Praying Question

[Jaguar]

When you pray … for example, the “Our Father” … do you pay close attention to the words you say and what they mean? I feel, if I don’t, it will not be as effective. I often have a problem concentrating and find myself repeating the prayer over and over, until I lock-in on the meaning of the every word.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[RosaryFan]

When you pray … for example, the “Our Father” … do you pay close attention to the words you say and what they mean? I feel, if I don’t, it will not be as effective. I often have a problem concentrating and find myself repeating the prayer over and over, until I lock-in on the meaning of the every word.

Any help would be appreciated.

I think everyone has that problem. I know I do. You sound like you’re describing me. The only advice I can offer is make sure you have some quiet time for prayer. Set aside some time every day - even if it’s just a few minutes - so you can concentrate better. Maybe you could go to Mass 10 minutes early and sit quietly in front of Our Lord in the Tabernacle; go the Eucharistic Adoration on a regular basis; make time before you go to bed at night; these are all times where you can sit quietly and concentrate rather than trying to rattle off a Hail Mary while driving to the supermarket (that’s what I tend to do).

It can be difficult sometimes to set aside time for God. Life is so busy and hectic. The devil sure does make certain that we’re kept “busy, busy, busy”. That’s one of his big weapons, I imagine. He likes to distract us with meaningless garbage. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, what’s more important? Time with God and the salvation of your soul; or your daughter’s soccer game? I know a lot of people wouldn’t dare miss that soccer game (myself included), but that’s what the devil is banking on. He knows we’re like dumb sheep and that our priorities are screwed up, so he pounces on that opportunity.

Ever notice how many families nowadays miss Mass on Sunday because of sports? I know where I live, the numbers are staggering! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “I couldn’t get to Mass this Sunday because Junior had a [fill-in-the-blank] tournament”. Ugh!

 

[JoyfulLife]

Ever notice how many families nowadays miss Mass on Sunday because of sports? I know where I live, the numbers are staggering! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “I couldn’t get to Mass this Sunday because Junior had a [fill-in-the-blank] tournament”. Ugh!

And they couldn’t go to Saturday evening Mass because???..

 

[RosaryFan]

And they couldn’t go to Saturday evening Mass because???..

More sports, I imagine!

 

[JoyfulLife]

Makes me mad that sports are their god.

 

[justtryin]

When you pray … for example, the “Our Father” … do you pay close attention to the words you say and what they mean? I feel, if I don’t, it will not be as effective. I often have a problem concentrating and find myself repeating the prayer over and over, until I lock-in on the meaning of the every word.

Any help would be appreciated.

How odd this should come up. I just yesterday had a priest tell me how he wanted me to pray the Our Father.

He asked me to pray each of the seven petitions of the Our Father as an Our Father in itself. Each petition as its own prayer. To meditate on each petition as I pray the Our Father.

A first I thought how odd. But now after only one day I cannot believe how incredible this is.

Here are three links I am starting with.

The Catechism…ARTICLE 3 THE SEVEN PETITIONS
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s2a3.htm

MEDITATION ON THE “OUR FATHER” (By Saint Francis of Assisi.)
catholicdoors.com/prayers/english5/p03089.htm

This next site I haven’t looked into yet, but I did find this:
The Our Father - meditated
theworkofgod.org/pray.asp?page=45

I hope you find this helpful.

 

[Edward_H]

When you pray … for example, the “Our Father” … do you pay close attention to the words you say and what they mean? I feel, if I don’t, it will not be as effective. I often have a problem concentrating and find myself repeating the prayer over and over, until I lock-in on the meaning of the every word.

Any help would be appreciated.

These types of prayers are helpful. They can fill otherwise unsanctified time. They can be “door openers” for deeper more conversational prayer. The Our Father was given to us by Jesus Himself, and we would do well to give this prayer some effort and attention, if we can, though our Father is very understanding and generous.