Distraction during prayer

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Julie_de_Sales

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For a long time now I can’t concentrate during prayer, usually from the moment I begin until the end I involuntarly think about a completely different thing despite my best intentions. I know it’s not a sin if you don’t do it on purpose, but it still upsets me. I wonder why I can concentrate on everything else, like a movie or a book for hours on end but I get so distracted during a simple Our Father.
If you have experienced this what do you think would be the reason behind it?
 
“Distractions are one of the more common difficulties in prayer. They are absolutely normal and should neither surprise nor sadden us. When we realize that we have become distracted from our prayer and our thoughts are wandering, rather than getting discouraged or angry, we should simply, peacefully and gently bring our minds back to God.”

Fr. Jacques Philippe
  • Time for God, p.96
frjacquesphilippe.com/theme/difficulties-prayer
 
Saint Thomas Aquinas talked about this as well. I’m not sure exactly where, but a quick google search should do the trick
 
How can you pray if you are distracted by the devil?
 
Julie_de_Sales said:
For a long time now I can’t concentrate during prayer, usually from the moment I begin until the end I involuntarly think about a completely different thing despite my best intentions. I know it’s not a sin if you don’t do it on purpose, but it still upsets me. I wonder why I can concentrate on everything else, like a movie or a book for hours on end but I get so distracted during a simple Our Father.
If you have experienced this what do you think would be the reason behind it?
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Just some suggestions:

Have a holy card to look at…or a crucifix. Every time you are aware of a distraction just bring yourself back to your prayer. And everytime you do that, you are choosing the Lord over the distraction!

Maybe play a CD with very soft sacred music.

Recollect yourself for a few minutes by picturing yourself putting your cares in the hands of our Lord, and His Blessed Mother.

The more you persevere the easier it will get. Do not fret when a distraction comes along - just bring yourself back to your prayer.

Perhaps some of the above will help. Or you can think of other ways that can help.

Peace and God bless you,

Dorothy
 
They happen to everyone. The most important thing to do in these cases is simply to be silent, and the distractions tend to pass. Don’t fight the distraction, and don’t think about your prayer, but simply remember that you are in the presence of God and that He bids you rest there. Then you become less focused on the words of your prayer (whether vocal or simply by internal monologue) and instead become focused on the prayer.

You say you are able to focus on books; have you considered adding more spiritual reading to your life of prayer? This is the type of prayer where we speak less to God and listen more. It’s important that many develop this skill, as so few are able to focus their thoughts and feelings enough to make a good meditation or even prayer of petition.

I should note also that giving consent to distractions in prayer has often been construed as a venial sin. If these distractions to you are frequent, as they seem to be, it may be a good idea to bring them before your confessor – not only for their forgiveness if he believes them sinful, but for his counsel on the matter as well.
 
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