Focus in Prayer: Insights from Aquinas and Faber

In this episode of The Catholic Man Show, hosts Adam Minihan and David Niles share personal anecdotes and deep spiritual insights, focusing on the challenge of distractions in prayer. From road trip stories to household mishaps, the hosts set the stage with relatable humor before diving into a discussion inspired by St. Thomas Aquinas and Father Frederick Faber. They explore the five fountains of distraction in prayer, offering practical advice for cultivating a deeper prayer life by addressing distractions outside of prayer time.

Key Discussion Points:

• Opening Banter (00:00:19 - 00:04:50): David recounts his family road trip to Wyoming, including an unexpected stop in Denver and the challenges of traveling with six kids. Adam shares his chaotic week of household breakdowns, from a malfunctioning dishwasher to a beeping van door and a broken lawnmower, humorously reflecting on the "throwaway culture" he’s trying to resist.
• Health Struggles (00:09:01 - 00:11:24): Adam discusses a rare bout of heartburn that kept him up at night, highlighting his lack of Tums and his struggle to lead a meeting while sleep-deprived and feverish. David relates to his heartburn experience from a past "one chip challenge" on the show.
• Sponsorship Spotlight (00:12:00 - 00:12:39): The hosts thank Select International Tours, a long-time sponsor, for their reliable pilgrimage offerings. They encourage listeners to visit selectinternationaltours.com for details on their upcoming October pilgrimage to Italy, emphasizing the ideal weather and transformative experience.
• What We’re Drinking (00:37:02 - 00:37:26): Adam and David enjoy Wyoming Whiskey, a bourbon David praises for its affordability ($30 in Wyoming) and delicious flavor, making it a fitting choice for the episode.
• Main Topic: Distractions in Prayer (00:15:28 - 01:11:09):
• Personal Reflection: Adam shares a moment of grace in adoration, where he asked God to reveal impediments in his prayer life. A distracting phone check during a conversation revealed his struggle with presence, sparking a realization about the need for focus in both human and divine relationships.
• Theological Foundation: Drawing from St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica (Second Part of the Second Part) and Father Walter Farrell’s Companion to the Summa, the hosts discuss prayer as an act of the will, preceded by the intellect. They reference the Baltimore Catechism’s teaching that we are made to “know, love, and serve” God, emphasizing that knowing God fuels love, which leads to service.
• Five Fountains of Distraction (Father Frederick Faber):

1. Disordered Health: An obsession with health (valetudinarian state) can distract from tranquility in prayer, unlike true suffering, which can draw one closer to God when united with the Cross.
2. Actions of the Holy Spirit: Distractions can serve as a crucible to humble and purify, grounding believers in deeper devotion by burning away self-love.
3. The Devil: Demonic distractions are marked by their abundance, vivid imagery, soul-disquieting nature, disconnection from daily life, repetitive patterns, and potential to lead to sin. Custody of the eyes, especially against sins of the sixth and ninth commandments, is crucial to limit the devil’s influence.
4. Inculpable Self: Unintentional distractions arise from temperament, imagination, or poor spiritual direction, which are not deliberately chosen but still disrupt prayer.
5. Culpable Self: Deliberately entertained distractions are grave sins if knowingly allowed during time owed to God. These include:

• Bodily Sources: Lack of mortification, irreverent postures (e.g., not kneeling when able), and frequent position changes. Kneeling can orient the mind toward God, uniting discomfort with the Cross.
• Mental Sources (Seven Causes):

1. Carelessness about minute sins, which corrupt purity of intention.
2. Lukewarmness (tepidness), often unrecognized, blinds one to spiritual deficiencies.
3. Curiosity, especially a thirst for news or irrelevant knowledge, distracts from one’s vocation.
4. Lack of preparation for prayer, such as not reflecting beforehand or rushing in without focus.
5. Neglecting custody of the senses outside of prayer (e.g., excessive phone use or unchaste media).
6. Failing to practice ejaculatory prayers (e.g., “Jesus, I trust in you”), which redirect the mind to God.
7. Not addressing recurring distractions through mortification.

• Practical Advice: The hosts emphasize that the battle against distractions is won outside of prayer through habits like custody of the senses, scheduled prayer times, and preparation (e.g., silent reflection before adoration). Adam shares his practice of focusing on intentions during the drive to adoration, while David highlights the value of ejaculatory prayers and teaching children to offer Mass intentions.
• Key Insight: Faber’s teaching that “the time of prayer is not the time for the true combat with distractions” underscores the need to build disciplined habits throughout the day, such as avoiding phone distractions during conversations or limiting exposure to sensational news.

Events and Announcements:

• Pilgrimage to Italy (00:13:17 - 00:14:43): Join Adam and David in mid-October for a transformative pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with Select International Tours. Limited spots remain—visit selectinternationaltours.com to sign up.
• Catholic Man Show Campout: Details not mentioned in the transcript, but typically held at Clear Creek Abbey in September. Check thecatholicmanshow.com for updates.

Resources Mentioned:

• Scripture: John 15:15 (“I no longer call you servants, but friends”).
• Books:
• Companion to the Summa by Father Walter Farrell (Loreto Publications).
• Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales.
• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.
• Other: Baltimore Catechism for teaching children the faith.

Quotes to Ponder:

• “The heart cannot run before the head.” – Father Walter Farrell, Companion to the Summa
• “The time of prayer is not the time for the true combat with distractions.” – Father Frederick Faber
• “You cannot love that which you do not know.” – Adam Minahan, referencing the Baltimore Catechism
• “Ejaculatory prayers are the heavenly side of distractions, thoughts of God which distract us from the world.” – Father Frederick Faber

Call to Action:

• Reflect on your distractions in prayer and identify their sources using Faber’s five fountains.
• Practice custody of the senses daily, such as limiting phone use during conversations or avoiding unchaste media.
• Prepare for prayer with intentional silence or reflection, as St. Francis de Sales suggests.
• Join the upcoming pilgrimage to Italy at selectinternationaltours.com.
• Subscribe to The Catholic Man Show podcast for more insights and share this episode with others.