Did I commit the sin of sloth?

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At times when I pray, my family interrupts my prayers, and with full knowledge and consent I stop my prayer to answer them and say ‘Yes?’ or something that shows them that they have my attention. When this happens, I feel guilty because I feel like I’ve put my family before God. However, when I get the opportunity I restart the prayer and attempt to finish it. This happened today. Did I commit the sin of sloth or any venial sin?
 
I would say no. Scrupulosity comes to mind, though. I would find a place to pray where you won’t be interrupted.
 
I don’t think you committed any sin. There will be times when your family members need you, and I’m sure God understands that.

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St. Vincent de Paul:
It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible. If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer… Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity.

Saint Vincent de Paul
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I think what St. Vincent wrote applies equally to you in your vocation to your family.
 
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CarolAnnSFO:
and I’m sure God understands that.
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I would be careful in using phrasiology in this manner (e.g., “I think God would…”"God doesn’t want…"etc.) It may just be a pet peeve of mine, but I still think it would be better to state it as such “and I would imagine that God…” and even that I am not too found of either, lol.

I’m such a nag! 😉
 
We’re body/soul people and as such are called to use our bodies on this earth for good. When a family member calls you, you’re honoring God by anwering them and showing them respect. A priest I knew once gave an example: in his religious order, they were called to prayer by bells that rang throughout the abbey. Whenever the bell rang, they were supposed to put down whatever they were doing and go to communal prayer. However, there were times when he would be assisting one of the elderly monks with getting into their wheelchair at the time the bell rang. Did that mean he was supposed to drop his brother monk and go to prayer? Of course not. 🙂 We’re called to service and love for others by God.

It might not be a bad idea to let your family know in advance that you have xx amount of time set aside at such and such time for prayer, and you’d like to be undisturbed as much as possible.
 
Your profile does not say whether you are male or female. By your post I see that you have been called to the vocation of marriage, so I will address this as if I am talking to a mom/wife, forgive me if I am wrong, but I think it will apply, if you are a dad/husband as well.
I wake up earlier than my children and first thing with my cuppa joe, I say my morning prayers. Sometimes they beat me to the punch and when that happens, my prayer time is shortened and interspersed with “Mom, I’m hungry! … Mom, can I have breakfast?.. AGHHHHHH … Mom she’s touching me … Mom I had it first!”

I used to feel guilty when I didn’t pray as much as I wanted to. But I have learned to grab quiet moments. For instance, I used to try to squeeze in the Rosary, on my knees with deep meditation. Yeah right … I’ve got 3 kids under seven. I break up my rosary into decades. When I go in the basement to rotate the laundry, I say a decade. Or drive to the grocery store, I say a decade. Sometimes I get five decades in, sometimes I don’t.

But I agree with a previous poster that alluded to scrupulosity. Why in the world do you think it wouold be sinful to attend to the needs of your family? This is your VOCATION, prayer is only part of that. Lovingly and prayerfully attending to the needs of your family, is just as good, if not better than reciting vocal prayers.

I used to have a very rigorous prayer routine. I learned that God wanted me to serve Him, not by praying with my hand up holding off my kids … “CAN I PUHLEAZE FINISH MY PRAYERS!!” But running to Him in them, with a loving attentiveness, this is my prayer.
 
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PMV:
At times when I pray, my family interrupts my prayers, and with full knowledge and consent I stop my prayer to answer them and say ‘Yes?’ or something that shows them that they have my attention. When this happens, I feel guilty because I feel like I’ve put my family before God. However, when I get the opportunity I restart the prayer and attempt to finish it. This happened today. Did I commit the sin of sloth or any venial sin?
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If this was a true sin I am totally guilty. I often must wait for a quiet time (around 11PM) for total quiet Devotion. My Vocation in life is to be a Mother and I believe God understands that. I do say " little Prayers" in my head all day long. Often interupped, but continue later.
 
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kaymart:
If this was a true sin I am totally guilty. I often must wait for a quiet time (around 11PM) for total quiet Devotion. My Vocation in life is to be a Mother and I believe God understands that. I do say " little Prayers" in my head all day long. Often interupped, but continue later.
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Great post, you said in a lot fewer words, what I was trying to say!👍
 
Oh Ana, I had to laugh!!! I related so much!!! I can still remember the days of “Do you mind if I finish my prayers before I jump to your beck and call?” answer to the kids interrupting me. Too funny, I miss those days now sometimes (they are teens and usually only appear to need me for money). I agree that fulfilling your obligation to your family is part of your calling but I also believe that a mom or a dad needs their prayer time too. When the kids are young we tend to go through this and it becomes a habit to put our needs on hold to attend theirs. I know I did it way too much, friends even pointed it out to me and yet I continued. But, I did finally get it…when they were a little bit older like school age.*** It is ok to let them see you pray and teach them that they should not disturb you unless there is blood or smoke. It is good to ask them to join you. It is even better when they just join you and it is best when they ask you to pray.*** It really happens!!! That is the good part, they will actually ask you to join them!!! But now for the sad part…nurture that phase as long as you can because it doesn’t last. When they are teens… just try to get them to have a conversation with you let alone pray with you. Parents are a fatal disease to them then. Even if they really want you to pray with them, they won’t ask, they will pretend it is the most moronic thing they ever heard of. Don’t worry, that phase passes too. My oldest is 18 and we have a great relationship that includes praying together. But it still broke my heart when he decided he likes 7 am mass on Sundays when we always go to 11:15 mass. He just got up and went one Sunday and has been going to early mass ever since. I would change to 7am but one of the kids almost always has to alter serve at 11:15.
 
The case is, perhaps half of the time it’s not for the needs of my family, but a short remark or statements about things probably unimportant.
 
I think as BlestOne pointed out, age of the children has a lot to do with it. For instance my five and seven year old, I do expect them to not interrrupt people when they are talking, and that includes prayer. I was referring to younger children who just don’t know better and don’t have the self control.

… and BlestOne I don’t want to even think of them being teenagers. Every so often I push on thier heads and tell them they are growing up to fast, that mommy needs them to grow *down!:o *
 
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PMV:
At times when I pray, my family interrupts my prayers, and with full knowledge and consent I stop my prayer to answer them and say ‘Yes?’ or something that shows them that they have my attention. When this happens, I feel guilty because I feel like I’ve put my family before God. However, when I get the opportunity I restart the prayer and attempt to finish it. This happened today. Did I commit the sin of sloth or any venial sin?
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I really think you’re being way too scrupulous. Imagine you’re speaking with your son who is apologizing to you or praising you for something or asking your advice or help, and then your grandson interrupts to ask his daddy a question and your son stops for a minute and answers him. Do you really think our Father in Heaven would be angry at you for stopping your prayer? I don’t. I think he understands. He loves you and knows what’s in your heart. Obviously you have great love and respect for God and he knows that.

Don’t worry. Be happy. Our Father is a God of Love. And Love understands.

God Bless!
 
I have to share this that happened this evening, while saying a few prayers, my autistic, ObsessiveCompulsive 😃 son had me change a light bulb, change loads in the dryer (machine buzz)—one must jump when buzzing:rolleyes: also coffee pot not set up for morning(one must do this at 7:30PM) He loves “helping out” and He’s a cutie though, got to love him:love: but he can drive one nuts. He’s finally asleep now. No wonder I need to pray:amen:
 
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