Do you ever have trouble shedding distractions and entering into prayer and meditation? A powerful way to open up your time of prayer, meditation, or scripture reading is through acts of faith, hope, and love. These acts can be the recitation of prayers like the ones below or others that you can write on your own. Whether you write your own or recite these traditional forms, these acts can help you to effectively enter into prayer and awareness of the presence of God.
Act of Faith:
O my God, I firmly believe all the truths that the Holy Catholic Church believes and teaches; I believe these truths, O Lord, because Thou, the infallible Truth, hast revealed them to her; in this faith I am resolved to live and die. Amen.
Act of Hope:
O my God, relying on Thy promises, I hope that, through the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, Thou wilt grant me pardon of my sins, and the graces necessary to serve Thee in this life and to obtain eternal happiness in the next. Amen
Act of Love:
O my God, I love Thee with my whole heart and above all things, because Thou art infinitely good and perfect; and I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. Grant that I may love Thee more and more in this life, and in the next for all eternity. Amen
Ideally, these acts are prayed spontaneously in our own words. If you have difficulty using your own words at first, simply begin using these for a while. Once you get the hang of it, personalize each act by answering these questions:
Act of Faith: What do I believe about Christ, about God, about what he has done for me?
Act of Hope: What am I joyfully anticipating as the outcome of my relationship with God both now and in the future?
Act of Love: Why do I love God? What is it about him that evokes love and appreciation in me? What am I thankful or grateful for?
May your faith, hope, and love increase in Him!
Dan
