Noob question on Church Prayer

[CanMan86]

I have a question on church prayer etiquette. I really have not been a good Catholic for much of my life, by that I mean not regularly attending Mass. I feel like if I began going to church to pray often that it would help my spiritual life tremendously. What’s the etiquette on going to church to pray. What do most people do? If I am outside my parish and want to go pray in a Catholic Church I kind of feel awkward just walking in a Church I’ve never been to. What if there are things going on like a wedding, choir rehearsal, etc… I’m kinda clueless.

So basically what’s the etiquette on going into church just to pray? Where do I pray and all that kind of stuff… Thanks.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Your first step, if you have not already done so, is to go to confession, confessing that you have been away from the Church and have not attended Mass regularly for ___ years, along with any other serious sins you may have committed.

Then begin attending Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation.

Outside Mass time, it is perfectly appropriate to go into the church to pray anytime it is unlocked. (You may even want to do this before going to confession, to ask God to help you make this big step.)

You should never feel awkward about visiting a church. It’s our Church; we’re all part of God’s family. I love visiting Catholic churches whenever I am going to visit a new city or town.

My favorite place to pray is close to the tabernacle (usually a gold box with a sanctuary lamp nearby — a candle in a red glass holder, indicating that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is present in the tabernacle). If you’re going to God’s house to visit Him, you might as well get up close and personal! I just choose a pew close to the tabernacle. (If your church has an adoration chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance, that’s great, too.)

Or if there is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or one of your favorite saints, you might want to spend some time nearby as well. It’s all up to you.

As long as you’re unobtrusive, I see no problem being in church while something else is going on. It might be distracting for you, however, and you might choose to come back at a different time.

If you call the parish office, they can probably tell you what hours the church is open for private prayer.

 

[Genesis315]

In regards to just going into pray–hopefully the church will be unlocked! (sadly, with so many desecrations going on these days, they often have to remain locked…)–upon entering you can dip your finger in the holy water font and then make the sign of the cross (it reminds us of our Baptism when we were born again into Christ).

I would also say you should genuflect (drop your right knee to the floor) towards the tabernacle to honor Christ who is present there in the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist).

Besides that, Philothea gave some good suggestions. I would add that most churches have the Stations of the Cross on the wall. Walking from station to station, stopping at each to meditate on that part of Christ’s passion, is a great way to pray with mind, body, and soul!

Oh, and as Philothea says, going back to the sacraments is very important to grow in grace. If you haven’t been to confession in a while, don’t be afraid, it is a sacrament of love and mercy, not of judgment. The priest will probably receive you joyously, and Jesus and all the angels and saints definitely will!