Video – Struggling with distractions in prayer…

Since this has been our most popular video I thought I should send it again. Please forward along to email and Facebook friends who might be blessed by insight on how to overcome this universal challenge. In this video, Fr. John and Dan Burke talk about how we can better understand and overcome distractions in prayer. About Dan BurkeDan is the founder of Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction... Read More

I am struggling with my Rosary prayer. Where should my attention be during the Rosary?

Q: Dear Dan, I used to pray the Rosary daily, but lately I have become frustrated with it and am confused about where my attention should be focused while praying it. One Hail Mary, I find myself meditating on how painful it must have been for Jesus to be scourged at the pillar, and what great love it took for him to tolerate that for our sake. However, during that prayer, I was not paying attention... Read More

Am I being self-absorbed when praying for spiritual growth?

Q: Can praying for spiritual growth indicate being self absorbed? I am troubled by my intercessory prayer.  I pray quite a bit for others but, I also pray a lot for myself. I pray that I grow in faith, that I love and see others as Christ sees them, etc. Still, I wonder if I am too focused on self. These thoughts have become distractions in prayer and in Mass. In Mass, as I was thinking... Read More

How to give delight to the devil…

“Let us remember that the devil labors hard to disturb us at the time of meditation, in order to make us abandon it. Let him, then, who omits mental prayer on account of distractions be persuaded that he gives delight to the devil… let us, then, never give up meditation however great our distractions may be. St. Francis de Sales says that if, in mental prayer, we should do nothing... Read More

An interview with Father Jacques Philippe on prayer and “Time for God”

After all the interest generated by our recommendation of Father Philippe’s book, “Time for God,” we thought you might be interested in a recent interview with Father Philippe by Carrie Gress for Zenit.org. In this interview, Father Philippe discusses the simple precepts of interior prayer, common misconceptions and the fruit that can be expected when added to the sacramental... Read More

Brother Lawrence – On Managing Our Minds and Distractions in Prayer

Reverend and very honored Mother, You are not writing anything new to me. You are not the only one agitated in thoughts. Our mind is extremely fickle, but since the will is master of all our powers, it must call back the mind and carry it to God as its final goal. When the mind has not been brought down at the outset, and has a few wicked habits of straying and wasting time, these habits are... Read More

How can I better prepare for prayer and meditation?

Q: Dear Father John, in the first part of your book, The Better Part, you mention something about preparing for tomorrow’s meditation the night before. I also heard that mentioned by a priest giving us a talk during a retreat. Can you explain this a little bit more? What do you mean, exactly, and is that something just for religious and priests, or should I be doing it too? A: It seems to me... Read More