Shauna’h Fuegen encourages readers to embrace flexibility and focus by compiling a prayer basket.
God wants our first fruits. He wants the best from us, and not just our energetic scraps. Making time for God each day means prioritizing daily prayer in some form, big or small. This can be anything from a holy hour to a one-minute Morning Offering (my personal favorite). I spent most of my life struggling to find time for consistent prayer, especially once I had children and a full-time job. I envied the images I saw on social media of women praying daily in beautifully decorated spaces that inspired reverence and focus.
I don’t have a cozy, quiet space in my home that lends itself well to curling up with coffee and prayer. My young children are curious about anything I leave out in the common areas of my home, such as a prayer book or rosary, and those items can quickly be moved by little hands and cause stress. I stumbled across a solution: the humble prayer basket.
Creating a prayer basket has been a lifesaver in many ways:
- I can set up and put away my prayer space supplies when I’m done. This saves space and also keeps tempting objects away from little hands.
- All of the supplies I want for prayer are in one place and I don’t lose time looking for anything.
- It is inspirational and motivational to see that little basket and know that it’s just for me and God. I crave spending time in prayer when I know everything is there waiting for me.
What goes in a prayer basket?
I’m so glad you asked. They are entirely customizable to your needs and preferences, but here are some suggestions for getting started:
- Books: Devotionals, a Bible, prayer books, spiritual reading, Liturgy of the Hours breviary, Bible study
- Sacramentals: Rosary, holy water
- Accessories: Pens, pencils, highlighters, headphones
- Ambiance: This is the category that has the biggest impact for me. Lighting a single candle, for instance, dials me into the moment so much more and helps me to pray more reverently.
- Candle, incense, lighter, prayer cards, small statue, icons.
- Create or find a playlist to play during your prayer times. A special treat for me is to pull up a video of Catholic ambiance scenes, such as a virtual Eucharistic Adoration or a medieval monastery. I’ve put together a playlist for you of my favorites.
Look for a receptacle (it doesn’t have to be a basket. It could be a tote bag or your nightstand drawer!) that is deep enough to hold your books. It doesn’t need to be very wide. I used a basket I had laying around the house from a wedding gift, so see what you have that you could repurpose.
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What goes in your prayer basket? Do your children have one? #catholicmom
If you have children, consider making a mini prayer basket for them with age-appropriate resources. My 3-year-old often wakes up before I’m done praying, and he loves to snuggle with me on the couch while we listen to an audio novena on the Hallow app or “help” me extinguish the candle I’ve lit. He has a children’s Bible storybook and a saint matching game nearby so that he can pray with me while still giving me time to finish. It’s easy to become frustrated when our children interrupt us. I’ve come to see it as an opportunity to model daily prayer life for them. It’s part of my work as a mother and their primary catechist.
If you’re just getting started, don’t make things too complicated. Cluttering up your prayer space with extra items “just in case” you’ll have time only leads to you feeling guilty for not getting to all those forms of prayer each day. Prioritize what is necessary to have, plus one or two extras. You will tweak things over time as you experiment with what works and doesn’t work. I swap items out in my prayer basket depending on the liturgical year, which helps keep things fresh and focuses my prayer. It would be a great practice to put together your prayer basket so that you’re locked and loaded for Lent next month.
If you’re looking for ideas for how to use your prayer basket in a morning routine, check out my free Morning Menu guide for starting your day with peace and simplicity.
Do you have a prayer basket or another means of organizing your prayer supplies? Share some thoughts in the comments, or show your prayer basket on Instagram with hashtag #cmprayerbasket: tag us at @CatholicMomCommunity.
Copyright 2022 Shauna'h Fuegen
Images copyright 2022 Shauna'h Fuegen, all rights reserved.