Prayer Dilemma

[lakotak]

Maybe someone here has experienced this.

For a long time, I have felt, more or less, obliged to say the Rosary and other prayers on a regular basis. Which I have done. However, for a long time also, I have just felt that I was most in touch with Jesus when I would just find a quiet place in the morning and either just talk to him about a problem, ask him for an answer to a question, or most times just be in his Presence. Sometimes I talk and sometimes I just listen to the Holy Spirit. However, I feel guilty that I am not saying the Rosary or some other standard prayer. Am I wrong not to say the usual prayers, if not, then why do I feel guilty when I do not, nor really want to say the Rosary or other prayer. I just want to sit quietly in His Presence and either listen or speak with him? Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Maybe someone here has experienced this.

For a long time, I have felt, more or less, obliged to say the Rosary and other prayers on a regular basis. Which I have done. However, for a long time also, I have just felt that I was most in touch with Jesus when I would just find a quiet place in the morning and either just talk to him about a problem, ask him for an answer to a question, or most times just be in his Presence. Sometimes I talk and sometimes I just listen to the Holy Spirit. However, I feel guilty that I am not saying the Rosary or some other standard prayer. Am I wrong not to say the usual prayers, if not, then why do I feel guilty when I do not, nor really want to say the Rosary or other prayer. I just want to sit quietly in His Presence and either listen or speak with him? Has anyone else experienced this?

I have. But I am gaga about the Rosary and the LotH. I find the personal prayers “closer” to Him for me, too.

 

[CleverUserName]

You are not obligated to pray any certain prayer outside of those you join in Mass.
If at home, you are more connected praying/communicating in your own words, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

 

[R_C]

Many have, indeed!

We are not bound to any prayer in our personal life, neither the Rosary nor any other prayer.

These are aids that bring us close to God.

The Pater Noster came from the lips of our Beloved - they are truly words of the Lord, and we know that

It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

The Rosary came from the hands of our dearest Mother Mary, and a gift from Her is reason for heaven to rejoice in thanksgiving.

Other prayers came from our Holy Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Some of them - such as the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy - have come through private revelations acknowledged by the Church, others through different means. But they are gifts from God to help us feel more His presence- for He is always close to us…

Our dear priests and religious follow the prayers of the Divine Office - notice what a sublime name! - but as for the lay faithful, we are not bound to specific prayers in our private life.

Furthermore, what you describe sounds to me like a wonderful gift, the gift of contemplative prayer.

In love, words are secondary…true love resonates in silence…quietly looking at one another…closing our eyes, and peacefully dwelling in the presence of the Beloved…

There is a beautiful Catholic book that unfortunately I have only found in Spanish (link), whose title describes just what you are experiencing:

“I don’t tell Him anything…I just love Him.”

Open yourself to contemplative prayer, find out more - especially about Carmelite spirituality, which is rooted in silence and enjoying His divine presence - and talk to your confessor or spiritual director about ways to enrich your spiritual life. Contemplation of the Blessed Sacrament, with such wonderful feelings in your heart as you describe, may bring you great bliss, and will definitely bring an incredible joy to our beloved Jesus.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Pray as you can, not as you can’t.
What matters is that you pray!!

 

[R_C]

Pray as you can, not as you can’t.

:yup: