Practical Advice On How and Why We Can Pray Thoughout Our Work Day

Praying throughout a busy work day remains a challenge. Last time we talked about the fundamental importance of striving to be a saint even during our busy day at work. It was a general discussion that tried to hit broad categories like how we approach our work, how we interact with others. Today we hone in on prayer. It's our meat and potatoes when it comes to our spiritual life. Anyone can do it. And all of us should do it, even if we're swamped with whatever comes our way during the work day today

St. Francis de Sales will give us a hand here. He'll explain how we can and should pray. 

St. Francis is writing to someone to whom he is giving spiritual direction. We can take this advice to heart and apply to ourselves pretty easily. As for applying it to a busy work day, a good disposition and intention will go a long way. Combine this with small interior acts, as well as a general charity towards others with whom we come in contact. A little goes a long way.

Fact is, we can discipline ourselves to take brief moments of respite and lift our minds and hearts to God. And the spiritual will also serve the material or practical side of things. For many if not most of us, stepping back for a break from intense work will provide some "fresh air." When we get too bogged down in a project, we can wind up becoming stale and wasting time, even as we think we're working our tails off. 

In the past, we noted using a timer to "force" breaks throughout the day. That can work for some. But these spiritual gulps of air don't have to be lengthy - just a few seconds will do. Again, though, we must work at this, develop a habit of saying our little aspirations - those tiny implements in our spiritual tool chest that can work wonders when carefully applied throughout the day.

Anyway, consider these words from St. Francis de Sales. We can learn much and benefit greatly.

Do you then, my daughter, aspire continually to God, by brief, ardent upliftings of heart; praise His Excellence, invoke His Aid, cast yourself in spirit at the Foot of His Cross, adore His Goodness, offer your whole soul a thousand times a day to Him, fix your inward gaze upon Him, stretch out your hands to be led by Him, as a little child to its father, clasp Him to your breast as a fragrant nosegay, upraise Him in your soul as a standard. In short, kindle by every possible act your love for God, your tender, passionate desire for the Heavenly Bridegroom of souls. Such is ejaculatory prayer, as it was so earnestly inculcated by St. Augustine upon the devout Proba; and be sure, my daughter, that if you seek such nearness and intimacy with God your whole soul will imbibe the perfume of His Perfections. Neither is this a difficult practice,–it may be interwoven with all our duties and occupations, without hindering any; for neither the spiritual retreat of which I have spoken, nor these inward upliftings of the heart, cause more than a very brief distraction, which, so far from being any hindrance, will rather promote whatever you have in hand. When a pilgrim pauses an instant to take a draught of wine, which refreshes his lips and revives his heart, his onward journey is nowise hindered by the brief delay, but rather it is shortened and lightened, and he brings it all the sooner to a happy end, pausing but to advance the better.

Sundry collections of ejaculatory prayer have been put forth, which are doubtless very useful, but I should advise you not to tie yourself to any formal words, but rather to speak with heart or mouth whatever springs forth from the love within you, which is sure to supply you with all abundance. There are certain utterances which have special force, such as the ejaculatory prayers of which the Psalms are so full, and the numerous loving invocations of Jesus which we find in the Song of Songs. Many hymns too may be used with the like intention, provided they are sung attentively. In short, just as those who are full of some earthly, natural love are ever turning in thought to the beloved one, their hearts overflowing with tenderness, and their lips ever ready to praise that beloved object; comforting themselves in absence by letters, carving the treasured name on every tree;–so those who love God cannot cease thinking of Him, living for Him, longing after Him, speaking of Him, and fain would they grave the Holy Name of Jesus in the hearts of every living creature they behold. And to such an outpour of love all creation bids us–nothing that He has made but is filled with the praise of God, and, as says St. Augustine, everything in the world speaks silently but clearly to the lovers of God of their love, exciting them to holy desires, whence gush forth aspirations and loving cries to God.

Happy Easter!