As you “build the nest” to protect, support, and hold your emerging vocation, it is essential to ground yourself in prayer. God IS calling you! But before God calls you to "do" anything at all, God is calling you to draw near to God's heart in prayer.
There is no “wrong” way to pray. Much like the “best” kind of exercise, the “best” kind of prayer is whatever you will actually do!
We invite you to begin by watching two videos: “An Introduction to Prayer: What is Prayer?” and “An Introduction to Prayer: Kinds of Prayer” with the Rev. Carolyn Metzler, a priest and spiritual director in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Then continue by exploring the short video introductions & invitations to a wide variety of prayer practices and various other resources offered below.
Invitations to Reflection
As you begin to move into this exploration of prayer, some questions to consider include:
How has your own practice of prayer changed through the years?
Of the many forms of prayer, which is most meaningful to you at this time and why?
How are you longing to pray? What are you thirsting for?
How are you needing prayer to ground you in this moment of your vocational journey and exploration?
What is the spiritual practice (traditional or non-traditional) you find most life-giving, keeps you the most honest, and keeps you connected to community? (You can name two. More than that, they are just a fad.)
What are the three books you feel have been most important for your spiritual journey?
What are three pieces of music which you return to again and again when you need grounding?
An Introduction to Prayer
Join the Rev. Carolyn Metzler, priest in the Diocese of the Rio Grande, in exploring what prayer is and how we pray.
In the videos below, several priests, deacons, and lay people in the Diocese of the Rio Grande and beyond share their personal experiences of prayer, and invite you to explore forms of prayer and spiritual practice that have been especially life giving for them.
Interested in learning more about Spiritual Direction? Visit:
Gunaratana, Bhante Henepola. Mindfulness in Plain English. Boston: Wisdom, 2002.
Habito, Ruben L. F. Zen and the Spiritual Exercises. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis: 2013.
Knitter, Paul F. Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian. Oxford: Oneworld, 2011.
Meadow, Mary Jo, Kevin Culligan and Daniel Chowning. Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross. Boston: Wisdom, 2007.
Steindl-Rast, Brother David, O.S.B. Deeper Than Words: Living the Apostles’ Creed. New York: Image, 2010.