ps 56:8–12 John 15:12–17
Saturday 16 Acts 16:1–10 Ps 99:1–3, 5 John 15:18–21

Sixth Sunday of Easter 17 Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Ps 65:1-7, 16, 20 1 Pet 3:15-18 John 14:15-21
Monday 18 Acts 16:11–15 Ps 149:1–6, 9 John 15:26 – 16:4
Tuesday 19 Acts 16:22–34 Ps 137:1–3, 7–8 John 16:5-11
Wednesday 20 Acts 17:15. 22 – 18:1 Ps 148:1–2, 11–14 John 16:12–15
The Ascension of the Lord 21 Acts 1:1-11 Ps 46:2-3, 6-9 Eph 1:17-23 Matt 28:16-20
Friday 22 Acts 18:9–18 Ps 46:2-7 Lk 24:46.26
Saturday 23 Acts 18:23–28 Ps 46:2-3, 8–10 John 16:23–28

Seventh Sunday of Easter 24 Acts 1:12-14 Ps 26:1, 4, 7-8 1 Pet 4:13-16 John 17:1-11
Monday 25 Acts 19:1–8 Ps 67:2–7 John 16:29–33
Tuesday 26 Acts 20:17–27 Ps 67:10–11. 20–21 John 17:1–11
Wednesday 27 Acts 20:28–38 Ps 67:29–30, 33–36 John 17:11–19
Thursday 28 Acts 22:30; 23:6–11 Ps 15:1–2, 5, 7–11 John 17:20–26
Friday 29 Acts 25:13–21 Ps 102:1–2, 11–12, 19–20 John 21:15–19
Saturday 30 Acts 28:16–20. 30–31 Ps 10:4-5, 7 John 21:20–25
Pentecost Sunday 31 Acts 2:1-11 Ps 103 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23

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Review Scripture Readings 2022
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

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Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reproduced with Permission.
Excerpt from THE GRAIL PSALMS, with permission of A P Watt at United Agents on behalf of The Grail, England. Copyright © 1963 by The Grail, England.
Copyright © 2019-2024 Prayerfulness.com. Users must not reproduce, download, store in any medium, distribute, transmit or retransmit or manipulate any text contained in this website except for non-commercial worship purposes. Thank you.

Scripture Reading Through the Year

Prayerfulness is deeply a part of you: in body, mind and spirit.

Follow the daily readings from Scripture, and read and reflect on them as part of your daily prayer.

_________________________________________

Day

Date

Old or New
Testament Reading

Psalm or Song

New Testament Reading

Gospel Reading

APRIL 2020

Wednesday (Lent Wk 5) 1 Daniel 3:14-20,24-25,28 Daniel 3:52-56 John 8:31-42
Thursday (Lent Wk 5) 2 Genesis 17:3-9 Ps 104:4-9 John 8:51-59
Friday (Lent Wk 5) 3 Jeremiah 20:10-13 17:2-7 John 10:31-42
Saturday (Lent Wk 5) 4 Ezekiel 37:21-28 Jeremiah 31:10-13 John 11:45-56

Passion (Palm) Sunday 5 Isaiah 50:4-7 Ps 21:8-9,17-20,23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14 – 27:66
Monday of Holy Week 6 Isaiah 42:1-7 Ps 26:1-3,13-14 John 12:1-11
Tuesday of Holy Week 7 Isaiah 49:1-6 Ps 70:1-6,15,17 John 13:21-33, 36-38
Wednesday of Holy Week 8 Isaiah 50:4-9 Ps 68:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34 Matthew 26:14-25
Holy Thursday 9 Exodus 12: 1–8, 11–14 Ps Ps 115 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 John 13: 1-15
Good Friday 10 Isaiah 52:13-53: 12 Ps 30:2,6,12-13,15-17,25 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 St John 18:1 – 19:42
Easter Sunday Vigil Mass 11 Isaiah 55:1-11 Isaiah 12: 2-6 Romans 6:3–11 Matthew 28: 1–10
Easter Sunday Morning 12 Acts 10: 34. 37-43 Ps 117:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Colossians 3: 1-4 John 20: 1-9
Easter Monday 13 Acts 2:14, 22-32 Ps 15:1-2, 5, 7-11 Matt 28:8-15
Easter Tuesday 14 Acts 2:36-41 Ps 32:4-5, 18-20, 22 John 20:11-18
Easter Wednesday 15 Acts 3:1-10 Ps 104:1-4, 6-9 Luke 24:13-35
Easter Thursday 16 Acts 3:11-26 Ps 8:2, 5-9 Luke 24:35-48
Easter Friday 17 Acts 4:1-12 Ps 117:1-2, 4, 22-27 John 21:1-14
Easter Saturday 18 Acts 4:13-21 Ps 117:1, 14-21 Mark 16:9-15

Second Sunday of Easter 19 Acts 2:42-47 Ps 117:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 1 Pet 1:3-9 John 20:19-31
Monday 20 Acts :23–31 Ps 2:1–9 John 3:1–8
Tuesday 21 Acts 4:32–37 Ps 91:1–2, 5 John 3:7–15
Wednesday 22 Acts 5:17–26 Ps 33:2–9 John 3:16–21
Thursday 23 Acts 5:27–33 Ps 33:2., 9, 17–20 John 3:31–26
Friday 24 Acts 5:34–42 Ps 26:1, 4, 13–14 John 6:1–15
Saturday 25 Acts 6:1–7 Ps 32 1–2, 4–5, 18–19 John 6:16–21

Third Sunday of Easter 26 Acts 2:14, 22-33 Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 1 Pet 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35
Monday 27 Acts 6:8–15 Ps 118:23-24, 26-27, 29-30 John 6:22–29
Tuesday 28 Acts 7:51–8:1 Ps 30:3–4, 6–8, 17, 21 John 6:30–35
Wednesday 29 Acts 8:1–8 Ps 65:1–7 John 6:35–40
Thursday 30 Acts 8:26–40 Ps 65:8–9, 16–17, 20 John 6:44–51

Review Scripture Readings 2022
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

_________________________________________

Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reproduced with Permission.
Excerpt from THE GRAIL PSALMS, with permission of A P Watt at United Agents on behalf of The Grail, England. Copyright © 1963 by The Grail, England.
Copyright © 2019-2024 Prayerfulness.com. Users must not reproduce, download, store in any medium, distribute, transmit or retransmit or manipulate any text contained in this website except for non-commercial worship purposes. Thank you.

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Suggested Prayers, Reflections and Links will be acknowledged – according to a contributor’s wish (Anonymous or First Name etc).

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	The Eucharist

	The Stations of the Cross At any time in the year, and especially during the weeks of Lent, follow the fourteen Stations of the Cross – in devotion to Jesus and how he offered himself and his life for you.

	Mother Mary The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, has a unique place in the Christian family, given to us to be our Mother by Jesus on the cross. We believe she continues to pray for us, her children, and to bring our prayers to her Divine Son (John 19:25-27).
	The Rosary Pray The Rosary, and maybe discover this is a special devotion in your prayer life. The Rosary can be prayed all year round. October is set aside the month of the Holy Rosary. The Rosary is a meditation on the life and works of Jesus, aided by repeating sets of prayers, while holding Rosary beads and using these to count the prayers one by one. It is a prayerful way to help us keep the Lord before our minds, and recall how our salvation was brought. The spirituality of the Rosary is profound and is a deep expression of love and devotion to the Lord. The Rosary is a way also to pray with Jesus’ mother, Mary. We honour Mary and join our prayers with her prayers.
	Mary Untier of Knots In recent decades a refreshing new, so simple and inspiring devotion had grown – Mary Untier of Knots. We see in this Mary beautifully fulfilling her role watching over her children and healing their problems and ills.