Do Prayers Have to be Said Aloud?

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David2010

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I have been wondering this for a while:
Do prayers have to be said out loud?

I’d like to pray while riding the bus, or any other time out in public, but I don’t want people to think I am crazy for mumbling to myself. If I say the prayers in my head do they still count?
 
Of course you don’t have to say prayers out loud. You can pray absolutely any time you want, and praying silently is often the prudent option when you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.

When Legion of Mary members go visiting in pairs it is recommended that while one id doing the talking, the other one prays silently.
 
David2010 said:
I have been wondering this for a while:
Do prayers have to be said out loud?

I’d like to pray while riding the bus, or any other time out in public, but I don’t want people to think I am crazy for mumbling to myself. If I say the prayers in my head do they still count?
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No but if you’re as thick-headed and simple minded as some of us, it sure helps. It keeps me more focused and I have less of a wandering mind.

But in public I pray silently.
 
David2010 said:
I have been wondering this for a while:
Do prayers have to be said out loud?

I’d like to pray while riding the bus, or any other time out in public, but I don’t want people to think I am crazy for mumbling to myself. If I say the prayers in my head do they still count?
Click to expand...
Greetings David2010,

No prayers do not have to be said aloud. In public I pray silently. IN private I pray silently, the only time I pray aloud is when I attend Mass and am saying the responses or praying the LOTH or the Rosary or other prayers in community settings.

Prayers count whether you say them in your head or aloud. Hopefully you are praying your prayers from your heart and not in your head. Though thinking about your question has given me another question to ask the forum.

I perfer to pray silently, there is something to having silence as much as possible. I find when privately praying I get distracted by my voice. And prayer becomes all about me instead of what it should be, a resting in God’s Presence and being silent before him.

I believe the Monastics got it right when employing silence for a prayerful atmosphere.

God bless.
Anathama Sit
 
David2010 said:
I have been wondering this for a while:
Do prayers have to be said out loud?

I’d like to pray while riding the bus, or any other time out in public, but I don’t want people to think I am crazy for mumbling to myself. If I say the prayers in my head do they still count?
Click to expand...
God does not need ears.
 
David2010 said:
I have been wondering this for a while:
Do prayers have to be said out loud?

I’d like to pray while riding the bus, or any other time out in public, but I don’t want people to think I am crazy for mumbling to myself. If I say the prayers in my head do they still count?
Click to expand...
BE NOT AFRAID! That message is repeated throughout the Bible so much. Dont you think God was trying to tell us something? 😛

Also remember the Beatitude refering to “Blessed are you who are persecuted because of me…” Same thing here. Humiliation (eg people judging you because you pray). Humiliation is a form of persecution. Therefore, just persevere, endure, and take it. Besides you dont know those people anyway, so what difference does it make? 🤷

I know I sound very “holier than thou” and I admit my response to you is fairly strong. But I used to never even think about discussing religion or praying in public. Then I started doing it. Surprise! Noone gave me dirty looks, or started talking about me, or anything. If they were I either didnt hear it or they kept it to themselves. Also when you pray, youre supposed to be focused on prayer, Not what other people are doing. And like I said, you dont know these people anyway so who cares what they think? 👍

May you have courage and strnegth in your faith. :signofcross:
 
Prayer is the rising of the heart and mind to God. Have you seen the film, Into Great Silence? Monks are at prayer 24/7 and never speak except at appointed times.
 
Some prayers, such as the Rosary, are expected to be verbalized, but there is still mental prayer.
 
Prayers come from the heart and they can be verbal or non-verbal or through the priest.

Sursum corda (Upwards hearts)
 
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