Yesterday, I was on campus at Saint Martin’s University where I am starting a Master’s in Theological Studies MTS (I took the photo shown above while on campus).
While I was on campus, I joined the campus’s Benedictine monks (and a handful of students) for mid-day prayer in the campus chapel. Several recitations of the The Gloria Patri (Glory Be) were included in mid-day prayers.
The Gloria Patri, of course, is included at mass and in the rosary (“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen). Thus, I’ve orally prayed it countless times. Yet, it specifically captured my attention during mid-day prayers yesterday.
We hear at mass “”Lord, although you have no need of our praise, yet our thanksgiving is itself your gift, since our praises add nothing to your greatness but profit us for salvation through Christ, Our Lord.”
“Sing a joyful song unto the Lord” (a popular hymn based on Psalm 100) is a great way to pray. There’s an adage that “those who sing pray twice.” This doesn’t just apply at church. Praying with joyful praise when we are alone at home is also a great way to pray!
There are plenty of ways to incorporate “joyful praise” into our personal prayer life:
- Verbal thanks in prayer expressing appreciation for specific items for which we are grateful.
- Prayerful and joyful music at home (uplifting!)
- Being joyfully attentive to God in prayer
- And…. (there’s no limit to how we can be joyful and praiseful)
Praise to God “profits us for salvation.” How might you regularly incorporate joyful praise into your personal prayer life?
Kim Burkhardt blogs about faith at The Hermitage Within. Thank you for reading this faith blog and for sharing it with your friends. While you are here, please feel welcome to provide support to sustain this blog ($$).
