I need to find a place to pray

[hamburglar]

I want to find a place of my own to pray. Not a Church, though. With 3 brothers running around, it’s really hard to just go to my room to pray. You wouldn’t believe how many times my brothers have to tell me something SO bad that they have to find me right away. Also, one of my brothers seems to despise my devotion to my faith, and he seems to almost strive to find me praying and make fun of me. I can’t even say grace before meals very comfortably. I don’t really care about that, but it’s just another interruption. Where should I go?

 

[kettle]

Bathroom… don’t forget to lock the door! You could always get up earlier than them and have some quiet time for prayer.

 

[Andruschak]

I want to find a place of my own to pray. Not a Church, though. With 3 brothers running around, it’s really hard to just go to my room to pray. You wouldn’t believe how many times my brothers have to tell me something SO bad that they have to find me right away. Also, one of my brothers seems to despise my devotion to my faith, and he seems to almost strive to find me praying and make fun of me. I can’t even say grace before meals very comfortably. I don’t really care about that, but it’s just another interruption. Where should I go?

Do you have a bedroom of your own? If so, does it have a lock? If not, can you persuade your parents to install one?

 

[Kristen]

I’m sorry to read about your difficulty finding a quiet place to pray; we all need that and suffer when we cannot have it.

My initial thought would be that you might try to find a local park, grove of trees, etc. where there might be quiet and a little privacy. You could even have a discreet bookbag or such with some holy water, a crucifix, a spiritual book, etc. that you can grab on your way out the door and use in your natural prayer space. Or, perhaps you can pray as you walk, bike or enjoy some other form of exercise. No one has to know that you are talking with Our Lord at the same time!

May God bless you!

Kristen

 

[tkdnick]

I want to find a place of my own to pray. Not a Church, though. With 3 brothers running around, it’s really hard to just go to my room to pray. You wouldn’t believe how many times my brothers have to tell me something SO bad that they have to find me right away. Also, one of my brothers seems to despise my devotion to my faith, and he seems to almost strive to find me praying and make fun of me. I can’t even say grace before meals very comfortably. I don’t really care about that, but it’s just another interruption. Where should I go?

I like some of the suggestions of others. You might also think about someplace in your yard you can go, or maybe a park or creek or something nearby. Any place that you can get away will work.

 

[RhyannaRose]

Well, even though I was an only child, sometimes when I wanted to feel like I was getting away from everything I would seek refuge in my closet. The bedroom was carpeted and so was the closet. It wasn’t unusual for me to grab a pillow and a few stuffed animals to cuddle with and hide away for awhile. If I wasn’t an adult, I think I would retreat into there when I need some time alone with God.

At this time of the year I like to go outside and talk to God as I take care of our bushes and flowerbeds. Also when I’m mowing the lawn, though with the drought in our area this summer we’ve had more watering the lawn talks then mowing the lawn talks, lol. In the wintertime, I like to sit by the fire with my Bible or some needlework and just talk to Him.

The great thing about God is He’s everywhere, so there’s no limits on where you can and can’t talk to Him!

 

[hamburglar]

I like some of the suggestions of others. You might also think about someplace in your yard you can go, or maybe a park or creek or something nearby. Any place that you can get away will work.

Sometimes I see illustrations of saints beside a tree with the birds or something, and they are just filled with humility. That’s what I want. I’ll be a freshmen in college this year at a small, local Catholic university. They have a HUGE campus for the size of the school, and it’s also filled with trees, bushes, and wildlife. I think it will be a lot easier for me to find nice places to pray and be with God. In the meantime, however, I always seem to feel very tired when praying in my room or something. It’s not unusual for me to fall asleep when praying, and I feel like nothing gets accomplished. Being narcoleptic is definitely not fun.

Well, I guess that’s the end of my rant, lol. If anyone has more suggestions, I would love to hear them.

 

[Andruschak]

Sometimes I see illustrations of saints beside a tree with the birds or something, and they are just filled with humility. That’s what I want. I’ll be a freshmen in college this year at a small, local Catholic university. They have a HUGE campus for the size of the school, and it’s also filled with trees, bushes, and wildlife. I think it will be a lot easier for me to find nice places to pray and be with God. In the meantime, however, I always seem to feel very tired when praying in my room or something. It’s not unusual for me to fall asleep when praying, and I feel like nothing gets accomplished. Being narcoleptic is definitely not fun.

Well, I guess that’s the end of my rant, lol. If anyone has more suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Before praying in bed, ask your Guardian Angel to finish any incomplete prayers:angel1:

 

[hamburglar]

Before praying in bed, ask your Guardian Angel to finish any incomplete prayers:angel1:

I don’t really understand what a “guardian angel” would be. As I grew up, it seemed to be a term thrown around jokingly, as something equivalent to “crossing you fingers” or a “good luck charm.” So I am just wondering what you mean by guardian angel.

 

[KephasAugustine]

Can you go for a walk and pray? There’s nothing that says you have to be sitting still or on your knees to say a prayer.

God bless.

 

[Kristen]

I don’t really understand what a “guardian angel” would be. As I grew up, it seemed to be a term thrown around jokingly, as something equivalent to “crossing you fingers” or a “good luck charm.” So I am just wondering what you mean by guardian angel.

Though I’m not the poster who mentioned your guardian angel, I figured I’d take a stab at answering your questions.

Sadly, many people think that guardian angels are fictional, but they are real. God gives each of us one to (as the old prayer says) “light and guard, rule and guide.” Basically, our guardian angel protects us, helps us understand interiorly what God wants of us, and otherwise ministers on behalf of Our Lord to us. So, it is good to consult him when you need something or are tempted; for example, my husband prays to his guardian angel when he needs a parking space or help waking up at a particular time – and he gets the help he needs. He also prays each day to each of our children’s guardian angels to keep them safe that day.

I do a pretty poor job of explaining these things, so there are a few links I found to help you below. The best thing to do is to ask your guardian angel to help you learn more about him and become close to him. God bless you!

Kristen

The Guardian Angel always accompanies us as our principal witness. It is he who, at your particular judgement, will remember the kind deeds you performed for Our Lord throughout your life. Furthermore, when you feel lost, before the terrible accusations of the enemy, your Angel will present those intimations of your heart — which perhaps you yourself might have forgotten — those proofs of love which you might have had for God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

That is why you must never forget your Guardian Angel, and that Prince of Heaven shall not abandon you now, or at that decisive moment.

–St. Josemaria Escriva, Furrow, #693

Many more related quotes from St. Josemaria can be found here:

escrivaworks.org/result.php?page=1&search=guardian+angel&point=&book=all
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07049c.htm
Also, you may want to see these brief articles:

newadvent.org/cathen/07049c.htm

ewtn.com/library/DOCTRINE/ORANGELS.HTM

ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/BAGUARD.TXT

ewtn.com/library/Doctrine/guardangels.HTM

 

[blessedstar]

I want to find a place of my own to pray. Not a Church, though. With 3 brothers running around, it’s really hard to just go to my room to pray. You wouldn’t believe how many times my brothers have to tell me something SO bad that they have to find me right away. Also, one of my brothers seems to despise my devotion to my faith, and he seems to almost strive to find me praying and make fun of me. I can’t even say grace before meals very comfortably. I don’t really care about that, but it’s just another interruption. Where should I go?

If you don’t mind I’d like to suggest to you to ask God to give you the grace to enter into your own soul and pray wherever you are and no matter how noisy it is. I have to pray this way as I am rarely alone enough to have a quiet place to pray. Enter inside your ‘private room’ which is your soul and you will find your Father there waiting to be with you privately. Make an inward glance to the Indwelling Holy Trinity and allow God to sustain you in His Presence.

You will find if you strive in this way of prayer that you will not have to leave prayer with God within your soul in order to go about your daily life and everything you do will become a prayer.

Jesus is always with you and you can always be with Him if you enter into your own soul and reside there with Him as you live the prayer of your life.

There are times too that your soul desires to be totally alone with God. I have a dog and I go out on walks alone with him and speak to God there in solitude. I also sit out by myself in the garden late at night or very early in the morning when everyone is sleeping. I watch the stars with Jesus and I watch the sunrise with Him and there we talk, afterall that is what prayer is, a loving talk with Jesus.

Don’t bother what your brother thinks of your praying, you have taken the better part. My brother teases me all the time about my faith and he’s 33 and I’m 36, he still loves me though and I love him that’s all that matters and so I don’t give two figs what he thinks about my love of Jesus. You loving Jesus means you truly love your brother, so no matter what they say to you smile sweetly and take their teasing on the chin with good humour.

I’ll say a prayer that you find the way of prayer God is calling you to.

In my Living Prayer of life.

 

[Teeliumtrozzle]

I suggest a Graveyard.Everything is quiet and peaceful in a Graveyard, and theres sort of an air of timelessness;I often go to the local one to pray.Its kind of comforting to be among the resting souls, and you will very rarely be interrupted.If you dont live near a graveyard, I suggest an unfrequented meadow, where you can relax and be alone with nature and God, and watch the wild animals go about their business, and thank God for them.I do this all the time, so I hope it helps.

 

[hamburglar]

Sadly, many people think that guardian angels are fictional, but they are real. God gives each of us one to (as the old prayer says) “light and guard, rule and guide.” Basically, our guardian angel protects us, helps us understand interiorly what God wants of us, and otherwise ministers on behalf of Our Lord to us. So, it is good to consult him when you need something or are tempted; for example, my husband prays to his guardian angel when he needs a parking space or help waking up at a particular time – and he gets the help he needs. He also prays each day to each of our children’s guardian angels to keep them safe that day.

That reminds me of the Holy Spirit. So wouldn’t the Holy Spirit kinda be everyone’s guardian angel?

 

[RPConover]

That reminds me of the Holy Spirit. So wouldn’t the Holy Spirit kinda be everyone’s guardian angel?

No, the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit, the third part of the Holy Trinity. Angels are bodiless beings created by God, and that each Christian has a guardian angel is true, not just a sentimental or cutsey thing grandmas like to say. You have one too!

 

[hamburglar]

No, the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit, the third part of the Holy Trinity. Angels are bodiless beings created by God, and that each Christian has a guardian angel is true, not just a sentimental or cutsey thing grandmas like to say. You have one too!

I’d rather ask a saint to pray for me. I would rather ask God directly. I don’t really know how to put this, but it’s hard for me to pray without really knowing who I’m praying to.

 

[Kristen]

I’d rather ask a saint to pray for me. I would rather ask God directly. I don’t really know how to put this, but it’s hard for me to pray without really knowing who I’m praying to.

That’s fine, too. I think Our Lord made it kind of like redundancy in the military. In other words, there are a number of weapons that can do similar things so that if one is not ideal or fails, there are others that can be used effectively.

So, if you feel more comfortable talking to God (the Holy Spirit/Sacred Heart/Divine Mercy, etc.) directly or a saint you’re close to, that’s fine, but if you feel the need for someone else to intercede for you, you can call on your guardian angel or even one of the Archangels, like St. Michael, who threw Satan out of Heaven at God’s command. (He’s always been one of my favorites since I attended a school named after him for several years, and grew-up praying to him for protection each day.)

I hope this helps and that you have found a place to pray in peace.

Kristen