Is it a sin to fall asleep during prayer?

[wcknight]

I start a rosary nearly every eveniing in bed and I rarely get past the first mystery, most times it is while beginning the first mystery. It is a great way to end the day.

 

[dan1el]

As in my life, I think it depends…
Terese maybe fell asleep in a different way than the disciples did in the Garden of Gethsemane, because Jesus had nothing good to say about it:

“Could you not watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray or else you will fall into temptation, for the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.”

I just fell asleep last night during praying… several times…

 

[atassina]

Sleep more. Pray more. Watch TV, DVDs, CDs, Computer Surfing-- way, way less.

 

[benedictus2]

I have read many lives of saints. Many saints have discussed this and it is believed that falling asleep during prayer on a consistent basis is actually a power of the devil to prevent the individual from spiritual growth. If you are aware of this attack and that is happens especially during certain prayers then it is time to get up and walk around until you finish what you started. Then lay down and begin more prayers to fall asleep to.

Excellent point. If we keep falling asleep consistently, there is a likelyhood that we are not giving it enough priority (setting aside perhaps a prayer time when we know we can keep awake).

When I kept on falling asleep during mediation for the Spiritual Exercises, my director suggested not praying in bed and perhaps find a a more conducive time to pray.

Still it is okay to fall asleep in God’s arms. Babies do. So can we in the arms of Abba.

I think it is good to keep night time prayers simple (probably the reason why Compline is the shortest office ) and leave the lengthier prayers for the more alert times of the day (maybe while on public transport).

 

[atassina]

Benededictus2:
This is good advice. Tell your director thanks. As a matter of fact, give him a high five from me. Anthony

 

[Tsuwano]

Excellent point. If we keep falling asleep consistently, there is a likelyhood that we are not giving it enough priority (setting aside perhaps a prayer time when we know we can keep awake).

When I kept on falling asleep during mediation for the Spiritual Exercises, my director suggested not praying in bed and perhaps find a a more conducive time to pray.

Still it is okay to fall asleep in God’s arms. Babies do. So can we in the arms of Abba.

I think it is good to keep night time prayers simple (probably the reason why Compline is the shortest office ) and leave the lengthier prayers for the more alert times of the day (maybe while on public transport).

Excellent points!

 

[NoWhereMan]

All of us are distracted when we pray, either we may fall asleep or our minds wander to other things as we pray

 

[MarysGirls]

Hey all! Got a question and this seems like the best place to ask it. Haven’t read all the posts, so if someone asked a similar question, I’m sorry you have to repeat your answer.

Okay, here’s the thing. Last year, while praying, I kept thinking about these five friends of mine, who are not Christians. I was concerned for them, so I promised God that I’d pray a certain number of prayers for them before sleep. (probably not the smartest…) Anyway, I keep falling asleep in the middle of it and then catching up on them in the morning… Tried kneeling, lying down, sitting up… just keep falling asleep and sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, remember I didn’t finish and continue, which makes for a very tired girl in the morning.
What do you suggest I do? Am I sinning by not finishing my prayers since I did promise after all…?

 

[atassina]

Pray in the shower. If you fall asleep then, quit watching all TV and go to bed an hour earlier. Anthony

 

[Tsuwano]

Hey all! Got a question and this seems like the best place to ask it. Haven’t read all the posts, so if someone asked a similar question, I’m sorry you have to repeat your answer.

Okay, here’s the thing. Last year, while praying, I kept thinking about these five friends of mine, who are not Christians. I was concerned for them, so I promised God that I’d pray a certain number of prayers for them before sleep. (probably not the smartest…) Anyway, I keep falling asleep in the middle of it and then catching up on them in the morning… Tried kneeling, lying down, sitting up… just keep falling asleep and sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, remember I didn’t finish and continue, which makes for a very tired girl in the morning.
What do you suggest I do? Am I sinning by not finishing my prayers since I did promise after all…?

I once read that St. Mathew Talbot, a patron saint for alcoholics, had the habit of throwing his shoes far under his bed before he went to bed at night. The reason was that, even if he was drunk, he would be forced to get on his knees to retrieve his shoes and this would remind him to pray. Perhaps you might try something similar. Throw something you absolutely need for the next day under your bed and let it remind you to finish your prayer for your friends when you wake up the next morning.

 

[atassina]

Fill up all your dead time with prayer: driving in the car, walking down a hallway at work, using the bathroom. Drive out all those useless thoughts about TV, sports and other forms of entertainment. Spend less time on the computer and more time praying, holding your children or making love to your husband. Don’t wait until it feels right. Just do it.

 

[DebChris]

Hey all! Got a question and this seems like the best place to ask it. Haven’t read all the posts, so if someone asked a similar question, I’m sorry you have to repeat your answer.

Okay, here’s the thing. Last year, while praying, I kept thinking about these five friends of mine, who are not Christians. I was concerned for them, so I promised God that I’d pray a certain number of prayers for them before sleep. (probably not the smartest…) Anyway, I keep falling asleep in the middle of it and then catching up on them in the morning… Tried kneeling, lying down, sitting up… just keep falling asleep and sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, remember I didn’t finish and continue, which makes for a very tired girl in the morning.
What do you suggest I do? Am I sinning by not finishing my prayers since I did promise after all…?

Prayer does not always have to be words or a set formula. I had a priest friend who asked a number of us to pray for him because of mental problems. He gave each of us a holy card. I put the card in the corner of my dresser mirror. I asked the Lord to consider it a pray for my friend each time I looked at the card.
Similarly, one day at Penny’s a stranger bought a hat for me. I asked God to bless this woman in a special way each and every time I wore the hat.

I once read that St. Mathew Talbot, a patron saint for alcoholics, had the habit of throwing his shoes far under his bed before he went to bed at night. The reason was that, even if he was drunk, he would be forced to get on his knees to retrieve his shoes and this would remind him to pray. Perhaps you might try something similar. Throw something you absolutely need for the next day under your bed and let it remind you to finish your prayer for your friends when you wake up the next morning.

I went to Parochial school for a short time during first grade. I remember the nun telling us to say our Morning Offering as soon as we got on our knees to get our shoes from under our beds.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I am reminded of the story of a Franciscan and a Jesuit who used to walk in adjoining gardens when meditating. As they met one day the Franciscan asked, " Can we smoke while meditating?" The Jesuit didn’t know and suggested that they ask their respective superiors.

The next day when the meet the Jesuit is puffing away while the Franciscan looks glum. It turns out that the Jesuit got permission, and the Franciscan did not. The Jesuit asked the Franciscan what he asked for. The Franciscan said he asked if he could smoke while meditating. His superior said, “Of course not. Don’t be silly.”

The Jesuit pointed out that that was his problem. “I asked if I could meditate while smoking. He said of course, not to be silly.”

So is the question “Is it wrong to fall asleep while praying?” Or “Is it wrong to pray while falling to sleep?”

 

[MarysGirls]

Thanks for all the advice, guys!!! I really needed it.

(Joe Kelley, that is hilarious! )

 

[Ashe_Faelsdon]

These are some of the best answers (especially in collection) that I have yet read on this site… Please feel free to understand that only the guilty stay awake through hours of prayer…

 

[benedictus2]

Hey all! Got a question and this seems like the best place to ask it. Haven’t read all the posts, so if someone asked a similar question, I’m sorry you have to repeat your answer.

Okay, here’s the thing. Last year, while praying, I kept thinking about these five friends of mine, who are not Christians. I was concerned for them, so I promised God that I’d pray a certain number of prayers for them before sleep. (probably not the smartest…) Anyway, I keep falling asleep in the middle of it and then catching up on them in the morning… Tried kneeling, lying down, sitting up… just keep falling asleep and sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, remember I didn’t finish and continue, which makes for a very tired girl in the morning.
What do you suggest I do? Am I sinning by not finishing my prayers since I did promise after all…?

Though I’d share what I do. I have a prayer list where I log the names of those I intend to pray for. And I take this list at prayer and sometimes I go through them most of the time I just say a general prayer for those in the list (usually 3 Glory Bes)

Why Glory’ Bes?

Well I used to wonder what God’s glory really meant. Then one time during a retreat the priest ( I think it was Fr Brendan Byrne) said that for the Israelites, the glory of God meant GOD MADE MANIFEST.

This was a great WOW moment for me. If we pray for God’s glory then we pray that God be made manifest in everything, you, me and all of creation. God made manifest means the Kingdom of God has indeed come.

So there really is nothing greater we can ask for than for those we pray for to manifest God, for God to be glorified in their lives .

His Will is done.

 

[jackson1014]

My grandmother told us that if we fall asleep saying the rosary Mary will have the Saints finish it for us. Others say that your Guardian Angel will finish it.

That is exactly what my husband’s grandma told him! Those grandmas, they know their stuff!

 

[benedictus2]

These are some of the best answers (especially in collection) that I have yet read on this site… Please feel free to understand that only the guilty stay awake through hours of prayer…

And aren’t we all so terribly guilty? But Abba says, yes my dear I know and I love you all the same.