Pray Constantly: A Call for All Saints’ Day

Posted October 23, 2025

In his First Letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul tells us to “Pray without ceasing” (5:17). The Gospel of Matthew tells us, “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret” (6:6).

You might ask: “Who has time to pray all day? Should I skip school and all the other activities I do? Should I avoid my family and friends so I can pray?” Prayer doesn’t always need to be a long or formal moment.

We can all carry this awareness into our daily lives, just as the Christian Brothers do. They begin every class and gathering with a simple phrase: “Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.” This simple prayer highlights the immediate sacramental dimension of the Christian Brothers’ daily lives.

Luckily, we don’t need to be Christian Brothers to recognize God’s presence in the people or in everyday moments.

How to Pray

All Saints’ Day invites us to pause and say “thank you,” “help me,” or “God bless you,” echoing the way the saints kept their hearts open. This day reminds us that countless people have lived in constant prayer, encouraging us to grow in a lived faith—step by step, prayer by prayer, moment by moment.

One saint who embodied this spirit of prayer in everyday life was Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers. His prayer reminds us that faith can infuse even our most ordinary classroom moments with grace:

“Saint John Baptist de La Salle, patron saint of teachers, be with all who serve as educators and mentors. Intercede for them, so that they may have wisdom and patience, and above all, see the good in every student. May God give teachers passion to create a better future for the poor and vulnerable, zeal to inspire a love of knowledge, and faith to reach the hearts of their students so that all may recognize that we are always in the holy presence of God. Amen.”

Following the example of saints like Saint John Baptist de La Salle, young people can discover how prayer brings meaning to everyday life. The Catholic Youth Prayer Book offers simple, heartfelt prayers for every occasion—helping them grow in reflection, gratitude, and connection, one prayer at a time.

Want to explore more ways to help young people grow in prayer? Saint Mary’s Press offers articles with practical ideas, reflections, and activities to help children and teens discover that prayer is more than words. It helps them build a habit that shapes their hearts and brings faith to life.

All Saints’ Day Activities

As we remember the saints’ example of living prayer in daily life, we can help young people do the same through engaging classroom and parish activities. These All Saints’ Day lessons from Discover! and Connect! make it easy and fun to celebrate the saints while encouraging children and tweens to connect prayer with everyday moments.