How often must we pray?

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MysticMissMisty

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Salvete, omnes!

How often must we pray?

We are told to “pray always” and, as I recall, also “without ceasing”. We are told “in all thinggs, with prayer and petition and thanksgiving” to make our prayers known to God.

However, are we, for instance, to pray preventatively that something and such and this may “not” happen?

Are we always to pray before each and every little decision we make that it would turn out as we wish, if lawful and according to His Will?

Are we to pray about a situation even though we believe we can handle it on our own first? Or, are we only to pray when we are in a situation that we feel is out absolutely out of our control? Or, somewhere in between?

If we are truly to pray befroe everything, at all times, without ceasing, preventatively and otherwise, that would surely take up a great deal of time and interrupt many of our daily activities which would otherwise flow quite easily/naturally.

Still, are we to pray, literally and in every possible way/circumstance, without ceasing?

If not, how often are we to pray and why?

Gratias.
 
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Still, are we to pray, literally and in every possible way/circumstance, without ceasing?

If not, how often are we to pray and why?

Gratias.

No, we aren’t expected to literally pray all the time. There is work to do, and we need to focus on what we are doing. I don’t think there is a hard and fast answer for everybody. It depends on a lot of factors. Someone who is working 2 jobs may have less time available to pray.

I knew someone with mania in mental health, and I remember the counselor saying that the patient was praying too much. Yes, it is possible to overdo praying, even though in moderation, it can be a good thing.

I’d say to pray in moderation, though I can’t be much more specific as to how many times that would be or how many minutes. I wouldn’t know how. Keep life in a balance, including prayer life.
 
Are you talking about formal prayer or making our lives a prayer?
 
We are to pray constantly, and without ceasing, but there are different types of prayer. You’re right when stating that praying for specific petitions constantly would take up a large amount of time. In general, petition prayer seems to the most spontaneous type of prayer. Why? Because when we’re in situations that need God’s help the most, we are most likely to automatically call out to Him for help. But there are other types of prayer that we should also do, which by doing them make us more in tune with God’s Will - and allows us to accept the times where God seems to not answer our prayers (by the way, God answers every petition, but not always the way we want. He has three answers to petitions: yes; not yet; and “I have a better plan for you”). There are prayers of thanks, prayers of praise, and prayers asking for mercy.

One way to start to attune one’s will to God’s Will is to set apart a time every day for meditative prayer, such as the rosary, the Divine Mercy chaplet, or simply time in silence in front of the Blessed Sacrament (regardless of whether the Sacrement is exposed or in the tabernacle), and then read the scriptures (preferably the way they were meant to be read - out loud). And of course, the Mass is one long prayer of thanksgiving (Eucharist actually comes from the Greek word meaning “to give thanks”).

The Lord’s Prayer is the perfect prayer (of course, Jesus Himself taught it to us) - it starts with praising God, (Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven), moves to a petition for everything we need (give us today our daily bread), then asks for mercy and protection (and forgive us our trespasses/debts/sins as we forgive those who have trespassed against/have sinned against/are in debt to us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil). And the doxology to the prayer - which is only recited by Catholics during the Mass - again praises God (For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever). And so, if you have need of a prayer (especially a quick prayer) at any given time, simply recite the Lord’s Prayer.

And finally, make your daily life a prayer. As you said before, stopping to pray does take up a long period of time. But if you make your work of the day an offering to God, it is a wonderful way to praise Him and radiate His glory.
 
I think the concept is to remember God, in prayer, throughout the day. I tend to say “Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in thee” during stressful moments or a simple “Thank You, Jesus” when something goes well. It’s about recognizing our Lord in everything.
 
Well, are you suggesting that we pray to the exclusion of eating, sleeping, or working?
 
PolarGuy said:
Well, are you suggesting that we pray to the exclusion of eating, sleeping, or working?
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No, not necessarily. I’m only wondering whether we should stop to pray whenever and wherever we have opportunity, say, as I said, before every new task we set ourselves to so as potentially to prevent anything going wrong, or immediately after anything bad has happened that the situation may be rectified, all according to God’s Will, of course. Is all this something that God requires of us?
 
dmftx said:
I think the concept is to remember God, in prayer, throughout the day. I tend to say “Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in thee” during stressful moments or a simple “Thank You, Jesus” when something goes well. It’s about recognizing our Lord in everything.
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Solid answer. 👍
 
MysticMissMisty said:
No, not necessarily. I’m only wondering whether we should stop to pray whenever and wherever we have opportunity, say, as I said, before every new task we set ourselves to so as potentially to prevent anything going wrong, or immediately after anything bad has happened that the situation may be rectified, all according to God’s Will, of course. Is all this something that God requires of us?
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From what I’ve read from various Saints, “pray always” refers especially to the more action-oriented type of prayer, or the kind of prayer that involves consciously conforming one’s will to God’s, rather than a formal prayer. I do know there are certain orders that are told to repeat the Jesus prayer or another short one to the point where they aren’t saying it so much as living it, if that makes sense.

In other words, make all you do a prayer, rather than focusing on saying a prayer at every opportunity, although that certainly isn’t a bad thing. For example, if you’re vacuuming the stairs, dedicate the work of the chore to God. I try to do this (when I remember) when I’m working on an architecture project, by designing to the best of my ability and by essentially trying to dedicate the work to God. Sculptors and painters, especially during the Baroque era, were very focused on this idea. Another way one can “pray always” is just by trying to keep Jesus close to our thoughts and hearts, as one would a friend walking beside you. Even if you aren’t speaking at the moment, the direction of your attitude and attention is towards your companion.
 
"It is well to bear in mind that in commanding us to pray always our Saviour did not mean actual prayer, as that would be an impossibility. The desire to glorify God by all our actions suffices for the rigorous fulfilment of this precept, if this desire be habitual and permanent. “You pray often,” says St. Augustine, “if you often have a desire to pay homage to God by your actions: you pray always if you always have this desire, no matter how you may be otherwise employed.”
  • R. P. Quadrupani
“The holy desire of the soul, that is to say, good-will, is a continual prayer, because it has the power of prayer. And, whatsoever man does for the love of God and of his neighbour, may be called prayer, since love is accounted as prayer.
Good-will and pious affections should, however, at certain seasons and hours, be raised to Me by actual devotion."
– Our Lord to St. Catherine of Siena

Pax!
 
Kurisu35712 said:
From what I’ve read from various Saints, “pray always” refers especially to the more action-oriented type of prayer, or the kind of prayer that involves consciously conforming one’s will to God’s, rather than a formal prayer. I do know there are certain orders that are told to repeat the Jesus prayer or another short one to the point where they aren’t saying it so much as living it, if that makes sense.

In other words, make all you do a prayer, rather than focusing on saying a prayer at every opportunity, although that certainly isn’t a bad thing. For example, if you’re vacuuming the stairs, dedicate the work of the chore to God. I try to do this (when I remember) when I’m working on an architecture project, by designing to the best of my ability and by essentially trying to dedicate the work to God. Sculptors and painters, especially during the Baroque era, were very focused on this idea. Another way one can “pray always” is just by trying to keep Jesus close to our thoughts and hearts, as one would a friend walking beside you. Even if you aren’t speaking at the moment, the direction of your attitude and attention is towards your companion.
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This is the answer, yes. This is what Padre Pio meant when he said “Never worry, and pray constantly”.
In other words, unite yourself to the Divine Will and everything will turn out ok.
 
I recommend looking into the “Jesus Prayer”, especially as regarded by the Eastern Churches and Orthodoxy, or the theology / spirituality behind the “Chotki”.

“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner” or one of the variations of the prayer.

Essentially, the idea is to pray this prayer “unceasingly”, and it will, over time, move from just a “verbal” prayer when you remember to say it, it being prayed from within your heart at all times. There’s really a fascinating spirituality behind it.

An excellent book is called “The Way of the Pilgrim”. It is a classic in Eastern Christianity from the 19th century. It is the story of one individual’s quest to answer exactly the question you asked.

amazon.com/Way-Pilgrim-Continues-Shambhala-Classics/dp/1570628076/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
 
Such beautiful answers, guys!

What an amazingly lovely and profound image of one’s life being a prayer! To be honest, I had always thought such interpretations of the “pray always” lines some New Agey platitude, but, with the weight of St. Catherin’s words behind it, just, wow!

As a side-note, I’m wondering if these words came to her in some mystical vision or were just words from the Spirit to her heart in some way? Not familiar with the contrext of these words. Also, is this considered a “private revelation” and, if so, how much weight are we to give it? If private, and ift hese exact words were said to her, are we to take them as the exact words Christ said to her?

Thanks again, guys! 🙂
 
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