Is it acceptable to pray while walking in public?

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I have always restricted my prayer to settings where I can completely focus my attention on God (i.e. church and home).

Is it acceptable to pray silently while walking in a populated, public space?
 
I do it all the time. God takes that desire we have for union with Him and works miracles. It is uplifting and can prevent bad situations from getting worse.

I’ve been in family situations where conversations were going down a road that was inappropriate. So, I silently started praying. Within a minute, the conversation (without any prior indication) abruptly ended.

DH (and now I) will pray Hail Mary’s when he’s in a situation where others are using the Lord’s name in vain or other vile words. Those come to an end, too.

👍
 
Thanks, reganq. Beautifully put and admirably candid!

I consulted some sources and found the following:

From the CCC #2757: “Pray constantly” (1 Thess 5:17). It is always possible to pray. It is even a vital necessity. Prayer and Christian life are inseparable.

From the CCCC #576: “It is possible to offer frequent and fervent prayer even at the market place or strolling alone. It is possible also in your place of business, while buying or selling, or even while cooking" (Saint John Chrysostom).
 
homeric said:
Thanks, reganq. Beautifully put and admirably candid!

I consulted some sources and found the following:

From the CCC #2757: “Pray constantly” (1 Thess 5:17). It is always possible to pray. It is even a vital necessity. Prayer and Christian life are inseparable.

From the CCCC #576: “It is possible to offer frequent and fervent prayer even at the market place or strolling alone. It is possible also in your place of business, while buying or selling, or even while cooking" (Saint John Chrysostom).
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People like Bro. Lawrence of the Resurrection advocate practicing constant prayer, as in his, The Practice of the Presence of God. (Which you may be interested in reading.) Living a prayerful life is the goal of Christianity, isn’t it? Most of us are trying to find some way to integrate prayer into our lives.

-Rob
 
homeric said:
I have always restricted my prayer to settings where I can completely focus my attention on God (i.e. church and home).

Is it acceptable to pray silently while walking in a populated, public space?
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you can pray quietly, you can pray out loud, you can carry a big rosary, you can dress in sackcloth and ashes. This is a free country you can pray anywhere as long as you are not disrupting anyone else’s activities.
 
I agree with the others. I pray whenever I want to - on my long train rides home from NYC to Philly, walking in the mall, when I’m with my family, etc. If you have the urge to pray, just do it. 🙂
 
Yes and even your walking is a prayer if you offer it to God, everything is prayer.

’Pray unceasingly’

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
I recall the beautiful pictures of JP II taking walks with his rosary dangling from his hand…🙂
 
IMO, You can and you should. If you have the time to go somewhere quiet and focus entirely on God, that’s wonderful. If you don’t, then praying whenever possible is good. Praying while walking/driving/whatever IN ADDITION TO praying in a quiet, focused way is the best of all.
 
My gosh - I pray all the time! Well, if you consider my constant chatter to God and/or Jesus in my head prayer. 😊 I am always carrying on a conversation with Them, with our Holy Mother, with the Holy Spirit, always asking for their intersession for all sorts of silly things - from helping the little old lady I pass every day who sits on her porch in the morning when I drive my DH to work to have a safe day, to praying for the souls in the Jewish cemetery I pass on the way back home. And all sorts of other stuff in between.

I’ve often thought about how lonely and empty my life would be if I didn’t have that constant prayer and companionship. (Aside from my wonderful marriage!) I’ve often wondered about those like my Mom who don’t have any faith or belief whatsoever - and where do they go for hope and thanksgiving. It’s sad really.

But anyway - absolutely!! I pray no matter where I am (yep, even in the potty). It’s not really something I DO - it’s just like breathing for me, I can’t help it. 😊

~Liza
 
Prayer can be in many forms also. Just walking down the sidewalk saying “Jesus I trust in you”, or"Jesus I love you" is a prayer easily repeatable and heartfelt.
 
I sometimes just give thanks for the things I come across, like flowers or a sunny day or whatever. In traffic, I pray for the patience to be able to behave charitably when necessary. And my prayer is often in a conversational style too…I personally am not that great with formal prayers.
 
It’s more than acceptable - it’s ideal!

I think we can learn a lot from children who carry on a constant dialogue with their imaginary friends. Our great Friend, however, is not imaginary!

Betsy
 
homeric said:
I have always restricted my prayer to settings where I can completely focus my attention on God (i.e. church and home).

Is it acceptable to pray silently while walking in a populated, public space?
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of course :yup: …you can pray/talk to god anytime anywhere…your morning/night prayers would probably require your attention so if you feel more at ease saying them at home then by all means do so…but during the day where ever you are…what ever you are doing…you can talk to god in your own words and he will listen…you could also fill your day with short prayers (prayers that are a few words long …jesus, mary, joseph, i love you, save souls!)…there are websites devoted to short prayers where you could get a print out of some…or you could make up your own to suit what you like to pray for…jesus bless all priests, jesus, assist and save the dying, jesus release all the holy souls in purgatory, jesus bless the homeless and those living in poverty…etc…mary pray for us, guardian angel pray for us etc…there is no limit to these prayers because you can make up your own to suit what you especially like to pray for…

ANGELIC PEACE:angel1:
 
I use the guidline that if I can’t pray while doing a thing, I should not do the thing so that I can pray.
 
I appreciate all your invigorating replies.

My concern was that with various audio-visual distractions while walking, my prayer would not be “pure.” Some are probably better at filtering out distractions than others.

For me, the solution might be to assess the situation and, if it’s really chaotic, take a moment for a shorter prayer like “Jesus I trust in you,” which jrabs suggested.
 
homeric said:
I appreciate all your invigorating replies.

My concern was that with various audio-visual distractions while walking, my prayer would not be “pure.” Some are probably better at filtering out distractions than others.

For me, the solution might be to assess the situation and, if it’s really chaotic, take a moment for a shorter prayer like “Jesus I trust in you,” which jrabs suggested.
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I understand your concern, although I think any sincere prayer is “pure”, no matter what kind of distractions you get. For instance, I talk to God while in the car sometimes. I still have to be paying attention to the road and sometimes I get distracted by things going on around me and need to be alert to avoid accidents and such. But my prayers or “conversations” are still sincere.

But little, short prayers are just as fine too. I sometimes say (or actually sing in my head) these lines from a G.F Handel work, “Keep me faithfully in Thy paths, O Lord, and cleanse me. Cleanse me from my Sins.”
 
homeric said:
I have always restricted my prayer to settings where I can completely focus my attention on God (i.e. church and home).

Is it acceptable to pray silently while walking in a populated, public space?
Click to expand...
I pray the rosary on my daily hike. I use a decade ring but still get some strange looks form people I pass-they think I am talking to myslef!
 
Sarabande said:
I understand your concern, although I think any sincere prayer is “pure”, no matter what kind of distractions you get. For instance, I talk to God while in the car sometimes. I still have to be paying attention to the road and sometimes I get distracted by things going on around me and need to be alert to avoid accidents and such. But my prayers or “conversations” are still sincere.

But little, short prayers are just as fine too. I sometimes say (or actually sing in my head) these lines from a G.F Handel work, “Keep me faithfully in Thy paths, O Lord, and cleanse me. Cleanse me from my Sins.”
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Sarabande,

You responded to my concerns with great precision. Thank you so much.

The Handel prayer is a nice, brief prayer. I will pray it sometime soon.

I am also eager to pray the Act of Love silently in public:

O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die. Amen.
 
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