It is time to take our prayer life seriously

I enjoy watching boxing and mixed martial arts. I love when the main event comes up, and the whole mood changes in an instant. Everyone is in their seats, and the lights dim throughout the building except for the ring. Standing in the middle of it is the announcer, and he helps to build the anticipation. He begins in a normal tone announcing the details of the venue, the crowd, and other details. However, it soon changes as he loudly pronounces, “It’s time!” The crowd explodes and is standing on their feet.  Everyone is glued to what is happening in the ring, and can’t wait for it to start.

I pray that after reading the following articles from our seminarians, Sister Kathy and Deacon Farro, that you will feel the same excitement and see that it is time to pray and encourage vocations to the priesthood, religious life and permanent diaconate. In these articles, you will see how God works through everything, especially our prayer life and the examples of our families. These individuals have been transformed by a love of prayer, and they now share that love with you. Praying affects everything that we do, from the normal routine in our daily lives to the life of our families, and even in those times where we might feel farthest from Him. Prayer can be a life changing experience for you as it has been for them.

The greatest prayer we have is the Mass, where we receive Jesus Christ Himself in Word and Sacrament.  In these times, we know it is not possible to receive sacramentally, but we are able to receive Jesus through His Word that we share at every Mass. Listening intently to His Word helps us to grow in knowledge and faith.  The Sacred Scriptures play such a big part in our Catholic faith, not only in the Mass, but also in many of our other devotions. The Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and Lectio Divina all allow us to take in the Sacred Scriptures and see how God continues to speak to us and guide us through them.

It is time for us to take our prayer life seriously. It is time to talk to God and ask for His guidance as we discern our vocations. We have to find God in everything in our lives, especially now. It is easy to sit back and let the world go by, but we know that this is not going to lead us to any kind of happiness or fulfillment. As you see the importance of prayer, take that step to ask God where He is calling you, and how will we serve Him the best. God hears each one of our prayers, and He will speak to us if we are open to Him. It is time to take our prayer life seriously, and it is time to share that gift with the world around us. It is time to focus on God, and to accept God’s invitation to serve Him as a priest or religious sister or brother. May we continue praying for an increase of vocations and for all of our priests and religious sisters and brothers.

Father Adam Cichoski was ordained a priest in 2017.  He is the Vocation Director of the Camden Diocese and parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish-Shrine in Lindenwold.