Is it possible to pray too much?

[sir_galahad]

Is it possible to pray too much during the day? I try to attend Mass daily, say all four sets of mysteries of the rosary, and various other pious exercises. The result is that I get burnt out and then stop saying any prayers until I go to confession again.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I wouldn’t say that it is possible to “pray too much,” because some people have quite rigorous prayer regimens that do not wear them out. For example, John Paul II reportedly spent many hours of each day in prayer. The Bible records that Jesus would spend entire nights in prayer (cf. Luke 6:12).

What I would say is that it appears that your prayer regimen is not right for you. I recommend talking to your confessor or spiritual director for assistance in designing a schedule that works for you without causing you to burn out. It is possible that, just as an athlete builds up to running a marathon through shorter races, you may need to build up your spiritual muscles before continuing to attempt prayer marathons.