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December 2018: Our First Duty is Prayer

31 December 2018

Dear Father,

As we approach the Feast Day of St. Munchin’s, and as we begin a new year, as well as wishing you well for the year ahead, I write to share something that has been good for me this past year so I want to pass it on to you, as a brother priest.

At the very end of his visit to Ireland in August, Pope Francis met with the Irish Bishops and after reminding us our first duty is prayer, he said, “So I throw out a question and each of you can answer it at home: how many hours a day does each of you devote to prayer?”

The question has remained in my heart and prompted me to review my life of prayer. It has been good to do so. Perhaps you might consider this question too in your own life.

I reckon as diocesan priests we should calculate that we normally do two hours of prayer a day. I would reckon it as follows:

Morning Prayer, Office of Readings, Evening Prayer: 30 minutes

Daily Mass (the Church’s greatest prayer):                      30 minutes (approx. including preparation!)

Daily Meditation (in whatever form):                               30 minutes

Brief Visit to Blessed Sacrament:                                      5-10 minutes

Night prayer and review of day/silent prayer:                15 minutes

Rosary:                                                                                  7-10 minutes (approx.)

 

Two hours of prayer a day. It sounds a lot but it’s also normal for us. I’ve realised therefore that to answer the Pope’s question, it’s not a matter of adding more times of prayer but rather of using well those basic prayer times that are the normal pattern for a diocesan priest. It’s easy to slip into a loose commitment to prayer. So, a new focus on prayer is helpful.

I’m trying, therefore, to say my morning prayer with a little more recollection rather than allowing myself be distracted by all that’s ahead of me in the day. I’ve started again to dedicate my half hour meditation to the Holy Spirit. I try to ensure I really do spend a period of time at the end of the day, simply in the presence of the Lord, handing over the day’s events, people and circumstances to him – even if in tiredness I’m a little blank on what to say – as the day draws to an end.

I know that beyond what I’ve outlined above, priests will have their own practices. Some might dedicate an hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Some spend time in other particular devotions. Let’s be grateful, above all, that we have received a calling to be men of prayer. Thank you for your life and ministry of prayer. As the Pope reminds us, it’s our first duty.

With kind regards and best wishes for 2019,

 

+Brendan Leahy,

Bishop of Limerick.