Little Brothers and Sisters of the Eucharist Handbook

Contemplation

We are called to be contemplatives in the midst of the world. This means setting aside time for regular periods of prayer, preferably before the Blessed Sacrament, the living presence of Jesus. The fraternity encourages an hour of prayer each day, a day of solitude or ”desert day” each month and a more prolonged time of a retreat lasting several days each year. Some may do more, others may find it difficult to do as much or get away from the home or place of work to a church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. The essential is not so much the time or the place as faithfulness to a regular pattern of quiet prayer without distractions.

The prayer time will not come easily or immediately. But it is something we will always have to work at and strive to be faithful to. The main struggle in our prayer may well be simply making ourselves available to Jesus — ”wasting time with Jesus”. It requires faith and personal love for Jesus in order to pray as well as a willingness to be still and allow Him to take a look at our lives, allow Him to love us. And it takes courage to say ”no” to an activity or to something else that we feel requires our attention. We must look for ways as a fraternity to encourage each other and call each other to fidelity in our life and rhythm of prayer.