Anyone else try to pray constantly?

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ballyglunin

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I’m a lifelong Catholic and I’m a worry wart or anxiety suffferer - whatever your prefer. I’m always seeking natural ways to combat this problem and live a normal life - if possible!🙂

What I’m trying to do lately is to follow the adage of praying constantly. My prayer is “Thank you, Lord” over and over and in the afternoon when we go for a run, to say the rosary.

I have so much to be grateful for - my wonderful parents (RIP) and my darling husband plus I’ve been very lucky in terms of having had a good job, good heath, and a few good friends.

Its really hard to pray like this but it is good to fill up my mind with prayer as opposed to negative or unhappy thoughts that seem to haunt me.

I have to keep tying. Its easier to do when its late at night - during the day -wow - I have to keep “re-starting” over and over.

Any advice or anyone else try this? Thanks!!
 
You might be interested in the practice of trying to stay in the presence of God and awareness of Him. Isn’t there a book called Practice of the Presence of God? That is a good way I think to pray throughout the day when it might be difficult to use words. A simple act of gratitude or talking to God about what you are grateful for. I recommend doing what works and not making this a test of endurance, but just being with God very simply in the heart. This can lead to mental prayer and even contemplation perhaps. God bless you!
 
Yah, I try to. But when I do that and try to pray constantly enough, oftentimes, I get this sense that God really just wants your heart. It’s the only thing He wants, since that is where everything else comes from.
 
ballyglunin said:
I’m a lifelong Catholic and I’m a worry wart or anxiety suffferer - whatever your prefer. I’m always seeking natural ways to combat this problem and live a normal life - if possible!🙂

What I’m trying to do lately is to follow the adage of praying constantly. My prayer is “Thank you, Lord” over and over and in the afternoon when we go for a run, to say the rosary.

I have so much to be grateful for - my wonderful parents (RIP) and my darling husband plus I’ve been very lucky in terms of having had a good job, good heath, and a few good friends.

Its really hard to pray like this but it is good to fill up my mind with prayer as opposed to negative or unhappy thoughts that seem to haunt me.

I have to keep tying. Its easier to do when its late at night - during the day -wow - I have to keep “re-starting” over and over.

Any advice or anyone else try this? Thanks!!
Click to expand...
My favorite saying is," Jesus I TRUST in YOU." The world is becoming so Godless and violent and so many people suffering. God help us! God Bless, Memaw
 
ballyglunin said:
I’m a lifelong Catholic and I’m a worry wart or anxiety suffferer - whatever your prefer. I’m always seeking natural ways to combat this problem and live a normal life - if possible!🙂

What I’m trying to do lately is to follow the adage of praying constantly. My prayer is “Thank you, Lord” over and over and in the afternoon when we go for a run, to say the rosary.

I have so much to be grateful for - my wonderful parents (RIP) and my darling husband plus I’ve been very lucky in terms of having had a good job, good heath, and a few good friends.

Its really hard to pray like this but it is good to fill up my mind with prayer as opposed to negative or unhappy thoughts that seem to haunt me.

I have to keep tying. Its easier to do when its late at night - during the day -wow - I have to keep “re-starting” over and over.

Any advice or anyone else try this? Thanks!!
Click to expand...
I find I can pray and concentrate better in a church in front of the tabernacle. My mind thinks less of everything else but Jesus.
 
ballyglunin said:
I’m a lifelong Catholic and I’m a worry wart or anxiety suffferer - whatever your prefer. I’m always seeking natural ways to combat this problem and live a normal life - if possible!🙂

What I’m trying to do lately is to follow the adage of praying constantly. My prayer is “Thank you, Lord” over and over and in the afternoon when we go for a run, to say the rosary.

I have so much to be grateful for - my wonderful parents (RIP) and my darling husband plus I’ve been very lucky in terms of having had a good job, good heath, and a few good friends.

Its really hard to pray like this but it is good to fill up my mind with prayer as opposed to negative or unhappy thoughts that seem to haunt me.

I have to keep tying. Its easier to do when its late at night - during the day -wow - I have to keep “re-starting” over and over.

Any advice or anyone else try this? Thanks!!
Click to expand...
I think you’re on the right track. Praying the way you are does help against anxiety.
Memaw’s idea of prayer is very good…“Jesus I trust in you”

Also I like to pray “For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world”. and “O my Jesus, forgive our sins. save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy”. These prayers help to take the focus off of yourself–which is very helpful in fighting anxiety.
 
I think that’s great that you constantly are praising God for His many blessings! When we go through hard times it’s easier to see the clouds than the sun.

I tend to have an anxious mind as well. I have learned to: Praise God for His blessings, as you do. Go to Eucharistic Adoration (weekly), and offer a rosary for the intentions of others or for your own.

We all have our trials and tribulations, but focusing on our blessings just naturally puts the mind in a more peaceful state. At Adoration, you can stay for an hour, longer if you have time, or even 15 mins if you don’t.
Ask for exactly what you need. “Lord, grant me peace of mind and the joy of Christ in all that I do.” “I place all my worries and fears at the foot of Your cross because, Lord, I know that I alone, can do nothing, but with You all things are possible.”
I sometimes go to Adoration and bring my problems and cry and cry some more if I need to. And because I don’t want to bring my problems or inability to deal with them to my husband and son. I always leave with answers, and a peace and rejuvenation that surpasses reason!!!🙂
A couple of nights ago, my husband and I had a quick exchange that usually would have cut me to the core. I went to bed and I literally used my fingers as rosary beads and said, Lord, I offer you my pain for the conversion of sinners. I felt peace and tranquility immediately afterward!!! It lasted too!!!
The next day at work, a couple people were talking about a subject that would have felt like a personal jab, but I was still smiling and wondering to myself why it didn’t affect me as it usually would have!!!

Praise be to God! May He give you peace, tranquility, happiness, and continued health and good fortune!!! I will be praying for you!
Peace and all good!!! 🙂
 
Praying constantly is challenging for those with active lives, and it requires a support of formal prayer. That’s why the Liturgy of the Hours was developed: to provide for times of prayer in common sprinkled throughout the day to provide a structure for one’s constant personal prayer and communion with God throughout the day. The Jesuit practice of daily examen is also intended to help one see and experience God as present at all times and in all circumstances and is well suited to help those with active lives to pray constantly. Even so, constant prayer is a goal to strive toward, even if we necessarily (and forgivably) fall short.
 
adowcday said:
Praying constantly is challenging for those with active lives, and it requires a support of formal prayer. That’s why the Liturgy of the Hours was developed: to provide for times of prayer in common sprinkled throughout the day to provide a structure for one’s constant personal prayer and communion with God throughout the day. The Jesuit practice of daily examen is also intended to help one see and experience God as present at all times and in all circumstances and is well suited to help those with active lives to pray constantly. Even so, constant prayer is a goal to strive toward, even if we necessarily (and forgivably) fall short.
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We can offer our actions and work of the day,( as long as it is not sinful) as a prayer to Our Lord. Our “daily duties” as Our Blessed Mother said at Fatima. God Bless, Memaw
 
ballyglunin said:
My prayer is “Thank you, Lord” over and over
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If I may - here is some things I posted in the past on the topic of such short prayers

Often during the day (and night) --pray little “short prayers” of love etc such is a very ancient practice --during our work, recreation, our daily life.

Some might do one when ever it occurs to them…or when changing what they are doing (opening a door) etc. Such can be used during periods of prayer in silence as well.

Such a wonderfully **ancient **form of prayer! One can use words from Scripture (a line from the Psalms etc) or other short prayers. They are great to help one keep the presence of God …they can be said anywhere…and frequently. Even quite frequently.

St. Augustine came up basically with the term “ejaculatory prayer” (from *jaculari * -to aim or shoot, to seek) for them - in describing the short prayers that where sort of like arrows sent forth all the time by the hermits of the desert-“darted forth” like arrows. (of course they are for everyone not just hermits from the early days of the Church…he was simply describing the way they lived…but this where the term for this kind of prayer came from). In the Carthusian Statutes for instance they are mentioned (and in the ancient Statutes as well). Aspiration too is another word that can be used.

Also good are short prayers without any words - a simple lifting up of the heart to God.* A brief uplifting of the heart* (I borrow from a Carthusian) with or without words. (*such may be a later development in ones life of prayer - ordinarily words - short but still with words is likely).

The practice of short prayers is both ancient as I noted as well as very recommended. Short prayers from the heart that are like a spark from a coal, or like arrows…

Some examples of “short prayers” (one could make up ones own or use a line from the psalms etc) Such can be prayed out loud or simply interiorly.

Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus!

Jesus Good Shepherd, I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you

Mary, Star of Hope pray for us

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

Christus resurrexit!- Christ is risen

Jesus I love you

Come Holy Spirit

Blessed be God

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever

I believe in You. I hope in you. I love you. I adore You, O Blessed Trinity.

Blessed be the Holy Trinity

Deo Gratius

Thanks be to God!

Jesus Christ Son of God Savior

Lord Jesus (Dominus Jesus)

O Bonitas!

God come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me
(line from Psalm and a favorite of Cassian)

Also I would note in addition: The Church even attaches a partial indulgence to any short prayers when they are offered while carrying out ones duties an enduring the hardships of life –as one raises ones mind in humble trust to God making at least mentally a “pious invocation” (another name for them…) It also refers to the use of such prayers as a “long standing” practice of the faithful.

It is the very first grant in the general norms of indulgences. (get the “Manual of Indulgences” it is published by the USCCB. There is even a list of some examples in the back.)

“It is possible to offer frequent and fervent prayer even at the market place or strolling alone. It is possible also in your place of business, while buying or selling, or even while cooking.” (Saint John Chrysostom)

(quoted in 576 the Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html )

~ Turn towards the Lord (conversi ad dominum)!
 
ballyglunin said:
I have to keep tying. Its easier to do when its late at night - during the day -wow - I have to keep “re-starting” over and over.

Any advice or anyone else try this? Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Finally to add advice that you asked - do not turn such into a “must do” or become anxious about them…they should be as one spiritual theology writer noted “made without mental strain” and “in peace without any uneasy desire to multiply them, to omit none, to make as many as this or that saint.” (Guibert SJ 1953). Do not seek a particular feeling or emotion either - turn towards the Lord!

Simple prayers proceeding from the heart.
 
Such “short prayers” - can become even “second nature”.

They help us remain in the presence of God (who is always present) - and thus assist us in our in vigilance (watchfulness) over our heart in our interior lives and our living as disciples of Jesus of Nazareth in the midst of a culture that looks more and more like that which the early Christians lived in.

Such arrows of ardent love - during our day (and night) in the midst of all our activities and rest, and life of prayer and work - such “short prayers” unite us to God in love and thus we too love more our neighbor. As an effect of such love of God in these prayers and even as a subject of our “short prayers” (Lord help him…).

One may for example also take a line or phrase from Sacred Scripture -from ones lectio divina -or even from the Liturgy - and make use of it. Such too is an ancient approach -both to short prayers and to ‘meditation’ in an ancient Christian sense of repeating the verse from Scripture - chewing on it as it where.
 
“we must insist on the very great utility of ejaculatory prayers, the habitual use of which enable the soul to retain the presence of God…”

~Jacques and Raissa Maritain - Prayer and Intelligence.
 
ballyglunin said:
I’m a lifelong Catholic and I’m a worry wart or anxiety suffferer - whatever your prefer. I’m always seeking natural ways to combat this problem and live a normal life - if possible!🙂

What I’m trying to do lately is to follow the adage of praying constantly. My prayer is “Thank you, Lord” over and over and in the afternoon when we go for a run, to say the rosary.

I have so much to be grateful for - my wonderful parents (RIP) and my darling husband plus I’ve been very lucky in terms of having had a good job, good heath, and a few good friends.

Its really hard to pray like this but it is good to fill up my mind with prayer as opposed to negative or unhappy thoughts that seem to haunt me.

I have to keep tying. Its easier to do when its late at night - during the day -wow - I have to keep “re-starting” over and over.

Any advice or anyone else try this? Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Hi ballyglunin,

Great post! 🙂 Have you read The Way of a Pilgrim? It’s this lovable and really engaging book which beautifully answers your question. Salinger made it very famous, because there’s a whole section in Franny and Zooey which discusses it. It’s a very gentle and approachable book, and you’ll come to consider the author a personal friend.

en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim

The great Saint John Cassian also very explicitly describes praying constantly, and his method comes directly from the Desert Fathers. It’s actually been posited that Christ Himself used this method, which is something interesting to ponder. I highly recommend you obtain a copy of The Conferences, by the way, if you feel drawn to it. Trust me, it’s the best money you’ll ever spend!

amazon.com/John-Cassian-Conferences-Ancient-Christian/dp/0809104849/

en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Cassian

In Cassian’s own words:

**It is not without reason that this verse [Ps 70:1] has been chosen from the whole of Scripture as a device. It carries within it all the feelings of which human nature is capable… ‘Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue’… The thought of this verse should be turning unceasingly in your heart. Never cease to recite it in whatever task or service or journey you find yourself. Think upon it as you sleep, as you eat, as you submit to the most basic demands of nature. This heartfelt thought will prove to be a formula of salvation for you. Not only will it protect you against all devilish attack, but it will purify you from the stain of all earthly sin, and will lead you on to the contemplation of the unseen and the heavenly and to that fiery urgency of prayer which is indescribable and which is experienced by very few. Sleep should come upon you as you meditate on this verse until as a result of your habit of resorting to its words you get in the habit of repeating them even in your slumbers **
 
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