My dear sisters in Christ,
This time last year, I sat down and laid out a month of prayer centered on praying with the Blessed Mother, beginning on today’s feast day. Again, this year, I am writing to you on the brink of a new year, thinking about how we can, as sisters, draw together in prayer.
Throughout this year, we have heard from women who have felt uncentered, unmoored in their days and in their prayer. I have felt this way, too, in the midst of ongoing personal change during a tumultuous year.
The start of 2017 allows each of us an opportunity to re-center and ground ourselves in prayer. Whether you are just beginning a prayer practice or have a deep prayer life, we all begin this year on a fresh page.
This month, spend time each day in prayer. Pray however you feel called to — the most important thing is that you make the time for prayer in your day, every day. Then come back and support your Blessed Is She sisters in their prayer.
I, along with many of our Blessed Is She sisters, will be praying with and for you each day this month.
Brigid
Comment below with your thoughts:
Do you have a focus for these 31 days of renewal? How can the Blessed Is She Sisterhood support you this month?
or, simply answer:
Did you pray today?
I prayed. The blessing from the first reading is one that my Mom would always pray over us before we left the house. In my prayer I considered what it would feel like to have the face of the .Lord shine upon us. Beautiful.
Anne-Marie, thank you for this gorgeous reflection!
My hope for this prayer pledge is to gain more patience! Right now I’m very anxious about hearing from graduate schools so I really hope this helps me focus on God and his true plan for me.
Krystyna, know you are not alone! Praying alongside you.
Going to Mass! But praying now for all of us that we would truly taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
We are praying for that, too, Sara!
Went to 11:30pm Mass last night – what a way to start this year full of hope and promise! Now to say a Rosary for my sisters in Christ…
I pray daily, with few exceptions. I have found that starting my day in prayer, in Scripture, in the Rosary, heals and restores me. protects my marriage. I prayed today for kindness, compassion & a response of love for me, for this community & beyond. A daily request I make is that the words of my mouth & the meditations of my heart be pleasing to my Lord (from Psalm 19). May all our hearts be so.
What a thoughtful daily request, Jane.
Yes!
Thank you for this prayer pledge. I have been searching for a way to help me focus daily on Him, as I can get easily distracted. To keep Him always in the center of my life and let His love and goodness seep in and receive. Looking forward to 2017 and getting to know our Lord more and more.
As I start student teaching on Tuesday, I know that I am going to need to take time to pray every day. I want to focus on being present in the moment instead of stressing about the future. Hoping this prayer pledge will help with the accountability piece! 🙂
I am also student teaching right now, Sam! It’s a busy time. Hope it is starting well. – Brigid
I reflected on today’s homily, and I made a list of the things I am grateful for. My focus for the next 31 days, and for the year, really, is “Whatever God wants.” (St. Gianna). I am a new mom (since October) and I am still on maternity leave, but have to return to teaching in Febraury…which I’m really not wanting to do. But God has shown me time and again that He provides and has a plan, so I am working on trusting Him.
My prayer for 2017 is to be more intentional and the prayer pledge is a beautiful way to begin 🙂 As I prayed for you all today, I couldn’t help but be filled with an immense sense of gratitude for such a beautiful community of women striving to lead one another to God. Thank you all for being a sign of God’s love and grace.
Peace, Sarah
I attended mass and prayed today! I am hoping to find ecouragment and accountability partners in this prayer pledge.
Prayed this morning. Thanked God for a semi-chill night in dispatch. My officers went home safe and I thank God everyday they go home to there families safely.
Yes! Trying to get to know the Lord more in these 31 days, rather than just know about the Lord.
My hope for this prayer pledge is for a joyful, grateful heart and an unshakeable focus on the Lord and His will in my life, as I am easily discouraged and lately have been experiencing difficulties in prayer and in letting God love me and fill my heart the way that nothing on Earth can.
I am committed to praying the Rosary every night.
How has this been going for you?
Hello Blessed Is She! Praying the rosary has been going well. I have not missed one night. My prayer time is before I go to bed. What I have been doing is I’ll pray the rosary first, making that a priority, and if I am not too tired will write my letter to God in my journal. The last two nights, I have noticed and felt a peace and a quiet within myself with a easy focus on the words of the prayers that I articulate. It has been an invitation, I feel. I have also wondered if Mary hears and knows me, but deep down inside, I know she does, but at the same time, I would want a confirmation. Thank you for reaching out and asking!