The disciples came to Jesus asking to teach them to pray and Jesus taught them the ‘Pater Noster’ on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem – the Our Father. It is amazing to see the Our Father displayed in different languages in the wall. And one is seen in our own language (Konkani) too!
Watching a child while at prayer in a family is a delight. It warms up your spirit and while soul gets enthused. They love to carry the rosary beads! This reminds me of an incident related to me a few days back. She said seeing the statue of Our Lady of Rosary on the altar ‘baby usually used to wait for the time of rosary and would not rest till she was given the rosary beads. These days she sits with the rosary beads and prays in her own language making sounds while we pray the Hail Mary turning each rosary bead. It was overwhelming to see her’ while listening I too felt graced. Spontaneously I said Mother Mary listened to what she prayed and understood what she had in her heart! Joining our hands…
Today even if one could say you were not conscious while praying, the hands gradually come together! To that extent the spirit is grounded and rooted. These remind me of Pope Francis Five Finger Prayer.
1. The Thumb: No matter which way you stand with your hands in a praying position, the thumb will always be the closest finger to you. Take that as a big clue to begin praying for those closest to you. (Philippians 1: 3-5). Pray for members of your own immediate family, other relatives, your friends, and other people who are close to you. When you have prayed for those close to you, move to the next finger.
2. The Pointer: The finger next to your thumb is called the pointer, the pointing finger or the index finger. (1 Thessalonians 5: 25). Use that finger to remember to pray for those who point you in the right direction, such as your teachers, pastors, and spiritual directors, counsellors.
3. The Tallest Finger: No matter who it is, everybody has a tall finger on his hand. The tallest finger reminds us to pray for our leaders and those in authority. Paul commanded Timothy to pray for them, (1Timothy 2:1-2).
4. The Ring Finger: Most people know that the fourth finger on the left hand is known as the ring finger. A wedding band is placed on that finger because it is said to have a vein that goes straight to the heart. (James 5: 13-16).
What might also surprise you is what most pianists know. That finger is considered to be the weakest of all the fingers. Therefore, pray for those who are weak, sick, in pain, or in any kind of troubles.
5. The Pinky: The last finger is the smallest finger on the hand known as the pinky. That finger reminds us to pray for ourselves last after we have prayed for those in the other four groups. (Philippians 4: 6,19).
This does not mean that our own needs are less important. It is merely a way to put the prayer for self in the proper perspective based on what we have prayed for others.
Let us bring before us in a split of a second children or adults, and inculcate a simple way to pray every time we join our hands and teach our little ones too!
