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QUIK-CLICK
GUIDE
Centering Prayer
Charismatic Prayer
Eucharistic Adoration
Intercessory Prayer
Marian Devotion
Taizι Prayer
Vespers/Evening Prayer
Resources for the
Liturgy of the Hours
Glossary of Prayer Terms
The
spiritual
life...is not limited solely to participation in
the liturgy.... Popular devotions of the Christian people,
provided they conform to the laws and norms of the Church,
are to be highly recommended.... But such devotions should
be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons,
accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some way derived from
it, and lead the people to it, since in fact the liturgy by its
very
nature is far superior to any of
them.
--
Second Vatican
Council,
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
(1963) #12, 13.
Opportunities
for Public
Prayer and Devotions
Over the centuries, the Christian
tradition has developed a wide variety of prayer styles and
formats designed to help individuals and groups experience and express
their relationship to God, both privately and publicly. The following is
a list of various opportunities for communal prayer and devotion
available in the Cedar Valley.
CENTERING PRAYER
Centering Prayer is a form
of contemplative prayer shaped by the spirituality of
Catholic mystics like John Cassian, Teresa of Avila and John of
the Cross. It is inspired by the wisdom saying of Jesus in
the Sermon on the Mount: "When you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret." In
recent years, the writing of several Cistercian monks like
Thomas Merton, Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. Basil Pennington have
introduced centering prayer to a modern audience. In
contemplative or "centering" prayer, the prayer
often uses a word, a short phrase or symbol to distract the mind
and heart. The goal of Centering Prayer is to "rest"
quietly in God's presence, undistracted by any intentional thoughts,
ideas, or feelings. Some individuals seem more naturally
inclined toward contemplative prayer, although many others find that, with practice, it
becomes a rich oasis in the midst of a busy life.
Related website:
<www.contemplativeoutreach.org>
Local Opportunities for
Centering Prayer
American
Martyrs Retreat House,
2209 N. Union Road, Cedar Falls
Bi-monthly, on the first and third Sunday
of the month,
3:30-5:30pm.
Contact:
Sr. Jeanine Kuhn, PBVM (319-266-3543;
email DBQAMRH@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us)
Jenny Adamson (319-266-8225;
email adamsonje@cfu.net).
CHARISMATIC PRAYER
Charismatic Prayer is a type of
enthusiastic and expressive (hence "charismatic") prayer inspired
by the experience of the first disciples at Pentecost.
According to the testimony of the early church, members of the community continued
to receive special charisms* of the Spirit for the
purpose of building up the community and accomplishing its
mission. In later centuries, this aspect of the Spirit's
presence was somewhat overshadowed and at times discouraged. It
was revived in recent years by Pope John XXIII and the Second
Vatican Council (1962-65) which affirmed that in addition to
the sacraments and official ministries of the Church,
"the Holy Spirit makes holy the
people [and] distributes special graces among the faithful of
every rank" (Lumen Gentium, #13). Charismatic prayer is
popular among American Catholics who associate themselves with
the Charismatic Renewal Movement which began in Michigan in the
late 1960s.
Related website:
<www.nsc-chariscenter.org/>
The Inter-City Charismatic Prayer Group at Sacred Heart
Parish was organized in 1972.
Its weekly prayer includes a combination of songs of praise and worship;
personal witness, praying in tongues,* interpretation, shared Scripture and intercessory prayers*.
In
addition to weekly prayer, this group also sponsors "healing Masses" at local parishes.
Local Opportunities for Charismatic
Prayer
Sacred Heart
Church, 627 W. Fourth St., Waterloo. (Use side entrance)
Weekly,
on Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:00pm.
Contact:
Sharon Even (319-232-7338)
EUCHARISTIC
ADORATION
Eucharistic adoration
is one of many devotions* by which
Catholics express their belief in the real presence of
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. During
Eucharistic adoration, individuals spend a certain amount of
time
(customarily an hour) in quiet meditation before the Eucharist
which is publicly displayed on the altar. Some adorers use
prayers, hymns or sacred reading, but the primary disposition is
to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation by which God
became human in the person of Jesus Christ.
Some observers liken this experience to that of the apostles
during the Transfiguration (cf.
Luke 9:28-36).
Devotion to the Eucharist originated as a way of honoring the bread
which was consecrated at Mass and reserved for later
distribution to the sick and dying or sent to neighboring
communities as a sign of unity. Various Eucharistic devotions
developed in the early Middle Ages in response to
theological controversies over Jesus' presence in the Eucharist
and became more widespread following the Protestant Reformation.
The Second Vatican Council emphasized the primacy of the
Eucharistic liturgy, which is the source of Christ's
sacramental presence on earth;
the Council insisted that Eucharistic devotions must flow from
and lead to full and active participation in the liturgy itself.
Related website: <www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/intro/a11.html>
Local Opportunities for Eucharistic
Adoration
Columbus High
School Chapel, 3231 West Ninth St., Waterloo
Perpetual Adoration
(24 hours a day)
Contact:
Joni Hansen (319-290-2025)
Blessed
Sacrament Church, 650 Stephen Ave., Waterloo
Adoration and benediction* on the first Thursday of the month, following Marian Prayer.
St. Edward Church, 1423 Kimball
Ave., Waterloo
Adoration and benediction* on the third Monday of the month at 7:00pm.
INTERCESSORY
PRAYER
Intercessory prayer is a
form of petitionary prayer in which one prays for a particular need, group or person (oneself or others).
It is inspired by the instruction Jesus gave to the disciples: "Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be
opened to you" (Mt.7:7). Petitionary or intercessory
prayer is perhaps the most common form of personal prayer; over the years, it has also been a frequent form of common or
public prayer. Many contemplative communities of men and
women have been formed for the expressed purpose of being intercessors for church authorities, the
church at large, the world, or particular causes. In times
of natural disasters or public crises such as war, Christians
have often gathered together in their local churches to pray for
safety, deliverance or peace. The "Prayers
of the Faithful" at Mass (sometimes called "the Petitions")
are a form of intercessory prayer, as is the Eucharistic Prayer
itself.
I-HOPE Ministries is a
non-denominational community organized to provide opportunities
for prayer, healing, charity and evangelization. The
community provides a variety of prayer and worship opportunities
and a free health clinic. The weekly prayer and worship
meeting on Monday evenings is dedicated to intercession* for
local needs and for specific social needs such as an end to
abortions.
The Intercessors of the Lamb
at Blessed Sacrament Parish are a Public
Association of the Christian faithful which promotes
contemplative spirituality and a ministry of communal
intercession. It was founded in 1980 in Omaha, Nebraska and is
based on the contemplative spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila,
the devotional spirituality of St. John Eudes
and the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Members spend time in
daily contemplation and journaling. At the weekly meeting they
share insights they have gained, reflect
on a reading from the founder or the Association's formational
books, pray in small groups and
conclude with large group prayer.
Related website: <www.bellwetheromaha.org>
The
Prayer for the World prayer group at Queen of Peace Parish began in September, 2001 in
response to the events of 9/11. It has met weekly since
then, first at St. Nicholas Parish in Evansdale, and later at
Queen of Peace Parish in Waterloo. The group's prayer
reflects Gospel themes such as non-violence, forgiveness,
justice, peace, love for enemies and solidarity with the
suffering of the poor, neglected and victims of violence.
Each prayer session includes readings, a short reflection time,
intercessions and closing prayer. The group seeks to
create a prayer experience which combines quiet meditation and
individual prayer with a sense of communal solidarity and
responsibility for the world.
Local Opportunities for
Communal Intercession
I-HOPE Ministries
I_Hope
Ministries, 722 S. Hackett
Rd, Waterloo.
Weekly, on Monday evenings, 7:00-9:00pm
Contact:
Mike Peters (email: michaelfpeters@cfu.net)
Intercessors of the Lamb
Blessed
Sacrament Church, 650 Stephen St., Waterloo.
Weekly, on Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm.
Weekly, on Monday mornings, 10:30am to 12:30pm in a private
home.
Contact:
Jim Roche (319-232-5615)
Barbara Wilke (319-266-2901; email: wilkebarbara@q.com)
Prayer for the World
Queen of Peace Church,
320 Mulberry St., Waterloo.
Weekly, on Wednesday evenings, 7:00-7:30pm. (Meets in
the lower level of the church.)
Contact:
Judith Boston (319-232-0572;
email JANDQB@aol.com)
MARIAN
DEVOTION
Devotion to Mary the Mother of Jesus dates back to the earliest
days of the Christian community -- perhaps as far back as the wedding feast at Cana,
where Mary intervened
with her son on behalf of the hosts who had run out of wine (cf. John 2:1ff). This devotion has included a variety of
public and private prayer forms, including novenas*,
chaplets*, and the Rosary*. Catholics do not worship Mary
or the saints, but they value them as role models in this life
and intercessors in the next. Over the years, many
Catholics relied on their devotion to Mary and the saints when the Church's official worship seemed
too impersonal, intellectual or masculine. Modern Marian
devotion is often closely associated with appearances (or apparitions*) of the
Blessed Virgin, such as those at Guadalupe in Mexico (1531),
Lourdes in France (1858), Fatima in Spain (1917), and Medjugorje
in Bosnia (1981).
The Marian Prayer Group at Blessed Sacrament Parish was formed in 2000, following a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, and many of its members have a special devotion to
Our Lady of Medjugorje. The group's prayer consists of various readings, litanies*, Vespers* and
hymns, the Divine Mercy Chaplet*, and the Rosary*. On the
first Thursday of the month it also includes adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament.
Related website:
<www.medjugorje.org/index.html>
Local Opportunities for
Marian Devotion
Blessed
Sacrament Church, 650 Stephen St., Waterloo.
Weekly, on Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:00pm.
Contact:
Stan Tuve (319-236-2336; email: Dolphin35@mchsi.com)
TAIZE PRAYER
Taizι Prayer is a
contemplative
style of prayer developed by an ecumenical community of monks in
central France. The community was founded by a Protestant
layman in 1949; it adopted the traditional monastic order of prayer and work,
poverty, chastity and obedience. Over
the years it has attracted many Catholic members and is today a
popular destination for thousands of young pilgrims from around
the world The monks of Taizι developed a distinctive style of
contemplative prayer which incorporates the frequent repetition of simple contemporary chants
with periods of silence, readings from
Scripture, prayers of praise and intercession. The Taize
style of contemplative prayer is widely practiced today in
student centers, retreat houses and parish churches throughout
the world.
Related website:
<www.taize.fr/en>
Local Opportunities for Taizι Prayer
St. Stephen the Witness Catholic
Student Center, 1019 W. 23rd Street, Cedar Falls.
Monthly, on the first Tuesday of the month, 9:00pm in the
chapel.
Contact: St. Stephen Catholic Student Center
(319-266-9863; www.ststephenuni.org)
Westminster
Presbyterian Church, 1301 Kimball Ave., Waterloo
Monthly, on the last or second last Sunday (see church
schedule), 6:00pm.
Contact: Westminster Presbyterian Church (319-234-5501.
www.wpcw.org)
VESPERS/EVENING PRAYER
Vespers or Evening Prayer is one of six designated times for
prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church's official
daily prayer. Like the other "Hours" (morning, midmorning,
midday, midafternoon and night), it consists of selected
prayers and psalms, Scripture and readings from the
Church Fathers. The Jewish custom of praying at
designated times each day was
retained by the early Christian community. Although daily
prayer is common among Christians,
the habit of using an official prayer, six times a day, was
generally limited over the years to religious communities and the clergy.
Today the "Hours" are prayed in common in communities
of monks and nuns; most priests, deacons and vowed religious men and
women pray the Hours privately. The Second Vatican Council
urged that the Liturgy of the Hours be more widely celebrated in
parishes as well.
Local Opportunities for Evening
Prayer
St. Edward
Church, 1423 Kimball Ave., Waterloo.
Weekly during Lent, on Sunday evenings, 6:30pm.
Contact:
Mary Conway (319-233-8060; email DBQ210s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us)
Resources for Praying the
Liturgy of
the Hours
Here are resources for individuals or small
groups who want to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
Liturgy of the
Hours. Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1980. (This official four-
volume set can be challenging for the
average person. The following resources
are adapted from the official Hours and are easier for the
average lay person to
use.)
Christian Prayer--the Liturgy of the Hours. Catholic Book
Publishing Co., 1999.
Shorter Christian Prayer. Catholic Book
Publishing Co., 1999.
A Catholic
Book of the Hours and Other Devotions. William G. Storey.
Loyola
Press, 2007.
An Everyday Book of the Hours. William G. Storey.
Liturgy Training Publications,
2001.
Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.
United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops.
Praise God with All
Creation--A Book of Prayer for Morning and Evening.
Michael Kwatera, OSB. Resource Publications.
Magnificat
(monthly journal with morning and evening prayer from the Hours,
plus daily Mass readings).
Order from 866-273-5215 or online at
www.magnificat.com.
Access the prayers and daily readings online at:
www.universalis.com/-600/readings.htm
Glossary of
Prayer Terms
Apparition
-- An extraordinary
personal vision or private revelation experienced by an
individual or group of persons. The most common
apparitions over the years have been of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Officially the Catholic Church accepts the possibility of
such miraculous spiritual experiences, but is cautious about endorsing
specific claims. It does not consider the messages
received in an apparition part of official church teaching and
the faithful are free to believe or not believe in the messages
received during an apparition.
Benediction -- A short Eucharistic devotion during which
the Blessed Sacrament is displayed on the altar, usually in a
gold container called a monstrance. There is a
short period of special hymns and prayers, after which the
presider blesses the assembly with the Blessed Sacrament.
The custom arose in the 15th century but was not officially
sanctioned by the Church until 1958.
Charism -- A special gift or personal attribute
given to individuals by the Holy Spirit for the welfare of the
community. These include the gifts of healing, prophecy, speaking
in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. The sudden, intense awareness of these charisms is sometimes referred to as "baptism in the Holy
Spirit."
Chaplet --
A set of beads on a chain or string used in prayer. The
practice of using beads during meditation or prayer pre-dates
Christianity and is widely used in many traditions. In the
Catholic tradition, chaplets are used particularly to invoke the
assistance of Jesus, Mary and the saints. The most popular
chaplet is the Rosary.
Devotions -- Refers to popular, often unofficial,
prayers, rituals and gestures used by individuals or groups to
worship God or venerate Mary and the saints. Often
devotions express a particular conviction about the object of
the devotion: Eucharistic devotions are commonly an expression
of Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the
Eucharist; devotions to Mary and the saints commonly express a
confidence in their role as a spiritual companions and
mediators. Familiar Eucharistic devotions are adoration of
the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction*, 40 Hours, and processions.
Familiar devotions to Mary and the saints include novenas* and
various forms of special prayers and rituals. Devotions
historically originate in local cultures, and often reflect the
unique spiritual and ethnic sensitivities of the local
population.
Divine Mercy Chaplet -- A particular chaplet or devotion
created to commemorate and invoke God's mercy. This
relatively recent devotion was inspired by instructions
received by a Polish nun, Sr. Faustina Kowalska (d.1938).
For some time the devotion was officially banned, but the ban
has since been rescinded by church authorities.
Litany -- A form of prayer which uses a series of
short invocations followed by common acclamations. In many
cases, both the invocation and the acclamation are frequently
repeated; in others, the invocations vary but the acclamation is
repeated. Litanies became popular in the Middle Ages when they
were used during processions and other public rituals where it
was inconvenient to use texts and among populations which were
not literate. The "Lord have mercy" and
"Lamb of God" in the Mass are variations of early litanies.
Novena -- A nine-day period of prayer, inspired by the
nine days the Apostles spent in prayer between the Ascension and Pentecost. In
the Middle Ages, novenas were a time of prayerful preparation
for major religious feast days. More recently, novenas
became of form of devotional prayer addressed to Mary or one of
the saints for special intentions or needs. A novena
consists of a specific petition, repeated each day, and a
variety of other prayers. Novenas may be prayed privately
by individuals or publicly in groups.
The Rosary -- Use of the Rosary in
devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary probably developed early in
the Christian tradition, although its exact origins are
uncertain. The Rosary as we know it was introduced by St.
Dominic in the early 13th century and popularized by Alan of Rupe in the late 15th century.
Some early forms of the Rosary consisted of fifteen "decades"
(groups of ten prayers), but the popular Rosary used today
consists of five decades; each
decade consists of the Lord's Prayer, ten Hail Marys, and the
Glory Be. A scriptural event or "mystery" is assigned to
each decade. Pray-ers meditate on a different set of
mysteries each day.
Tongues or
Speaking in Tongues -- One of the gifts or
charisms* given to selected individuals by the Holy Spirit. In
the account of Pentecost, it refers to the apostles' ability to
speak in languages understood by listeners from foreign
countries. More commonly in Christian tradition, it refers
to the ability to pray in a kind of ecstatic language which
cannot be understood except by those who have the charism of
interpreting tongues. The late Cardinal Suenens called
tongues "the voice of the subconscious rising to God."
Posted 02.08.08
Last Update 03.18.08 |