Also last year at this time

I talked about "Why I pray in the shower."

It started when Betsy was a baby and I thought I'd never have solitary prayer time again. But, the practice has continued through the years and it has served me well.

Of course, when she was a baby, I didn't always get showers that were regular or solitary, but, I did aim for them, and when it happened, a hot shower turned out to be a wonderful place to pray. It still is.

I start with a daily offering. Then, I pray for my children: that they will come to know God, love Him, and serve Him, and that He will provide holy spouses for them. (I used to draw this particular prayer out ... "If you call them to religious life, Lord, may they be open to the call ... if you call them to marriage, may their future spouse be a man of faith ...." Then, my friend Teresa told me that she always prays for "a holy spouse" for her children. That really covers all the bases, including praying for the sanctification of the Church Militant, so I adopted her perfect phrasing.)

Next, I pray for conversions (my own ongoing and those of others) and for specific intentions of friends and family. I finish by asking for the intercession of many saints, including all the patron saints of our family, and our little saints in heaven, the babies we have lost. I call on each of them by name and ask them to pray for their mommy.

By this time, I'm in danger of running out of hot water, so I regretfully end the shower and it's on to a cup of coffee.

I can't think of a better way to start a day.