Praying all alone

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dug
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Dug

Guest
As we all know, Jesus said that when 2 or 3 people pray together He is in the midst of them.

I go to mass and many times I pray with someone, however I pray alone very often and say the Rosary alone everyday.

Praying alone gives me a lot of tranquility and really helps me go at my own pace, taking my time, making some reflections: when praying alone I pray for far more personal things and I feel much more at my ease and closer to God.

Does it change anything from when I pray with someone? Can I keep on doing it? Didn’t the Lord also say that it’s good to lock yourself in a room and pray alone or something along those lines?

Thank you.
 
Jesus too, went to be alone to pray, no?
So did hermits.
The highest levels of prayer come from mental prayer.
 
I too get concerned about this. Apart from going to mass and praying amongst strangers I always pray alone. I really enjoy it though and feel I am able to concentrate and fully immerse myself in mental prayer. My husband is catholic but lukewarm and doesn’t pray often. I have no one else to pray with, and as an introvert would really struggle with going to prayer groups etc. I would like to pray with 1 or 2 people I am comfortable with, but unfortunately have no one.

I often hear of the greatness of praying in groups and I often think of the passage from today’s Gospel you mentioned “when 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I am there…”. I really hope solitary prayer is enough.
 
We can and should pray alone and in groups. Jesus Himself modeled frequent private prayer and explicitly taught us to go into our rooms, close the door, and pray in secret. You can’t get clearer than this evidence.
 
First of all, you’re not alone. God and your Guardian Angel are with you. You may be by yourself but you’re never alone. So ask your Guardian Angel to help you.
 
Didn’t the Lord also say that it’s good to lock yourself in a room and pray alone or something along those lines?
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Mt 6:6
From the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours:
“Though prayer in private and in seclusion [54] is always necessary and to be encouraged [55] and is practiced by the members of the Church through Christ in the Holy Spirit, there is a special excellence in the prayer of the community. Christ himself has said: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst” (Mt 18:20).
[54] Mt 6:6 [55] Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 12”
St. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians says: “Rejoice always, pray constantly.” (vv. 16-17) We can’t always be with others. The Catechism states at 2743 It is always possible to pray: the time of the Christian is that of the risen Christ who is with us always, no matter what tempests may arise. Our time is in the hands of God:
It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, . . . while buying or selling, . . . or even while cooking,
The Catechism devotes a generous portion to prayer in two parts; part one from 2558 to 2758 regarding kinds and means of prayer and part two from 2759 to 2865 regarding the Our Father.
 
Jesus too, went to be alone to pray, no?
So did hermits.
The highest levels of prayer come from mental prayer.
Great answer. Jesus did say when you pray , go into your room and close the door. It is fine to pray alone, given Jesus approved it.
 
If you offer your rosary to the Theotokos then can you really say you are praying alone? What is prayer? Conversation with God. So in the truest sense, you can’t be praying alone as praying is conversing with God who is present everywhere in all things. But invite the Saints or the Theotokos to pray with you when you are offering something to the Lord and then you aren’t praying alone, even if you are physically by yourself at home.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top