When I first heard of a “holy hour,” I couldn’t believe that someone could sit and just pray for 60 minutes. It felt almost impossible. How do you fill that much time with prayer? What do you say for that long? I didn’t even know where to begin. If you feel the same way, you’re not alone.  

A holy hour can feel intimidating at first, but it’s a beautiful invitation to deepen your relationship with Jesus. The good news is that there’s no “perfect” way to do it, and it doesn’t have to feel complicated or rigid. I want to share a structure that’s helped me approach holy hours with more ease and intention. As your heart becomes accustomed to spending more time with Jesus, you may find yourself naturally lingering in His presence.  

What is a Holy Hour

A holy hour traditionally involves spending one hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, either in adoration or a quiet place of prayer. It’s a response to Jesus’ invitation to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40).  

This hour is not about perfection but about presence. There is no perfect way to pray or spend your holy hour. It’s about offering your time to Jesus and opening your heart to Him. However, I know the feeling of not knowing where to start so I am offering a guide that you can use as inspiration to kickstart your holy hours! With that in mind, here’s a simple guide you can follow to help structure your time:  

1. Quiet Your Mind and Open Your Heart (10 minutes)  

When you arrive, take a few minutes to settle your mind and heart. We live in a noisy, fast-paced world, so it’s important to intentionally slow down. I like to start by kneeling for this first part, and begin by acknowledging the presence of God.  

Take slow, deep breaths, and offer a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your time. You can pray something simple like, “Holy Spirit, help me be fully present to You in this moment. Open my heart to hear Your voice.”  Keep breathing deeply and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer, quiet your mind, and open your heart. Focus on surrendering any distractions, anxieties, or worries. Give them over to Jesus and trust that He will take care of them during this time.  

This step is about letting go of all the noise and clutter in your mind so that your heart is open to hear what God wants to say.  

2. Converse with Jesus (20 minutes)

Now that your mind and heart are more at peace, it’s time to talk to Jesus. Think of this as a conversation with the person you can trust the most in the world—the One who loves you most. He wants to hear what’s on your heart: the joys, the sorrows, the fears, the dreams. Share everything with Him.  

Be honest and vulnerable. You can speak aloud, pray silently, or even journal your thoughts if that feels more natural. Some prompts to help if you’re unsure where to start:  

•   “Jesus, today I’m feeling ______.”  
•   “I’m struggling with _____, and I need Your help.”  
•    “Thank You for _____.”  
•   “Please give me peace about _____. I surrender it all to you.”  

The goal is to simply be yourself with Jesus. He already knows what’s on your heart, but He longs for you to share it with Him.  

3. Form Your Soul and Mind (15 minutes)

This part of the holy hour is about receiving spiritual nourishment. It’s an opportunity to let God speak to you through His Word or the wisdom of saints and spiritual writers.  

Read a passage from Scripture, a devotional, or a spiritual book that inspires you to grow in faith. You can reflect on the daily Mass readings or choose a particular book of the Bible (like Psalms or the Gospels).  

As you read, ask yourself:  

•   What is God saying to me through this passage?  
•   Is there a word or phrase that stands out to me?  
•   How can I apply this to my life?  

If you’re reading a spiritual book, pause when something resonates with you. Let the words sink in, and ask God how He wants to use them to transform your heart.  

4. Reflect and Ponder (15 minutes)

After reading and praying, spend the final portion of your holy hour in silence. This is your time to simply be with Jesus—no words needed. Allow the truths you just read to settle in your heart, and give Jesus space to speak to you.  

Gaze at Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament if you’re in adoration, or close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting with Him. You can reflect on the Scripture passage you read, ponder a truth about God’s love, or simply rest in His presence.  If distractions creep in, gently refocus by repeating a simple prayer like, “Jesus, I trust in You.”  

This time of silence may feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s often in the stillness that we hear God’s gentle whisper. Trust that He is working in your heart, even if you don’t feel anything profound in the moment.  

Remember This

There is no right or wrong way to pray a holy hour. Use this structure as a guide, but feel free to adapt it to whatever the Holy Spirit places on your heart. If you want to spend more time reading or lingering in conversation with Jesus, do it.  

Remember, the goal is not to “fill the time” with various activities but to grow in intimacy with Christ. Over time, you may find yourself longing for more time with Him, and soon the hour will fly by.

If this post encouraged you, share it with a friend who may also be seeking to grow in their prayer life. And if you have any tips for how you pray your holy hour, I’d love to hear from you in the comments!