Is it a sin not to pray enough?

[TheHolyTrinity9]

Every night I pray a rosary, few hail Mary’s Our Fathers and other prayers but I feel like I never do enough or I feel guilty that if I am tired and I miss out on something cause I wish to goto sleep, I feel guilty and dreadful. Is it a sin not to pray enough or should you constantly pray?

 

[Traveller83]

What is ‘enough’? I think He is happy EVERYTIME we take a moment to pray. But there also different things that take time to make Him happy. Like doing charitible works, for example hepling people who are ill, doing things for the Church. Next to that, we can also read the Bible, read other material about our Faith. I don’t think we should just focus on praying only as a way to come closer to God. When living as a layman, it’s good to find a balance in our normal social life, like family friends, work, and our ways practicing the Faith.

What do others think?

 

[St_Francis]

The saints generally agree that in justice, one should pray at least 15 minutes a day, and that in charity (love for God), one should pray more.

Perhaps your feelings of not praying enough are a little nudge from God, and might be helped if you did one of two things I am working on doing regularly: recollection, or recalling God’s presence, during the day, which people do by little prayers: of asking for help when undertaking a task, or gratitude on seeing some beauty of God’s creation, or giving glory to God when considering a teaching of the faith.

And the second is mental prayer, where one prays in one’s own words after considering some aspect of God, the faith, etc. There are 4 parts: the praparation, the consideration or meditation, the affections (for God), and the resolution one makes for change as a result.

Voal prayer (which has greater benefit for us if prayed audibly) are set prayers, but a lot of people do not know that it is only the first level of prayer. Mental prayer is the next level but also the next type, and the type has 8 levels.

 

[asia53]

Words of wisdom from one of our great saints:

“Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour.” - Francis de Sales

 

[JRKH]

Every night I pray a rosary, few hail Mary’s Our Fathers and other prayers but I feel like I never do enough or I feel guilty that if I am tired and I miss out on something cause I wish to goto sleep, I feel guilty and dreadful. Is it a sin not to pray enough or should you constantly pray?

Is it a sin to not “pray enough”???
This is a tough question. In the context of your post above, I would say that - No it is not a sin.

Part of the issue here (as I see it) is that you are looking at “formal payer”…the Rosary and “few hail Mary’s Our Fathers and other prayers…”, but what about informal prayer. Things like a simple thank you to God during the day? What about the times when God, or some Godly thought comes to you? What about when you do something kind for another person? Are these not worship and “prayers” too?

The idea that we should “pray constantly”, which comes from scripture, surely does not mean to be on our knees involved in the recitation of formal prayers. It means to live out our faith. To be “in Christ” and to show to others the living Christ who is in us.

Can we ever do enough? Yes and no…On the one hand, we will always fall short because we are weak and our goal is so immense. On the other hand, so long as we honestly and sincerely do the very best we can within our station in life, then we have indeed done enough.

Christ is more interested in our hearts and in our efforts than he is in such “quantifiable” things as praying a certain length of time, or reciting so many prayers etc. Where such things as this have advantage is in how they help us to grow. But if they become too much of a focus…then they become an obstacle.

One last thought…
When you are too tired to “pray” is it because you have spent the day showing Christ to others through your actions and the kindness of your words and demeanor?
If so - then rest well for you have most definitely “prayed enough” - and while you may feel, as Scripture relates:
“So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” - (Luke 17:10)
Rest assured that our dear Lord, in seeing your efforts will respond:

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master” - Mt 25:21

God Bless you

Peace
James

 

[1ke]

your various posts show evidence of scrupulosity and compulsive tendencies. Please get professional help for these thoughts.

 

[Neofight]

Its a shame, but not necessarily a sin.

 

[sirach2v4]

I would refer you to the 4th section of the Catechism, which is on Christian Prayer.

That’s the best 88 pages you will ever read on the subject, and the best and most surprising part is the latter section on the Lord’s prayer.

The Catechism, which is referred to as the deposit of faith, in section 4, says that the Lord’s prayer is the perfect prayer that includes all other prayers and intentions that we could pray for.

Thus, it is worthwhile to really meditate on this part of the Catechism to see how this works out. One should not feel guilty about “just” saying one Our Father.

In a different book on prayer that I bought at a public library book sale, one writer said that if a person said no other prayer in their entire life, it ought to be a prayer of thanks to God.

But, as you will read in the Catechism, just saying “our Father” is a tremendous sentiment to express, of speaking to God as his adopted children – which is his will, by the way.

 

[TheHolyTrinity9]

What if you are in a scenario where you either pray one decade of the rosary or two? Is it bad not to pray the two or is it depending on how you are feeling at the time?

 

[JRKH]

What if you are in a scenario where you either pray one decade of the rosary or two? Is it bad not to pray the two or is it depending on how you are feeling at the time?

This is an unimportant detail. It’s not worth worrying over.

Prayer needs to be beyond such things.

Peace
James

 

[Charlemagne_III]

The degree of our spiritual development is indicated by how often we pray. St. Paul said we should pray constantly. Prayer can take many forms, including good works, by which we tell the Lord of our good intentions to obey what he said at the end of Matthew 25. As St. Francis said, we should preach the gospel, and use words when necessary. We should pray and use words when necessary. There are usually enough opportunities to pray during each day, and sometimes a brief nod to our Lord is all we can muster, keeping in mind that one can always pray oneself to sleep. I used to know a woman who attended Eucharistic hour religiously every week, and religiously fell asleep through most of the hour. Who knows how absorbed her unconscious mind was with meditating on her hopes and fears in the calm presence of our Lord?

 

[TheHolyTrinity9]

This is an unimportant detail. It’s not worth worrying over.

Prayer needs to be beyond such things.

Peace
James

So it’s not about the actual amount but it’s the merit of doing the prayers. As long as you say one at least then it would make up for the rest?

 

[Tigg]

So it’s not about the actual amount but it’s the merit of doing the prayers. As long as you say one at least then it would make up for the rest?

If you read the lives of the saints, you will begin to understand that those who walk with the Lord have an on-going dialogue with Him through-out the day. Prayer is not only being on your knees and verbalizing, prayer for them was a state of being. Every action in our day can be a sort of prayer when done to please the Lord. We should dedicate everything to Him in our morning offering so we can even be attentive to Him at work or when we drive our car or shop. It is an awareness that we move and live and breathe in Him. There are a million times a day we can lift our minds to Him if only for a split second; even a single word - just saying His name can be a form of prayer. It is in this manner that we “pray without ceasing.”

 

[JRKH]

If you read the lives of the saints, you will begin to understand that those who walk with the Lord have an on-going dialogue with Him through-out the day. Prayer is not only being on your knees and verbalizing, prayer for them was a state of being. Every action in our day can be a sort of prayer when done to please the Lord. We should dedicate everything to Him in our morning offering so we can even be attentive to Him at work or when we drive our car or shop. It is an awareness that we move and live and breathe in Him. There are a million times a day we can lift our minds to Him if only for a split second; even a single word - just saying His name can be a form of prayer. It is in this manner that we “pray without ceasing.”

THIS!!!

James

 

[JRKH]

Tigg nailed it.

Issues like the OP is having stem from a wrong focus.
Worrying about such things is placing too much emphasis on God as some sort of micro-managing Judge instead of a Loving Father.

Instead of focusing on sin, focus instead on Love.

The greatest commandments are not “Thou shalt not…”, they are, “Thou shall…”
Love God above all else and Love neighbor as yourself. Everything else is built on these - - on Love. (Mt 22:36-40)

Dwelling on what might or might not be a sin is to look backwards at what we are leaving behind. It is very difficult to find the narrow gate that way. Look forward instead. Focus on Love for God is Love (1 John 4:7-8) and that is our goal (the narrow gate) and Love of neighbor is the path we take to get to God.

This is not to say that avoiding sin is unimportant…but one can better discern what is or is not sin (and how serious a sin) when the matter is measured against Love.

Peace
James

 

[Sky_River]

Every night I pray a rosary, few hail Mary’s Our Fathers and other prayers but I feel like I never do enough or I feel guilty that if I am tired and I miss out on something cause I wish to goto sleep, I feel guilty and dreadful. Is it a sin not to pray enough or should you constantly pray?

I think praying constantly is a good idea, but repeating prayers over and over again like a formula is a bad idea. Jesus said to not pray vain repetitions like pagans.

 

[janiruchan]

Every night I pray a rosary, few hail Mary’s Our Fathers and other prayers but I feel like I never do enough or I feel guilty that if I am tired and I miss out on something cause I wish to goto sleep, I feel guilty and dreadful. Is it a sin not to pray enough or should you constantly pray?

Prayer is not a contest. More words doesn’t guarantee quality…though psychologically missing a piece would be disturbing you (especially if it’s routinary) but you have to break that mentality…I went through that sort of spirituality. I sleep very late, and would rather suffer in prayer than miss one single line from the rosary/litany (I was imitating the saints) but God spoke to me through my doctor, my sickness and finally the priest during confession. He assured me that He is not offended if I am not faithful with the rosary/novena etc (especially if I am tired/sick)…He’s pleased with a simple prayer of thanksgiving and remembrance to Him. Yes, I still pray the rosary/novenas etc…but I am not enslaved by them anymore…I am even now satisfied with just thinking of Jesus/ God or even hugging Mary. I speak simply to Him about my desires.

As St, Teresa says, “in prayer it is not important to think much but to love much”

God leads us differently, I’m positive He will lead you right…just be patient with yourself and trust in God.

 

[ready]

Every night I pray a rosary, few hail Mary’s Our Fathers and other prayers but I feel like I never do enough or I feel guilty that if I am tired and I miss out on something cause I wish to goto sleep, I feel guilty and dreadful. Is it a sin not to pray enough or should you constantly pray?

St. Paul says that we should pray ceaselessly. Rather than praying all your prayers at night when you are liable to get tired, pray all throughout your day. Pray some prayers in the morning and some at night. Pray 30 min. of mental prayer sometime during your day. Pray ejaculations all throughout your day. Pray your rosary faithfully and fervently every day. Do everything you do for God’s greater glory and honor and to please Him and to do His Will; this way all you do will be a prayer and you will be praying ceaselessly. God bless you.

 

[TheHolyTrinity9]

St. Paul says that we should pray ceaselessly. Rather than praying all your prayers at night when you are liable to get tired, pray all throughout your day. Pray some prayers in the morning and some at night. Pray 30 min. of mental prayer sometime during your day. Pray ejaculations all throughout your day. Pray your rosary faithfully and fervently every day. Do everything you do for God’s greater glory and honor and to please Him and to do His Will; this way all you do will be a prayer and you will be praying ceaselessly. God bless you.

Being a student, it’s hard to verbally pray during the day as I am busy with work. The only time I really can focus on prayer is in the night, but I still feel bad that I might shorten a prayer of thanksgiving instead of saying the whole thing so I may have done sleep. Is this selfish of me?

 

[ready]

Being a student, it’s hard to verbally pray during the day as I am busy with work. The only time I really can focus on prayer is in the night, but I still feel bad that I might shorten a prayer of thanksgiving instead of saying the whole thing so I may have done sleep. Is this selfish of me?

If you need to sleep, you need to sleep; I suggest that you tell Jesus and Mary that you love them all throughout your day, and I also suggest that you do 10 min. of mental prayer daily, some morning prayers and night prayers daily, and your rosary daily. Your prayers don’t have to be long – just pray them from your heart and God will be pleased. God bless you.