www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Anyone interested in perpetual Lenten prayer online?

Dear Friends,

Would anyone be interested in a Lenten prayer effort right here on the Forum where people would volunteer to pray at a specific hour, day or night?

If so, perhaps we could have a 24 hour internet prayer vigil?

Is that unrealistic?

Alex

Well, not being in one of the North American time zones I volunteer to cover one of the more 'unsociable' hours

Andrij

Alex,
Count me in too -- for one of those hours that is easy for me and very hard for you across the pond

Anhelyna

Dear Friends,

O.K., let's say we want to keep a prayerful watch for one hour - how we do it is our personal business.

Choose an hour! I'll adapt to you!

(Quite a change in me, would you say? )

Alex

OK Alex

Mark me down for 9-10am here [ UK time that is] which is something like 4am for you - I think.

Now where are all these other volunteers ?

I think it is an excellent idea - links ECs RCs and Orthodox Christians as well

Anhelyna

I'll be happy to cover 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

Khrystyna

Can I claim 11-Noon Eastern (GMT-5)?

That would be 16:00-17:00 GMT

( I suggest we list our time in GMT, as to avoid confusion)

-Brendan

Dear Friends,

I'll cover 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm here, unless someone else wants that slot!

You people are so incredibly wonderful! May God bless you for your commitment to watch and pray with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane!!

Alex

Dear Friends,

We don't necessarily have to cover off all 24 hours - it would be nice though!

It is sufficient that we commit one hour daily to prayer, spiritual reading and reflection in a Lenten spirit of self-renewal.

We can also pray for all the intentions listed here by way of intercessory prayer.

Who is going to volunteer next?

Remember - such an investment of just one hour a day in Lent will reap you eternal rewards!

Alex

Put me down for 06:00-07:00 GMT.

Andrij

I'd be interested in doing this. While I'm not always so good in the morning (trying to wake up early is penance enough, and makes the fasting seem easy), I try (and am usually successful) praying Vespers and Compline every evening. Depending on classes, meals, etc., the time varies, but it's usually sometime in the evening. :p So I don't know what time I would put down for this, but if "an hour every evening" is sufficient, count me in!

I'll take an hour,too. Mostly early evening, 6 to 7 PM if that's ok. Some days though, depending on the schedule here, it may have to vary.

Steve

Dear Friends,

Let's keep to our daily hour as best we can during Lent - and we invite other members of this spiritual internet family to join us!

Let us make this a Lent like no other!!

God bless you all, Servants of Christ!

Alex

Dear Alex,

Thank you for your encouragement, our brother. I will continue to remember all the wonderful Christians on this forum during the hour of prayer I have committed myself to in the morning and at Mass today as Roman Catholics begin their Lenten discipline. Two prayers that I will try to maintain throughout my work day are the much beloved Jesus Prayer and the beautiful prayer of the great St. Teresa of Avila, "all things pass; only God remains."

I wish a most fruitful Lenten journey to all on the forum and ask for the forgiveness of anyone to whom I have not shown charity in Christ. In order to strive for the goal of walking more closely with the Lord over this holy season I will probably be visiting the forum less frequently, but you will all be in my heart nonetheless.

In Christ,

Khrystyna

Dear Friends,

Whew!

I thought someone would bother me during my hour - but nobody did!

Last night, I read from the 1912 edition of the life of Holy Ann Preston whose grave is just two subway stops away from where I am right now.

She prayed for forgiveness one night, repeating the Prayer of the Publican over and over again.

Around midnight, she got up and saw in a vision Christ on Calvary - and came to realize His forgiveness and acceptance of her!

She had the gift of finding anything that was lost simply by saying: "Father, where is it?" And then she knew where to go immediately.

The boys of the family she worked for hid the family cat one day and asked Ann where it was.

Ann prayed and then went for the stove which she opened and out popped the cat.

The writer herself saw her do this and was mesmerized.

Although Ann never learned to read, she could read Scripture and read it assiduously.

The writer, Helen Bingham, once gave Ann a copy of a newspaper and asked her if she could read it.

Ann looked it over and over again, and then said, "Ah, this looks like the word 'Lord' but it isn't about my Heavenly Father since I don't feel my heart burn within me . . ."

Helen looked and saw it referenced an English Lord involved in a military operation . . .

Let's keep those prayer partners coming!

Alex