Welcome to Saintly Journeys: Starting Prayer

Thursday, March 26, 2026

The Invitation Going Forward

The past 6 weeks, for those who have followed Praying with The Psalms, have been an invitation to Come & See (John 1:39).

You came. You saw. You tried prayer. You brought your questions. You showed up.

Now the invitation is:

Keep coming home. Not perfectly. Not without questions. Not without struggle.

But keep entering those gates with thanksgiving. Keep recognizing you're the sheep and God is the shepherd. Keep trusting that His merciful love endures forever.

Keep coming home to the God who's been waiting for you all along.

Now What?

Option 1: Keep Praying the Psalms. There are 150 psalms. You've only scratched the surface. Pick another psalm and use the same Lectio Divina method.

Option 2: Pray the Gospels. Try applying Lectio Divina to the stories of Jesus. Start with the Gospel of Mark—it's short and vivid.

Option 3: Explore the Liturgy of the Hours. The Catholic Church prays the Psalms daily through the Liturgy of the Hours. Apps like iBreviary or Laudate make it accessible.

Option 4: Find Community Prayer can start alone, but it grows best in community.

Consider:

• Visiting a local Catholic parish

• Attending an OCIA inquiry session (no commitment required)

• Joining an online Bible study or prayer group, like this one at Saintly Journeys.

• Finding a Spiritual Director

The Most Important Thing: Don't stop praying. It doesn't have to be every day. It doesn't have to be perfect. But keep showing up. Keep seeking. Keep listening.

Prayer is a relationship, and relationships require presence.

"O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!" — Psalm 34:8

It has been an absolute blessing sharing the Psalms with you all and Meeting You Where You Are!

Friday, February 6, 2026

Coming Soon: A Gentle Introduction to Prayer Through the Psalms

Six weeks. Six themes. One ancient prayer book that still speaks today.

If you've ever wanted to learn how to pray but didn't know where to start, this guide is for you.

Next week, I'm launching a free six-week prayer guide designed specifically for seekers and beginners—people who are curious about prayer but intimidated by religious language, unsure of the "right" way to do it, or simply looking for a gentle entry point into the spiritual life.

What Makes This Different?

This isn't a program that assumes you already know the vocabulary or have years of church experience. It's designed to meet you exactly where you are, with no prerequisites and no expectations.

Each week focuses on one accessible theme:

Week 1: Taking the First Step – Starting a prayer practice when you're not sure how
Week 2: Finding Peace – Learning to quiet your mind and heart
Week 3: Being Honest – Discovering that God can handle your real feelings
Week 4: Experiencing Wonder – Opening your eyes to beauty and awe
Week 5: Asking for Help – Bringing your actual needs to prayer
Week 6: Finding Gratitude – Cultivating thankfulness as a way of life

Why the Psalms?

The Book of Psalms has been called the prayer book of the Bible—and for good reason. These ancient prayers express every human emotion: joy, anger, fear, gratitude, confusion, and hope. They've been prayed by Jews and Christians for thousands of years, by people in every circumstance imaginable.

What makes them perfect for beginners? They're honest. Raw. Real. They don't ask you to pretend everything is fine or to use language that doesn't feel like your own. They teach us that prayer isn't about performing for God—it's about showing up authentically.

What You'll Need

15-20 minutes a few times each week
An open heart and a willingness to try
No religious background required

That's it. No theological degree. No fancy prayer language. Just you and a centuries-old conversation with the Divine.

A Personal Note

I know what it's like to feel like prayer is for "other people"—people who are more spiritual, more religious, more practiced. But prayer isn't about getting it right. It's about showing up honestly, wherever you are on your journey.

This guide is my way of extending a simple invitation: Come and see. Try it for six weeks. See what happens when you give yourself permission to pray in a way that feels authentic to you.

Mark Your Calendar

The free downloadable guide launches next week. Watch this space for the announcement, and feel free to share this with anyone who might be curious about taking their first steps into prayer.

Sometimes the most profound journeys begin with the simplest invitation.

Are you ready to take the first step?

Want to be notified the moment the guide launches? Drop a comment below or make sure you're subscribed to receive updates from Saintly Journeys.

Today's Reading from the Holy Gospel John 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area. “The Gospel of the Lord.”

Peace Be With You!

I'm Randy—husband, stepfather, Eucharistic Minister, Cursillista, and a Catholic layman who said 'yes' to God's call to evangelize online. My journey toward online evangelization began during Cursillo #109 in the Orlando Diocese. It was during my Cursillo weekend that I encountered the scripture theme: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" In that powerful moment of grace, my response echoed Isaiah's: "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8) In the days that followed, I found myself in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit how to put into action all that I had discovered. It was then that the vision for Saintly Journeys took shape—not as something I had planned, but as a ministry the Lord was calling me to embrace. I'm not a priest, theologian, or Bible scholar—I'm a layperson living out the call to evangelize, probably a lot like you: balancing faith and family, wrestling with questions, discovering God meets us where we are. My role isn't to stand above you with answers, but to walk alongside you as a fellow member of the laity, both of us sharing in Christ's mission in our own unique ways. As I often say, God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. My mission is to evangelize from the screen to the altar, mending the nets in the digital vineyard.