The desert Fathers knew the spiritual power given in the arrow prayer.

They committed to memory, the poetic words the Psalmist prayed to draw God down into their human situation and bless them right where they were.

With one breath, the day began with the prayer, “Lord, be with us.”  Chanting the words “Thank you Father for the beauty of all you created,” they praised the Almighty for the light given by the sun, shimmer of the moon and sustaining food from the earth.

In sickness, their supplications lamented “Have mercy on me Lord, fill me with a length of days” or “Incline thy ear to hear my plea with mercy.  For I am without help, make haste and deliver me.”  When in doubt, the words “Lord, help me in my unbelief” stand ready.

Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta also spoke arrow prayers into her work without end.  She said, “Prayer requires only that small raising of your mind to say “I trust in You – God, I need you now.”

Using the arrow prayer, every petitioner enters God’s movements by faith.

Remember the Centurion’s Arrow Prayer?

Surely the Centurion’s knowledge, sacrifice and purity of heart did not bring about the cure of his beloved servant.  The man seeking a miracle was a high ranking soldier with all the power of Rome behind him.  He acknowledges his position of power and says, “For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.”

Yet, there is a supernatural power in Christ that surpasses all human comprehension.  An eternal power sourced from above.  The Centurion knows this truth about the man named Jesus.   And so with great humility, he speaks the arrow prayer into his suffering circumstance and lays it before the Redeemer inside a basket of faith.

His praying words “I am not worthy, just say the word” bring the miracle. Praying words that the universal Church would repeat in all perpetuity.

Spiritual Power

Today, we parent children with the skills necessary to overcome a myriad of difficult and unforeseen situations.  Indeed, this teaching is vital to building confidence in an ever changing world.

Yet, teaching them how to shoot an arrow prayer into unsettling times is the greatest gift we can give.  They begin with words of love praising God, follow with an acknowledgement of our humility, and conclude with a call or plea for some action we need Him to take in our lives.  Recite and repeat the short passage to replace afflicting or worrisome thoughts.  Or, simply praise God for the joy you are experiencing.

Arrow prayers redirect thoughts directly to God who heals and restores peace into our soul.

Mary, the Mother of God gives us the most perfect prayer.  In her fiat she responds, “May it be done to me according to thy Word.”   When we find ourselves struggling to do God’s will rather than our own – we turn to the Blessed Mother to find those ten perfect words waiting.  She not only offers the most beautiful response to God, but holy deeds of goodness within her work that take the form of an arrow prayer.  Everything is praise.

Here, Mary is weaving the veil covering for the Tabernacle as the Angel appears to her.

Our Lord gave Carmelite Sister Mary a short but powerful prayer called “The Golden Arrow Prayer” by which a person can shoot directly into the heart of God, to heal the wounds inflicted on it – through adoration of his Holy Face and Name.

http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/golden-arrow.htm

My arrow prayer repeatedly recites:  Remember me Oh Lord – for thy goodness sake (Ps 25).  When a decision needs to be made, I say,”Teach me thy ways O Lord, show me your path.”

How Arrow Prayers Guard Against Despair

Arrow prayers protect us from feeling as if we are unable to bring ourselves into the radiant glory and love of God.  Through faith and humility, these blessed petitions quickly bring us to that place of shelter where God is.

And in the silence, we lift up Hannah’s arrow prayer to heaven, “For there is no Rock like our God.”