--- title: Praying and Working description: Maria Morera Johnson has noticed a change in the rhythm of her prayer life. How has your prayer changed in different seasons of life? image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/praying-and-working-F.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/10/29/praying-and-working/#) # Praying and Working Oct 29, 2019 12:30:45 PM  |  by [Maria Morera Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/maria-morera-johnson) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/praying-and-working-F.jpg) [!["praying and working" by Maria Morera Johnson (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/praying-and-working.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/praying-and-working.jpg) Image credit: [Pixabay.com](https://pixabay.com/images/id-2768204/) (2017), CC0/PD[/caption] My desk is a jumbled mess. I have stacks, and piles, and groups of folders that probably belong in a filing cabinet but will never make it to a file drawer. If I’m feeling generous, I’ll tack it onto my bulletin board. Despite this haphazard appearance, there’s a semblance of organization. There’s order in the disorder. I like it. I’m comfortable with it and any attempt to change is not only short-lived but difficult. Believe me, I’ve *wanted* to have labels and colored file folders. Beautiful day planners remain unfilled. Bullet journals overwhelm me. I’m sure there’s an app designed just for me, but I can’t keep up with where I left my phone. In short, I’m messy when it comes to my workflow even though I get stuff done. I’ve noticed this has bled over into some of my spiritual practices as well. ### I used to have a constant discipline in my prayer life. I got up early and read Scripture and did a little journaling. I had certain devotions that I prayed at certain times. There was a time and place for everything, and everything had a place and time. Now my spiritual life looks like my desk. I suppose everything is still there, but the regimented system is gone. I still read, and write, and pray but it seems a little more fluid these days. Organized-me wants to correct this mess but there’s order in that chaos, and in this season of my prayer life, I am embracing it. ### Ora et Labora I enjoyed an excellent season of Benedictine order – of praying and working, Ora et Labora – no doubt due to living so close to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. I learned the beauty of the Divine Office. These days, however, I am drawn to mental prayer inspired by St. Teresa of Avila, who advocated friendship with Jesus. I find myself talking in prayer while I drive, do the dishes, fold clothes. Staring at an empty screen when I should be writing. [!["praying and working" by Maria Morera Johnson (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/St-Bernard.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/St-Bernard.png) Copyright 2019 Maria Morera Johnson. All rights reserved.[/caption] ### Eucharistic Adoration. Committing to a weekly Holy Hour has changed my prayer to a conversation with the Lord. I am endeavoring to live in thanksgiving, which often means small, but I hope, earnest declarations of praise and thanksgiving as my day unfolds. Perhaps I’ll return to the Divine Office or end up with a combination, but for now, in this new season of prayer, I am finding great joy in these aspirations that come to me as naturally as inhaling and exhaling. ### How do you pray? --- *Copyright 2019 Maria Morera Johnson* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F29%2Fpraying-and-working%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F29%2Fpraying-and-working%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F29%2Fpraying-and-working%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Praying%20and%20Working) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F29%2Fpraying-and-working%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F29%2Fpraying-and-working%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Maria Morera Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Maria%20Johnson%202022.jpg) ### [Maria Morera Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/maria-morera-johnson) Maria Morera Johnson, author of *My Badass Book of Saints*, *Super Girls and Halo*, and *Our Lady of Charity: How a Cuban Devotion to Mary Helped Me Grow in Faith and Love* writes about all the things that she loves. A cradle Catholic, she struggles with living in the world but not being of it, and blogs about those successes and failures, too. ## Related Blog Articles [ What the World Needs Now Is Love Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/what-the-world-needs-now-is-love) [ Seeking God Among the Pots and Pans Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/seeking-god-among-the-pots-and-pans) [ Let the Little Children Come Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/02/20/let-the-little-children-come/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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