What does it mean to "pray without ceasing"?
Saint Paul tells Christians to pray without ceasing, and Jesus taught that we should pray always and not lose heart. Obviously, we cannot spend every minute on our knees, since we have lectures, ward rounds, family and work.
The idea is that prayer should not be limited to set times but should shape our whole day. Set times, such as morning, evening and Mass, give us a firm base. Around them we can turn our hearts to God briefly: a quick thank you, a short request before a task, a silent prayer for a patient or a friend, or a brief phrase repeated quietly while walking.
Offering our work, our struggles and our rest to God also turns ordinary life into prayer. The aim is a growing awareness that God is always with us, and that every part of our day can be lived in his company.
Sources
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Luke 18:1
- Ephesians 6:18
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.