Newbie question about praying

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normdplume

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I’m trying to figure out the correct way to pray. I’ve read that Catholics cross themselves and say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” both before and after saying their prayers. In other words:
Code: 
+ "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Actual prayer.
+ "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Seems odd. Is this correct?

Thanks
 
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That’s how I do it, however that doesn’t make it especially right or wrong.
 
I also do it, but prayers are no less heard by God if you don’t. The important thing is to pray.
 
I only do it once while I cross myself. It doesn’t really matter anyway.
 
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It is called the sign of the cross. It is a very old tradition. Tertullian mentions it and he wrote in the year about 200 AD.
 
That is the way I pray. I start and end my prayer with, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The prayer came from the Bible, when Christ said: “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19). At the same time that I say this prayer I also make the sign of the cross over my body using my right hand. See this one-minute video to see how it is done: Catholic 101: The Sign of the Cross - YouTube
 
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It is not a rule but a custom to begin and end our prayers with the Sign of the Cross. Not every individual will do it the same way, but public prayers in a group are typically done this way. For myself, my “formal” personal prayers in the morning and evening, I begin and end with the Sign of the Cross, but often during the busyness of the day or at meals, I do the physical action once in tandem with another prayer.
 
You make the sign of the cross before and after you pray. You begin your prayer with the sign of the cross and end your prayer with the sign of the cross.

It is an ancient custom. I do it in practically all my prayers, even my short prayers, such as the prayer before meal. I begin the prayer and end the prayer with the sign of the cross.
 
Using our body, mind, heart to begin and end our prayer, invoking the Holy Trinity at the same time is a beautiful way to punctuate our prayer, our conversation with God.

It’s integrative.
 
It also serves as a reminder. Making the sign of the cross gets me in the zone if you will.
 
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I don’t believe there is a right or wrong way to pray. As one poster already said, just talk to God. If you need help there are some very good Catholic prayer books available you can read silently or aloud. I keep one on my desk at work. Even silent communion with God is prayer. Nothing need be said at all. Just be still and think on Him or on a favorite quote.
 
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I do it both before and after.
Before is for asking the grace from the Holy Spirit for a good prayer, after is for thanking and covering yourself with the Holy Spirit (who is more present to us when we pray).
 
I’d suggest the great book by Fr Dubay “The Prayer Primer”.
 
normdplume said:
Seems odd. Is this correct?
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It probably only seems odd because you have not been doing it since you were a child. For cradle Catholics, doing it any other way seems odd, almost like cheating. 😉

Patrick
AMDG
 
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