The Meaning of Prayer for Young Catholic Religious Sisters of the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Carolus Borromeus Mulyatno; Veronika Puji  Astuti

doi:10.47540/ijqr.v5i3.2702

Authors

Carolus Borromeus Mulyatno Faculty of Theology, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Veronika Puji Astuti Faculty of Theology, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47540/ijqr.v5i3.2702

Keywords:

Meaning of Prayer, Mission, Vocation, Young Religious

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to obtain data on the meaning of prayer for young Catholic religious of the Congregation of Blessed Virgin Mary of Amersfoort of Samarinda Province. The data collected included three things that were formulated in three questions as research instruments. First, what kind of prayer atmosphere is experienced? Second, what are the benefits of prayer? Third, what are the fruits of prayer experienced? The three questions became research instruments used to collect data using the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method. The data were analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) theoretical framework. An important finding of this study is that the dominant atmosphere of prayer is silence, calm, full of gratitude, and close to God. The benefits of prayer are felt as a blessed experience to relate, communicate, and be with God. Prayer is also felt as a graceful experience that is very helpful for processing personal struggles and affirming steps in living life in fulfilling vocations and missions as a religious. The fruits of prayer include deeper self-knowledge, the experience of being loved by God, the experience of being supported by God's grace, the spiritual support of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the spirit of life renewal, and experiencing the figure of God as a Father who treats longing for a male figure or a father.

References

Alase, A. (2017). The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Guide to a Good Qualitative Research Approach. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 5(2), 9.

Barus, A. (2023). Prayer and koinonia in the Fourth Gospel. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 79(2).

Clarke, J. (1996). Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. ICS Publications.

Cosmin Tudor Ciocan. (2021). The significance of Prayer and its healing power. Dialogi, 7(2), 75–85.

Creswell. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design. Sage Publication.

Deorji, M. (2025). Prayer as protest: the life of prayer in the pursuit of justicE. Religion.

Elon, Y., & Pardosi, M. T. (2025). Prayer and Character Building as Core Predictors of Spiritual Growth: Lessons from Christian Higher Education for Global Well-being. Jurnal Iman Dan Spiritualitas, 5(4), 759–774.

Eze, C., Lindegger, G. C., & Rakoczy, S. (2015). Catholic Religious Sisters’ Identity Dilemmas as Committed and Subjugated Workers: A Narrative Approach. Review of Religious Research, 57(3), 397–417.

Faiq, A. (2022). Religion and Existentialism; A symphony of the alienated identity? Unpublished.

Flanigan, S. (2007). Paying for god’s work: A rights-based examination of faith-based NGOs in Romania. Voluntas, 18(2), 156–175.

Gede Agung, D. A., Nasih, A. M., Sumarmi, Idris, & Kurniawan, B. (2024). Local wisdom as a model of interfaith communication in creating religious harmony in Indonesia. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 9, 100827.

Khoerunisa, S., & Yuliani, S. (2025). The Emergence of Religious Moderation in Indonesia’s Multicultural Society. Jurnal Indonesia Studi Moderasi Beragama, 2(2), 78–89.

Kim, P. J. (2022). The Role of Christians in The Correlation between The Notion of Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi and The Commitment of Cape Town. Evangelikal: Jurnal Teologi Injili Dan Pembinaan Warga Jemaat, 6(2), 85.

Kiyani, R., Mohammadi, A., & Pourahmad, E. (2011). Investigating the Effect of Prayer in Increasing the Mental Health of College Students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 1875–1877.

Korpi, A. (2020). Pope Francis on Conversion: A “Daily Matter.” Jesuits Midwest.

Krause, N., & Hayward, R. D. (2013). Prayer Beliefs and Change in Life Satisfaction Over Time. Journal of Religion and Health, 52(2), 674–694.

Kreis, M. C., & Crammond, J. (2021). Younger sisters’ concerns prior to their entrance to religious life. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 23(1), 47–61.

Lekhak, N., Bhatta, T. R., Kahana, E., & Zauszniewski, J. A. (2023). Prayer and Mental Health in Later Life: The Role of Positive Emotions. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 44(7), 639–648.

Mulyatno, C. B. (2019). Theology of Independence as a Foundation of DevelopIng Catholic Education in Indonesian Context According to Y.B. Mangunwijaya. Journal of Asian Orientation in Theology, (2), 119–138.

Munroe, M. (2002). Understanding the purpose and poewe of playar: Earthly lisece for heavenly onterference. Whitaker House.

Newman, D. B., Nezlek, J. B., & Thrash, T. M. (2023). The dynamics of prayer in daily life and implications for well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 124(6), 1299–1313.

Okafor, P. O. (2014). The challenge of contextual theology. Ministerium: A Journal of Contextual Theology, 1(1).

Onyeije, E. I. (2025). Roles of Prayer in God’s Providence and their Implications for Contemporary Christians. 10(6).

Prabowo, P. (2022). Phubbing. Rohani, 16-21.

Predeko, D. (2023). The Private Self in The Context of Prayer. Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko, (1 (17)), 65–70.

Puchalska-Wasyl, M. M., & Zarzycka, B. (2020). Internal Dialogue as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Prayer and Well-Being. Journal of Religion and Health, 59(4), 2045–2063.

Qutoshi, S. B. (2018). Phenomenology: A Philosophy and Method of Inquiry. Journal of Education and Educational Development, 5(1), 215.

Rosidin. (2016). Role of Local Wisdom in Preserving The Religious Harmony of Samin Community in Blimbing Blora. International Journal of Latest Research in Science and Technology, 5(2), 25–30.

Sharma, S., & Singh, K. (2019). Role of Religious and Spiritual Practices in Mental Health. In K. Singh & S. Sigroha, Translational Research and Applied Psychology in India (pp. 192–223). SAGE Publications Pvt Ltd.

Shoemaker, S. J. (2006). Ancient traditions of the virgin mary’s dormition and assumption. Oxford University Press.

Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2013). Interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Sudarman, Reza, F. A., Anna, D. N., & Daliman, M. (2025). The Meaning of Life for Nuns: A Phenomenological Study in the Cities of Yogyakarta and Bandar Lampung. Pharos Journal of Theology, (106.3).

Tatar, M. (2021a). Communal and Community-Forming Character of Prayer. Collectanea Theologica, 90(5), 741–765.

Tatar, M. (2021b). Communal and Community-Forming Character of Prayer. Collectanea Theologica, 90(5), 741–765.

Turysbekova, D., Toleugaliyeva, S., & Narxoz University. (2025). Youth and religion: Exploring the motivations behind religious commitment and identity formation. Jete – Journal of Philosophy, Religious and Cultural Studies, 152(3), 119–136.

Van Der Merwe, D. G. (2018). Prayer, the encounter and participation, the experience: A Pauline exhortation towards a spirituality of prayer. Verbum et Ecclesia, 39(1).

Vega, G., & Primeaux, P. (2007). Reinventing the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin Maryi*. The CASE Journal, 4(1), 123–139.

Wijaya, H., Chia, P. S., & Wauran, Q. C. (2025). Understanding prayer in the light of Ephesians 3:12-21 to experience God’s love: An ethnoscopic analysis approach. Evangelikal: Jurnal Teologi Injili Dan Pembinaan Warga Jemaat, 9(1), 30–47.

Willig, C. , & Rogers, S. W. (2017). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research in Psychology. In V. Eatough & J. A. Smith (Eds.), Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. SAGE Publications Inc.