Prayers and Schedule

[ronhmason]

Do any of you have any suggestions or experiences to share about how you manage your prayer schedule. I’m up at 5 am Monday through Friday to get ready for work at 8 am. I get off work at 5 pm and I have not been able to figure out a schedule for my prayers. At this point, my main prayers are the ones I read out of a Catholic Prayer Book in large print. I love the prayers in the book and so many of them seem to have been written for me. Do most of you make up your own prayers or read them from a book.
Thanks for your help,
Ron

 

[Cami4]

Hi,

I try and reserve the time before I go to bed for my main prayer time. I start by reading the Bible (I’m partway through a “read the Bible in a year” plan) as I think reading Scripture is an excellent way to open a conversation with God. Then I usually just talk to God, my hopes, fears, desires, etc, leaving space for God to respond. Then I’ll usually end with Hail Mary, Our Father or some other composed prayer. That’s my major prayer time but I find myself constantly praying throughout the day-just little things like “grant me patience” etc.

But really, it’s up to you! I would say you should definitely make time everyday to spend with only God, even if it’s just 10 minutes, but other then that, as long as you aren’t just rattling off a list off memorized prayers without meaning then you are fine.

 

[SecretGarden]

Your best bet is to pray to God and ask him for guidance in this. You can also ask some friends at church as well as your local parish priest.

During your commute regardless if you use public transit or the car, you can pick up a cd of the rosary and slowly pray it either by putting it in your car’s cd player or download it to a mp3 or ipod. You can also do this for spiritual music, other prayers as well. For example I spend about a good 30 min on the bus before I grab the metro so I listen to worship music, but you can listen to whatever prayer music you enjoy. If you do that both ways imagine how much prayer time you’ll have.

I know some people who will go to a local parish on their lunch breaks and pray there for a few minutes, you can also stop somewhere on your way home as well.

Some people will say get up an extra half an hour earlier and pray then. It works for some so it could be an option just make sure that you get out of bed, and sitting in a place where you won’t fall asleep. If you aren’t a morning person, forget about this option and try something else.

I suggest that you google it and see where God leads. Prayer requires discipline and it’s not always easy. As you slowly find time, take it slow and slowly work up. Therefore, if you decide to pray for 30 min a day, start with 2 min and over a period of several months, work your way up.

You can also spend some time, learn about the different types of prayers and the techniques because as a Catholic it’s amazing how many are available to you. Trust me it’s so cool.

Whatever you decide, it’s important as you pray to switch the techniques, music whatever method you are using around every now and then so that you don’t become bored or dishearted when something isn’t going your way.

Hope this helps,
SG

 

[Blenderx]

My little family keep me very, very busy, but I try to set aside some time for prayer each day.

Even if its just 5 or 15 minutes scattered throughout the day, I try to get some time in for the morning and evening prayers (sometimes these are just a short morning offering, sometimes I have time to pray the Little Office), the Rosary, spiritual reading (the Holy Bible, or a prayer book, or the works of the Saints- just one page or even one paragraph can often provide great fruit for meditation throughout the day), and mental prayer. The practice of the Presence of God (see: Brother Lawrence) is also a very fruitful practice, and don’t underestimate the necessity of mortification and service for a robust prayer life.

I don’t worry if I can’t get much time and am unable to do all that I would like, I please God with my desires and by submitting myself to the demands of my vocation.

I would say, don’t limit yourself or the Holy Spirit in your prayers. Reach for the summit, and use whatever little footholds you can on your ascent- that is, whatever, at that moment, fans the Flames of Love.