Too Scrupulous With Prayers?

[Christbearer03]

Hi everyone!

When I pray, often I have thoughts that are distracting come into my mind. When I realize these thoughts, I try to get them out of my head and get focused on my prayers again. But then I feel bad and I feel upset that maybe my prayers are not valid or heard. This is being too scrupulous, right?

Also, what prayers are great to say in the morning and before you go to bed?

Thanks all, and may God bless you all. May our Blessed Mother always protect and watch over you!

 

[Richard_White]

Yes, you are being too scrupulous with your prayers. I once did this a lot, but now, by God’s grace I have been able to pretty much overcome it. Just remember that God hears our prayers no matter what, that He knows our hearts and our minds even if we get distracted, and that He is always there.

Now, to your other question:

Morning Prayers:

Each morning, I try to say a Morning Offering, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Apostles’ Creed, the Guardian Angel prayer and just some general prayers thanking God for the day. I also ask that He bless my spirituality and help me to do His will. I recognize the saint or feast of the day and pray for the month’s intentions from the Holy Father. On weekends, I also add a couple of other prayers in my prayer book, the Angelus, and Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity, and Contrition.

See here for more: ourcatholicprayers.com/morning-prayers.html

Night Prayers:

Each night, I try to say a prayer reflecting on the day, an Act of Contrition, a Hail, Holy Queen, an Eternal Rest, the Guardian Angel prayer, the Saint Michael the Archangel prayer, and just some concluding prayers for the day.

See here for more: ourcatholicprayers.com/evening-prayers.html

You do not by any means have to do any of this, too. I just wanted to share my morning and nighttime prayer life so as to maybe insure you as to what you would like to do in yours.

May God bless you abundantly and forever!

 

[ialsop]

Thinking your prayers are not valid IS too scrupulous,

however,

Trying to get rid of distracting thoughts is very very good of you. Keep doing it.

 

[captainrick]

Thinking your prayers are not valid IS too scrupulous,

however,

Trying to get rid of distracting thoughts is very very good of you. Keep doing it.

Yep.

Also keep in mind that everyone has distracting thoughts, during prayer and at other times too!

 

[Bookcat]

“Distractions are one of the more common difficulties in prayer. They are absolutely normal and should neither surprise nor sadden us. When we realize that we have become distracted from our prayer and our thoughts are wandering, rather than getting discouraged or angry, we should simply, peacefully and gently bring our minds back to God.”

~ Fr. Jacques Philippe

• Time for God, p.96

frjacquesphilippe.com/

 

[Ricky_C]

I’ve been dealing with this a lot recently; what I do is keep a journal where I just write about how I’m feeling spiritually throughout the day. After I’m done writing, I consider what I’ve written and how I feel and what I want to gain spiritually, and pray based on that; it really puts a focus on my prayer life.

As for specific prayers, I pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary in the morning after thanking God for the day, and before bed, I reflect on the day and pray about that, then I pray this prayer: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, and save us from the fires of Hell; and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of Your mercy.”

Hopefully this helps you out; good luck, and God bless!

 

[pianistclare]

Hi everyone!

When I pray, often I have thoughts that are distracting come into my mind. When I realize these thoughts, I try to get them out of my head and get focused on my prayers again. But then I feel bad and I feel upset that maybe my prayers are not valid or heard. This is being too scrupulous, right?

Also, what prayers are great to say in the morning and before you go to bed?

Thanks all, and may God bless you all. May our Blessed Mother always protect and watch over you!

Scrupulous. Yes.

Act of Contrition.

Guardian Angel prayer.

Rosary prayers, but often they make you sleepy. No worries. Out Lady doesn’t mind.

 

[Ricky_C]

I’ve been dealing with this a lot recently; what I do is keep a journal where I just write about how I’m feeling spiritually throughout the day. After I’m done writing, I consider what I’ve written and how I feel and what I want to gain spiritually, and pray based on that; it really puts a focus on my prayer life.

As for specific prayers, I pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary in the morning after thanking God for the day, and before bed, I reflect on the day and pray about that, then I pray this prayer: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, and save us from the fires of Hell; and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of Your mercy.”

Hopefully this helps you out; good luck, and God bless!

Ah, to clarify what I said at the beginning, I do the journal once a day before bed about events that occurred throughout the day; I don’t do the journal throughout the day.

 

[littlestsouls2]

Jesus to Bl. Alexandrina: “I want you in My arms with the same simplicity of a baby in those of its mother.”

Our Lady to St. Bridget: "But do thou, daughter, whatever temptation may assail thee in prayer, persist in thy desire or good will, and in thy holy endeavours, as best thou canst; because thy pious desires and endeavours will be reputed as effectual prayer. Even if thou art not able to cast out the base and evil thoughts that come into thy mind, yet for those endeavours thon shalt receive a crown in heaven; thus these troubles will profit thee, provided thou consentest not to the temptation, but art displeased with whatever is unbecoming.”

“Imperfections cannot displease Me, unless the souls loves them” - Jesus to Sr. Benigna

Forget about distractions; even if they were venially sinful, thinking about them won’t help. Look at the compassion in Our Lord’s Sacred Heart - it will consume your imperfections and your fears.

 

[O_Lumen]

This is being too scrupulous, right?

It could be.

It could also be putting way too much emphasis on your feelings.

It is not objectively true that being unintentionally distracted while praying means that your prayers are not valid or are not efficacious, as is the case, for example, when one prays in a state of mortal sin. On the other hand, it may very well be the case that such prayers are *less *efficacious than they would be if said with great devotion and attention.

So, it’s best to try to ward off and renounce distractions, and to try to be as focused as possible, while also ignoring your emotions and your feelings, especially those that make you feel emotional guilt when you should know very well that you are not objectively guilty.