When you Pray ?

[Phil_Marinus]

When you pray, for example… The Lords Prayer, do you rattle them off a million miles per hour, or do you actually think about the words your saying, do you ever pray one sentence then try to interpret those words to yourself ? to find it’s true meaning…
because so often it seems like a race, to see who can blurt out the most words in one minute …

 

[Peter12rb]

I’d have to say I hurry through them, or just say them by rote memory more often than I’d like. It’s definitely better to take one’s time. This is a good reminder for me, thanks!

I’m glad that my 4 year old took the time to think of a few things to be thankful for during grace today (mom and dad, the house, the dog, etc). He probably took more time thinking about his prayers than I did!

 

[allhers]

When you pray, for example… The Lords Prayer, do you rattle them off a million miles per hour, or do you actually think about the words your saying, do you ever pray one sentence then try to interpret those words to yourself ? to find it’s true meaning…
because so often it seems like a race, to see who can blurt out the most words in one minute …

I love this part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church because it explains, line by line the Our Father.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s2a3.htm#2839

When I pray the Rosary I tend to pray it faster, and at times, during Mass. I really like it when we sing the Our Father, while at Mass, it helps me somehow, to feel more like I am really praying to God, our Father. (Which I am.)
But I love, when in times of private prayer, to pray using the explanations of the Catechism.

 

[Bayoubeefmaster]

To be honest, I do about half and half. During a rosary one hour I’ll be so focused and reflecting on every word I say. Then the next time I go so fast I don’t remember if I actually said the prayer.

 

[petra22]

I went through a time when I said the Hail Mary slowly. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners NOW and at the hour of our death. Amen. I was so taken with the fact that I was really asking her to pray for me NOW when I was going through some tough times with anger, jealousy, self-pity… Ever since then I really think about her praying for me NOW AND at the hour of my death! Seems like I say the NOW louder if I’m having a bad day…

 

[Phil_Marinus]

I went through a time when I said the Hail Mary slowly. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners NOW and at the hour of our death. Amen. I was so taken with the fact that I was really asking her to pray for me NOW when I was going through some tough times with anger, jealousy, self-pity… Ever since then I really think about her praying for me NOW AND at the hour of my death! Seems like I say the NOW louder if I’m having a bad day…

haha… great answer… Yep I know what you mean…

 

[Oneofthewomen]

When you pray, for example… The Lords Prayer, do you rattle them off a million miles per hour, or do you actually think about the words your saying, do you ever pray one sentence then try to interpret those words to yourself ? to find it’s true meaning…
because so often it seems like a race, to see who can blurt out the most words in one minute …

I had an experience that really woke me up one day.

I was at daily Mass, and when we got to the Lord’s prayer, I remember thinking “WOW! That was fast!” as most of the congregation finished a full line sooner than I did. The more I thought about it, I started thinking about the words, and then it hit me! Like a ton of bricks!!

“Forgive me my trespasses, as I forgive those who trespass against me…”
Ummmm, do I really want God to do that?! :bigyikes:

I think sometimes, we get so entrenched in ‘routine’, that we actually forget that the words we say mean something.

I know that now I am much more deliberate when I recite “rote” prayers, and much more aware of what I am praying for!

 

[fred_conty]

When you pray, for example… The Lords Prayer, do you rattle them off a million miles per hour, or do you actually think about the words your saying, do you ever pray one sentence then try to interpret those words to yourself ? to find it’s true meaning…
because so often it seems like a race, to see who can blurt out the most words in one minute …

What is fast for one person may not be fast for another.

Individuals process thoughts at different rates, so it takes much longer for some.
Each person finds their own answer.

Just a thought.​

“I am the vine, you are the branches, and all who live in me will bear great fruit.”

 

[AlanFromWichita]

At the end of contemplative prayer sessions, the guy that runs our weekly meeting recites the our Father one small phrase at a time, allowing quite a while between them. "Our Father … who art … in heaven … hallowed be … thy name … " where each “…” might be 5 or 10 seconds. It’s pretty awesome.

If I say prayers with others, I’ll pace myself to them. I’ll try to say them with a bit of expression, but not so that I stand out awkwardly. Like one of my little pet peeves has me pronouncing, “lead us not into temptation,” by making a clear break between “us” and “not” so it doesn’t sound like, “lead a snot into temptation.”

I usually don’t say memorized prayers when I’m by myself, but if I do I sometimes just get lost in the middle of it or allow myself to go on a tangent. Sometimes it’s to support or explain, or even question. Like I might think “They Will be Done,” and stop for a quick tangential thought about whether that’s a request or a statement of acceptance – because if it were a request it seems a bit presumptuous that I’m telling God that He should do what He wants. Once I get off track like that, I may or may not get back on track.

Alan