Podcast Summary: Fr. Mike’s Tips for Praying as a Busy Person

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
• Host/Author: Ascension
• Description: Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.
• Episode: Fr. Mike’s Tips for Praying as a Busy Person
• Release Date: July 17, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "Fr. Mike’s Tips for Praying as a Busy Person," Fr. Mike Schmitz addresses the common struggle of maintaining a prayer life amidst the demands of a hectic schedule. Released on July 17, 2025, this episode offers practical advice and spiritual insights for individuals seeking to deepen their relationship with God despite their busy lives.

The Challenge of Prayer for the Busy Individual

Fr. Mike begins by acknowledging the universal difficulty of prioritizing prayer. He states, “there’s nothing we all know we need to do but we don’t do it is pray” (00:15). He empathizes with listeners who find it challenging to fit prayer into their daily routines due to various commitments.

Honesty About Busyness and Prioritization

Be Honest About Your Schedule

Fr. Mike emphasizes the importance of honesty regarding one's schedule and commitments. “Be honest about how busy you are, which is legit” (00:30). He draws parallels to everyday priorities, such as skipping meals or reducing sleep to accommodate other activities, highlighting that prayer often takes a backseat in similar fashion.

Prioritize What Truly Matters

He elaborates, “We make time for the things that we truly believe are important” (01:00), encouraging listeners to recognize that if prayer is a genuine priority, they will find ways to incorporate it into their lives, just as they do with other essential activities.

Assessing the Present Season of Life

Live in the Present, Not the Past or Future

Fr. Mike advises against comparing the current phase of life to past or future expectations. “Don’t look to what you want it to be. Don’t look back to what it used to be or ahead to what it might be” (02:10). Instead, he urges listeners to focus on their current circumstances and identify realistic ways to integrate prayer into their daily routine.

Tailoring Prayer to Current Life Circumstances

He suggests asking oneself, “What is one way you can pray so that you actually grow closer to Jesus in this season of your life?” (02:50). This approach ensures that prayer practices are relevant and manageable, fostering spiritual growth even amid a busy schedule.

Practical Strategies for Incorporating Prayer

Fr. Mike outlines a three-step plan to help busy individuals integrate prayer into their lives:

1. When to Pray

   • Set a Specific Time: Fr. Mike underscores the necessity of scheduling prayer rather than leaving it to chance. “When am I actually going to pray?” (03:30) he asks, prompting listeners to commit to a specific time each day.

2. Where to Pray

   • Create a Prayer Space: He shares practical examples, such as allocating a quiet corner or even a small closet for prayer. “Where am I going to pray? The third thing is how am I going to pray” (04:10). Fr. Mike illustrates this with a story about a priest who established a discreet prayer space to avoid disturbing his family, thereby maintaining his prayer routine.

3. How to Pray

   • Choose Meaningful Prayer Practices: Fr. Mike encourages selecting a prayer method that resonates personally and fosters a deeper connection with God. “What is the prayer that you get the sense, if I consistently do this, I’m going to get closer and closer to Jesus” (04:50). Whether it’s using prayer cards, the rosary, or reading scripture, the key is consistency and intentionality.

Pro Tips: Ceiling and Floor Approach

Establishing Prayer Boundaries

Fr. Mike introduces the concept of having a "ceiling" and a "floor" for prayer activities:

• Ceiling: Represents the ideal scenario. “This is my best day... this is my ceiling. This is the max. This is the ideal” (05:30). On days when time permits, one might engage in prolonged prayer sessions, such as 15 to 60 minutes.

• Floor: Defines the minimum commitment to ensure a consistent connection with God, even on the busiest days. “What's my floor? What's that thing that even on my worst day... as long as I do this, we've still connected” (05:50). This ensures that prayer remains a non-negotiable part of daily life, providing stability and continuity.

Conclusion

Fr. Mike wraps up by reinforcing the importance of integrating prayer into daily routines, regardless of how busy life becomes. “We can't be so busy that we neglect to do the most important thing... getting to know God Himself” (06:20). His practical advice aims to empower listeners to maintain a meaningful prayer life by being honest about their schedules, prioritizing prayer, and establishing structured yet flexible prayer routines.

Notable Quotes:

• “We make time for the things that we truly believe are important.” (00:45)
• “Don’t look to what you want it to be. Don’t look back to what it used to be or ahead to what it might be.” (02:10)
• “What is one way you can pray so that you actually grow closer to Jesus in this season of your life?” (02:50)
• “When am I actually going to pray?” (03:30)
• “What is the prayer that you get the sense, if I consistently do this, I’m going to get closer and closer to Jesus.” (04:50)
• “This is my best day... this is my ceiling. This is the max. This is the ideal.” (05:30)
• “What's my floor? ... as long as I do this, we've still connected.” (05:50)
• “We can't be so busy that we neglect to do the most important thing... getting to know God Himself.” (06:20)

Timestamp Reference Guide

• 00:00 – Introduction to the episode
• 00:15 – Acknowledging the need for prayer
• 00:30 – Honesty about busyness
• 01:00 – Prioritizing what truly matters
• 02:10 – Focusing on the present season
• 02:50 – Tailoring prayer to current circumstances
• 03:30 – Planning when to pray
• 04:10 – Creating a prayer space
• 04:50 – Choosing how to pray
• 05:30 – Establishing a prayer ceiling
• 05:50 – Defining a prayer floor
• 06:20 – Final encouragement and conclusion

This episode serves as a valuable resource for anyone struggling to maintain a regular prayer life amidst a busy schedule. Fr. Mike Schmitz offers actionable steps and spiritual wisdom, encouraging listeners to integrate prayer into their daily routines thoughtfully and consistently.