How to Make Space for Prayer in The Midst of Coronavirus Chaos

For some, the quarantined life means that things are happening at a much slower pace. Your events are cancelled, you’re working or going to school from home, and e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g is closed. You’ve got a lot of time on your hands, but are likely really feeling the lack community. Where is everyone?!

For others, the quarantined life means absolute chaos. Your kids are home from school and need an education, a schedule, and food…why are they always so hungry?! In the midst of it all, you’re trying to work from home or deal with a spouse who is. For some of you, your workload has doubled, tripled even, as you try to squeeze in common core math lessons on your lunch break.

No matter which category you fall into, we all have something in common. This is like nothing we’ve ever experienced before. There are no guidelines, no standards, no best practices…

Now more than ever, it’s essential to stick to a prayer routine, but how?

Our friends at Hallow App have put together 4 simple ways to remain faithful to prayer in this chaotic time:

1. Choose a time to pray that works for this week’s schedule. Your life is likely changing from day to day. What works for this week, might not for next. These changes can wreck routines, including your prayer routine. If morning prayer times were your go-to previously, it might be afternoons that work best now. Set a daily reminder to pray and treat it as you would any other appointment or important phone call. Drop everything for it. Next week, take a look at your schedule and see what needs to change or stay the same.
2. Find a space to pray. Now is a great time to make a prayer corner or prayer table in your home. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just a space that is set aside for prayer. Gather a picture of Jesus, a rosary, a candle, and your Bible and place it in your prayer space so that you will always have them available. When possible, get rid of distractions like your laptop or to-do list.
3. Practice social distancing in the home. Well, sort of. If you have kids, a roommate, or a spouse, tell them that you are going to be praying for them and that you would prefer to do so without interruptions. Encourage children to have their own time of quiet and prayer. Let them know they can come to you after with any questions or thoughts after you’re done praying.
4. Get an accountability partner. This is especially important for those who find that they have a lot of extra time on their hands. It’s easy to just let things go when our life is not as structured. Find someone who will check-in with you each day and remind you to pray and make sure to find some time to pray together as well.

Do you find this list helpful? If so, download the Hallow app for more prayer ideas—including a new “Stuck at Home” praylist.

Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that offers more than 500 audio-guided prayer sessions to help you pray, including the Rosary, Lectio Divina, litanies, Gospel reflections, journaling prompts, music, and the daily Examen.

The newly-released “Stuck At Home” praylist will help you turn social distancing into a retreat with prayer sessions on peace, trust, and hope. You can even tailor sessions to the amount of time you have available from just one minute to an hour. When you sign-up for a subscription with Hallow, you get THREE MONTHS free. It’s their desire to help get everyone through this time. Click here to get started.