by Michelle London
In a world that often pulls us in many different directions, carving out moments of stillness and establishing our connection to God can feel like a monumental task.
For many, the practice of regular prayer is a vital lifeline—a source of peace, strength, and profound spiritual growth. Developing a consistent prayer ritual can transform your daily life, offering a sacred rhythm to your routine that can anchor your soul amidst the chaos. But how do you begin to weave prayer into the fabric of your already busy existence?
The life of BVMs includes a profound prayer life to which they are dedicated. Their reflections on prayer offer a beacon of wisdom and practical guidance on how to craft your own daily prayer ritual.
The vast experiences of the BVMs range from educators, chaplains, counselors, and advocates for immigrants and the poor to focusing on issues like the environment, healthcare, social justice, and recovering from addictions.
These experiences illuminate the importance of nurturing the spiritual discipline of prayer and reveal how a committed prayer life can shape not just individual hearts, but entire communities as well.
What is Prayer?
Prayer is a sacred conversation of the heart. It is a way to open ourselves up to the Divine. We may do that through words, silence, gratitude, or just simply being aware of a presence. Prayer can be structured, spontaneous, communal, or deeply personal.
No matter how one prays, it is an act of connection, a way to center oneself, and a way to recognize that we are part of something greater than ourselves.
“I think that prayer is the expressed graced response of my relationship with the Divine,” says Mary Frances Reis, BVM. “It includes the mind, body, and spirit, and it spans all cultures, religions, Eastern and Western spiritualities, Indigenous people, and all who have ever lived. Prayer is universal, and that is both unifying and comforting.”
How Do I Pray?
There is no right or wrong way to pray or to develop your own prayer ritual.
“In recent years, I have realized that it doesn’t matter how I talk to God,” says Joanne Lucid, BVM. “It doesn’t matter how I pray. I could talk to Him anytime or in any way I want to, and that’s just fine with Him. Your desire is to connect. That’s the gift.”
Paulette Skiba, BVM tells of a form of prayer she has used when riding mass transit while living in a large city.
“This was what Mary Evelyn Jegen, [SNDdN] called benevolent glancing,” she says. “A way of praying for the strangers around me. Now, the two places I do this most are in church and at airports.”
Paulette emphasizes that even the news can be an occasion for prayer.
“Wonder moves the heart, but so does horror and injustice,” she says. “Prayer keeps the heart feeling rather than being callous and indifferent.”
Expressing oneself through an artistic endeavor is yet another way to pray. Mary Frances often responds to prayer with poetry.
“Lots of times it’s a spontaneous response,” she says. “I start out with nature, or an event, or a speech, or a saint’s day. I don’t set out to write a poem. I don’t look at my poems as prayers, but that’s what happens sometimes when I put them into writing.”
Where Do I Pray?
The short answer: Anywhere.
Judith “JT” McNulty, BVM is an avid swimmer. Every morning while she swims, she prays.
“That’s one thing about prayer,” she says. “It fits in well with multitasking. You can do it anywhere, anytime. All my life, I’ve been drawn to water. Swimming has been an important part of my life.”
So swimming became an important part of JT’s prayer ritual. Water represents a strong spiritual presence for many people.
“I used to live by the ocean, and I would go down to the beach and pray,” says Eileen Powell, BVM. “I liked being by the water.”
When to pray is also a personal choice.
“When I get up in the morning, I make my coffee, look out to a beautiful scene, and I say ‘Thank you for this amazing day; it’s going to be amazing because your presence is with us,’” Joanne says. “It sets the tone for the day.”
There is No Instruction Book
Whether you pray in a group, in solitude, at the beach, in a pool, while creating art, or hiking through nature, you’re doing it the right way, and you’re connecting with others.
“I would suggest that prayer is both unique and commonly shared,” says Mary Frances.
There are no directions for prayer, no instruction book to help you along the way. Prayer is really whatever you want it to be.
“I often wondered during my prayers if this is what it is,” Eileen says. “Is this how one prays? And I realized that was a useless question. Because everything is prayer—everything.”
This story was featured in:
Winter Salt 2026: A Life Commended to God
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