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Author Topic: Tips for prayer?  (Read 2678 times)

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Änσnymσus

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Tips for prayer?
« on: September 17, 2023, 08:09:15 AM »
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  • Hello I am a little concerned with prayer.

    I am unsure if I am praying well, and frankly I am not too sure what to do or what to look for.

    Currently I find myself getting distracted with thoughts and when I realise it I try to focus on the prayers, it can be difficult.

    I am finding the rosary is impacted the most, my brain goes into auto pilot will I am distracted...and before I know it I've finished a decade... I also find it has become exceedingly difficult to imagine the mysteries and focus on them, images do not help, there is only so much I can think about on each mystery.

    What are some good tips/advice for better praying? Or stuff to look out for? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #1 on: September 17, 2023, 09:56:07 AM »
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  • The rosary is designed for human nature, to occupy the mind with prayer, the mouth with words, the ears with hearing the words, the hands with the beads, even the feet with walking while praying. I suggest occupying your eyes with the Rosary Warfare book. With so many ways of being occupied by the rosary, you are less likely to be distracted and more likely to return your focus to prayer.Do what you can and ask Mary to perfect your prayers. 

    When starting, shut out all concerns, agitation, anything urging you to rush. Try to obtain peace internally and externally, then form fervent intentions and pray each word very fervently however fast or slow is easiest for you.

    Each time you return to the rosary from distraction is a meritorious act, every single time. Just don't willfully look at or think about distractions.


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #2 on: September 17, 2023, 09:57:26 AM »
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  • Remember to pray the Rosary as if it was your last.

    Online Stubborn

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #3 on: September 17, 2023, 11:52:17 AM »
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  • Hello I am a little concerned with prayer.

    I am unsure if I am praying well, and frankly I am not too sure what to do or what to look for.

    Currently I find myself getting distracted with thoughts and when I realise it I try to focus on the prayers, it can be difficult.

    I am finding the rosary is impacted the most, my brain goes into auto pilot will I am distracted...and before I know it I've finished a decade... I also find it has become exceedingly difficult to imagine the mysteries and focus on them, images do not help, there is only so much I can think about on each mystery.

    What are some good tips/advice for better praying? Or stuff to look out for? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.
    Check out the below video about distractions in our prayers, it's well worth the 14 minutes. When it comes to those who struggle with praying the rosary, practice makes perfect, or at least much, much better the more you pray it.

    "But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men." - Acts 5:29

    The Highest Principle in the Church: "We are first of all under obedience to God, and only then under obedience to man" - Fr. Hesse

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #4 on: September 17, 2023, 12:55:55 PM »
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  • Also pray for the intentions to be given the guidance and strength to pray better.  Prayer intentions are extremely important.


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #5 on: September 17, 2023, 01:31:38 PM »
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  • What types of thoughts invade your mind? If it's topics that are avoidable such as what caused the Maui fires or who will win the next football match try limiting those activities.

    If it's general tiredness I recommend praying in the morning.

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #6 on: September 18, 2023, 02:14:14 PM »
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  • Hail Mary

    The Secret Of The Rosary by Saint Louis de Montfort (ecatholic2000.com)

    A simple method to pray the Rosary without distractions: The Joyful Mysteries - Dominicans of Avrille, France (dominicansavrille.us)

    A simple method to pray the Rosary without distractions (continued): the Sorrowful Mysteries - Dominicans of Avrille, France (dominicansavrille.us)

    A simple method to pray the Rosary without distractions (continued): the Glorious Mysteries - Dominicans of Avrille, France (dominicansavrille.us)

    Also, you should read the Holy Gospels. I made a compilation on the references to the relevant scriptural passages of each mystery, it is in Spanish but I think you'll figure it out:

    Mateo - Matthew
    Marcos - Mark
    Lucas - Luke
    Juan - John
    Hechos - Acts
    Apocalipsis - Revelation

    See the tables in pages 3 and 4 of the attached material and just look the passage up on the Douay Rheims Bible.

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #7 on: September 24, 2023, 11:52:00 PM »
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  • This definition may help.


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #8 on: September 25, 2023, 01:44:32 AM »
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  • Don’t beat yourself up over mental distractions. Prayer takes practice.  As often as you find yourself distracted, just refocus, even if that’s every 10 seconds at first.  You’ll get better with time if you persevere.  
    Pray aloud or lip the words.  If the latter is not appropriate, “say” the words aloud in your mind.  
    Also, try praying along online or with an audio recording.  

    Offline Gondophares

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #9 on: September 25, 2023, 05:03:33 AM »
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  • Read the attached book. French original written just a year before the Great Apostasy, in 1957, probably the best popular style prayer treatise of its time, and English translation 1959 before the vacant see became manifest with Pacem in Terris 1963. There are so many tips that Father himself repeatedly reminds you only to take a few at a time and practice, not all at once. And apologises for the repeated reminders lol. 

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #10 on: September 25, 2023, 07:44:50 AM »
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  • This definition may help.
    This should say meditation... 


    Offline songbird

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    Re: Tips for prayer?
    « Reply #11 on: September 25, 2023, 02:05:47 PM »
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  • I have distractions as well.  Where are you located? In the home? Statues about or pictures of the saints, Mary or such?  When I find my mind has drifted, I have told myself to tase upon St. Joseph, and he is to put me back on track.  

    My bedroom is quiet.  Give yourself an hour a day to yourself.  My mother was told this with 9 of us kids.  She actually drove the car to a quiet place.  Surroundings help, I think.  I used to say the rosary on a walk, or outside on the patio and that was sweet with the birds and the clouds, thinking of the creator of all.