MOTHER SYLVIA
  • Home
    • The Abbey
  • Explore
    • Prayer Beads
    • Sing and Sign
    • Stretching Prayers
    • Movement Meditations
    • Dance
    • JIMClass
    • Songs
    • Sermons
    • Vocations
    • Vocations Course
    • Vocations Groups
    • Vocations Retreat
    • Vocations Interviews
    • Prayer
  • Kids
    • Parenting
    • Meditation
    • Song & Movement
    • Stories
    • Rap
    • Camp
  • St. Marks ABQ
    • Beatitudes
    • Catechesis
    • Ministry Training
    • Devotions
    • Advent O Antiphons
    • Advent Prayers
    • Advent Stories
    • Winter Saints
    • Advent Creation Waits
    • 40 Bible Stories
    • Acts
    • Summer Stories
    • Parent Group
    • SMMS Chapel News
    • Chapel Time
    • Song of the Month
    • Contemplation and Chant
    • Icon Visits
    • Holy Week >
      • Holy Week 2020
      • Via Crucis
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2019
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2020
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2022
    • Liturgy Class
    • Reflections
  • Blog

Prayer

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.  

What is Prayer?

Types of Prayer

Click here for Mo. Carolyn's notes to accompany these videos

Invitations to Practice

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: 
  • https://www.sdicompanions.org/
Interested in learning more? Check out:
  • ​Daily Prayer for All Seasons (English)
  • ​Daily Prayer for All Seasons (Spanish)
  • ​https://sgnsource.weebly.com/dailyprayer.html (audio recordings of each service created by Mo. Sylvia & Friends at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, San Francisco)
Interested in learning more about the Daily Office? Check out: 
  • https://stmichaelsbythesea.org/blog/how-to-pray-the-daily-office/
  • Venite App (Apple Store) or  online at https://www.venite.app/home 
  • https://dailyoffice.app/


Interested in learning more? David recommends:
​
Spiritual Direction:
  • Edwards, Tilden. Spiritual Director, Spiritual Companion. New York: Paulist Press, 2001.
  • Hart, Thomas N. The Art of Christian Listening. New York: Paulist Press, 1980.

Ignatian Spirituality:
  • Gallagher, Timothy M., O.M.V. The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living. Chestnut Ridge, NY: Crossroad, 2005.
  • https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/
​
Inter-religious (Buddhist-Christian) Dialogue:
  • 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.

Interested in learning more?  Fr. Alex recommends: 
  • Dallas Willard, "Hearing God" (Youtube lectures)​
  • ​ "God, Christ, and Us" by Herbert McCabe

Interested in learning more?  Rev. Pat recommends:
  • Lamb, Joy. The Sword of the Spirit—The Word of God, A handbook for praying God’s word. Lamb’s Books Inc., 2015.
  • McNutt, Francis. The Healing Reawakening. Chosen Books, 2005
  • Thomas, Leo O.P. with Alkire, Jan. Healing Ministry, A Practical Guide. Sheed and Ward, 1994

Interested in learning more?  Mo. Sylvia recommends:
  • ​https://www.mothersylvia.com/prayer-beads.html
  • https://www.theanglicanrosary.com/​

Interested in learning more?  Mo. Sylvia recommends:​
  • https://www.musicthatmakescommunity.org/
  • https://sgnsource.weebly.com/chant.html
  • https://sgnsource.weebly.com/canticles.html

Interested in learning more?  Mo. Sylvia recommends:
  • Website: http://nmpilgrimage.org/index.html
  • Book: "Without Oars: Casting off into a life of PIlgrimage" by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
Interested in learning more?  Mo. Sylvia recommends:​
  • https://www.mothersylvia.com/sing-and-sign.html
  • https://www.mothersylvia.com/stretching-prayers.html
  • https://www.mothersylvia.com/movement-meditations.html
  • https://www.mothersylvia.com/dance.html

Home

Email Sylvia+

Copyright © 2015
  • Home
    • The Abbey
  • Explore
    • Prayer Beads
    • Sing and Sign
    • Stretching Prayers
    • Movement Meditations
    • Dance
    • JIMClass
    • Songs
    • Sermons
    • Vocations
    • Vocations Course
    • Vocations Groups
    • Vocations Retreat
    • Vocations Interviews
    • Prayer
  • Kids
    • Parenting
    • Meditation
    • Song & Movement
    • Stories
    • Rap
    • Camp
  • St. Marks ABQ
    • Beatitudes
    • Catechesis
    • Ministry Training
    • Devotions
    • Advent O Antiphons
    • Advent Prayers
    • Advent Stories
    • Winter Saints
    • Advent Creation Waits
    • 40 Bible Stories
    • Acts
    • Summer Stories
    • Parent Group
    • SMMS Chapel News
    • Chapel Time
    • Song of the Month
    • Contemplation and Chant
    • Icon Visits
    • Holy Week >
      • Holy Week 2020
      • Via Crucis
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2019
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2020
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2022
    • Liturgy Class
    • Reflections
  • Blog