Location of prayer?

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How much do you think where we pray matters? Or does it sometimes and not others?

For instance, when people pray at abortion clinics, is that prayer any stronger or more effective than simply praying at home for the same things, same people?

I ask because I feel the need lately to pray for a certain thing at a certain location. I know many, many people throughout history have prayed ‘on location’ so to speak, and yet, in theory, God hears us regardless of location, so it shouldn’t matter.

I’m just looking for thoughts on the question.
 
holyrood said:
How much do you think where we pray matters? Or does it sometimes and not others?

For instance, when people pray at abortion clinics, is that prayer any stronger or more effective than simply praying at home for the same things, same people?

I ask because I feel the need lately to pray for a certain thing at a certain location. I know many, many people throughout history have prayed ‘on location’ so to speak, and yet, in theory, God hears us regardless of location, so it shouldn’t matter.

I’m just looking for thoughts on the question.
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I’d say that the location helps one to focus the intent of one’s prayer, but I don’t consider the actual physical location to have much of an effect. That being said, I would say that it’s better to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, be it in church or in a chapel, just because Jesus is physically present there, and it’s good for your soul to go to Eucharistic adoration. The efficacy of the prayer itself is unchanged though. Many Saints insisted on the importance of praying always and everywhere, just making a habit of communicating with God at all points in your life, as He is so eager for our attention.

Being in a church like St. Peter’s basilica does give one a far more palpable awareness of God’s presence though, I have to say.
 
Kurisu35712 said:
I’d say that the location helps one to focus the intent of one’s prayer, but I don’t consider the actual physical location to have much of an effect. That being said, I would say that it’s better to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, be it in church or in a chapel, just because Jesus is physically present there, and it’s good for your soul to go to Eucharistic adoration. The efficacy of the prayer itself is unchanged though. Many Saints insisted on the importance of praying always and everywhere, just making a habit of communicating with God at all points in your life, as He is so eager for our attention.

Being in a church like St. Peter’s basilica does give one a far more palpable awareness of God’s presence though, I have to say.
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I agree, location is a focal device, use it to your advantage! The only caution is not to let location take on the nature of a superstitious belief, that would be inappropriate.
 
I am also curious about this since I usually pray the Rosary when I do, I am trying to pray it everyday during Lent, I am usually walking to/from home, on the bus about to get off and walk to home, or at the bus stop sometimes if my bus isn’t for a while. I, however, do not feel as much of an influence during these compared to praying the rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Praying at the abortion clinic provides a witness for life.
 
Kurisu35712 said:
I’d say that the location helps one to focus the intent of one’s prayer… That being said, I would say that it’s better to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, be it in church or in a chapel, just because Jesus is physically present there, and it’s good for your soul to go to Eucharistic adoration.
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I agree that before the Blessed Sacrament is different. However, as someone who struggles with focus (ten million things going on in my brain at any given moment), maybe this is exactly why God is calling me (if indeed He’s calling me, and it’s not just my imagination) to pray in that certain location. This makes sense to me, as focus is exactly what my brain does not necessarily do well.
 
holyrood said:
How much do you think where we pray matters? Or does it sometimes and not others?

For instance, when people pray at abortion clinics, is that prayer any stronger or more effective than simply praying at home for the same things, same people?

I ask because I feel the need lately to pray for a certain thing at a certain location. I know many, many people throughout history have prayed ‘on location’ so to speak, and yet, in theory, God hears us regardless of location, so it shouldn’t matter.

I’m just looking for thoughts on the question.
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It takes courage to stand up for our beliefs in the world. Prayer before abortion clinics is a witness to a truth, the right to life for the baby. It’s also a manifestation 0f our faith. When we step out in faith, God backs us up, and if you don’t believe this check out some of the persecutions that come, and who do you think is responsible, our enemy, the Devil. He has a grip on the secular world, and Jesus came to break that grip. How will people know of this truth if not to make an open fight about the issues? With prayer also comes an appeal to God to abolish this evil, which manifests love for our neighbor, the baby and it’s mother. There are many things involved, more so than praying in solitude, although that is effective too, and highly recommended especially for those who can’t join for a legitimate reason. You will find that some want to, but can not afford to contribute financially to support the fight against abortion, but they can pray, which is really more powerful. We must be aware of indifference also, that’s how a lot of these evils become stronger, there is not resistance.
 
I think its important to have a place in your home for prayer, which is quiet, and is conducive for meditation.

It gives you a sense of purpose when you go to that place and prayer becomes easier.

Monks and nuns spend much time in their cells, or rooms, praying, reading and reflecting.

Praying before the Blessed Sacrament is wonderful, but you’ll only do that at certain times of the week, where the place in your home is always available to you.

I don’t buy praying at an abortion clinic is more powerful than prayer anywhere else.

In fact, praying in public can be a source of stroking the ego, or making oneself feel superior.

Not saying this is the case for everyone who does it, so don’t jump down my through.

However, its a place of distraction, and not a place for quiet prayer, which I feel is far more important for growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Lets face it, if you don’t have a loving relationship with Jesus, how you exhibit your religious beliefs can just be a masquerade.

So, pray in a quiet place and go their daily.

Jim
 
Christ said we are to ‘pray without ceasing,’ therefore any place/time where we can pray we should. Yes, it’s nice to have a quiet place, prayer corner, and so on, but it isn’t necessary.
 
Magdalen2013 said:
Christ said we are to ‘pray without ceasing,’ therefore any place/time where we can pray we should. Yes, it’s nice to have a quiet place, prayer corner, and so on, but it isn’t necessary.
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This is true, but a quiet place or a prayer corner can help, especially when you are new to the faith 🙂
 
Magdalen2013 said:
Christ said we are to ‘pray without ceasing,’ therefore any place/time where we can pray we should. Yes, it’s nice to have a quiet place, prayer corner, and so on, but it isn’t necessary.
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I believe it was St Paul who said that in 1 Thessalonians.

That being said, the only way you can learn to pray without ceasing, is to develop a
period of time for deeper levels of prayer, which you will carry with you throughout the day.

A good book on this is, “The Way of the Pilgrim,” which is from a Russian Orthodox perspective, but true nonetheless.

Its about a Russian peasant with a physical disability in the 19th Century, pondered the verse from Scripture, “pray without ceasing.” He was perplexed on how this could even be possible, so he set out on a journey across Russia, visiting the various monasteries and speaking with the Contemplative Masters there.

They taught him the Jesus Prayer, and told him to say it often in his cell, or while on a break, using his Rosary beads. Say it 5000 times a day, one told him.

Eventually, what happened, was not only he begin to grow in love and compassion, as Jesus began to fill him with love, but he found that his entire being was reciting the Jesus Prayer, even unconsciously. Through the practice of praying the Jesus Prayer in Contemplation, he came to pray without ceasing.

Praying is more than just reciting prayers by rote, its takes place in your heart and as you’re aware of being in the presence of God.

Jim
 
A good way to pray without ceasing is to make your life a prayer by offering everyday with all it’s activity to God. This includes meditation, working, formal prayer, discursive prayer, praise, thanksgiving, petition, intention, charitable works.
For lay apostles (made so by Baptism) the Church also states we must evangelize our environment , this is found in the Documents of Vatican ll, under the Lay Apostolate That means to become involved with things that involve our faith. There are different callings and vocations, some religious, priestly, marriage, and the single life. Some are dedicated solely to prayer, contemplative orders, some to teaching and preaching. The lay apostle leads a life that is combined, like Martha(representing the active life) and Mary (representing the prayer or contemplative life), but in both activities dedicated to God, it all becomes a prayer of love and worship. Jesus did say Mary chose the better part, and that means what Martha was doing was also good .
 
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