Resurrecting Chicago

Romano Guardini wrote so often about prayer that it almost seemed his obsession. However, his search for God led him to suggest paths for the less spiritually intense, too.

 When Guardini is in his world of prayer, he is far above the average
man or woman who seeks unión with God. But every once in a while he writes something that is easy to understand but profound and helpful to those who want to pray.

He says in one of his books that though the human person is a mystery, every person has an interior face, and not only an external face.  We seek that true image in ourselves and in those we love when we want to know someone.  Guardini says that when we pray, the unión of each of us with God is simply looking at and knowing Him whom we love.  He looks at us, too and we learn about His love.

 Someone once described her prayer life to me by saying:  ”He looks at me and I look at Him — and we talk.”

Another searcher whom I know well describes a desire for prayer in this way:  ´´I can´t wait to get to heaven and sit down and have a cup of coffee with God.”

There is no one path to prayer.  Each person has to find his/her own way.  I think, though, that there are certain common elements to prayer: When we pray–

 There should be a ceasing of our tasks and we should make a space for quiet.

Then, too, the desire for prayer should come from an expectant heart. 

Always, we should seek God  through Our Lord Jesús Christ.  It is He who leads us to the Father.

Prayer is not always easy.  Don´t give up!

There are worse obsessions than seeking God relentlessly.