Am I praying correctly?

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John337

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I start by making the sign of the cross and then
1 Our Father
1 Hail Mary
1 Glory Be
The Fatima prayer
The Guardian Angel prayer
then pray for my intentions and ask specific Saints for intercession. Is this correct ?
 
John337 said:
I start by making the sign of the cross and then
1 Our Father
1 Hail Mary
1 Glory Be
The Fatima prayer
The Guardian Angel prayer
then pray for my intentions and ask specific Saints for intercession. Is this correct ?
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It sound like a very good way to pray to me. Beautiful prayers.
 
Certainly, you’re fine with doing that–or any other prayers you wish to use. You can also talk to God on your own–in your own words. In fact, he likes us to do that–to tell him our needs and desires, etc. And then we listen to him. It’s a relationship with a Person not a formula that must be followed in private prayer. In corporate prayer, such as the Mass or the Liturgy of the Hours, which are the daily prayers of the Church, we need form and structure because those are prayed in community. But in private pray any way you wish–there’re no limits and no rules.
 
John337 said:
I start by making the sign of the cross and then
1 Our Father
1 Hail Mary
1 Glory Be
The Fatima prayer
The Guardian Angel prayer
then pray for my intentions and ask specific Saints for intercession. Is this correct ?
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Yes, thats how I do it, but omit the Fatima and Guardian Angel prayer.
 
Praying is individual. Any order or combination of standardized prayers, or making up your own should be fine. Yours sounds perfectly okay.
 
Della said:
Certainly, you’re fine with doing that–or any other prayers you wish to use. You can also talk to God on your own–in your own words. In fact, he likes us to do that–to tell him our needs and desires, etc. And then we listen to him. It’s a relationship with a Person not a formula that must be followed in private prayer. In corporate prayer, such as the Mass or the Liturgy of the Hours, which are the daily prayers of the Church, we need form and structure because those are prayed in community. But in private pray any way you wish–there’re no limits and no rules.
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To Techno 2000

Della has told you all the important things you need to know.

The only thing I can add is that instead of praying for your intentions, which sounds like you’re just asking for different things, just talk to God about all your problems, desires, etc. This is what you might mean, sorry if I misunderstood.

I like to end all prayer by saying that I pray in the name of the Lord, or of Jesus, or Your Son, etc.

Also, remember to thank God for all you have. I like to start out this way. There are 4 types of prayer: intercessory, worship, request, thanksgiving.

Remember what Della said: It’s a relationship - not a formula.

God bless you
 
Would I be better just telling God or Jesus what I am needing instead of Mary and the angels ?
 
John337 said:
Would I be better just telling God or Jesus what I am needing instead of Mary and the angels ?
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Mary, the saints and the angels are eager to help us in all the ways God allows them to, so no, it’s not “better” to ask God alone for our needs. 🙂 God gave Mary and the others to us precisely to be our helpers in faith, so take full advantage of their love and prayers. Remember we all belong to the Communion of Saints, which is the Body of Christ–those living on earth, those in heaven and those in purgatory. We’re all one in Christ.
 
Techno2000 said:
Yes, thats how I do it, but omit the Fatima and Guardian Angel prayer.
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Whatever for? He can pray any and all the prayers he wants. Those prayers aren’t reserved for any particular rite or devotion. The only prayers that have a definite formula are the prayers of the Church–the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. All other prayers are private and can be prayed by anyone at any time for any reason. 🙂
 
Della said:
Mary, the saints and the angels are eager to help us in all the ways God allows them to, so no, it’s not “better” to ask God alone for our needs. 🙂 God gave Mary and the others to us precisely to be our helpers in faith, so take full advantage of their love and prayers. Remember we all belong to the Communion of Saints, which is the Body of Christ–those living on earth, those in heaven and those in purgatory. We’re all one in Christ.
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Ok so I’m not praying the wrong way. This brings me to another question is the Hail Holy Queen a must or is that only for the end of the rosary? I don’t know it by heart.
 
John337 said:
Ok so I’m not praying the wrong way. This brings me to another question is the Hail Holy Queen a must or is that only for the end of the rosary? I don’t know it by heart.
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Perhaps you misunderstood some of the other posters. You aren’t praying the wrong way because there is really no wrong way to pray. There isn’t a list of prayers you must say in order to do it correctly. You aren’t even required to say the most common ones. You can say the Hail Holy Queen whenever you want. You could say it as the only prayer you pray sometimes. You can say a Memorare. You could just say the Our Father. Even just making the Sign of the Cross is a prayer on its own. There is no formula you’re required to follow.
 
Kurisu35712 said:
Perhaps you misunderstood some of the other posters. You aren’t praying the wrong way because there is really no wrong way to pray. There isn’t a list of prayers you must say in order to do it correctly. You aren’t even required to say the most common ones. You can say the Hail Holy Queen whenever you want. You could say it as the only prayer you pray sometimes. You can say a Memorare. You could just say the Our Father. Even just making the Sign of the Cross is a prayer on its own. There is no formula you’re required to follow.
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ok thank you.
 
Della said:
Whatever for? He can pray any and all the prayers he wants. Those prayers aren’t reserved for any particular rite or devotion. The only prayers that have a definite formula are the prayers of the Church–the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. All other prayers are private and can be prayed by anyone at any time for any reason. 🙂
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I forgot to say that (I) omit those prayer, personally… sorry. One of the reason is just time, I’m in the process of asking ALL the Saint and the blessed to intercede for me through this website…catholic.org/saints/sofd.php
 
I think specific prayers are great, and they definitely help when we find it difficult to put into words what we want to ask of our Lord. But, as others have pointed out, it’s also perfectly fine to just also have a conversation with God… share what is in your heart. I stopped in church this evening after work as something has been weighing heavily on me, and after I sat down in a pew, I just kind of felt like talking to God and not saying any specific prayers. I was the only one there, and I actually walked around a bit while I was having this dialogue with Him.

Again, don’t be afraid that you’re doing it “wrong”. The most important thing is that you are praying!
 
DeniseNY said:
I think specific prayers are great, and they definitely help when we find it difficult to put into words what we want to ask of our Lord. But, as others have pointed out, it’s also perfectly fine to just also have a conversation with God… share what is in your heart. I stopped in church this evening after work as something has been weighing heavily on me, and after I sat down in a pew, I just kind of felt like talking to God and not saying any specific prayers. I was the only one there, and I actually walked around a bit while I was having this dialogue with Him.

Again, don’t be afraid that you’re doing it “wrong”. The most important thing is that you are praying!
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The reason that I asked this question is because alot of people try to makeup their own stuff like my mother for example she would try and takeaway words from scripture and add her own
scripture :He who laughs first laughs last he who laughs last laughs best.
My mother:He who laughs first laughs last he who laughs last laughs first.
 
John337, look at it this way- Imagine you and I are personal friends, that had known each other since birth. I am having problems, and I come to you asking for help. Whether I used completely original words, or repeated someone else’s advice on how to ask for help, as a friend, you would be there for me, right? And I talk to some of our mutual friends, ask them to ask for your help as well. Would you ever say, “No, y’all didn’t ask quite right?” Now, imagine what God’s response would be. He sacrificed for us, He loves us no matter what we do! He’s infinitely more patient than we are, and infinitely more understanding! The fact that you make an attempt, that you set aside time to talk to Him, makes it “the right way” to pray. Pre-written words, original words, silence, it doesn’t matter. The order of prayers doesn’t matter. Even if you put all your words in a blender, get them good and mixed up, then offer them to our Lord, and He’ll understand you perfectly!!
 
Formula prayers are just fine with God.

"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. "So do not be like them;** for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.** "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.…
 
I’m sorry I directed my last post, number 7, to Techo2000 but it was really meant for the enquirer John 337. Didn’t mean to correct Techno2000 but respond to John337.

Would just like to add two things:

DeniseNY said something that I do sometimes when I can’t concentrate - use only formula prayer, but otherwise I like talking to God. Also, let’s remember that God knows our needs before we ask so the Holy Spirit helps us:

“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”.

Romand 8:26

Sometimes we want to say more than we ever could!

The other thought is that it’s great to set aside special time for prayer. It could be 5 minutes, 15 or an hour, or what you want. But also, you could pray anytime – while walking, while doing housework, gardenwork, while at work, etc.

God bless you
 
P.S.

Let’s not forget that Jesus himself taught us how to pray. Not so much in the formula but in the different things we should be talking to God about:

The Our Father
Mathew 6:9

Of course it is also a formula prayer but can be separated into parts to show HOW to pray.
The study of this prayer is very beautiful if you have the time to do this, even on the web.

God bless
 
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