Formal Prayer

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dsully

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Strangely, I have always found prayer difficult. I am not very good at expressing myself verbally…which might have something to do with it. In any case, it has been a big relief to me to start using formal prayers. Rather than trying to articulate everything I want to say to God, I simply start with an intention, and then say a formal prayer afterwards. This technique has led to many great prayer sessions where I felt like I was properly relating to God and communicating with him, even though I was not verbally articulating exactly what I wanted to say to him.

I know that formal prayers are often looked down upon in evangelicalism, which is another example of evangelicals missing out because they don’t use the wisdom that is accumulated and passed on in tradition.

Dan
 
I get the same benefit from memorized prayers. Sometimes I’ll even pray my Rosary in Latin, which makes me feel closer to generations of Christians who have come before me: I fancy I’m saying it like St. Dominic did 800 years ago! 🙂
 
The standard prayers of the Church contain the wisdom of 2,000 years o Christianity. Why wouldn’t I want to avail myself of that wonderful resource?
 
Formal prayer can be very good, but that’s not to say that informal prayer is inferior (as long as we always understand that the Mass, which is formal, is best). There’s not a dichotomy between the 2.

I found that starting off with formals prayer is the best way. The one I really gravitated towards was the Liturgy of the Hours, which was a good choice I found since you learn to pray the Psalms. When I comes to informal prayer, I find that the Psalms offer a great foundation. Sometimes I find myself alluding to a certain psalm without even meaning to, it really becomes a part of your prayer life.
 
You may like informal prayer once you understand it.

By that I don’t mean what you mentioned before about making up your own prayer and running out of thoughts. But rather, finding a quiet time, opening up one of the four gospels somewhere, reading a passage, then putting yourself there in the scene, and then thinking about it, and what it means today in your life and in your world around you. It could be any passage, or one of the parables, miracles, lessons, etc. Sit quietly and place yourself the presence of God and talk to him about the passage as tho he were right there in front of you. If nothing comes, then just sit quietly and wait for him to nudge you with his thought. After a while you will become good at it.

This kind of prayer really makes him close to you and you will grow in his love.

Just asuggestion.
 
I too have struggled many years with having a prayer life. And I also like the formal prayers.
Something I have started doing, it might be something you would like to try, is that when I pray the rosary, before the Our Fathers I will bring to God a need that I know of. For example I might on one of the Our Fathers ask the Lord to please draw our children to a faith in Jesus. The next one I might lift up a friend who is struggling. This way I am doing formal prayers but also getting in specific needs.
 
plainatheart71 said:
I too have struggled many years with having a prayer life. And I also like the formal prayers.
Something I have started doing, it might be something you would like to try, is that when I pray the rosary, before the Our Fathers I will bring to God a need that I know of. For example I might on one of the Our Fathers ask the Lord to please draw our children to a faith in Jesus. The next one I might lift up a friend who is struggling. This way I am doing formal prayers but also getting in specific needs.
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That is exactly what I am doing. It works very well. Except I’m not praying the Rosary…yet. I have the sheets printed out, but I just haven’t begun.

Dan
 
I start every morning with the beginning hours of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I do Matins, Lauds, Prime and Terce. Next I pray a Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, then work around the house/yard for a couple of hours. At noon I say Sext then its time for lunch. I’ll do more chores till 3:00pm when I say None. I’ll finish the chores by 4:30-5:00 pm then begin Vespers. I say Rosaries pretty steadily until 9-10 pm when I say Compline and night prayers.

Being retired allows me to do this sort of thing. But five years ago I had a lousy prayer life.

I’ve been retired for 10 years and finally got tired of a hum-drum life. Wow things are perking along now. I’m so busy that I only have time for a 1/2 cup of coffee at a time 😉

Cheers
 
I was watching a video interview with Audrey Assad. She and two other worship leaders were discussing silence and worship. In this video she mentioned Mother Teresa and how she would have all the sisters, when they weren’t eating, sleeping, serving others, be in prayer. And it would be quiet prayer. At any point during the day they weren’t busy they were praying. Sometimes I think it is hard for us to quiet ourselves before the Lord and just sit before him and listen for what he wants to say.
Last night we were watching a show on EWTN and Father Larry Richards was discussing his new book “Surrender”. And he suggested that we start with 5 minutes. The first minute tell the Lord you’re sorry for whatever sins you might have. The second minute I can’t remember what you were supposed to do. But the last three minutes he suggested that you ask the Lord to hold you. And then picture Jesus wrapping his arms around you, you laying your head on his chest and then listen for his heartbeat.
 
dsully said:
Strangely, I have always found prayer difficult. I am not very good at expressing myself verbally…which might have something to do with it. In any case, it has been a big relief to me to start using formal prayers. Rather than trying to articulate everything I want to say to God, I simply start with an intention, and then say a formal prayer afterwards. This technique has led to many great prayer sessions where I felt like I was properly relating to God and communicating with him, even though I was not verbally articulating exactly what I wanted to say to him.

I know that formal prayers are often looked down upon in evangelicalism, which is another example of evangelicals missing out because they don’t use the wisdom that is accumulated and passed on in tradition.

Dan
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And didn’t Jesus give us our greatest formal prayer!

I like the rosary for the reason you state too. However, I’ve found as I’ve become more committed to my own prayer time each day that I can also just “be” with God quietly in the care as I travel or other times. Much like being with your spouse or best friend where you are comfortable not talking but still enjoying being with each other.
 
The Catholic tradition has many forms of prayer that you might find helpful, even if you find it difficult to practice informal vocal prayer.

I suggest that you learn more about meditating on the scriptures (lectio divina). There are lots of websites with helpful information and even books written on the subject.
 
dsully said:
Strangely, I have always found prayer difficult. I am not very good at expressing myself verbally…which might have something to do with it. In any case, it has been a big relief to me to start using formal prayers. Rather than trying to articulate everything I want to say to God, I simply start with an intention, and then say a formal prayer afterwards. This technique has led to many great prayer sessions where I felt like I was properly relating to God and communicating with him, even though I was not verbally articulating exactly what I wanted to say to him.

I know that formal prayers are often looked down upon in evangelicalism, which is another example of evangelicals missing out because they don’t use the wisdom that is accumulated and passed on in tradition.

Dan
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I agree. I love formal prayers. I had years in the protestant churches and struggled with a prayer life. I discovered formal prayers after returning home to the Catholic church and love them. I like and think we need to have meditative prayers, also, like after reading scripture but it just seems like formal prayers, ancient prayers seem to know how to say what I struggle to say.
 
dsully said:
That is exactly what I am doing. It works very well. Except I’m not praying the Rosary…yet. I have the sheets printed out, but I just haven’t begun.

Dan
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I do hope you had started praying the Rosary…Dan.

I was just having a chat with a friend…and he said he had just read Pope JPIIs encyclical on the Rosary. He said he was surprised to learn…that praying the rosary is like having and reading the Bible…everything is Biblical…the prayers, the mysteries…all from the Bible.

Here is the link…I just started reading it too…vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae_en.html

Gob bless…
 
Thanks, Pablo.

I actually haven’t started praying it.

At about the time that I started this thread, I felt a strong urge to go to the store and get a set of rosary beads, so that I could start praying. But then I felt odd about it. This has happened to me several times…where I felt like I was being given the opportunity to make a decision regarding a stronger move to Catholicism, but then I am just not able to make the leap.

I am wavering back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism, and I am, to be honest with you, a little bit tired of my own indecision.

Dan
 
Update…

Perhaps spurred on by Pablo’s post, I went to the local Catholic bookstore, where I had received a prompting to get some rosary beads earlier.

I sat in the car for about ten minutes before finally going in.

The saleswoman directed me to some rosaries and suggested either some wooden ones (for men). My eye went to particular set that had St. Benedict in the middle, rather than Mary. It seemed like that was the one I was supposed to purchase, so I did.

After having a nice talk with the saleswoman about my interest in Catholicism, I also purchased Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn and Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor by Allen Hunt.

In conclusion, it does seem that God is very patient with us. I am not rushing into anything, but I know He is leading and guiding me. Amen.
 
dsully said:
Thanks, Pablo.

I actually haven’t started praying it.

At about the time that I started this thread, I felt a strong urge to go to the store and get a set of rosary beads, so that I could start praying. But then I felt odd about it. This has happened to me several times…where I felt like I was being given the opportunity to make a decision regarding a stronger move to Catholicism, but then I am just not able to make the leap.

I am wavering back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism, and I am, to be honest with you, a little bit tired of my own indecision.

Dan
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Hi, Dan…it part of it…there is a tug of war happening…keep praying for guidance.
 
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