When I was a young teen, my sister gave me two books that changed my life. Both of them were published journals – one Diaries of a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke; the other The Journals and Letters of Søren Kierkegaard. I lived in those books for years. I learned to see and feel from those two men – long dead – and I learned the value of putting my interior life onto a page.
I’ve had so many journals since then. Thick books with heavy, blank pages. Notebooks, bound journals, dot-grid bullet journals – I have four right now – for thoughts, for planning, for homeschooling, for devotions. Dividing up my journals helps me find space for everything. Some of them are filled up quickly and then set aside – my journals for thoughts and plans rarely last longer than half a year. But my devotional journal will probably stay with me for a long time.
Journaling can be a great way to nurture your spiritual life. When you start to fill pages with thoughts, prayers, gratitudes, and reflections – you are able to examine your life more closely. You’re able to see the ways that God is working in your life. When you start to create a beautiful book of faith and love, you’ll find that keeping a journal can also help you build a beautiful life.
What Goes Into a Devotional Journal
When you’re first starting to journal, it can feel a little overwhelming. That clean, white page staring up at you can make it hard to know where to start. This summer, I designed a journal for my daughter that gave a little guidance as she started writing her thoughts and prayers. I divided it into sections similar to those in my own devotional journal. I also added in some beauty. Collages, holy cards, pressed flowers, and photographs can bring your journal to life. But, a simple, written journal with no embellishments is also a beautiful book. This is a book for you to use, so never worry about whether it “looks right” or not.
Adoration Pages
I set aside a few pages for her to write down thoughts and prayers from Adoration. If you spend a lot of time with Jesus in Adoration, it can be really helpful to keep track of that time in some way. I gave my daughter space to note down the date of the Adoration, and then note down inspirations from that time. You could include prayer lists as well.
In my own Adoration pages, I like to write while I’m with Jesus. Some people prefer to write after Adoration. Others like to make little sketches of the thoughts in their minds as they pray.
Gratitude Pages
Gratitude pages are often a place to write down one or two things that we’re grateful for each day. Recently though, a local priest shared a different method that works better for me. He recommended making a list of 10 things that consistently spark gratitude in your life. Then, go back to that list on a regular basis and thank God for those consistent blessings. I really like having that list to look at when I’m feeling disappointed by the world around me or struggling to find joy in a particular day.
If you do make the list to look back on though, save a few pages in your journal so that you can add new gratitude items as they come up throughout the year. Adding photos, drawings, or other images can be a great way to add something extra to these pages.
“May the Souls of the Faithful Departed…”
I’m sure you know by now just how much I love praying for the dead. My kids have even joked that the souls might be feeling a little haunted by me. In my prayer journal, I like to keep a whole section full of the names of the dead – along with prayers for them, like St. Gertrude’s Prayer for Souls in Purgatory.
Most of them are the names of friends and family, but others are names I’ve found on visits to the local cemetery, or historical figures I’ve connected to. Rilke and Kierkegaard are on my list of souls. Your souls to pray for can include anyone whose life has touched you in some way, it can include “the forgotten dead,” and even people for whom the hope of Salvation seems slim. Remember that the Church doesn’t teach that any specific person is certainly damned. There is a Hell, and it’s likely some people are there, but until the final judgement, we can hold out hope for any of the dead.
“Please Pray For…”
An area to keep prayers for the living is always a great idea as well. So many people ask for prayers that it’s hard to keep track of them all if you’re not writing it down. A private journal is generally a safe place for both general and specific prayers.
I like to include prayers for people, situations, and the world in general here. If there are specific prayers I’d like to offer in certain cases, I’ll write or paste them in on the same page. For example, a dear friend once gave me a copy of a prayer for priests, and I have that prayer glued into my journal on the page where I have prayer intentions for the priests I know or am concerned for.
It’s a good idea to reserve plenty of space in your journal for prayer intentions, especially if you’ll be adding prayers in as well.
Examination of Conscience
I keep a good examination of conscience in my journal as well. You can write one out, tape one in, or even glue in an envelope and keep one tucked into that. Whatever works well for you.
When my husband and I were preparing for marriage, the priest at our parish gave us each a fantastic copy of a very detailed examination of conscience. It was incredibly helpful to me, in part because it was written in such a connected, holistic way. When I found it again a few years ago, I immediately tucked it into an envelope at the back of my devotional journal where it could be safe and easy to access.
A Collection of Prayers
Of course, any devotional journal should have plenty of room for prayers. I’ve printed out longer prayers, like the Breastplate of St. Patrick, and copied down other prayers like the St. Andrew Novena. When I find pretty holy cards, I tuck those in as well. The collection of prayers is the longest – and still growing – section of my devotional journal. It’s a delight to page through the decorated pages and pray the prayers that catch my eye. I also have a few, regular prayers marked so that I can find them easily.
If you’re looking for a cool-weather hobby, that gives you space and time to pray, reflect, and grow deeper in your faith – try creating a devotional journal all your own. This practice has been such an enriching one for so many people, I hope it is for you as well.
