In the 1600s, a lay brother in a Paris monastery named Brother Lawrence spent years working in the kitchen. He learned to talk to God while washing pots and flipping omelettes, and he said he felt as close to God in the clatter of the kitchen as he did kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament. His letters were published after his death as The Practice of the Presence of God, and they’ve never gone out of print.
Historical Context
A Mindfulness Prayer
Lord, I’m here, in this moment, and so are you.
I notice my breath, my body, the sounds around me.
I let go of yesterday and I won’t borrow tomorrow.
You are present in this room, in this task, in this breath.
Let me rest in you, right now.
Amen.
The Jesus Prayer
Christians in the East have prayed this short prayer for centuries, often in rhythm with the breath:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
The Examen in Five Steps
- Presence. Remember that God is with you.
- Gratitude. Notice the gifts of today.
- Review. Walk back through the day and notice where you felt close to God or far from him.
- Sorrow. Ask forgiveness for what went wrong.
- Hope. Ask for grace for tomorrow.
For Ordinary Tasks
Lord, as I do this ordinary task, let me do it with you.
Amen.
Scripture Connection
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
Christian mindfulness starts here: stillness, but stillness with a direction. We become still in order to know him.
Related prayers
For contemplative prayer, see the Welcoming Prayer and the Prayer for Retreat. For anxiety, the St Francis de Sales Prayer.