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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Pray! Don’t Play!
Oh I can find silence if I want to. (The bathroom always works.
)Still, while it may be quiet out there, it ain’t so in here. points to head
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)Still, while it may be quiet out there, it ain’t so in here. points to head
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FrDavid96
Guest
Do you carry a sketchpad? Ever thought about doing sketches of biblical scenes, or something from the lives of the saints?Oh I can find silence if I want to. (The bathroom always works.
Still, while it may be quiet out there, it ain’t so in here. points to head
How about St. Michael the Archangel banishing Satan from Heaven?
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Won’t that just make it noisier in here? >_>;; I mean a big, shining angel blasting a demon into a fiery abyss is hardly tranquil than your typical scene from Dragon Ball or Digimon.
Not that I won’t mind writing a scene like that (by the way, I don’t have sketch pad but I do write out fight sequences and stuff on a notebook sometimes).
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FrDavid96
Guest
OK. Maybe not St. Michael.
How about something calming? St. Francis of Assisi and the birds? I’m not so much trying to suggest subjects (even though yes, I am throwing out a few) but I’m suggesting that you take a talent for art and use that as a form of prayer for yourself.
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5Loaves
Guest
Can you think of any advantage for you to cultivating an internal quiet? If not then just move on. If so then consider going to church with the intention of following for five minutes any of the good suggestions folks have given and then leave. When we do strength training we start with a few reps and light weights and gradually add to the reps and the weight. It’s not so different building up other “muscles” like the ability to quiet down your thinking. You may never be a contemplative person but there are some real advantages to being able to quiet oneself and if you do think you could gain something but quieting your mind then try it in short increments.Oh I can find silence if I want to. (The bathroom always works.
Still, while it may be quiet out there, it ain’t so in here. points to head
Another idea I’d add to the suggestions others have made, is to take some beads, rosary or other and use them to occupy your hands. (I use a knotted prayer rope instead of beads.) You can say something VERY simple on each bead, like “Come Holy Spirit” or “Lord Jesus Christ”. You could also do this while walking slowly around the inside of the church, or walking the block around the church. Since you’re so attached to you PSP doing something prayerful with your hands might help. Eventually leaving you PSP at home or in the car could be a good practice.
In so many places in the world there is no quiet. We who have access to quiet places are so lucky. A prayer of gratitude for the quiet is a good thing.
It’s really wonderful that you are coming to Mass and that you’re asking the questions you’re asking.
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bcra
Guest
I often arrive early in order to get a good seat and pray. i come early for a private meeting with Christ i cannot do this during a mass. so please as if you are visiting a friend come early I sure our father will be glad to hear you. put away your phone or any personel music or books you have unless its a prayer book,bible or a mass book . also id like to point out it is very rude to talk loudly to your friends in church. you are not allowed to speak play any radio or music in a library why do it when visiting Christ? a church is not a visiting placefor your friends its a place of prayer please respect it.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Sadly it seems that the answer to that second question is no. :\ I guess my mind is really not cut out for tranquil thinking. Every time I try it, I fall asleep! D8 Listening to beats though keeps me thinking and keeps me imagining.
I have attempted to recall any scene I’ve imagined that would fall under peace and quiet but all I got were romance scenes that I felt too embarrassed to write cuz they make me feel like a complete sap! T_T
Okay number one, I hardly engage in idle chit-chat during Mass (and if I do, it’s only for less than a few minutes). Secondly, I do listen to music in a library. What do you think earphones are for? :ehh:
Finally, I’ve already said I tried prayer but it always ends becoming a huge, loud conference session in my head or a DVD presentation of one of my story ideas. :\
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RSD
Guest
You need practice. As someone said earlier, consider it like strength training. Start off with a short time of something easy (a few reps with a light weight), and gradually work your way up. Plan a 5 minute prayer time of reciting memorized prayers, while trying to think about what you are saying. Do this once a day, every other day. If you can’t remember if you did it yesterday or not, try writing down a prayer schedule, and checking off the days you did. Alternatively, if you can’t remember if you did it yesterday, do it today.
Five minutes. You can probably find that somewhere in the day. If you do this for 4 weeks, I imagine the next step will suggest itself. If it doesn’t, come back here and I will tell you the next step. Like any other training program, it takes a little while to feel the benefits. You have to put in the effort first. Everybody here who has been answering you initial query with “Spend that time praying” has gone through this one way or another. There really is not any kind of mind which is just “cut out for it.” Everybody has to work at it.
I will be praying for you.
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yoopersenior
Guest
It is so wonderful to me to get to church early, before anyone else has arrived. I love to look at the Tabernacle and the Crucifix. Without even usings words, I feel that I am communicating with God.
Something I’ve also found helps me when I have had a lot of “noise” in my head is to spend time outdoors, somewhere totally natural. I’ve spent whole days being in the woods alone. Sometimes I just keep saying, “Jesus”. There is something so calming about the natural world. I think that calm can then be brought back to the everyday world.
Being young (20 is still young
) and having alot going on in your mind is understandable. It gets better. It’s one of the great thing about getting older; a lot of the things that used to concern me just don’t anymore. I’ve found that entering my 60s has been quite nice. It’s easier to be alone with myself and alone with Jesus.
Hang in there, and keep practicing.
Something I’ve also found helps me when I have had a lot of “noise” in my head is to spend time outdoors, somewhere totally natural. I’ve spent whole days being in the woods alone. Sometimes I just keep saying, “Jesus”. There is something so calming about the natural world. I think that calm can then be brought back to the everyday world.
Being young (20 is still young
) and having alot going on in your mind is understandable. It gets better. It’s one of the great thing about getting older; a lot of the things that used to concern me just don’t anymore. I’ve found that entering my 60s has been quite nice. It’s easier to be alone with myself and alone with Jesus.Hang in there, and keep practicing.
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foxhound406
Guest
I understand your feeling about always needing something. I almost always have my Ipod on me. What I did was I loaded it up with a bunch of Praise and Worship songs. A lot of times I will listen to that on my way to Mass to try and get myself prepared for coming to hear God’s word and receive Him in the Eucharist.
Also I know what you mean about always being distracted during Mass. The church at my school is on a main road, so you often hear the subway or buses or cars going by, which can be very distracting. But I do know that I try my hardest to focus on whatever is going on at Mass, whether it’s the readings, homily, consecration of the Eucharist, whatever point it may be.
It isn’t easy, but take courage. God knows your struggles, and he will give you the grace that you need to receive his love fully. I know he appreciates the struggle you go through to give him your love, attention, and respect at Mass.
Also I know what you mean about always being distracted during Mass. The church at my school is on a main road, so you often hear the subway or buses or cars going by, which can be very distracting. But I do know that I try my hardest to focus on whatever is going on at Mass, whether it’s the readings, homily, consecration of the Eucharist, whatever point it may be.
It isn’t easy, but take courage. God knows your struggles, and he will give you the grace that you need to receive his love fully. I know he appreciates the struggle you go through to give him your love, attention, and respect at Mass.
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xixxvmcm85
Guest
I agree, and that’s only because I learned the hard way.
Despite my having earphones on, it seems I offended a number of parishioners who were also waiting for the Mass to begin (some 15 minutes away) as they thought I was being disrespectful.But the problem is appearing as if one is not taking the Mass seriously. The other people there in the building waiting for Mass to begin won’t know whether the guy is listening to Gangsta Rap or a church homily, and of course, they’ll just assume that he’s up to no good. Best bet is to just keep the technological devices OFF until even the most old of our society become accustomed to them.
I used to use an iPhone Missal application instead of the traditional Missal in book form. It was far more convenient, very easy to use, no “flipping pages”, etc. However, so many people thought that I was sending text messages during the Mass (rather than reading the Missal via the iPhone) that my priest actually approached me one Sunday afternoon and asked me to stick with the traditional means.
Wonderful advice!
If you happen to arrive to church early, hit the kneeler and say your prayers. Get your entire mind, body, and soul, in “the mood”. It’s especially edifying if you get there earlier than the loud mouths chit-chatting.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Look guys, I have already tried this many times before (oftentimes forced) but it just doesn’t work. I really just fall asleep every time I do. If anything I find more peace of mind and relaxation by letting my imagination run wild than forcing it to sit still.
Furthermore, it’s not just my imagination that’s always running but I also contemplate a lot too. Every day, in and out of mass, I always constantly think about shaping my worldview. It’s like there’s this big discussion in my head where they talk about philosophy, religion, politics and how I try to make sense of all that. Thus, I can’t say that it’s all that bad. I’ve gained a lot of insight that began as speculation.
Does it mean it’s quiet in my head though? Hardly.
Maybe I should start another thread about this sort of thing. I just can’t relate to people (even those of other religions) who are into the whole still prayer and meditation thing.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Forgive me, but I’m a pro-21st Century person. If people get offended just by the mere sight of modern technology, then I’m afraid that it’s them that have to adjust not you. Many so-called traditional religious always seem to have a bad habit of assuming too much when any gadget (heck, any object) created past the year 2000 is involved. Heck I don’t see why they oughta be railing on you for using an iPhone to read when you never know if the guy reading it the “traditional way” has something else hidden between the pages if you know what I mean.
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RSD
Guest
Have you really tried it for just five minutes, and you fall asleep? If so, then (seriously) you have a problem that you need to deal with first. Probably either severe sleep deficit (The cure for this is more sleep) or some form of narcolepsy.Look guys, I have already tried this many times before (oftentimes forced) but it just doesn’t work. I really just fall asleep every time I do. If anything I find more peace of mind and relaxation by letting my imagination run wild than forcing it to sit still.
Furthermore, it’s not just my imagination that’s always running but I also contemplate a lot too. Every day, in and out of mass, I always constantly think about shaping my worldview. It’s like there’s this big discussion in my head where they talk about philosophy, religion, politics and how I try to make sense of all that. Thus, I can’t say that it’s all that bad. I’ve gained a lot of insight that began as speculation.
Does it mean it’s quiet in my head though? Hardly.
Maybe I should start another thread about this sort of thing. I just can’t relate to people (even those of other religions) who are into the whole still prayer and meditation thing.
If you haven’t really tried the five minutes at a time approach, try it. Really try it. Then get back to me.
I am naturally a very fidgety person, and for years at a stretch I did fall asleep whenever I sat down and tried to do something quiet. I thank God (truly) that I figured out how to deal with some of this before the world was overwhelmed with electronic gadgets. I do understand that you can’t really take advice given by quite different people who never had the same problems, but I have (except for the deep addiction to electronic gadgets. But I do have the personality type).
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Erm… severe sleep… deficit? >_>;;
Umm… lemme ask. calls his mother Hey ma! Am I sleep deprived?
Ma: I don’t know. Is water wet?
Let’s see, you look like one of the undead and your body runs on caffeine. Do I have to say more? (And believe me, I can -_-;; )Okaay… walks away I might need to think about that right now. Excuse me.
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that_name
Guest
The most important thing in our life, more important than school or work or friends or money or family or games or cartoons - is Jesus. Jesus is “into” the whole still prayer and meditation thing. Jesus took time to go away from everyone to pray and meditate.
If you have a relationship with Jesus, you WANT to spend time with Him and talk to Him and listen to Him.
How would it seem if you never wanted to talk to or listen to your buddies? Would they continue a relationship with you?
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Bbigam
Guest
Someone has already sort of mentioned this, the you could go in and pray the Rosary. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is great too.
We recite the Rosary before all Sunday Masses. Also there’s an elderly gentleman who leads the congregation in the Rosary before any Mass he happens to be at. When I go on a weekday or Holy Day I always hope he’s there to keep up us focused. He was there today for the Holy Day Mass! It helps that our parish also has rosaries in the pews, in the missal racks.
We recite the Rosary before all Sunday Masses. Also there’s an elderly gentleman who leads the congregation in the Rosary before any Mass he happens to be at. When I go on a weekday or Holy Day I always hope he’s there to keep up us focused. He was there today for the Holy Day Mass! It helps that our parish also has rosaries in the pews, in the missal racks.
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Apryl
Guest
You, too?
Actually… it was on my Palm… and it was my Bible. My priest would often mention some other scripture as a reference to the readings and I would go to it on my Palm and make a note of what else it supports. It was so convenient to not have to carry the paper bible.
We had a meeting of one of the groups and someone said, ‘But Apryl is texting during Mass’ Ha! At that time, I didn’t even USE text, at any time, for any reason. I didn’t have texting on my Palm, that’s for sure. NO, I was not doing that. Even if I had been able to, I would NEVER do such a thing during Mass.
Several of the people who heard that said, ‘No, she’s not! She’s got the Bible on her thing’.
It was no secret that I was using my ‘toy’ for a useful feature… but it is the APPEARANCE that was the problem. Not every one is within a 5’ radius of me during Mass.
Until then, I had no idea I had given such a terrible impression. I was actually more offended that no one had bothered to mention it to me before that!
I no longer use my electronic devices in settings with others. I have the internet on my phone, so I access the Catholic Calendar or the USCCB Daily Readings pages outside of the Mass, along with my Bible Translations. During Mass? I do it the old fashioned way, or I don’t do it.
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