Send CathInfo's owner Matthew a gift from his Amazon wish list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25M2B8RERL1UO

« previous next »
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4

Author Topic: Reducing prayer life?  (Read 13628 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Änσnymσus

  • Guest
Re: Reducing prayer life?
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2024, 05:22:19 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Miseremini on September 25, 2024, 04:05:53 PM
    Your problem is you have become both stagnant and overwhelmed at the same time....stagnant in the repetition of the same prayers day after day and overwhelmed by trying to do it all while knowing there is much you're not doing.
    Holy mother church is designed to keep things simple and fresh and the faithful followed her lead for centuries up to Vat II.  Since then people have forgotten how to pray with the Church.
     
    The Church's  Liturgical year,
     Advent,
    Lent,
    Easter
     Pentecost
     and time after Pentecost.
     
    The Church's monthly dedications,
    1, Holy Infancy
    2 Holy Trinity/Holy Family
    3  St Joseph
     4 Holy Ghost/ Lent
    5 Blessed Virgin
    6 Sacred Heart
    7 Precious Blood
    8 Most Pure Heart of Mary
    9 Holy Cross
    10  Holy Angels
    11 Poor Souls in Purgatory
    12 Immaculate Conception/Advent
     
    The Church's daily dedications.
    The Holy Trinity
    The Holy Ghost/ Poor Souls in Purgatory
    St Michael and the Holy Angels
    St. Joseph
    Blessed Sacrament
    The Passion/ Sorrowful Mother
    The Blessed Virgin Mary
     
    It is so easy to follow the church's plan as above that you will find you are praying less but with more fervour and devotion and you'll never become stagnant, as everyday is different and every month and season is different. Within this framework you choose which of the multitude of prayers/devotions you feel attached to...some a litany, some a chaplet, some a favourite prayer or even a sacrifice in their honour, all the while keeping that specific dedication in mind throughout the day.  By the end of the month you're on to a different set of devotions, no chance for your mind to wonder.  There is a time and place for everything...you don't have to do everything all the time.
     
    Of course you make your morning offering, intention to gain all indulgences throughout the day and any special intention you have and your night prayers, which leaves you time for your rosary according to the Liturgical season and any special intention that arises unexpectedly.
     
    It will take you months to get this set into your routine but I guarantee you'll never become stagnant or overwhelmed again and your devotion and reverence will increase by leaps and bounds.
    By the time you get married and have a family it will be second nature and you'll teach your children how to pray and not just say prayers.
     
    The biggest help I can offer is... get yourself a Father Lasance "My Prayer Book"  and in the mean time here is a link to his book starting with the above mentioned dedications.
     
    https://archive.org/details/MyPrayerBookHappinessInGoodness/page/161/mode/2up
     
    How can I make a good morning offering? Also I may need to readjust my morning and evening prayers but I'm not sure what makes for good ones. I'm currently doing prayers in the missal + extra devotions, it probably takes me 15-20 minutes to do them all.
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #16 on: September 25, 2024, 08:10:27 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Änσnymσus on September 25, 2024, 04:01:32 PM
    You can't keep doing the same thing and expect different results
    Ah, ok, stop persevering for my salvation will get me to heaven? It's easy to lessen a burden, but harder to take it back up than persevering with it. My thoughts are to persevere a while longer. Sometimes it helps to fool yourself, like "I'll give it up in a month", and suddenly your are happy, then find a month later you have no problem continuing what you are doing. It may just be a test, a dry spell. Perhaps the fervency of the prayer life will return after some perseverance. I just remember reading recently about a saint who was in a pleasant, but not particularly special circuмstance, who had an opportunity arise with the potential of a better outcome. He went for it, it failed almost immediately, and when he returned to where he was, another had already filled that position. So he spent the rest of his life in penance. That was a grass is greener on the other side sort of thing, though it may not apply all that well here. I often think how some spiritual directors don't recommend much time spent on daily prayers, and how much is right for me. Habits are harder to make than break. I say do more while you can and while it's a habit. Kind of like getting in your spiritual reading, study, and meditations in before you are married with children, because the time may come when you don't have time for those things anymore.
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #17 on: September 25, 2024, 08:25:30 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Änσnymσus on September 25, 2024, 08:10:27 PM
    Ah, ok, stop persevering for my salvation will get me to heaven?
    Don't be a jerk  I never suggested any such thing.
    Logged

    Offline Miseremini

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • Posts: 4545
    • Reputation: +3615/-290
    • Gender: Female
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #18 on: September 25, 2024, 09:11:23 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Änσnymσus on September 25, 2024, 05:22:19 PM
    How can I make a good morning offering? Also I may need to readjust my morning and evening prayers but I'm not sure what makes for good ones. I'm currently doing prayers in the missal + extra devotions, it probably takes me 15-20 minutes to do them all.
    If you look through a dozen missals and prayer books you'll find morning prayers and night prayers and all of them different and none of them indulgenced.  That tells us that the Church doesn't have a set formula of prayers at those times.
    Think of those times as a one on one conversation with God.
    In your own words, offer all your prayers, works joys and sufferings of the coming day for His greater glory, in reparation of your sins, the relief of the poor  souls in purgatory and any special intention you have.

    Implore His blessing on your day and on all your family, friends, relatives, acquaintances and descendants (yes now is the time to include them as they are going to need it even if you don't have any yet) in time and in eternity (this eliminates a long list of names, both alive and dead, except on the day of their birth or death when you might wish to make special mention)

    Then offer acts of faith hope and charity and these don't have to be long formulated prayers but can be as brief as the acts prayed on the beads for the dead which are:-
    My God I believe in Thee because Thou art truth itself.
    I hope in Thee because Thou are infinitely merciful.
    I love Thee with my whole heart because Thou art infinitely perfect and I love my neighbour as myself for the love of Thee.
    I am truly sorry for all my sins because Thou art infinitely good and sin displeased Thee.  I firmly resolve never to offend Thee again.
    If you wish add three Hail Mary's or any short devotion you like e.g. St Michael and/or guardian angel prayer.

    Your prayers don't have to be long .... BUT.... it's better to say what you mean and genuinely mean what you say.  God already knows what you want and what you need, He just wants to hear you  acknowledge it.
    This should make your prayers in the morning rather brief.

    Before bed pray the most perfect act of contrition you possibly can and in charity pray for those who are about to die, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

    During the day, pray any prayers or devotions that will sanctify the day, month and season.

    Remember, it's not the quantity of your prayers but the quality.



    Logged
    "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: and them that hate Him flee from before His Holy Face"  Psalm 67:2[/b]

    Offline Yeti

    • Supporter
    • *****
    • Posts: 4105
    • Reputation: +2419/-528
    • Gender: Male
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #19 on: September 26, 2024, 03:49:50 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Änσnymσus on September 24, 2024, 10:34:21 PM
    I guess I will, but he has mentioned in the past that lay people should try to have 2 hours of prayer life per day (counting everything).

    Your priest said this in a sermon? This seems incredible. Can I ask who this priest is?
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #20 on: September 26, 2024, 06:03:22 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Yeti on September 26, 2024, 03:49:50 PM
    Your priest said this in a sermon? This seems incredible. Can I ask who this priest is?
    Not in a sermon. I'll rather not say.
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #21 on: September 26, 2024, 06:06:27 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Änσnymσus on September 26, 2024, 06:03:22 PM
    Not in a sermon. I'll rather not say.
    Does his name begin with "R" and end with "ipperger" by chance? :laugh1:
    Logged

    Offline 2Vermont

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • Posts: 11528
    • Reputation: +6470/-1191
    • Gender: Female
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #22 on: September 27, 2024, 06:37:42 AM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Yeti on September 26, 2024, 03:49:50 PM
    Your priest said this in a sermon? This seems incredible. Can I ask who this priest is?
    I was surprised at the 2 hours per day for laity too. 
    Logged

    Offline Giovanni Berto

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 1370
    • Reputation: +1113/-83
    • Gender: Male
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #23 on: September 27, 2024, 10:02:50 AM »
  • Thanks!3
  • No Thanks!0
    • This kind of comment is very irresponsible. Some people might develop scruples, some others might become discouraged in their prayers, because they cannot do the two hours.

    The Breviary takes about two hours a day, and the Church never required the laity to pray it. It is not feasible for most people. Even busy priests sometimes have to make some particular efforts to do it.

    A lot of people cannot see the difference between what is simply a recommendation and what is an obligation, and this is why priests should be more explicit about this distinction.
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #24 on: September 28, 2024, 12:52:00 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • We can do our best to call to mind the presence of God as often as we can, asking for help, thanking Him, even making little spiritual communions and re-offering our thoughts, words, and actions of the day. We can frequently try to remember to work for/with our boss, customers, and employees as if they are Jesus, and to treat the business and its property as God's, while striving to imitate Christ according to our duty of state. Mentally singing hymns and the kyriale. This all adds up to several minutes of prayer, if not even a few hours.

     How often do we rather lower our mind to vacation, sports, hobbies, alcohol, relaxation, ect. It's almost like a prayer to Idols. Surely we spend much time thinking about what we love.
    Logged

    Offline Soubirous

    • Sr. Member
    • ****
    • Posts: 2109
    • Reputation: +1662/-44
    • Gender: Female
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #25 on: September 28, 2024, 02:52:57 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Änσnymσus on September 24, 2024, 10:34:21 PM
    I guess I will, but he has mentioned in the past that lay people should try to have 2 hours of prayer life per day (counting everything).

    "Should" and "try" don't bind. It's something to aim for if you can. 15 decades is about 45 minutes to an hour. Add in morning and evening prayers, plus the novena or litany of the day/season, plus maybe another daily devotion of one's choosing (say, for the souls in Purgatory), and it gets up there around two hours anyway.

    So people here don't have to speculate, what were the priest's exact words, even if you don't want to name him?
    Logged
    Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things pass away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God finds he lacks nothing; God alone suffices. - St. Teresa of Jesus

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #26 on: September 28, 2024, 07:43:58 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Soubirous on September 28, 2024, 02:52:57 PM
    "Should" and "try" don't bind. It's something to aim for if you can. 15 decades is about 45 minutes to an hour. Add in morning and evening prayers, plus the novena or litany of the day/season, plus maybe another daily devotion of one's choosing (say, for the souls in Purgatory), and it gets up there around two hours anyway.

    So people here don't have to speculate, what were the priest's exact words, even if you don't want to name him?
    I don't remember the exact words, but laypeople should try to hit 2 hours of prayer a day, priests 4 hours, monks 6. This include everything they do, so I could offer something up to God like doing the dishes and it should count.
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #27 on: October 02, 2024, 01:21:35 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Maybe we should praying several times a day.  
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #28 on: October 02, 2024, 06:45:09 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • I must decrease so God can increase.  
    Logged

    Änσnymσus

    • Guest
    Re: Reducing prayer life?
    « Reply #29 on: October 02, 2024, 08:50:42 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Op here, I have not changed anything since my initial post. I probably won't until my life circuмstances change.
    Logged
    Pages: 1 [2] 3 4
    « previous next »