Which prayers and how often?

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Dianna

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I’m learning about Catholicism, I have another post about that. I’m a bit overwhelmed with the amount of prayers there are. How do most decide which prayers they will say and how often. Like Liturgy of Hours, do people set alarms or just pray if they happen to remember? Or do some just say one or two of the common prayers and daily prayers then are done? I am finding my desire to pray has increased. The idea of going to my room to pray the rosary is so inviting. Praying the rosary and prayers out of the book of prayers is changing my prayer life and my closeness with God more than I can express.
There are so many different Saints to pray to, rosary prayers, chaplets, common prayers.
How do you keep from it being too much but at the same time making it a priority ?
 
You’re not going to be able to say every form of prayer out there. People usually have a couple that they do regularly and maybe add the occasional special prayer to that.

I know we have people on this forum who pray the LOTH (Liturgy of the Hours) regularly, but they don’t pray the rosary or other prayers because they are committed to LOTH and they concentrate on saying that.
Other people do a daily Rosary, or a daily Rosary and Divine Mercy, and add occasional other prayers to that.

Certain prayers like LOTH and the Angelus/ Regina Coeli are meant to be said at certain hours. I say the Angelus and I do set a phone alarm to go off when it’ s time, but I sometimes miss the hour because I’m in a meeting, I’m asleep, I’m in Mass with my phone off, or I just have the phone off and forget. When that happens I just say it when I remember that I need to say it and have some time.
 
Different people pray differently. For me, I pray 1 rosary and 1 chaplet of divine mercy everyday.
 
I’m feeling very drawn to the Rosary. Its so strange as I had my thoughts of what it was, worship to Mary and once my heart opened, when I pray the Rosary I feel closer to the Lord than at any other time.
 
Well a lot of that depends on what commitments you have in life. You must relax and let God guide you. It can be overwhelming if you try do it all, and whats more you will set yourself up to fail. Listen carefully to God’s voice in all the desires your feel. He’ll be persistent but ever so gentle, so for now dont get carried away with anything you feel is too urgent or must be done right this minute, that’s likely your own will or other. Start slowly and develop habits you can stick to rather than jumping about the place. I am not saying you can’t change, but give things a chance, like try the rosary for a few months to see if it’s for you, rather than one day this and one day that. Also it can be helpful for people to begin the rosary by starting off with one decade at a time, or following youtube or using pictures etc as some people struggle with concentration. As for LOH, you dont have to say it at specific times unless you want to be very exacting, you just fit it into your life as best you can at the times, ie morning in the morning, noon at midday ish. It can be very challenging to do all 7 times, so most people do less. Many do just the Morning and Evening adding perhaps the Night as well. I would suggest an app for a beginner as the book takes a little practice and is best shown to someone. When searching for an app, make sure you put your country in as it is different for different countries, America usually calls it Liturgy of the Hours, and UK/Australia The Divine office which can help with searching. The apps don’t differ much but enough that if ever doing it in a group it would be evident.
The rosary is a great way to pray and definitely a good way to start. There’s a lot of guided rosary prayers on yourube if you find that helps, also some parishs have rosary groups you may be able to join. It’s quite nice to pray the rosary in the church as a group now and a again too. God bless you.
 
Yes I don’t want to set myself up for failure. That is for sure!! I have an app I have been using for the Rosary and Divine Mercy. Yes one decade, did see a video suggesting all four…maybe down the road LOL I got the kindle edition of Catholic Book of Prayers. I like how it is broken up so very easy to have some morning prayers or evening and other occasions. Even listening to them is soothing and just something so special. Right now EWTN in on and The Chaplet of St. Michael is on. Oh I’m not even going to start asking questions about Saints LOL Reading daily about the Saint of the Day that is on the app I’m using, Laudate, and then reading other things as I come across it.
When it comes to prayer, it is something I’m loved for a long time but my prayers felt empty, they felt forced, and a lot of times I just didn’t know what to say after two minutes. Now it is like my heart is exploding and God knows all my intentions. With the prayers I am saying, then later when I’m just talking to God as I go about my day I feel like even those times are more connected. That probably doesn’t make sense and please forgive. This is all so amazingly overwhelming and beautiful.
 
It does make sense. You are following your heart…that’s where God is. God bless you
 
Pick a couple formal prayers you like or that you are comfortable with or just do ‘heart prayers’ for now. Put the LOTH’s on the back burner for now and wait for less confusion in your progression into the spiritual life. The LOTH’s takes some getting used to and stymied a lot of beginners. It took the Lord 7 whole days to build the world and then He had to find a good carpinter…so start with one nail at a time.
 
You might want to try to start a little journal and ‘write’ letters to our Lord. That would be a prayer, also. Consider the Lord checks His mail every day and is waiting to hear from you.
 
Yes I think at this point LOTH’s is a bit much for me. Confusion is not needed.
 
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