Applying The Gym Workout Technique To Praying

Anyone can lift a weight but in order to be serious about strength training, it is essential that you learn the proper form and do each repetition slowly while squeezing the muscles for maximum benefit.  It is no different when it come to praying.  Anyone can say a prayer.  Anyone can recite for example the Our Father, the Hail Mary, or the Glory Be prayer, but to be serious about praying these prayers, it is not enough just to say the words:  it is essential to enunciate each word distinctly, and intonate it with meaning, and feeling, and say the prayer in whatever language the prayer is to be said, unhurriedly and innocently, for maximum benefit.

To say a prayer unhurriedly and innocently is to say it beautifully without affectation and to say it with the heart wide open complete with unconditional love, as if you are saying it right in front of the Almighty Father, the resurrected Christ or Mary, the Mother of God, and if you do, at any moment any one of them Whom you feel would give you the most assurance and love or Whom you need to thank with your deep and abiding love will be right in front of you.

It is not easy for me to say one prayer like that, not even the first two words.  Actually, I find it challenging every single time.  To be able to say one whole prayer in that way is fulfilling.  To say the entire rosary like that without my mind wandering off is a miracle that is yet to happen to me.