Our Lord offers us what might be termed “simple wisdom” in this Sunday’s Gospel, but wisdom that will nonetheless bear fruit unto eternal life. Jesus is attending a dinner at the house of a leading Pharisee and Luke tells us that everyone is watching Jesus and he is watching everyone else as well. He then turns events of the occasion into a parable.

Jesus is observing the guests as they choose where they are going to sit for the dinner. Both honor and shame were significant parts of life in Jesus’s day, Jewish culture being no exception. On observing his fellow guests, Jesus offers an admonition that it is better to be moved up than to be moved down, the former bestowing honor, the later bestowing shame. Jesus teaches that it is better (and safer) to always seek the lower position. While this may seem to be savvy social etiquette, it also has meaning for our discipleship.

Luke juxtaposes the lowly and the lofty in another place in his Gospel, early on when he records for us Mary’s prayer of praise when she visits her cousin Elizabeth. We call this prayer the “Canticle of Mary” or the Magnificat. In that prayer, recounting the goodness of God, Mary offers praise to the Lord because he “has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.” The Christian life reminds us that seeking high places can result in us holding a very tenuous position. However, if it is God who is doing the lifting then who can bring us back down? Just as with places at table, it is far better to be moved-up than to be knocked-down.

And regarding those who are invited to table, Jesus turns social convention on its head a second time. Jesus tells us that in seeking others to share your hospitality with, do not look for those who can offer you anything in return. This is counter to a society, then and now, that is quid pro quo or “this for that.” In offering hospitality, care, or concern to those who can offer nothing in return, the world cannot second guess our sincerity; however, when we open our lives in generosity for the sake of generosity, do not think that there will not be a return on the gift. The return will be made by God, both with grace in this earthly life and the promise of a greater life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

I never fully understood Mary when I wasgrowing up. As a cradle Catholic, I memorized the “Hail Mary” by the age of 6, and knew that she was a special woman chosen to be the Mother of God. She was blessed and courageous. My pastor told me Mary was most likely only a teenager when she was visited by the Angel Gabriel and presented with God’s plan for her. I marveled at her ability to say “yes” to God while still so young. I wanted to be like her but didn’t see much connection between us.

Years later, tragedy struck my dear friend, Clara. Her daughter arrived stillborn, and it seemed like even Jesus couldn’t ease her pain. I accompanied Clara to a counseling session at her church. The charming French spiritual director offered this piece of advice: “The Virgin will comfort you, madame. She, too, lost a child.” He lovingly handed Clara a statue of the Holy Mother, but it felt like little comfort for her pain. Clara wanted her baby healthy and whole, not a fragile statue of the Virgin Mary, which fell to the floor and shattered as she wept.

Whenever someone’s going through a difficult time, there’s a generic, almost scripted response that Christian’s typically give: “God knows what you’re going through.” Those words didn’t provide me much solace when I was plagued with an undiagnosable virus this past winter. My body became foreign to me as I hunched over a bucket for weeks on end, unable to eat or keep anything down. I know God didn’t abandon me during this time, but it was difficult to feel his love when there was seemingly no end in sight. I asked some friends to pray for me, and their response was that God could relate to what I was going through because he actually lived it.

I believe that Jesus was subject to every human suffering and temptation. Jesus was made of flesh like me and knows nearly every pain I could ever go through. Nearly every pain. God’s human experience was that of a man, not a woman. Now, I know that God isn’t limited by gender, and my incomprehensible, allknowing God still understands my pain as a woman. But that’s not the same as having lived it.

God didn’t inhabit a woman’s body, but there’s someone we can turn to when we’re suffering who did. That someone is Mary. She’s a comforter I can rely on when I’m facing a health issue unique to my female body or when I’m struggling with my relationship with my family. She models obedience, strength, gentleness, and solidarity. She also understands the grief of a mother in mourning, having lost her own son.

After more time and reflection, I can see the wisdom in the spiritual director’s words to my friend. Clara’s tragedy actually taught me to turn to Mary, talk to her, and ask her to pray for me. I tried this when I was ill, knowing that Mary could not only offer me the love of a mother for her child, but she could also see me through my pain. Her love could help me get through my health challenges.

Mary understands me in ways that only a woman can. I often question my place in society, the Church, and God’s family. I wonder how I can serve God as a woman who isn’t called to religious life. Mary assures me of my own worth in the Kingdom. Mary’s example of accompanying Jesus through his suffering on the Cross inspires me to support my own friends and family with the same compassionate presence. She stayed by Jesus’ side and never left. I can only hope to be there for my dear ones in the same way.

By the grace of God, Clara gave birth to a rainbow baby and named her Faith.

Faith is what I strive for. I want to have faith like Mary, to follow her example, and to talk and pray with her more. In the end, I’ve learned that it’s not so important for me to understand Mary. What really matters is that she understands me.

Jessica Santulli has written articles for various Christian websites. She holds a bachelor’s degree in writing and works for a reference publisher in Northern New Jersey. In her free time she enjoys photographing nature, running, swimming, and leading a young adult Bible study.

This Tuesday, August 27th, is the liturgical remembrance of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. If you have a chance to visit Rome, go to the Church of St. Augustine off of the Piazza Navona and there you will find her tomb, where her relics were brought to Rome in the fifteenth century.

St. Monica was born in modern day Algeria in the fourth century. Her life was marked with both tears and faith-filled devotion. Monica, a devout Christian, married a pagan named Patricius who was known for his fierce temper, which he apparently got from his mother who lived with the couple after their marriage. Tradition tells us that the tempers of both Patricius and his mother constantly flared at each other, robbing St. Monica of much peace. The couple had three children, two boys and a girl, Augustine being the eldest.

Patricius died when Augustine was seventeen, both Patricius and his mother having been successfully converted to Christianity by St. Monica one year earlier. Monica’s tears, however, were not at an end. Augustine was sent to school in Carthage after his father’s death. Still having never been baptized because of his father’s earlier refusal, Augustine fell into the false religion of Manicheanism while there.

From the time Augustine arrived in Carthage, his life continued on a trajectory contrary to the Christian life. At Monica’s behest, Augustine ended a fifteen-year affair that he had with a woman, which produced a son, Adeodatus. Augustine agreed to an arranged marriage that was to take place in two years’ time, but the Lord had something else mind. The following year, at the age of 31, after years of prayers and tears on the part of Monica, Augustine was converted to the faith by the grace of God and the spiritual care of St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan. Later, Augustine would eventually be ordained a priest and bishop.

Following his baptism, Monica and Augustine believe that the Lord was calling them to spread the faith in Africa, but six months later, as the pair were making their way to the continent, Monica died just outside of Rome. In his great autobiographical work Confessions, Augustine recounted one of their final conversations as his mother was dying. Monica said: Son, as far as I am concerned, nothing in this life now gives me any pleasure. I do not know why I am still here, since I have no further hopes in the world. I did have one reason for wanting to live a little longer: to see you become a Catholic Christian before I died. God has lavished his gifts on me in that respect, for I know that you have even renounced earthly happiness to be his servant. So what am I doing here?

By all accounts, Augustine had lived a life void of God for much of his younger years, but Monica never gave up hope in the Lord’s power to save. At a time of the Lord’s choosing, the hardness of Augustine’s heart was broken and he would eventually become one of the greatest theologians and saints in the Church’s history. I offer this short sketch of Monica’s life with her son Augustine especially for those parents who are grieved by their children’s lack of practice of, or departure from, the faith. Many times through the years I have been asked by parents in this situation what they should do and my response has always been based on St. Monica’s actions: love them, pray for them, and continue to be an example of faith for them.
This Tuesday evening, August 27th, as the Church celebrates the memory of St. Monica, we will offer a special holy hour in the Cathedral at 7PM for children, and for their parents, who have fallen away from the practice of the faith. As we will be spending this time in prayer before the Lord in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, I have no doubt that St. Monica, St. Augustine, our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and all the Saints will be offering their prayers as well from their places in heaven for these special intentions.

In remembering St. Monica the Church prays: O God, who console the sorrowful and who mercifully accepted the motherly tears of Saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine, grant us, through the intercession of them both, that we may bitterly regret our sins and find the grace of your pardon. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 22:34).

The love of God wasn’t proven when God created the world in Genesis 1. That happened about a thousand chapters later. “He proved his love by dying for us.” (See Romans 5:8).

The same is true for us. Love is easy until it’s tested. When it requires sacrifice, it’s proven.

It’s easy to love people until we meet…those people. It’s easy to love our enemies until we actually have enemies. Heck, it’s easy to be a parent until we have kids!

Authentic love demands that we speak the truth even at the risk of being crucified for it, because love doesn’t stand by silently as people fall into the darkness of sin. It calls us to open our hearts to those who disagree with how we see the world, even at the risk of being hurt by them. Love pushes us out of our comfort zones into places we’d rather not go to serve the poor. Love demands that we stop asking “how can my wife/parent/sibling be better” and start asking “how can I make my wife/parent/sibling the happiest in the world? Love demands death to self.

It’s enjoyable to love when it’s easy! Jesus said it himself. “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors and sinners doing that?” Think about it: even Hitler was probably all smiles when he was playing golf with his closest friends! But God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Every. Single. Day. That’s how we’re called to love. The early Christians didn’t convert the world by words alone, but by their love in the face of pain.

The early Christians had it far worse than us. On any given Sunday one could go to the Roman Coliseum and see fellow believers being eaten by lions to the loud cheers of their neighbors. Worship and catechesis took place in secret.

They had good reasons to be angry! Very angry. They had every right to flee the world. But they didn’t. They spoke truth to power. They fought for their rightful place in society. They spoke out. St. Paul was as crafty as a lawyer when he was on trial. Christians engaged all levels of society from standing up for the dignity of the poor to St. Sebastian’s legendary face-to-face confrontation with the emperor, for which he was pierced with arrows. They didn’t budge an inch when it came to the evils of their day. Countless Christians faced death rather then offering a single pinch of incense as worship to the emperor.

But more than resisting the powers that be, they resisted the enemy within. They resisted the natural tendency to categorize the world as “us” verses “them.” For the saints, the only “us” was humankind, the only “them” was the devil and his legions. They weren’t like other prisoners when they were executed. They didn’t curse at those who tortured them. They forgave. The early Christians were able to engage the world as much with their love as with the truth. That’s why Christendom was born within 300 years of Christ’s death.

If they hadn’t followed the example of Jesus, who could dine with sinners and forgive his murderers, Christianity would’ve ended in the Coliseum as soon as the last Catholic was eaten for lunch.

“I say to you, love your enemies.”

Spend a minute reflecting on who it’s most difficult for you to love, and make a choice to do something concrete and generous for that person. And if it’s someone you can’t be in contact with for some reason, try a simple prayer, even if it’s through gritting teeth, “Lord Jesus, I ask you to bless (insert the person who hurt you most) in every way! Most of all with saving grace and the discovery of YOU.” Pray that daily until you mean it.

If you love like that, not only will you change the world, you’ll change.

Archbishop Charles Chaput has called Chris Stefanick “one of the most engaging young defenders of the Christian faith on the scene today.” Chris speaks to over 50,000 teens, young adults, and parents every year. His website can be found at RealLifeCatholic.com. Chris Stefanick will be presenting REBOOT at the Cathedral on Sept. 19th at 7PM. All are welcome! Grab your tickets ($25) today! Each tickets includes a night of transformation with Chris, books, resources, and so much more! This blog piece originally appeared here: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/cstefanick/love-is-easy-until-its-tested

A Catechist Perspective

What does God look like? Why do we have to go to Mass? Why can’t I watch that movie? As a parent and PSR teacher, I have at times been stumped by questions kids have asked about God and our faith. Children come up with really interesting and important questions that provide great insights into their spiritual lives and deserve thoughtful and meaningful answers. The adults who know the children best — parents, grandparents, other family members, and close family friends — are in the best position to address their questions in a way that will increase their love and understanding of God. In company with other families, Family Faith Formation will help you build the tools and knowledge to deal with those challenging questions and will be a wonderful opportunity to learn how to encourage your children’s questions and help them (and you) grow spiritually.

Jane Fornoff
Cathedral parishioner, catechist, choir member and Alpha leader

 Ready to Sign-up?

To sign-up, please go to the website at https://spicathedral.org/ family-of-faith/ .You will also find more information and the calendar available on that page.

Teaching Meetings

All adults of the parish are invited to attend the monthly teaching sessions, but special invitation is extended to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, guardians, young couples preparing for marriage – anyone who has or will have responsibility for passing on the faith to children.

September 8
The Role of Parents in Faith Formation, 6:15-7:30 PM

October 6
What is Faith? Who is God? 6:15-7:30 PM

November 3
Created in God’s Image, 6:15-7:30 PM

December 1
Annunciation, Immaculate Conception, 6:15-7:00 PM

January 12
Who Is Jesus, 6:15-7:30 PM

February 9
Paschal Mystery, 6:15-7:30 PM

March 8
The Holy Spirit, 6:15-7:30 PM

April 5
Marks of the Church, Communion of Saints, 6:15-7:30 PM

May 3
The Way of the Creed, 6:15-7:30 PM

 Additional Questions

If you have questions, please contact Daphne Southern at [email protected] or 638-2805.

I have loved being on the road ever since I was young. Each summer my scout troop—Troop 110 from Barberton, Ohio —put on summer camps for us around Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. These camps always meant the chance of going on a road trip. There was something exciting, refreshing about going to the store and buying snacks which we usually weren’t allowed to buy, getting into the car, and heading off to a new, somewhat unknown destination. Certainly, the ending location was the reason for the trip, but the journey it took to get there, for me, was always one of the most enjoyable parts of camp. I know that not everyone loves going on road trips, and the reasons people have for their displeasure with them can be understandable. Yet, why for some people is being crammed together in a car on the road for multiple hours so enjoyable? Having the right perspective can help for the greater appreciation and enjoyment of a good road trip.

For a majority of the year, most of us operate within the same fifteen-to-twenty mile circles. We drive the same roads, see the same signs and billboards, visit the same stores and coffee shops, run or cycle by the same houses on the same routes, and encounter, generally, the same people on a daily or weekly basis. Eventually, this ocular routine can become less and less stimulating and even uninteresting, which can translate to a numbing of our normally excited and inspirational selves. Going on road trip takes us outside the circle and breaks away from what has become normal, even uninterestingly so. We see different things—roads, trees, signs, buildings, and cities. We breathe different air, walk into different coffee shops and stores, and encounter new people we know are operating within their own twenty-mile circles.

There is a freshness in being in a new place, and this freshness can transport us to a different mental place as well. When we are in a new place we can begin to think new thoughts. We can set aside struggles and challenges we have with certain people and situations as we experience reality in a renewed way.

The Church’s Eucharistic liturgy, especially when it is done well, takes us outside of what is normal; it takes us to a realm beyond our earthly, temporal space. In the liturgy, we see different things, smell different things, hear different things than we would on a normal morning. Going to Mass on Sunday breaks us outside of our normal daily routine and for a good reason. It is a reminder that encountering God is an encounter with the Being who is mystical and otherworldly, yet can be found in our everyday experience.

In The Wellspring of Worship, a masterpiece on the cosmic depth of the liturgy, Jean Corbon states, “The church of stone or wood that we enter in order to share in the eternal liturgy is indeed a space within our world; it is set apart, however, because it is a space that the Resurrection has burst open.” Our churches are designed in a specific, intentional, beautiful, and incarnational way to help our minds and hearts journey to God. For this reason, the church building, the place of encounter with God, should look drastically different than its surroundings, inside and out. These places should help transport us—mentally and spiritually, body and soul—to an otherly place, a place outside of space and time, yet one within our own world.

Just as driving in the car down the road for hours can be grueling to some and transforming for others, liturgy can be transforming for some and grueling for others. Some of the reasons people have for not liking the work of liturgy are even understandable… but only if they misunderstand the purpose of the liturgy and struggle to truly enter into the ritual.

If we really allow ourselves to enter into a road trip—the newness of the sights, the smell of the fresh air, the conversation with friends—it can be an enjoyable experience. After a great road trip we can come back to our lives with a fresh energy and perspective, maybe seeing our normal routine in a new way.

Similarly, entering more deeply into the Mass can change our experience of the Mass completely. Instead of a weekly spiritual chore, entering into the Eucharistic liturgy can be a refreshing part of our day or week, a brief spiritual road trip where we are transported body and soul, but only if we have such an approach. By having the right perspective and appreciation of what liturgy is and can do in our lives, the liturgy becomes not a task to be done, an appointment to be checked off, but a rejuvenating spiritual journey. The destination then lies in taking the fruit of that journey back out into our normal, often routined, everyday life.

Deacon David Stavarz is a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Cleveland. He is a graduate of Borromeo College Seminary and is currently finishing his formation at St. Mary Graduate Seminary, in Cleveland, Ohio. Dc. David hopes to be a priest of the diocese in May of 2019. This article originally appeared here: https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/road-trips-and-thejourney- of-the-mass/5819/

In preparation for the Season of Stewardship this fall, let’s reflect on stewardship as a way of life. The four pillars: Prayer, Formation, Hospitality, and Service create the framework and model for our Parish mission. We support prayer through offering daily Mass, Confessions, regular Adoration hours, and celebrating the Eucharist together each weekend. We support formation through our adult faith formation series, welcoming not only Cathedral parishioners, but guests from throughout the Diocese. We offer hospitality through our Alpha series, from welcoming our guests to providing a home-cooked meal. We share in service through the year-long efforts of ministries like the Cathedral Council of Catholic Women or the Knights of Columbus, Father Augustine Tolton Council. In so many ways the Cathedral is supporting the four pillars of stewardship to help in answering the call to discipleship.

What does that calling look like for you? When the offertory takes place at Mass are you only concerned about an envelope or something deeper? The Offertory is a time for prayerful discernment on one’s commitment to a stewardship way of life. Ask yourself these three questions:

• Who can I pray for this week?
• How can I serve this week?
• What can I generously give this week?

Most importantly…why does this matter or what is the value of stewardship? I think that is a fair question to ask. In today’s culture we are always seeking answers, validation, or reasoning behind where we spend our time and money. For example, recently the most common question about the REBOOT event is the ticket price; “Well, what do I get?” It is common to seek the value in something. However, value is really in the eye of the beholder. What one person might see as value added, might be lost on another. At the REBOOT event each person will have the opportunity to leave with three books, resources, and more swag. That might be valuable to some, while others would find Chris Stefanick’s inspirational words the real value. How about the value in time? Ultimately, if you join us at REBOOT, or when you join us for a faith formation program, or if you join us for Mass…you are saying it is worth your time. Time is not renewable. We never get it back and that is why it is so valuable. Where and with whom you spend your time is often a reflection of what you value.

So, where do you spend your time? When we learn about individual stewardship we commonly hear the phrases, “time, talent and treasure” or “prayer, service, and giving” used. Why is “time” and “prayer” listed first every time in the sequence? Because your time with God is the most important. It is fundamental in a stewards life. It is ultimately the most important relationship we should be nurturing with our time. Spending time at a faith formation event is time with God. Spending time serving with a ministry is time with God. Spending time in our sacred space at Adoration or Mass is spending time with God. It is the source and spirit behind all activities of steward. It is rare I come in contact with someone who has an active faith life, but doesn’t contribute their service or gifts to the church.

I remember one Sunday while I was staying after Mass and doing the “Catholic loitering” thing, I noticed my daughter across the room staring at the Crucifix in the Cathedral Atrium. Now, if you have met my daughter you would quickly agree that she is a high-energy gal (geez, I wonder where she gets that from!) and doesn’t always stand still. But, as she was standing there fixed upon the Crucifix, she stood still…for 30 seconds…a minute…now, two minutes in…and I am curious. I approach her and said, “Gracey, everything okay?” She responded, “Why would anyone hurt Jesus?” At that moment, I stood still, frozen in place and time. In that moment I realized that these God-sized questions were going to be coming my way as a mother. Some I would be able to answer easily, some would be far more difficult. How does one prepare for these questions? Easy. It takes God-sized time with Him in order to answer the God sized questions. The time I set aside in my daily routine for God, is a positive return on my relationships as a mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter. If I truly care for these relationships, I would need to consider the importance of nurturing my relationship with God. He is the source and summit that flows through me and into all of these other relationships I value.

Consider where you spend your time this week. How can we support you in finding time to pray? How can we help you in your prayer life?

Katie Price is the stewardship coordinator for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Director of Discipleship and Stewardship for the Diocese of Illinois.

We were supposed to be bidding farewell to Grant Wilson about this time, but things have changed. Grant will be spending the next year with us at the Cathedral parish. Grant has had some knee trouble and had some medical procedures done at the beginning of the summer in response to those challenges. Grant requested to remain home to continue his care before returning to his studies in Rome and Bishop Paprocki has agreed to Grant’s request. Grant’s ministry presence in the parish will be expanding as a result. As always, I am grateful for the hospitality that the parish had shown him.

I wish to thank everyone who supported the Cathedral Council of Catholic Women’s clothing sale and annual garage sale, both of which took place at the beginning of the month. The ladies of the CCCW do a tremendous job of bringing order to chaos from the time they start receiving items to the time of the actual sale. The ladies do many forms of service in our parish and many of their efforts are unseen; I thank them for their continued generosity to the shared life of our Cathedral parish.

Thursday September 19th will see the parish welcome Chris Stefanick and the REBOOT! program. Chris is a very popular lay evangelist in the American Church , speaking to over 85,000 people a year, and he is known for his deep faith, energy, and enthusiasm and it’s a great thing that we are able to bring him to the Cathedral. The evening program starts at 7PM and the cost is $25 per person. The evening is a presentation of the Gospel and practical, everyday ways than everyone can apply it his or her daily living. This is a great opportunity and I hope to see you there.

We have published a list of upcoming faith formation/enrichment activities for the coming 2019/2020 year. I am very happy with the variety of events that we are planning to offer and I hope that you will take advantage of these opportunities. Making use of these activities help us to grow deeper in our discipleship and the better disciples we are, the better our parish will be, and the better the world will be.

This past Thursday we celebrated the great Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption into Heaven. For me, that is always the signal that summertime is over and things start ramping up again. As we enter into the back half of August, with Labor Day and the unofficial start of Fall fast approaching, I wish you and yours the fullness of the Lord’s grace and peace. God bless you!

 Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

I’m hopeless when it comes to most home improvement projects. In fact, all it takes for me to go from zero to a full-on panic attack is the sight of a piece of furniture that needs to be assembled or a leaky kitchen sink in need of repair. Many years ago, my husband made me promise I would never again attempt such a project alone because my DIY endeavors always ended up costing us more money in the long run than hiring a professional to complete the task ever would. But after watching more than a few popular HGTV shows, I discovered my critical home improvement error: I never used the correct tools. Eventually, I realized that even someone who is all thumbs like me can be downright handy if I just had the right tools to work with.

The same is true in my prayer life. Just as a socket wrench won’t do the trick when a screwdriver is needed, I find that certain types of prayer are better for specific times in my life. Sometimes I need prayer to be a moment of peaceful reflection and quiet gratitude. But at other times, I need prayer to help me deal with anger, hurt, or sadness. Sometimes my prayer is made up exclusively of words, either spoken or read, but at other times, my prayer is all about silence. So, I created my own prayer tool kit to help me set the stage for any kind of prayer experience I need.

To begin, I have a dedicated prayer space in my home where I always have a few things handy:

• A candle to symbolize God’s presence.
• My Bible to help ground me in a centuries-old faith tradition. I’ve also bookmarked the Book of Psalms on my phone to have these poetic, heartfelt prayers readily available.
• Books of prayers and reflections because sometimes my own words fail me, and I need to use someone else’s. I’ve found Joyce Rupp’s books to be perfect for this.
• Images that have significance for me — framed photos of both my parents and another friend of mine who are all deceased, meaningful art, like images from nature, evocative sculptures, or even abstract paintings to set an appropriate tone for my prayer. I also use a specific set of tools depending on what’s on my mind and in my heart when I begin to pray: If I come to prayer feeling happy or grateful …
• I count my blessings in my journal. Some people use a gratitude journal specifically for this purpose, but I have a section in my personal journal earmarked just for this.
• Believe it or not, I also have my to-do list with me during my prayer time. When I’m feeling particularly blessed, I want to share that appreciation with others. I make a note, right alongside the budget report that’s due to my boss on Monday and the dry cleaning I need to pick up, to thank someone in the next day or so, even if it’s for something very small. If I come to prayer feeling upset or angry …
• I begin by listening to soothing music. When I’m feeling great frustration or hurt, I need something to slow down my pounding heart and racing thoughts. The gentle rhythms of a relaxing piece of music usually help to calm me.
• I also make sure to have paper and pen at the ready. I’m an introvert and have a strong need to get my concerns or grievances down on paper. I find that this helps me gain perspective on what’s bothering me, and it helps me get to a more peaceful place where I can open myself to God’s presence.
• I also have a Rosary nearby. Sometimes, I’m too upset to think straight, even after I’ve written in my journal. In those moments, the rote repetition of praying the Rosary calms my nerves. I don’t worry about meditating on the meaning of each word in the “Hail Mary” and “Our Father.” Instead, I just let the words pour over me. If I come to prayer feeling anxious or scattered …
• I turn to my meditation cushion or a straight-back chair. At times like these, sitting in silence is my tool of choice.
• I also light scented candles or incense to create a contemplative environment. Sometimes, the more senses we use during prayer, the deeper our experience can be. If I come to prayer concerned for another person …
• I turn to my “heart basket,” simply a basket with small pieces of paper next to it. I write down who and what I want to pray for with the date on a slip of paper, fold it, and place it reverently into the basket as a symbolic way of placing the intention in God’s hands. I often hold my heart basket in my hands while praying the Memorare or just sitting in prayerful silence.
• I like to listen to contemporary Christian music along with my heart basket. I have several go-to songs about faith bookmarked on YouTube that I listen to while I pray.
• I’ve found that having a prayer tool kit at the ready helps me bring my whole self to God and opens me fully to the unfolding of God’s grace.

Mary Ann Steutermann is currently the director of campus ministry at Assumption High School, an all-girls Catholic high school in Louisville, Kentucky. A career educator, she has more than 20 years experience as an English teacher, assistant principal, and principal and does freelance writing on the side. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and two master’s degrees in education. Mary Ann lives in Louisville with her husband and son.