--- title: Accent on Prayer description: Mary Lou Rosien recommends that, during Lent, we make an extra effort to experience life with an accent on prayer. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20240229%20MRosien%201.png --- [![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/accent-on-prayer#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # Accent on Prayer Feb 29, 2024 1:00:00 PM  |  by [Mary Lou Rosien](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/mary-lou-rosien) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20240229%20MRosien%201.png) *Mary Lou Rosien recommends that, during Lent, we make an extra effort to experience life with an accent on prayer.* --- When I was in my late teens, I was very blessed to travel to my birthplace of London, England. My grandparents took me on a three-month-long visit. It was a once in a lifetime experience as I was completely immersed in European culture and was not seen as an outsider (other than my Rochester, NY accent).   Coming back to the States was a bit of a culture shock for me. I was surprised that I had adapted my thinking, speaking and actions to those around me in England. I never even noticed that I had made some slight changes.    My realization came at church. Everyone prayed in unison, “Thanks be to God.” However, to my ears it sounded like, “Thanks be to *Gad*.” Oh, there’s that “*Rachester* accent" everyone speaks about!   I recently had a similar spiritual experience. My husband and I have committed to doing the Liturgy of the Hours in the morning and at night. We have also been blessed by the opportunity to read *An Introduction to the Devout Life* by St. Francis De Sales. This was made possible by a wonderful podcast: [*Catholic Classics*](https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/catholic-classics/) by Ascension.    I began to hear life differently. All of a sudden, things that might have led me into sin, wrong thinking or even just useless idleness, sounded ... different. I felt I was experiencing life with an accent of prayer. My thoughts felt different, and I felt a sensitivity to things from the Lord I had never noticed before. I felt drawn to pray more. I became alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Just as those three months in Europe had given me a different appreciation and perspective on American life, this increase in prayer and study had given me a new perspective on my entire life. Thanks be to God.   I have recommitted to finding new ways to continue this spiritual journey through other studies, books, increased time in Adoration, and more. My parish priest always tells us, “If you are not moving forward in the spiritual journey, you are moving backward. There is no standing still.”     > [Click to tweet: > This increase in prayer and study had given me a new perspective on my entire life. #CatholicMom](https://ctt.ac/9P6bO)   There are so many Catholic resources out there to help us increase in faith. Consider, this Lent, finding a book, study, prayer, or podcast that may help tune your spiritual accent too. God bless.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20240229%20MRosien%202.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20240229%20MRosien%202.png) --- Copyright 2024 Mary Lou Rosien Images: Canva ### 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%2Faccent-on-prayer%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%2Faccent-on-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Faccent-on-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Accent%20on%20Prayer) [![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%2Faccent-on-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Faccent-on-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Mary Lou Rosien](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contributors/MARY%20LOU%20ROSIEN.png) ### [Mary Lou Rosien](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/mary-lou-rosien) Mary Lou Rosien is a Catholic wife, mom to seven, educator, writer, and speaker. She is the author of several books including *[Three Things Divorced Catholics need to Know](https://osv.com/Shop/Product?ProductCode=T1860)* and *The Joy-Filled Broken Heart*. She is known for her love of all things cooking and baking, especially “Friday cookies.” Visit her at [CatholicFamilyBootCamp.com](http://www.catholicfamilybootcamp.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Live Like Lisa Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/live-like-lisa) [ A Sin Against Myself? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/a-sin-against-myself) [ The Lord is Close to the Brokenhearted Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/06/02/lord-close-brokenhearted) ## 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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