I'm having a hard time praying

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First, I need to say that my father is very ill with cancer.

For years I have been pounding the pavement with prayer for his healing. I do believe the prayer has extended his life for several years, but things have taken a turn for the worse, and my desire to pray (which is something I usually love to do) has totally waned. I say a rosary with Catholic radio every mornng, and I usually do a divine mercy chaplet between 3 & 4 (and even here my heart is just not in it). I have been also doing a 54 Rosary day novena, pretty much perpetually for the last five or six years, but have found that even hard to do. What is wrong with me. I am burying myself in media (movies) just to escape. Am I sinning by praying less than normal? Am I burnt out? is this just plain ole aridity?

Help.
 
Aridity/burn out…sounds like it!

Are you sinning by praying less? No! I hardly think so, especially if your heart (desire to pray) is in the right place.

This is where we depend on and help each other. I will say a prayer for your dad and I’m sure everyone else who reads this will too. Have you started a thread in the Prayer Intentions Forum?

Hang in there. Sounds like you are going through a very tiring and stressful time right now. God understands!

God bless,
🙂
 
It has been suggested to me to do this but seeing that there are so many intentions, I felt my dad would just lost in the crowd, so to speak. I have over the years submitted his name to MANY prayer groups, etc for prayer.

Thanks for your kind post, your thoughts and prayers.
 
Lucky_Scrunchy said:
It has been suggested to me to do this but seeing that there are so many intentions, I felt my dad would just lost in the crowd, so to speak. I have over the years submitted his name to MANY prayer groups, etc for prayer.

Thanks for your kind post, your thoughts and prayers.
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I truly believe that your prayers, and the prayers of those you asked for prayers, have been answered with graces that you are not aware of. However, the prayers were not answered in the way that you had hoped. May God’s holy and perfect will be done.
 
Lucky_Scrunchy said:
It has been suggested to me to do this but seeing that there are so many intentions, I felt my dad would just lost in the crowd, so to speak. I have over the years submitted his name to MANY prayer groups, etc for prayer.

Thanks for your kind post, your thoughts and prayers.
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There are some wonderful people there that keep many intentions alive. It’s a great thing when we pray together even if there is only a few who offer any. I sometimes even pray without bothering to post. You never know.

I can’t imagine what you must be going through. I’ll pray for the Lord’s peace for you and your family.
 
What amazing and holy people on this board!!!

I wouldn’t wish what my dad is going through on my worst enemy. If I were to describe what my wonderful and loving father has had to endure over the years, every person who read it would just sob.
 
Hello Lucky,

I know exactly what you’re going through; I am physically disabled myself and my dad had a long, drawn out departure from this realm as well. I know how it feels to be dry and empty; when saying a simple Hail Mary or Glory Be seems like reciting the Gettysburg Address and a Rosary seems completely beyond your ability.

I don’t think it is a sin to pray less; however, keep in mind that Jesus said, “to pray always” and to “pray in season and out of season.” There is no greater way to show your love for God than to pray when you absolutely do not want to; also, by praying less, you may very well be shutting yourself out from the very Signal Graces that you need so desperately right now.

I can understand if you can’t muster up the strength for an entire Rosary right now- I’ve been there many, many times myself- if you can’t say a Rosary, just say a Decade or two of it- or pray ejaculations such as “Our Lady of Mount Carmel- pray for us” or “Jesus and Mary, I love you; please save souls.” The Graces and merits you’ll gain from this devotion will yield much fruit for yourself and others.

May God bless and keep you in this life and in the one to come.

If you want to discuss this more- please feel free to PM me.

Oremus pro invicem,

Sean C. :knight2:
 
Perhaps you should just take a few quiet moments, or more if you need the rest, and listen. Just try and be still as you can. Leave the worries, guilt and any other feelings that might trouble your spirit aside, and be still.

God is there. He is with you right now. If He willed it, He might pat you on the back to let you know it will be all right. But, most likely, He will inspire others to reply to you, to pray for your intentions for you, and to try to speak to you in a way that will help.

I hope this does help.

I will pray for your father for a while, so you can rest. In fact, I will remember you and your family each day at the 6:00 p.m. hour. It is right between the 3:00 p.m. Hour of Divine Mercy and the 9:00 p.m. world-wide prayer for peace. I have been stopping at this time daily for over a year for a friend of mine’s father who was suffering with cancer. He has past on now and honestly I didn’t have the heart to delete the alarm from my phone.

I’ll check back from time to time to this post. I hope you will find rest, and peace, and know that your father is in God’s hands.

Peace and God’s Blessings…
 
Try saying a short prayer, or read a short chapter from The Imitation of Christ, and simply meditate on it in silence.
 
Again I am overwhelmed at the great kindnesses you all have bestowed upon me. May God bless you for it.

My dad’s name is Paul E. He is going through a clinical trial right now through UCLA, i pray it helps him.

Thank you again to all who have shared their hearts, insights and prayers. You are truly holy people!!
 
Perhaps you should just take a few quiet moments, or more if you need the rest, and listen. Just try and be still as you can. Leave the worries, guilt and any other feelings that might trouble your spirit aside, and be still.
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God is there. He is with you right now. If He willed it, He might pat you on the back to let you know it will be all right. But, most likely, He will inspire others to reply to you, to pray for your intentions for you, and to try to speak to you in a way that will help.
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This is the advice our priest gave to me when I found myself in pretty much the same situation.

It will be ok. Maybe not now, but some day, it will be ok again.

Prayers for you.
 
Lucky Scrunchy,
Just wondering how you are doing. It has been a week and I hope all is looking and feeling better for you.
Peace!
 
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