Prayer is one of the three pillars of Lent. The other two being Fasting and Almsgiving. Prayer is essential to the Christian life, and Lent offers us the opportunity to deepen our prayer. I have heard it said, “show me a Christian who does not pray and I will show you a powerless Christian.” We cannot be in relationship with God if we do not speak with God. This is why prayer is important.
Many Catholics shy away from leading a prayer in public or even praying out loud because they do not feel they have the right words or the eloquence to pray. They consider it an embarrassment when asked to pray, without prior information. Beloved friend, all that God requires of us when we pray is humility of spirit, not the correct words. You should come to God just as you are and speak to him from your heart, even when your words are incoherent and illogical.
What logic do we need to speak to a God who is the source and ground of all speech? This Lent, strive to speak to God from your heart, with no pretense. Our Lord Jesus taught his disciples a simple prayer, the Our Father, which is the model for Christian prayers.
That being said, what is prayer? In her autobiography, our beloved St. Thérèse of Lisieux writes, “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” Quoting St. John Damascene, the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes prayer as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (CCC 2559). I would like to propose that while working on improving your prayer life that you challenge yourself to memorize at least one traditional Catholic Prayer. I would like to propose the Anima Christi (Soul of Christ).
Although the authorship of this prayer is unknown, it is said to have been composed around the 14th century. A favorite of St. Ignatius of Loyola, it enjoyed renewed prominence through his 16th century “Spiritual Exercises.” Sometimes attributed to Pope John XXII (though disputed), it seems he did enrich it with indulgences in 1330.
Apparently in 1854 Pope Pius IX revoked all previous indulgences and granted instead: • An indulgence of three hundred days every time it is recited, with at least contrite heart and devotion; • An indulgence of seven years, once a day, to priests who shall say it after saying Mass, and to the faithful, after receiving holy communion.
The 1968 Enchiridion of Indulgences assigns it a partial indulgence. (Source: http://tinyurl.com/bdcrayyc)
There are different versions of this prayer, but my favorite is given below:
Anima Christi (Soul of Christ) Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy Wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from Thee. From the malignant enemy, defend me. In the hour of my death, call me, And bid me come to Thee. That with Thy saints, I may praise Thee. Forever and ever. Amen.
May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you!