About prayers and praying

[HoldingGodsHand]

Most of the time when I pray, I pray “straight to God”, just me talking to God. Sometimes I will pray to Jesus or even say a Rosary. But I’ve been thinking, why do we pray to the saints and to Mary to be closer to Jesus and to Jesus to be closer to God? Why suddenly do I feel so confused about all of the who how and why of prayer?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Jesus is God so when you pray to Him, you are praying to God.

The meaning of the word “prayer,” is to petition, to ask. So, when we pray to Our Blessed Mother or the saints, we are asking for their prayers, because they are with God in heaven.

Just as we ask others here in this life to pray for us, so too do we ask for prayers form the Saints.

Jim

 

[peace2u2]

Most of the time when I pray, I pray “straight to God”, just me talking to God. Sometimes I will pray to Jesus or even say a Rosary. But I’ve been thinking, why do we pray to the saints and to Mary to be closer to Jesus and to Jesus to be closer to God? Why suddenly do I feel so confused about all of the who how and why of prayer?

There are many different types of prayer. Praying to the Saints or to Mary is called intercessory prayer. Praying the Our Father or the Hail Mary are called our traditional Catholic prayers are scriptural and taught to us by Jesus Himself. There is also spontaneous prayer, liturgical prayer, communal prayer and private prayer. There are probably more types of prayer that I forgot to mention. But the point is this:

We ask the intercession of the Saints and Mary because they are perfect and holy and I am not. Sin can hinder our prayers and act like a barrier because God is holy and can’t be near sin. Any sin. Remember the story of Adam and Eve and how they had to leave Eden because they disobeyed God so even if I sin a little bit, it hinders my prayers because they are not really being offered up perfectly but when I pray the Rosary and ask Mary to pray for us, since Mary is in Heaven and she is perfect and holy, thru her intercession, my prayer is being offered thru Mary and she delivers my prayer. There is no one who was closer to Jesus than His mother so who among all the saints is more perfect than the Blessed Virgin Mary? That is why when I do pray intercessory prayer, I do thru Mary.

I once heard this explanation of praying the Rosary. Imagine that you are praying to Jesus for the physical healing of your friends cancer and you are praying the Rosary prayer. Jesus is sitting, listening to your prayer request, He too is weeping for your friend. He is also touched at your great faith and how much you love your friend and how much you trust and love His own mother and that you consider her your Heavenly mother. Jesus’ mother is standing behind a curtain and she too is listening to you . She steps out from behind the curtain and says to her son, if not for them, then for me heal her friend’s cancer. I also heard someone say that God gave us Jesus thru Mary and so God is pleased when we pray to Him in Jesus’ name thru Mary.

Psalm 66:18
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

1 John 1:8-9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I think its a good habit to get into that when praying any type of prayer to God, to tell God that I am sorry if I have offended you in any way, thru thought, word or deed and if there is any un-confessed sin in my heart to reveal it so that I may be cleansed from it.

 

[Canuck000]

There are many different types of prayer. Praying to the Saints or to Mary is called intercessory prayer. Praying the Our Father or the Hail Mary are called our traditional Catholic prayers are scriptural and taught to us by Jesus Himself. There is also spontaneous prayer, liturgical prayer, communal prayer and private prayer. There are probably more types of prayer that I forgot to mention. But the point is this:

We ask the intercession of the Saints and Mary because they are perfect and holy and I am not. Sin can hinder our prayers and act like a barrier because God is holy and can’t be near sin. Any sin. Remember the story of Adam and Eve and how they had to leave Eden because they disobeyed God so even if I sin a little bit, it hinders my prayers because they are not really being offered up perfectly but when I pray the Rosary and ask Mary to pray for us, since Mary is in Heaven and she is perfect and holy, thru her intercession, my prayer is being offered thru Mary and she delivers my prayer. There is no one who was closer to Jesus than His mother so who among all the saints is more perfect than the Blessed Virgin Mary? That is why when I do pray intercessory prayer, I do thru Mary.

I once heard this explanation of praying the Rosary. Imagine that you are praying to Jesus for the physical healing of your friends cancer and you are praying the Rosary prayer. Jesus is sitting, listening to your prayer request, He too is weeping for your friend. He is also touched at your great faith and how much you love your friend and how much you trust and love His own mother and that you consider her your Heavenly mother. Jesus’ mother is standing behind a curtain and she too is listening to you . She steps out from behind the curtain and says to her son, if not for them, then for me heal her friend’s cancer. I also heard someone say that God gave us Jesus thru Mary and so God is pleased when we pray to Him in Jesus’ name thru Mary.

Psalm 66:18
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

1 John 1:8-9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I think its a good habit to get into that when praying any type of prayer to God, to tell God that I am sorry if I have offended you in any way, thru thought, word or deed and if there is any un-confessed sin in my heart to reveal it so that I may be cleansed from it.

Wow! How perfectly stated! Thankyou!

 

[HoldingGodsHand]

Thanks for the replies. All the different types of prayers, that’s why I’m so confused? I want to be a good prayer but sometimes it feels like just words. It’s tough when you pray and feel like you’re just talking to yourself. Other times I can pray and somehow feel better. I’ve gone to adoration and usually walk out feeling no different, but later on will feel a little “good”. I’m also at a point where I know I need to go to confession… but talk myself out of it every week. Is it possible for not going to confession can affect my prayer life too? But I’ve always been inconsistent with everything and life always distracts my faith too easily.
How can I ever get that spark my faith needs to burn bright?

 

[mcrts]

Thanks for the replies. All the different types of prayers, that’s why I’m so confused? I want to be a good prayer but sometimes it feels like just words. It’s tough when you pray and feel like you’re just talking to yourself. Other times I can pray and somehow feel better. I’ve gone to adoration and usually walk out feeling no different, but later on will feel a little “good”. I’m also at a point where I know I need to go to confession… but talk myself out of it every week. Is it possible for not going to confession can affect my prayer life too? But I’ve always been inconsistent with everything and life always distracts my faith too easily.
How can I ever get that spark my faith needs to burn bright?

First, with every prayer, try to approach God as a child does his father. That’s what God is to us. He’s our Heavenly Father and we can talk to Him about anything that’s going on in our lives. Even the details delight Him, because He’s always ready to hear what we have to say to Him.

Also, have you tried other prayer types? A lot of what you’ve described is contemplative or mental prayer. Maybe you’ll do better in a Praise and Worship setting, with a lot of music and singing? (Singing is twice prayer, as someone once said! ) If you’re more of the outgoing type, contemplative prayer might pose a challenge to you. However, you could be right at home with a Charismatic group.

Remember, the highest prayer is the Mass, so it’s really good for you to attend that, no matter which “path” you take in praying.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Thanks for the replies. All the different types of prayers, that’s why I’m so confused? I want to be a good prayer but sometimes it feels like just words. It’s tough when you pray and feel like you’re just talking to yourself. Other times I can pray and somehow feel better. I’ve gone to adoration and usually walk out feeling no different, but later on will feel a little “good”. I’m also at a point where I know I need to go to confession… but talk myself out of it every week. Is it possible for not going to confession can affect my prayer life too? But I’ve always been inconsistent with everything and life always distracts my faith too easily.
How can I ever get that spark my faith needs to burn bright?

Sin will be an impediment for prayer, I’ve experienced it myself. Confession is the cure.

That being said, the next time you go to prayer, don’t make it complicated. Just go to a quiet place where you can sit, close your eyes and place yourself in God’s presence, who is dwelling within you.

Just say the name “Lord Jesus,” and repeat this slowly and silently, as you focus on God’s dwelling within you. When you become aware that you’re thinking of something else, just gently return to praying the words, “Lord Jesus.” Don’t try to blank your mind, this isn’t the point, but instead, staying focused on the presence of God. From here, allow God to respond with his love.

Think of it as being akin to two lovers sitting together in each others arms. No words are necessary to express the love between the two, just being in each others embrace sitting quietly. is enough.

So it is in this meditation. Just being with Jesus, and loving him by being there is enough.

No petitions, experiences or anything is necessary. Just be there with the Beloved. The closer you move toward him the deeper you’ll be in your prayer, and the closer you are to Him, the closer you are to your true self. The ego will dissolve for God only knows the person he created, not the false image the ego created.

Try this and see how God works within your soul.

God Bless
JIm

 

[HoldingGodsHand]

No petitions, experiences or anything is necessary. Just be there with the Beloved. The closer you move toward him the deeper you’ll be in your prayer, and the closer you are to Him, the closer you are to your true self. The ego will dissolve for God only knows the person he created, not the false image the ego created

Thanks JimR I will try that. Pretty sure I’ve already tried but my brain is constantly going it’s hard most of the time, but I won’t give up trying. If only I could get the clutters of life out fo my mind! I love the thought of losing my own ego and just being there with Him.
Now if I could only get myself back to confession.

 

[nuntym]

• JMJ +

Thanks JimR I will try that. Pretty sure I’ve already tried but my brain is constantly going it’s hard most of the time, but I won’t give up trying. If only I could get the clutters of life out fo my mind! I love the thought of losing my own ego and just being there with Him.
Now if I could only get myself back to confession.

Jim has already made some good recommendations! And may I say that that confusion is actually the start of the breaking down of ego by the Lord.

Let that confusion guide you. What I mean is start from the most basic tenets in practicing your faith and do not go towards what confuses you until you feel you are ready. Start from this meditation: that you are nothing, and God is everything. That what you know about God and His actions and intents, including why there are saints and why there is Mary, may be wrong. That there is nothing you can do to save yourself from ignorance and sin, but only God can. Then go do what Jim said, let nothing be in between you and God, no intercession. Just be with Him, and be content for now with that.

You will feel when you are ready to do more and want more. You may feel then the need for the Sacrament of Confession based on what Jim and the others have said, that sin is the main hindrance between you and God. If you are unsure of what to say to the priest, then tell him so; tell him that it has been some time that you have gone to confession, and you do not know where to start and what to say, and that you are afraid. The priest knows what to do and he will guide you; nothing of what you said will leave that confessional, so do not be afraid.

You will in the future feel the need to know more about your faith, including the saints and Mary. Read some about them, but never go beyond what your confusion tells you; when that confusion or anxiety surfaces, stop, and just acknowledge what you have read up to that point, and practice them (practice is what is essential in faith). After a few days, read more when you feel you are ready.

And yes, I am speaking from experience

 

[ready]

How can I ever get that spark my faith needs to burn bright?

Keep at your prayers and be sure to practice mortification and true humility. Prayers accompanied by mortification and true humility are very powerful. Ask the Virgin Mary to help you; her intercession is extremely powerful: for God can not refuse His sweet Mother anything, though He can refuse us. God bless you.

 

[peace2u2]

You have been given excellent advice to all the posts. Have you ever prayed in Adoration?

ewtn.com/faith/teachings/euchd3.htm