The Five Finger Prayer

Is it easy for you to pray? I know that for me, sometimes it just isn't. Not because I don't want to ask the Lord for help. And not because I don't think He'll hear my prayer. But because I can't always put into words what I want to say. I know that the Lord knows my heart. So it shouldn't really matter what or how I pray just as long as I do. But as a Catholic, we were taught prayers to say at specific times. Catholics aren't known for just praying in their own words. For instance, when I see an ambulance speeding down the road I pray the Hail Mary.

"Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen."

I ask her to pray to our Lord on that person's behalf. I ask her to intercede and pray to her Son for that person who is suffering. Now I'm sure many of you are not Catholic and you can't understand why we don't just pray to God directly. So let me clarify for you that we DO. But just as you ask other friends and family members to pray for you, just as you get on a prayer list we Catholics ask the Holy Mother and the saints to pray for us and for others. Just a little added insurance so to speak. So in case that person in the ambulance is approaching their hour of death, I ask our Lord's mother to pray for him/her.

There are patron saints for all sorts of things. St Francis is the patron saint of animals. St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost items. St. Christopher of travelers. St. Michael of the warrior (Police officers, fire fighters.) I joke that St. Jude is my patron saint. The saint of lost causes. That being said, the majority of the time though we pray directly to our Lord above. And some people just have a gift where they can speak so poignantly and eloquently. Their thoughts and prayers come directly from their heart and their words speak to all those who are listening. And I wish I had that gift. But I don't. I stumble, I ramble. I try to use words like Thou and Thine and a lot of the times I get frustrated. And I think that God (in His humor) is chuckling up there saying "Aw, she's trying though, isn't she?" So there are times when I can't get the words out that I pray "The Five Finger Prayer." I have taught my children this concept. And if you haven't ever heard of it, I thought I would share it with you:

1. Your thumb is the nearest to you. So begin your prayer by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in industry and business, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself.