Stopping at the church and praying?

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MarshallJackson

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There have been many times when I have been feeling anxious or down, and I get an urge to go to my local church just to sit down and pray and give my feelings up to God. There are also times when I’ll be passing the church in my car, and I’ll get the urge to go inside and pray for my friends and family when they are in times of need. The only thing that is stopping me is that I’m worried about what I’m dressed in. I know this may sound ridiculous, but I am still quite new to the Catholic faith, and I am afraid of offending anyone. If it’s a case where I’m simply driving through town, obviously I won’t be dressed in my finest. My clothing isn’t inappropriate or anything, it’s just not very sophisticated or dressy. On Sundays I always dress my best, but I haven’t been there any other day just on the chance of passing by or anything, so any help/advice would be great!
 
Jesus is just kind of waiting in the Tabernacle for you. In my opinion it probably doesn’t matter to Him what you are wearing. When He was on Earth, he wasn’t choosy about who He spent his time with, at least one of them was even a known prostitute, so who knows what she may have worn?

I don’t think people go in to visit Him so often. I think you will find He offers you a lot of comfort there.
 
As long as you’ve got the basics - shoes, shirt, and your underwear isn’t showing you should go in!!!

Personally, if I’m a little on the “grubby” side after a sweaty day at work or a long bike ride, I’ll just hide out in the back corner of the Church so as to not offend anyone by my “state”.
 
Go ahead and go in! You are lucky you can; most churches in my diocese are locked up during the week (because of the crime rate) and we can’t go in at all.
 
When I go to Mass on a weekday, I’m usually in gym clothes and I’m not the only one.
 
Just go. If you are filthy like from yard work or dressed very inappropriately, then maybe not. :D. Otherwise, I hope to see you there!
 
It is a gift to feal the nearness of God. It is natural to a believer to want to spend time in the presence of the Almighty.

Of course, God is so close to us always, as to be able to hear even the faintest whispered prayer. And we should constantly speak to God, as that is what prayer is.

Certainly the devotion to Jesus in the presence of the Eucharist is a mark of very great spiritual maturity. We are to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength – at all times.

In addition to praising God and expressing your thanks, you have a right and duty to ask God for your spiritual and material needs (> Pope Benedict XVI).
 
Mrs_Sally said:
Just go. If you are filthy like from yard work or dressed very inappropriately, then maybe not. :D. Otherwise, I hope to see you there!
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We have a bunch of guys who sometimes come to 7:00 PM Mass after what looks like a hard days work in construction. Work boots, cut of jean shorts, t-shirts… they hop out of the Ford Crew-Cab with the ladders on the top, go into the small chapel, kneel and pray for about fifteen minutes, go to Mass and then I sometimes see them at Publix getting an Italian Sub afterward.

I call that devotion and piety.

-Tim-
 
When I go into a church,I wear a shirt and pants all the time,but a nicer shirt when I go to Mass on Sunday, but I have seen people come into church wearing shorts,dungress,and sansdeles, insteaded of shoes. But your going to church to be with God and pray. God is listing to what you say,not how you look,so go in and pray,and don,t worry what people say, about what your wearing, we are to please God ,not people. :bible1:
 
The head basketball at a local college is a member of our parish and he makes it a point of keeping time in his schedule to come in and talk to God. Even on the day of games.
 
TimothyH said:
We have a bunch of guys who sometimes come to 7:00 PM Mass after what looks like a hard days work in construction. Work boots, cut of jean shorts, t-shirts… they hop out of the Ford Crew-Cab with the ladders on the top, go into the small chapel, kneel and pray for about fifteen minutes, go to Mass and then I sometimes see them at Publix getting an Italian Sub afterward.

I call that devotion and piety.

-Tim-
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👍 That is very cool - devotion and piety indeed!
 
Thanks for all the answers guys! I made it a priority to stop in the church and pray before a big test that I had in a math class (I’m horrible at math and it always causes me to panic), but after going in and praying, I went and took the test and got an 85% (a miracle grade for me in a math class) 🙂 I’m so happy to be able to visit Jesus at the tabernacle 🙂 God is great.
 
MarshallJackson said:
Thanks for all the answers guys! I made it a priority to stop in the church and pray before a big test that I had in a math class (I’m horrible at math and it always causes me to panic), but after going in and praying, I went and took the test and got an 85% (a miracle grade for me in a math class) 🙂 I’m so happy to be able to visit Jesus at the tabernacle 🙂 God is great.
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👍👍👍

Thier you go, May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you.

jesus g
 
I wish it were possible to go in a church and pray. But with all the vandalism all local churches are locked outside of Mass Time.

Even the one church with a perpetual adoration chapel is locked and only the people on the rota are given the combination.

Even Baptist churches are locked I hear, for what I don’t know for a Baptist one place is as good as any other place and they would never think of entering a church to pray. What do they fear. people stealing the silver? They don’t have candles at all.
 
MarshallJackson said:
Thanks for all the answers guys! I made it a priority to stop in the church and pray before a big test that I had in a math class (I’m horrible at math and it always causes me to panic), but after going in and praying, I went and took the test and got an 85% (a miracle grade for me in a math class) 🙂 I’m so happy to be able to visit Jesus at the tabernacle 🙂 God is great.
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When you leave everything in the hands of God,he won,t refuse you anything.
 
God sees your heart not your clothes. He loves it when you stop what you’re doing and spend time with him. When it comes to prayer (as opposed to worship) our God is a come-as-you-are God.
 
MarshallJackson said:
There have been many times when I have been feeling anxious or down, and I get an urge to go to my local church just to sit down and pray and give my feelings up to God. There are also times when I’ll be passing the church in my car, and I’ll get the urge to go inside and pray for my friends and family when they are in times of need. The only thing that is stopping me is that I’m worried about what I’m dressed in. I know this may sound ridiculous, but I am still quite new to the Catholic faith, and I am afraid of offending anyone. If it’s a case where I’m simply driving through town, obviously I won’t be dressed in my finest. My clothing isn’t inappropriate or anything, it’s just not very sophisticated or dressy. On Sundays I always dress my best, but I haven’t been there any other day just on the chance of passing by or anything, so any help/advice would be great!
Click to expand...
No problem with going as you are.
 
Our church is locked after the morning events, but what’s nice is that from one of the side doors, you can look in and see the Tabernacle up there. Actually you have to kneel in the dirt, but that’s OK; it’s really peaceful to see the Lord’s little house, especially at night after work when it’s all quiet!

+++

What I’ve also found peaceful is seeing the 24-hour live-stream of some churches. Even if it’s late at night and the only thing you see is the Tabernacle light, it’s wonderful to know He’s there! Amen!

One of my favourites to visit this way is the Shrewsbury Cathedral in England:
dioceseofshrewsbury.org/news/live-stream-shrewsbury

amsjj 🙂

+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
  • Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851
Tú y yo sabemos por la fe que oculto en las especies sacramentales está Cristo,
ese Cristo con su Cuerpo, con su Sangre, con su Alma, y con su Divinidad,
prisonero de amor.
  • San Josemaría Escrivá, 1 junio 1974
… Our Lord Himself frequently said; and it is recorded as an Apostolic tradition from Him by
St. Justin the Martyr. He says ‘Jesus often said, “They who are near Me are near a fire”’.
  • Abp. W. B. Ullathorne, August 1st 1886
 
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