One good habit

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

I find the books of Proverbs and Psalms to be a great source of solace when I am going through turmoil and transition and am in need of resetting my “compass” to “true north”.

Last month, my spouse gave me “God and the World” (written by Peter Seewald in 2000 based on a series of interviews with Joseph Ratzinger just a few years before he became Pope Benedict XVI) and I started reading in the past week. This 460-page book promises to be quite insightful.

On page 19, the then Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, answers the German journalist’s questions on his daily routine:

“Before I get up, I first say a short prayer,” the Cardinal tells Seewald. “The day looks different if you don’t just stumble straight into it.”

In the past few years I have gotten into the habit of saying a short prayer before getting out of bed and, most days, reading a bit of the Bible after breakfast or as soon as I get to the office, and consequently I am in wholehearted agreement with his assessment.

The current Pope goes on to tell his compatriot that after his breakfast he attends Mass and the breviary (http://www.breviary.net/breviary/brevintro.htm) which lay the foundation for his day.

His fixed prayer times are at noon, when he prays the Angelus (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01486b.htm) , followed by Vespers (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15381a.htm) in the afternoon, and the Compline (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04187a.htm) in the evening. He says that “whenever I feel I need help, I can fit in a quick prayer”.

That’s a lot of praying, and I admit I do not pray that frequently, but, as Romans 12 implores us, I do pray as often as I can and on a multitude of motivations (gratitude, guidance, help, etc.)