Questions about prayer

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Lucius_Marius

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Greeting brothers and sisters. I have been working on improving and expanding my prayer life, and over time some questions came up to my mind. I hope you can help me answer them, and lay my mind at peace.

1. Is is alright if I pray the rosary in public? Often when I go somewhere I take the rosary with me and pray it, so as to keep my mind on God and away from the distractions of the sinful world around me.

2. Is it alright if I sometimes break up the rosary into parts, instead of completing it in one go? For example when I’m traveling, or only have a short break that allows me to say 1 or 2 decades, should I start from begining the next time, or continue from where I stopped?

3. Sometimes I sing or recite my prayers in a form of a chant… is that fine?

4. Sometimes when I want to humble myself more before God I prostrate myself in a position that’s very similar to how Muslims pray… knees and head on the ground. Is that fine too?

Sorry if I sound too formalistic, I know that prayer is about the inner state and our relation with God… I think it’s just my zeal to be as orthodox as possible, and I’m worried of doing something that should displease our Lord.
 
Lucius_Marius said:
Greeting brothers and sisters. I have been working on improving and expanding my prayer life, and over time some questions came up to my mind. I hope you can help me answer them, and lay my mind at peace.

1. Is is alright if I pray the rosary in public? Often when I go somewhere I take the rosary with me and pray it, so as to keep my mind on God and away from the distractions of the sinful world around me.

2. Is it alright if I sometimes break up the rosary into parts, instead of completing it in one go? For example when I’m traveling, or only have a short break that allows me to say 1 or 2 decades, should I start from begining the next time, or continue from where I stopped?

3. Sometimes I sing or recite my prayers in a form of a chant… is that fine?

4. Sometimes when I want to humble myself more before God I prostrate myself in a position that’s very similar to how Muslims pray… knees and head on the ground. Is that fine too?

Sorry if I sound too formalistic, I know that prayer is about the inner state and our relation with God… I think it’s just my zeal to be as orthodox as possible, and I’m worried of doing something that should displease our Lord.
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The answer to each of your questions is “yes.” All of that is acceptable. You make the most important point in the end of your post about prayer not being about formality, but about our personal relationship with the Lord.
 
Lucius_Marius said:
Greeting brothers and sisters. I have been working on improving and expanding my prayer life, and over time some questions came up to my mind. I hope you can help me answer them, and lay my mind at peace.

1. Is is alright if I pray the rosary in public? Often when I go somewhere I take the rosary with me and pray it, so as to keep my mind on God and away from the distractions of the sinful world around me.

2. Is it alright if I sometimes break up the rosary into parts, instead of completing it in one go? For example when I’m traveling, or only have a short break that allows me to say 1 or 2 decades, should I start from begining the next time, or continue from where I stopped?

3. Sometimes I sing or recite my prayers in a form of a chant… is that fine?

4. Sometimes when I want to humble myself more before God I prostrate myself in a position that’s very similar to how Muslims pray… knees and head on the ground. Is that fine too?

Sorry if I sound too formalistic, I know that prayer is about the inner state and our relation with God… I think it’s just my zeal to be as orthodox as possible, and I’m worried of doing something that should displease our Lord.
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Absolutely^4.
 
Lucius_Marius said:
4. Sometimes when I want to humble myself more before God I prostrate myself in a position that’s very similar to how Muslims pray… knees and head on the ground. Is that fine too?
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While I see nothing wrong with this in itself, if I were you, I would look into traditional Catholic prayer postures. Personally, I find that adopting devotional practices of past Catholics helps me to experience a sense of connection to them. It makes the Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints which we recite in the Creed come alive for me.
 
floresco said:
While I see nothing wrong with this in itself, if I were you, I would look into traditional Catholic prayer postures. Personally, I find that adopting devotional practices of past Catholics helps me to experience a sense of connection to them. It makes the Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints which we recite in the Creed come alive for me.
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This.

It’s totally your choice, dear OP, but usually whatever there is something laudible in another religion that seems good to imitate, a look into our own past shows an even better example given by the saints.

I’m sure some saints prostrated though. We would just do it for a different reason than Muslims would.
 
floresco said:
While I see nothing wrong with this in itself, if I were you, I would look into traditional Catholic prayer postures. Personally, I find that adopting devotional practices of past Catholics helps me to experience a sense of connection to them. It makes the Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints which we recite in the Creed come alive for me.
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In a previous very traditional parish we belonged to, our priest actually laid himself flat on the floor during a prayer portion of one Mass; it may have been during Lent, but I’m not sure.

There are actually times I also want to lay flat on the floor while praying.
 
ccmcmg said:
In a previous very traditional parish we belonged to, our priest actually laid himself flat on the floor during a prayer portion of one Mass; it may have been during Lent, but I’m not sure.

There are actually times I also want to lay flat on the floor while praying.
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That’s an official action father is supposed to do during that holy week Mass (I forget, Holy Thursday or Good Friday?)

And welcome back (saw your sig)!
 
Thank you for your answers.

I do not actually imitate what Muslims do, but sometimes this position just comes naturally in the middle of a prayer…
 
Your post was touching. Its wonderful to see someone who desires to be humble and close to the Lord. I just joined the Church and this is one of the reasons why…Catholics are serious about keeping Holy things Holy.

There is a practice I have that I don’t use very often and only for a few moments at a time.
When I can really seeking to be close to the Lord I lay on my back with my arms out the side to form a cross. This is how Jesus laid as he was being put on the cross.

The 1st time I did it, it was actually part of my physical therapy. I had surgery on my elbow and my shoulder. I was to lay across this hard foam form (it was the cross arm and laid just below my shoulders) and it hurt like crazy the 1st time but I think it was more emotional then physical at the time.

My therapist said, “you’re lean back and kind of hang on it and let it stretch out our scapula.” I was not Catholic at the time but the thought still raced through my mind- did she really just say what I thought she just said? Like I said- its not something I do often, or for very long… but there is an immediate connection with Him and its very powerful.

And I have learned over the years that its no so much the position of your body that counts as it is the position of your heart. You can come “Boldly before the Throne of Grace” as long as you are Humble about it. 🙂 Hope this helps.
 
Lucius_Marius said:
Greeting brothers and sisters. I have been working on improving and expanding my prayer life, and over time some questions came up to my mind. I hope you can help me answer them, and lay my mind at peace.

1. Is is alright if I pray the rosary in public? Often when I go somewhere I take the rosary with me and pray it, so as to keep my mind on God and away from the distractions of the sinful world around me.

2. Is it alright if I sometimes break up the rosary into parts, instead of completing it in one go? For example when I’m traveling, or only have a short break that allows me to say 1 or 2 decades, should I start from begining the next time, or continue from where I stopped?

3. Sometimes I sing or recite my prayers in a form of a chant… is that fine?

4. Sometimes when I want to humble myself more before God I prostrate myself in a position that’s very similar to how Muslims pray… knees and head on the ground. Is that fine too?

Sorry if I sound too formalistic, I know that prayer is about the inner state and our relation with God… I think it’s just my zeal to be as orthodox as possible, and I’m worried of doing something that should displease our Lord.
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I think #1 is not only alright, but is a great idea. You would be getting in your personal prayer and acting as a witness for those that see you at the same time.
 
floresco said:
While I see nothing wrong with this in itself, if I were you, I would look into traditional Catholic prayer postures. Personally, I find that adopting devotional practices of past Catholics helps me to experience a sense of connection to them. It makes the Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints which we recite in the Creed come alive for me.
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Well since the Muslims stole that prayer posture from our Eastern Catholics that would make it just fine to use then! 😃
 
Well since the Muslims stole that prayer posture from our Eastern Catholics that would make it just fine to use then!
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Really? Do they still practice this posture? If so could you link to somewhere with a picture, or some information? Thank you.
There is a practice I have that I don’t use very often and only for a few moments at a time.
When I can really seeking to be close to the Lord I lay on my back with my arms out the side to form a cross. This is how Jesus laid as he was being put on the cross.
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Thank you for sharing 🙂 It’s fascinating how different people find different ways to pray.
I think #1 is not only alright, but is a great idea. You would be getting in your personal prayer and acting as a witness for those that see you at the same time.
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I certainly do get some looks 🙂 I live in a place with a lot of Protestants and Muslims, and I’m not sure they really know what I’m doing… but I find praying in public helps me to be more confident in my faith, in a way it forces me to go deeper into my prayer and develop a stronger relationship with Him. I don’t know about witnessing though, brother! I don’t think it makes any difference for anyone except for my self… but only God knows.
 
ccmcmg said:
In a previous very traditional parish we belonged to, our priest actually laid himself flat on the floor during a prayer portion of one Mass; it may have been during Lent, but I’m not sure.

There are actually times I also want to lay flat on the floor while praying.
Click to expand...
Laying flat on the floor certainly does have Catholic roots. It’s done at ordination, and at a monk’s profession to name a couple of instances.

My favourite “Catholic” practice is chanting a mantra while meditating. I was at a oblate’s congress where Eastern meditation using a mantra was being promoted. It just didn’t catch on with me (all I ever got out of it was a good nap :eek:)

Now, I chant the Liturgy of the Hours in Latin every day. My habit is to chant the psalm in Latin, then pause, read it through silently in French (my native tongue) then move on to the next psalm. It occurred to me that the standard Latin psalm tones ARE a mantra of sorts; their regularity, metrical character and mathematical patterns make the chanting of the psalm in Latin (which I only partially understand though I can read/chant it fluently) the “mantra” that was taking me out of the material world and disposing my soul to soak up the psalm when I read it in French after chanting it.

So all this time this group was trying to re-invent the wheel, yet we already had a “mantra” type prayer in the chanting of the psalms. Listen to how it’s done in a monastery and you’ll see what I mean.

The beauty of Catholicism is that it’s been around so long, we’ve had the time to shake down what works and what doesn’t; and most everything has been tried and since we’re all different, there’s something out there for everyone that isn’t a rupture with tradition.
Lucius_Marius said:
live in a place with a lot of Protestants and Muslims, and I’m not sure they really know what I’m doing… but I find praying in public helps me to be more confident in my faith, in a way it forces me to go deeper into my prayer and develop a stronger relationship with Him. I don’t know about witnessing though, brother! I don’t think it makes any difference for anyone except for my self… but only God knows.
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The Muslims will understand. They pray several times a day too (the Liturgy of the Hours is our equivalent), and they also pray with beads (the Rosary of course…!)

I’ve discussed prayer with Muslim friends and colleagues. They understand our prayer routines (at a philosophical level) a lot more than my secular friends! One colleague in particular quickly clued in once when she came to see me on a technical matter and saw me with my breviary. She quietly apologized and indicated by sign that she would come back later. I haven’t had too man secular Canadians realize what was going on!
 
OraLabora said:
I’ve discussed prayer with Muslim friends and colleagues. They understand our prayer routines (at a philosophical level) a lot more than my secular friends! One colleague in particular quickly clued in once when she came to see me on a technical matter and saw me with my breviary. She quietly apologized and indicated by sign that she would come back later. I haven’t had too man secular Canadians realize what was going on!
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Do you know how awsome that is? Of course you do.

There is hope for us all.

Your entire post was a sublime read.

-Tim-
 
Lucius_Marius said:
Wow! Thank you 🙂 What a beautiful video, what a beautiful and humble practice. There are many things in the Eastern and Orthodox Church that I find myself really attracted towards, and this is just such an example.
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Glad you enjoyed it! It certainly is a beautiful practice. There are quite a few things the Muslims got from us Eastern Christians.
 
My priest once said in an RCIA class, “It’s of little importance how you pray. It’s of tremendous importance that you pray.” That stuck with me. It’s not about having all the correct prayers and the correct postures and correct devotions; people who place tons of emphasis on that stuff are what you might call spiritual materialists. What it’s about is relationship, and giving yourself over fully to the Beloved.
 
  1. Is is alright if I pray the rosary in public? Often when I go somewhere I take the rosary with me and pray it, so as to keep my mind on God and away from the distractions of the sinful world around me.
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Pope John Paul II was often seen in public with a Rosary cupped in his hand, even when he was listening to others talk.

The same case with Mother Teresa. She often had a Rosary cupped inside her hand, with only enough shown that a person with an observing mind would notice.

Jim
 
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