how to pray

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nicmic01

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I am a returning catholic. I have been going to church every Sunday for nearly two years now and am glad I am.
My problem is in praying in church. I am not sure how to do this.
I see many people looking like they are in deep prayer but I am not sure what deep prayer is.
When I pray, I more or less pray for myself and for God to look out for my family.
I have been praying a lot for my son but that has not worked, he got in trouble again anyway.
Then my faith starts to waver. I know it is about my soul but sometimes it is hard.
I guess the question is: How do most people pray in church, am I doing something wrong?
Are there certain prayers used or just from the heart which is what I do.
I feel I am missing something sometimes.
 
You might want to pick up a Catholic Prayer Book. These books will contain all sorts of different prayers. Ones for before mass, after mass, morning, night, etc. Maybe after reading these for awhile prayer could come easier for you.
 
Prayer is simple,
Embrace those thoughts that bring you closer to christian ideals,
Live in god, contemplate words which you feel you should when you feel like it.
Do not feel wavered, god always answers prayers one way or another.
If your son chooses to fail it is his responsibility do not feel guilty, only try to inspire him through example and simple words or no words at all,
Be patient with him, but most of all be patient with our lord…he is infinite and he has all the time for you…it’s a hard concept for even me to grasp, but you must try to understand that god is within the world and holding it at the same time.
 
Prayer is, and should be, an intensely personal thing that feeds your spirituality and relationship with God. There are those who feel comfortable with formal prayers written by others such as the Liturgy of the Hours. Some are fed by meditative prayer such as the Holy Rosary and the different meditative mysteries that can be recited. Then there is the simple discussion with God type of prayer where you take all of your worries, concerns, and joys to Him in prayer. Many exercise all three types of prayer and I think that is a good thing.

When Jesus was asked how we should pray, He gave us the Lord’s Prayer. It is the supreme example of those things that we should always take to God in our prayer.

If this is troubling you I recommend you ask your Parish Priest about getting into some spiritual direction. A good spiritual director will be able to help you immeasurably with your prayer life.

God Bless…and you will be in my prayers tonight.👍
 
nicmic01 said:
I am a returning catholic. I have been going to church every Sunday for nearly two years now and am glad I am.
My problem is in praying in church. I am not sure how to do this.
I see many people looking like they are in deep prayer but I am not sure what deep prayer is.
When I pray, I more or less pray for myself and for God to look out for my family.
I have been praying a lot for my son but that has not worked, he got in trouble again anyway.
Then my faith starts to waver. I know it is about my soul but sometimes it is hard.
I guess the question is: How do most people pray in church, am I doing something wrong?
Are there certain prayers used or just from the heart which is what I do.
I feel I am missing something sometimes.
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This might surprise you, but most of my prayers are wordless. Unless of course in a liturgical setting, in which I follow the prescribed prayers along with everyone else. From the outside I am sure it looks like very deep prayer.

And it is, in a very special way. 😊
 
A very holy man once said, and there are different versions of what he said so I will post them all:
Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
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And it came to pass, that as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said to them: When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.
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There is no better personal prayer than that one. Pray it slowly and pray it seven times per day, as the righteous man even falls seven times per day.
 
Praying for people tends to be one of those tasks that always calls for patience. 🙂

St. Monica is an example of this. But with enough prayer, her son who was in the worst of trouble, turned around and became a great saint. 🙂

Try an old prayer book, and put your will into it. 🙂 Try the rosary or another chaplet devotion. Patience. Trust in the Lord. He will set the paths straight.

The more sacrifice we offer, the greater our prayer. True sacrifice! 😃

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
 
nicmic01 said:
I am a returning catholic. I have been going to church every Sunday for nearly two years now and am glad I am.
My problem is in praying in church. I am not sure how to do this.
I see many people looking like they are in deep prayer but I am not sure what deep prayer is.
When I pray, I more or less pray for myself and for God to look out for my family.
I have been praying a lot for my son but that has not worked, he got in trouble again anyway.
Then my faith starts to waver. I know it is about my soul but sometimes it is hard.
I guess the question is: How do most people pray in church, am I doing something wrong?
Are there certain prayers used or just from the heart which is what I do.
I feel I am missing something sometimes.
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Peter Kreeft’s books:

Prayer for Beginners
Prayer: The Great Conversation
 
I picked up a quotation someplace and have forgotten the source:
If you can pray well do so. Otherwise pray poorly like the rest of us.
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😃
 
I teach 5th grade Faith Formation and I teach my kiddos to thank God for something before petitioning him for something.

I also light a candle in my home and every time I pass it I ask for help for the same thing- usually wisdom needed for a specific issue. It also helps me to “let go” and let God take care of it by writing down my prayer and placing it under the candle- helping me remember I have “given it to God”- of course we will continue to take it back but it’s also good to give it right back to “the BIG GUY”/

Welcome back to the family!😃
 
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