Open today
Begin with the daily readings, the liturgical day, a devotion, or one intention you are carrying.
Catholic prayer journal
How to start a Catholic prayer journal
A Catholic prayer journal can begin very simply: read, notice, pray, and write one honest line before God.
You do not need a beautiful notebook, a long entry, or a perfect prayer routine. Start with the day you have, the readings the Church gives, and one sentence you can return to later.
What a Catholic prayer journal is for
A Catholic prayer journal is a private place to answer prayer in your own words. It can hold Scripture, daily Mass readings, intentions, gratitude, grief, questions, the Examen, Rosary notes, novenas, and small signs of grace.
The journal does not replace prayer. It helps you keep what prayer touches, so you can return to it when the day has moved on.
A simple way to start
Notice one thing
Choose one line, word, image, gratitude, burden, question, or small invitation that asks for attention.
Write one honest line
Answer with one sentence. It can be a prayer, a need, a thank you, a question, or a line you want to keep.
Your first seven entries
- Day 1: What is on my heart today?
- Day 2: What line from today's readings do I want to carry?
- Day 3: Who or what am I praying for right now?
- Day 4: Where did I notice mercy, help, beauty, or patience?
- Day 5: What feels hard to bring to prayer honestly?
- Day 6: What small faithful step is possible today?
- Day 7: What do I want to remember from this week with God?
What to write when the page feels blank
Start smaller than you think you need to. Write the date. Write the reading citation. Name one word from prayer. Finish the sentence, "Today I am carrying..."
A blank page does not need a brilliant thought. It needs a true beginning.
- God, today I am asking for...
- The line I want to keep is...
- I am grateful for...
- I am worried about...
- I want to begin again with...
- One person I am carrying in prayer is...
A gentle weekly rhythm
Use a small rhythm before you try to build a large one. Begin with one reading, one prompt, or one prayer each day. At the end of the week, read what you wrote without judging the days that are short or unfinished.
Look for what you carried, what you asked for, what helped you return, and what you want to keep praying with.
How Come Aside can hold the rhythm
Come Aside gathers the daily readings, a short reflection, one journal question, devotions, and the Rosary into one quiet iPhone rhythm.
You can open today, answer one question, keep a reflection, and return to what you wrote when you are ready.
Pray with the day
Keep a gentle daily rhythm.
Come Aside brings the daily readings, a short reflection, and a place to respond into one quiet rhythm on iPhone. Or receive the day by email after you confirm from your inbox.
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