Easy Steps for Praying in Public

Sometimes we all find ourselves in situations where people are looking for someone who can help them recognize that a particular event is sacred and needs to be marked by some form of prayer. These kinds of situations can include grace before a meal, prayer at the 25th anniversary of a marriage, prayer at the college graduation party of a relative, prayer of family and friends gathered
around a dying relative or prayer of blessing before the meal at a wedding reception.

These times are numerous and varied and we should be complimented when people look to us because they see in us something of a faith that is lived rather publicly. They expect us to be able to deliver an expression of that faith. We may be people of faith, but often the request to pray spontaneously out loud can bring feelings of inadequacy and discomfort.

How might we confront these feelings and step into a role as pray-er in moments like these? I suspect there are many models of prayer to use, but let me offer one that helps me step up to these kinds of on the spot requests. It is very simply
based on God’s deep desire to be present to, and meet us, in all situations and to gift us with life. It is about naming the reality we are experiencing in that moment.

1  THE GATHERING:
A first step in formulating a spontaneous prayer for a specific situation is to note that we have been gathered together by and for a very specific situation. I suggest that it is important to develop the habit of remembering that we “have
been” gathered together and have not simply decided to come together on our own. This helps us recall that the action of gathering comes from someone else. From a faith context, we always recognize that it is our ever-present and ever-laboring God who is drawing us together at each moment of our life.

Why? To continue drawing us into the circle of God’s love where the fullness of life happens to us, for us and in us for others. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus reminds his disciples and us, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there
among them.” Jesus reminds us that his presence “among us” was one of healing, reconciliation, hope, shepherding, blessing and the abundant life that always comes from love. And Jesus’ action of gathering us reflects what our scriptures indicate God has always been doing for us as our source of life.

 For example, in Genesis 2, God “gathers” or brings together two original humans to realize their destiny of being made not to live alone, but to live as one. In Deuteronomy 30: 3-4 and in Jeremiah 29:14 God promises to “gather” the chosen people from wherever they have been scattered in their infidelities. The scriptures are filled with the action of our
Shepherding God gathering the flock together as a life giving action of love. We are gathered at Mass to be drawn into full “communion” with Christ. And when we find ourselves “gathered with others in faith” we know it is God at work in and through us. These are a lot of words to express what happens to us in an instantaneous moment of noticing that we are gathered.

2 THE RESPONSE -- THANKS:
   What is our response to recognizing God’s presence in our having been gathered, in acknowledging that we, gathered, are the work of God’s hand and thus meant to be a blessing for others? Again we can turn to our scriptures to notice a very traditional response to God’s love for us, and action in us. In Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s famous “Magnificat,” we pray with Mary in thanksgiving because “God has done great things for me.” Thanksgiving/gratitude is always our most appropriate response to God’s action of unconditional love in our lives. Thanksgiving is always an appropriate response for the ways that we gift each other with hope, courage, and a sense of belonging that we all long for.
Gratefulness is our way of life.

3 THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE:
Gathering has its own specific purpose as mentioned in the beginning. These might include something like the following: We are grateful to have been gathered to remember God’s faithfulness as it is communicated by the 25th wedding anniversary of John and Mary and the meal we will share in
celebration of God’s love in them. We are grateful to have been gathered together around our dear friend Peter in his illness; grateful to be called to be sources of encouragement and strength because of our love; grateful for his love in our lives.

4 THE PETITIONS:
Are there petitions we wish to ask God for or gifts that God might continue to bestow in regard to the reason we have been gathered together? Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 11: 9-10, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

 And so we have the faith and courage to ask for simple blessings for the person or persons or situation prayed for.

5 THE PARTICIPATION – THROUGH CHRIST:
 Finally, it is important to allow others to participate in the prayer by at least allowing for a clear moment in which they can add their own assent to our prayerful words. The traditional assent for God’s people is “Amen.” To call forth such an assent, it is helpful to lead them in a commonly recognized formula that is again a traditional Christian prayer form, “we ask this through Christ Our Lord.... Amen.” Or simply, “for this we pray and say.... Amen.”

An example of a spontaneous prayer including the above mentioned elements might be the following:

Good and faithful God, you have gathered us here to give thanks for John and Mary ontheir 50th wedding anniversary.

We are grateful for the love you have showered upon them all these years for it is that love that has helped them love each other so deeply. We are grateful with them for the gift of their children who have also been your blessing on them and on us.

We thank you for the opportunities to accompany them in their good times and difficult times.

We ask that you continue to draw their hearts together in a faithful love that will remind us of your presence to us all, and help us to continue to be faithful companions as we share our love with them.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord....
Amen.

Fr. Abert is minister to priests in the Milwaukee Archdiocese and superior of the Miguel Pro Jesuit Community in Milwaukee.

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