A Different Kind of Litany

From The Word Among Us, available at: www.wau.org

Jacqueline Vromans-McCoy writes in the June edition of TWAU, about "A Different Kind of Litany", - one which struck a chord deep inside me.

Briefly, Jacqueline tells about being "recruited" to a one hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in her parish. As she makes her first visit she finds herself being distracted, lost and unable to concentrate. But as she perseveres, she senses a shift. The real miracle happens when she begins to praise God for ALL things - both the blessings and the darkest moments in her life.

You can say it seems diabolical. But it does also makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure about others, but I too have been caught up by the "feel good" syndrome type of prayer - one that praises God for all good things, but not the bad or the ugly. Even though I'm not one to give up easily or lose hope quickly, and almost always one "looking on the bright side of things", and "the silver lining in the cloud", I can't ever remember praising God for all the mistakes I've made, the many times I've fallen down and remained stuck in the mud, and the so many "failures" I've encountered - both self made and otherwise.

For Jacqueline, what began as a reluctant visit slowly evolves into a profound experience of meeting God in a very personal way. And as she surrenders all her joys and sorrows to Him, she finds her life being blessed by"grace upon grace".

It's now 7 years since she started. In her own words, she invites us to try the same: "Is the Lord inviting you to meet him in a weekly hour of adoration? Or is there something else that he’s asking you to consider? Just try it! You’ll discover that God will reward your little efforts with a peace, joy, and fruitfulness that far exceed your expectations".

Like me, you too can start here.