Aspirations - Simple Prayers of the Heart

         

          One of the many aspects of the Catholic Faith that I love is our rich intellectual and devotional traditions. There are prayers of many types and forms: Mental & Vocal, Personal & Communal, Liturgical & Devotional etc.  But we also have a very simple form of prayer the Saints talk about called Aspirations - prayer that is like breathing – necessary for life. Prayers that bubble up from our deep core, our hearts, full of emotion at the very moment they are exclaimed.

           Aspirations are by definition, short, from the heart, and concise.  They help us pray without ceasing, throughout the day and throughout our responsibilities, reminding us often of who God is and who we are in relation to Him.  They have been described as small darts of love. (Catholic Exchange. Prayerful Aspirations: Small Darts of Love. Susan Furlong) They rise up as sighs, pleas, bursts of love and thanksgiving.  Many Aspirations are taken from the Psalms, words full of human emotion. To see a marvelous sunrise over the powerful ocean, the new smile of an infant, the finality of a loved one dying in your arms, the joy of a new love – these are all experiences of life that can move us to lean into Jesus and exclaim our love, need and admiration of Him.

           A popular Aspiration, known as the Jesus Prayer, is based on Luke 18:13. Invoking the name of Jesus, often over and over again – Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner – is a powerfully simple prayer when under temptation.  At the name of Jesus every knee shall bend – attacking evil temptations with the power of Christ’s name!

           Remembering that prayer is your relationship with Jesus Christ, it is a function of our heart and our will similar to our human relationships yet animated by our faith in the Almighty.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes St. John Damascene as saying, “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (CCC#2559) and St. Therese of Lisieux, “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and love.” (CCC#2558)

           Prayer is a function of the will – where we are called in faith to persevere in prayer – even when we don’t feel like it, deprived of emotion – we persevere because we believe in God and His power – we know we need Him, we believe He hears us and orders all things to good in our lives and in our hearts.  Prayer is also a function of the heart – movements of temptation, despair, burdens, pain, joy, gratitude, awe, worship and love.

          St. Francis De Sales, a Doctor of the Church, describes Aspirational prayers this way in his book, Introduction to The Devout Life:

 “Do you then, my daughter, aspire continually to God, by brief, ardent upliftings of heart; praise His Excellence, invoke His aid, cast yourself in spirit at the Foot of the Cross, adore his goodness, offer your whole soul a thousand times a day to Him, fix your inward gaze upon Him, stretch out your hands to be led by Him, as a little child to its Father, clasp him to your breast as a fragrant nosegay, upraise Him in your souls as a standard. In short, kindle by every possible act your love for God, your tender, passionate desire for the Heavenly Bridegroom of souls.

…bs sure, my daughter, that if you seek such nearness and intimacy with God your whole soul will imbibe the perfume of His perfections.

…this is not a difficult practice – it may be interwoven with all our duties and occupations, without hindering any; for these inward upliftings of the heart, cause more than a very brief distraction, which so far from being any hindrance, will rather promote whatever you have in hand.” ^1.

       Let your emotions and your faith spring up from your heart in Aspirational prayer all day so you can pray unceasingly! Jesus will be comforted by your love and attention.

 Aspirations inspired by:

Faith nurtures prayer and prayer as it grows, leads to firmness in faith. St. Augustine Homily #115 In Conversation With God. London. Scepter Publishing. Vol. 4. Pg. 403.

Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

 The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28

 O God do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Psalm 71:12

 “Father, if you are willing, remove this chalice from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” John 21:3

 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30

  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Luke 18:13

 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. Psalm 119:94

 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy. Psalm 16:11

 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. Luke 18:1

 But who can discern his errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Psalm 19:12

 O Lord, Be not far from me! Psalm 35:22

 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

 I fear no evil for you are with me. Psalm 23:4

 My soul thirst for God, for the living God.  Psalm 42:2

 Behold, you desire truth in the inward being, therefore, teach me wisdom in my secret heart.  Psalm 51:6

 O my Strength!  Psalm 59:17

 Do not be anxious about your life.  Matthew 6:25

 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. Matthew 16:23

 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands! Psalm 90:17

 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30

 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Psalm 145:8

 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2

 I give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. Psalm 9:1

 I trust in your merciful love. Psalm 13:5

 You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you. Psalm 16:2

 I love you O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress. Psalm 18:2

 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Psalm 19:14

 Lord, let our eyes be opened.  Matthew 20:33

 Mary, mother of God, pray for us!

Father, forgive me!

Jesus, I trust in you!

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!

Come Holy Spirit, Come!

Let me not miss an urging of the Holy Spirit this day!

Jesus, Mary & Joseph!  (JMJ)

1. De Sales, Saint Francis. Introduction to the Devout Life. New York. Vintage Spiritual Classics, Random House.2002.P.63