Ten golden rules for prayer

Extract from “To be a Pilgrim” by Cardinal Hume

Kraainem (31 March 2006).- T

en golden rules for prayer
1. Plan to pray; do not leave it to chance. S elect a time and a place (a room at home, on the bus, taking a walk). 

2. Decide on how long you will spend in trying to pray (5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15, 30 or more) 

3. Decide what you are going to do when you pray - e.g. which prayer to select to say slowly and lovingly; or which passage fromt the Bible to read prayerfully.  Sometimes use your own words; sometimes just be still and silent.  Follow your inclination. 

4. Always start by asking the Holy Spirit for help in your prayers.  Pray: “Come Holy Spirit, teach me to pray; help me to do it”. 

5. Remember you are trying to get in touch with a Person, and that Person is God - Father, Son or Holy Spirit. God is wanting to get in touch with you. 

6. Don’t be a slave to one way of praying. Choose the one that you find easiest, and try some other method when the one you are using becomes a burden or doesn’t help. 

7. Don’t look for results. 

8. If you have distraction, then turn your distractions into your prayer.  (If a car passes the window in the wrong gear, then say somethign to God of the driver - I mean a kind prayer for the welfare of the drive, not necessarily for his driving or gear box!) 

9. If you always feel dry and uninterested at prayer, then read a spritiual book or pamphlet.  An article in a Catholic paper may be a help.  Spiritual reading is important. 

10. Trying to pray is praying.  Never give up trying.

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