A Rule of Prayer
This material is adapted from Robert Gallagher's book, Power from on High and is used with permission
You may wish to refer to his web site: http://www.cditrainers.org/christian_life.htm
For help with your Rule of Prayer, please email us! pastor@churchofstthomas.com
A relationship with Jesus is the beginning and the end of Christian Life. It's whole reason and purpose is to know Him more truly and to live in Him more authentically. This means, above all, a deep life of prayer. Life in Christ and the life of prayer are one and the same thing. From prayer, rightly conceived and practiced, flows the practical life of Christian Action.
The Diagram of the Christian Life Model shows the interconnection between the disciplines of Christian Prayer and the life of Christ in the world. Click here to view as pdf file. To see the Renewal-Apostolate Cycle model click here [ to download the latest version of Adobe Reader (for pdf files) please click here ]
Christian Life revolves around Worship, Doctrine, and Action. These are the ways we seek Christ and live His Life in heart, mind, and work.
Worship involves the common worship of the Eucharist, supported by the daily round of morning and evening prayer and one's own personal prayers. Prayer produces the heart of Christ in us.
Doctrine is the training of the mind in Christ-likeness. Scripture and tradition form the basis of it and through meditation on these two sources, the mind of Christ is formed in the believer.
From the mind and heart come one's life--and so Action--evangelization, stewardship, and service--spring from prayer and the mind formed in Scripture and tradition.
This diagram offers a very fruitful way to look at your life, as the following chart makes clear.
Each of the three elements of Christian Life are necessary for a healthy, balanced spiritual existence. One way to develop your Rule is by looking at the parts of your life according to the Christian Life model and asking "Where am I now?" and "Where does Jesus want me to be?"
Rule of Life Worksheet
Elements
What do I do now?
What will I include now?
WORSHIP
[The
Heart of Christ]
Mass/Eucharist
Daily Office
Personal, Private Devotion
Intercession (prayer for others)
Meditation (mental and prayerful attention to Christian truth)
Recollection (remembering God's presence)
Thanksgiving/Adoration
Penance (confessing sins)
Colloquy, Petition (talking over your needs with God)
Guide? (do you need someone to help)
DOCTRINE
[The
Mind of Christ]
Scripture (The Bible)
Tradition (The Classics of the Spiritual Life)
Reason
(Learning to think like a Christian)
ACTION
[The
Work of Christ]
Evangelization (telling others about Jesus and the Church)
Stewardship (Living the whole of one's life for
Christ)
Service (Giving of oneself to others)