Of What Does Your Prayer Consist?

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JamalChristophr

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Sort of an open ended question. For example, do you always do prayers of thanks giving and petition? Just talking to God about things and asking him question? Praying the rosary only? Recited prayers? These kind of things. Thanks!
 
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That’s sort of like asking what food do I eat. First of all, I eat all kinds of stuff, trying to have a balanced diet. Second, in what circumstance are you asking? Are we talking a dinner out, an ordinary work day, when I’m in a hurry, when I’m trying to lose weight, when it’s hot weather or cold weather, when I cook it myself, when I order takeout, when I’m sick with the flu or iron deficiency, when I’m going on a five-mile hike, etc?

I pray all different ways. I usually try to include a Rosary and some indulgenced prayers, but since the category of indulgenced prayers is very broad that’s like saying I eat some carbohydrates every day.

It would probably be easier to answer the question of which prayer forms I DON’T like. For instance, I don’t like reading or reciting modern pre-written prayers that go on forever (a page or more) and harp on areas I’m not comfortable discussing at length in a prayer, or are too flowery. I like direct prayers, preferably fairly short, although there are exceptions like the Lorica of St Patrick that is quite lengthy but poetic, and a very nice prayer.
 
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I would say that the majority of my prayers due to habit consist of thanksgiving and petition, but I also like to just pray at random points throughout the day as if I am having a casual conversation with God. I also like to just reflect on my life and all of creation, and how wonderful it all is, and then praise God.
 
I ask, because sometimes I feel like i am missing something when I pray -that I am not praying properly.
 
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Prayer is the air I breathe. Countless times throughout the day I pray. For example, when someone does something good to me, I ask the Lord to reward him/her. If I see someone disabled, I ask the Lord to heal him/her. The prayer that I pray the most often is that I ask the Lord to guide my family to the Christian faith. It breaks my heart to think about my family burning in Hell. They have no interest in spirituality at all and I’m worried about them. I pray for them every day.

I don’t pray the Rosary or recite prayers of saints because I’m not a catholic; I don’t really fall into a specific category. I’m more or less a protestant, but even so, I don’t think the reformers were entirely right. I don’t believe that limited atonement, which was taught by Calvin, is Biblical. I’m starting to doubt sola scriptura as well.

But yeah, prayer is an extremely important part of my life. I can’t go longer than an hour without praying. I need God desperately, so that means that an active prayer life is a must.
 
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JamalChristophr said:
I ask, because sometimes I feel like i am missing something when I pray -that I am not praying properly.
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I think if you’re talking to God, you’re praying properly. When I was a Protestant I struggled with prayer. I’m not your typical, girly, chatty kathy. But then when I converted and read some of the Catholic prayers…I found them to be beautiful and my prayer life took off. I’ve added daily litany prayers and I am working on contemplative prayer. And of course the daily Rosary. The bulk of my prayers though are for conversions. I’m the only Catholic in my family and all my friend are Protestant.
 
Angelus while walking to work. Divine Mercy Chaplet, Rosary.

And novenas for material needs. I sort of felt guilty at first because they’re not spiritual needs, but desperation called for it…

And a Hail Mary every time there’s an ambulance — if I were in a dangerous situation, I would like someone to pray for me.
 
I like the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Saint Michael Chaplet. Usually when I pray, it’s a general thanksgiving then petition format with asking Our Lady, Saint Michael the Archangel, Father Vincent Cappodanno and my grandparents in purgatory to pray for me. I like to include my guardian angel too. Otherwise, I pray at need and in my prayer life, I do a lot of unloading to God my feelings and concerns. I like contemplative prayer as well. A lot of the time, especially in Adoration; I quiet my mind and wait to hear God’s answer.
 
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I think Jesus must love you very much and be quite pleased with you. It’s beautiful what you said.

(Your woodpecker is quite cool, but is not quite as impressive as my osprey. 🙂 and that’s a beautiful little testimony you have on your profile page.)
 
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I’ve always loved the Prayer of Mannaseh. Although not Canon in the Catholic Church, has a past as it was included in the original translation if Jerome following Chronicles. Following the Council of Trent it was placed with 3 and 4 Esdras in an appendix of the Latin Vulgate.

Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors, God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their righteous children, you made heaven and earth with all their beauty. You set limits for the sea by speaking your command. You closed the bottomless pit, and sealed it by your powerful and glorious name. All things fear you and tremble in your presence, because no one can endure the brightness of your glory. No one can resist the fury of your threat against sinners. But your promised mercies are beyond measure and imagination, because you are the highest, Lord, kind, patient, and merciful, and you feel sorry over human troubles.Therefore, Lord, God of those who do what is right, you didn’t offer Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who didn’t sin against you, a chance to change their hearts and lives. But you offer me, the sinner, the chance to change my heart and life, because my sins outnumbered the grains of sand by the sea. My sins are many, Lord; they are many. I am not worthy to look up, to gaze into heaven because of my many sins.I’m held down by iron chains so that I can’t lift up my head because of my sins. There’s no relief for me, because I made you angry, doing wrong in front of your face, setting up false gods and committing offenses. Now I bow down before you from deep within my heart, begging for your kindness. I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned, and I know the laws I’ve broken. I’m praying, begging you: Forgive me, Lord, forgive me. Don’t destroy me along with my sins. Don’t keep my bad deeds in your memory forever. Don’t sentence me to the earth’s depths, for you, Lord, are the God of those who turn from their sins. In me you’ll show how kind you are. Although I’m not worthy, you’ll save me according to your great mercy. I will praise you continuously all the days of my life, because all of heaven’s forces praise you, and the glory is yours forever and always. Amen.
Prayer of Manasseh 1:1‭-‬15
 
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@drac16
Good to know. I like to know names. Now i can research it. It has a long beak like a woodpecker so i just guessed. Where i live, the Red Flicker is numerous. It is a species if woodpecker.
 
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It depends. Sometimes I’ll give a concise prayer, a quick way of saying “thanks”. If I’m asking for something, for myself or for others, then I’ll usually give longer prayers.
 
I am devoted to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Angels, so I begin my day with the aid of a Catholic devotional to the Holy Spirit that preceeds the Catholic Charismatic movement. I pray a prayer of consecration to the Holy Spirit every morning and one to Saint Michael often.

Because I am devoted to humility, I am in a conflict in seeking to not draw attention to myself and at the same time seeking to help you.

I think it is best if you provide us with your needs and intentions in seeking an open discussion so we can best address your needs and intentions. Hope that helps.
 
@Ordinary
Thanks. I’m just looking for a fairly open ended discussion of people sharing their thoughts on the topic.

I remember Mother Angelica speaking once of a person who could see each person’s guardian angel for a whole day as they went about their daily business in the city. That would be quite cool. I forget who the person was of whom she spoke.
 
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I just like to get my brothers and sisters ideas. Thanks everyone so far for your contributions.
 
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Daily rosary followed by a meditative (or more thought out and personal) prayer and many quick casual/improvised prayers throughout the day as the inspiration arises.
 
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