Six, Twelve, Six

As I continue on my earthly pilgrimmage, I'm always looking for ways to enrich my spiritual life as I've learned that Prayer should come first, and Activity, second. However, the demands of life seem to be never ending and often hectic. Having a finite amount of time for each area of my life, I need to maximize my time in prayer. As that time fluctuates from day to day, I started looking for what I call "spiritual efficiency prayers." (Yeah, I just made up the term, but I'm hoping it'll make sense). Since my secular schedule is becoming increasingly more demanding, I must be efficient in order to be corporally and spiritually balanced. That's when I found The Angelus, and how over the last year it reminded me about my time in football.

In my case, I do relate and think back on a lot of things to do with sports, particularly football, as I was a player and a coach, and how it instilled so many good qualities, and characteristics into my life. I compare praying The Angelus to being a passing quarterback. If you know the game, I think you'll know what I'm talking about, if not, send me an email and I'll explain it to you, but please stay with me. So, when a quarterback is passing the ball, he has to be both accurate and precise in order to win. That takes a ton of consistent practice, and discipline. Praying in general, and praying the Angelus specifically, is exactly like that in my opinion.

Although I haven't fully mastered it yet, it does take a lot of discipline to be up at six in the morning (particularly when I don't have to be), pray at noon, and then  six, respectively, regardless of what craziness is going on at that moment. When I pray at those times, I feel my life, my "prayer game," is balanced. I've particularly learned that over the last few months, it's extremely crucial to be reciting the Angelus at those times.

For one, millions of Catholics since at least the 13th Century, have prayed The Angelus to pay homage to Mary for accepting God's invitation to being the Mother of God. I think this is the most significant moment in Salvation history! Secondly, when we Catholics pray together at those times, it's like launching missles at the devil and his demons as it'll  be Mary who crushes the devil! We then become closer to the Angels and God, which brings peace into our world, and in our lives. Finally, many Saints, like St. Padre Pio have prayed this prayer and had miraculous events happened throughout their lives. I can with certainty, say that since praying the Angelus consistently, miraculous events have unfolded in my life too. 

May the Holy Names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Be Blessed, Now and Forever. We Love You, Save Souls!