Arrow prayers are those wonderfully simple, succinct and powerful prayers that quickly make their mark in piercing the heart of God. Sometimes they're called aspirations or ejaculations. Their brevity – often just three or four words – makes them easy to remember. Like an actual arrow, they go straight to their target – in this case, God. I often think of them as "johnny-on-the-spot" prayers because they're so readily available when we need them. Of course, it does help if we've been storing them up all along in our spiritual survival kit. (Dear reader, you do have a spiritual survival kit, don't you?) Whether we're in dire need of God's help or joyfully overflowing with gratitude and praise, an arrow prayer can lead us directly to God. Lord, make haste to help me! Bless the Lord, my soul! Jesus, save me! Father, of majesty unbounded!
St. Francis de Sales stresses the importance of arrow prayers in his Introduction to the Devout Life (Book 2, Chapter 13, "Aspirations, Ejaculatory Prayers, and Good Thoughts"). After advising his reader to "make spiritual aspirations to God by short, ardent movements of your heart," he points out that "there is no difficulty in this exercise, as it may be interspersed among all our tasks and duties without any inconvenience, since in this spiritual retirement or amid these interior aspirations we only relax quickly and briefly. This does not hinder but rather assists us greatly in what we do." St. Francis emphasizes that "without this exercise we cannot properly lead the contemplative life, and we can but poorly lead the active life. Without it rest is mere idleness, and labor is drudgery. Hence I exhort you to take up this practice with all your heart and never give it up."
Ever since I first read that passage in Devout Life about 25 years ago, I've been collecting arrow prayers, writing them down in a small, well-worn notebook so that I won't forget them. While St. Francis admits that such a collection can be useful, he suggests that we not restrict ourselves to a set form of words. Rather, he wisely advises, "pronounce either within your heart or with your lips such words as love suggests to you at the time."
As for the brevity of arrow prayers, St. Jane Francis de Chantal, who shared a loving friendship with St. Francis de Sales, reminds us that we don't have to be wordy with God. "With Him there is no need for long speeches. In heaven the angels utter no other word than this: Holy. This is their entire prayer, and in paradise they are occupied with this single word as an act of homage to the single Word of God who lives eternally."
Arrow prayers are as varied as the individual uttering them. "Live Jesus!," St. Francis de Sales often exclaimed. "My Jesus, mercy," Blessed John XXIII frequently wrote in his lifelong diary, Journal of a Soul. St. Teresa of Avila spoke lovingly, "My sweet Lord," while St. Francis of Assisi cried out in joy, "My God and my all!"
The Bible abounds with arrow prayers, particularly the Psalms. So do the writings of the fathers and mothers of the church, the saints, and all the holy men and women of God. Even sacred hymns and poems contain arrow prayers: Angels, help us to adore him! Holy God, we praise thy name! Thee will I cherish! Christ, be our light! O Jesus, we adore thee!
The traditional prayers and litanies of the Catholic Church are a rich source of arrow prayers. Jesus, whose name is called wonderful, have mercy on us! Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us! O good Jesus, hear me! Melt the frozen, warm the chill! Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary! Hail, holy Queen!
My own spiritual survival kit contains a few Latin arrow prayers, too, since I grew up with the traditional Latin Mass, studied Latin both in high school and college, and sang Gregorian chant for three years as a Franciscan postulant and novice. Domine non sum dignus! Magnificat! Gloria! Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus! Ave Maria! Miserere nobis! De profundis! Suscipe Domine! O bone Jesu! Adoramus te Christe!
Arrow prayers can be cries for help or shouts of praise. They can be complete thoughts or just a word or two that leads us into ever deeper prayer. When the Christmas season ended in January until Lent began, my constant arrow prayer was "Father!" Father … Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … my Father, our Father … Father rich in mercy … Father, who knows what we need before we ask … Father, who heals all our ills … Father, who gives us our daily bread … Father, how wonderful your care for us … Father, make us grow in love!" Now that it's Lent, my two constant arrow prayers are "Passion of Christ, strengthen me!" and "Mother of Sorrows, pray for us!"
So yes, by all means, let us take up this marvelous practice of arrow prayers with all our hearts and never give it up!
P.S. Later I will post some arrow prayers from my notebook.
St. Francis de Sales stresses the importance of arrow prayers in his Introduction to the Devout Life (Book 2, Chapter 13, "Aspirations, Ejaculatory Prayers, and Good Thoughts"). After advising his reader to "make spiritual aspirations to God by short, ardent movements of your heart," he points out that "there is no difficulty in this exercise, as it may be interspersed among all our tasks and duties without any inconvenience, since in this spiritual retirement or amid these interior aspirations we only relax quickly and briefly. This does not hinder but rather assists us greatly in what we do." St. Francis emphasizes that "without this exercise we cannot properly lead the contemplative life, and we can but poorly lead the active life. Without it rest is mere idleness, and labor is drudgery. Hence I exhort you to take up this practice with all your heart and never give it up."
Ever since I first read that passage in Devout Life about 25 years ago, I've been collecting arrow prayers, writing them down in a small, well-worn notebook so that I won't forget them. While St. Francis admits that such a collection can be useful, he suggests that we not restrict ourselves to a set form of words. Rather, he wisely advises, "pronounce either within your heart or with your lips such words as love suggests to you at the time."
As for the brevity of arrow prayers, St. Jane Francis de Chantal, who shared a loving friendship with St. Francis de Sales, reminds us that we don't have to be wordy with God. "With Him there is no need for long speeches. In heaven the angels utter no other word than this: Holy. This is their entire prayer, and in paradise they are occupied with this single word as an act of homage to the single Word of God who lives eternally."
Arrow prayers are as varied as the individual uttering them. "Live Jesus!," St. Francis de Sales often exclaimed. "My Jesus, mercy," Blessed John XXIII frequently wrote in his lifelong diary, Journal of a Soul. St. Teresa of Avila spoke lovingly, "My sweet Lord," while St. Francis of Assisi cried out in joy, "My God and my all!"
The Bible abounds with arrow prayers, particularly the Psalms. So do the writings of the fathers and mothers of the church, the saints, and all the holy men and women of God. Even sacred hymns and poems contain arrow prayers: Angels, help us to adore him! Holy God, we praise thy name! Thee will I cherish! Christ, be our light! O Jesus, we adore thee!
The traditional prayers and litanies of the Catholic Church are a rich source of arrow prayers. Jesus, whose name is called wonderful, have mercy on us! Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us! O good Jesus, hear me! Melt the frozen, warm the chill! Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary! Hail, holy Queen!
My own spiritual survival kit contains a few Latin arrow prayers, too, since I grew up with the traditional Latin Mass, studied Latin both in high school and college, and sang Gregorian chant for three years as a Franciscan postulant and novice. Domine non sum dignus! Magnificat! Gloria! Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus! Ave Maria! Miserere nobis! De profundis! Suscipe Domine! O bone Jesu! Adoramus te Christe!
Arrow prayers can be cries for help or shouts of praise. They can be complete thoughts or just a word or two that leads us into ever deeper prayer. When the Christmas season ended in January until Lent began, my constant arrow prayer was "Father!" Father … Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … my Father, our Father … Father rich in mercy … Father, who knows what we need before we ask … Father, who heals all our ills … Father, who gives us our daily bread … Father, how wonderful your care for us … Father, make us grow in love!" Now that it's Lent, my two constant arrow prayers are "Passion of Christ, strengthen me!" and "Mother of Sorrows, pray for us!"
So yes, by all means, let us take up this marvelous practice of arrow prayers with all our hearts and never give it up!
P.S. Later I will post some arrow prayers from my notebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment