Why don't Catholic improvise own prayers?

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Country_Gal

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Why is it that Catholics usually pray pre-scripted prayers instead of making their own?
 
But I do make up my own prayers too. “Oh Lord, if it be thy will, please help Country Gal not to over-generalize about her fellow Catholics. Amen” 🙂
 
christofirst said:
But I do make up my own prayers too. “Oh Lord, if it be thy will, please help Country Gal not to over-generalize about her fellow Catholics. Amen” 🙂
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Oh Lord, please help the Catholic members here not become defensive when asked a simple question. Open their hearts, dear Lord, to expressing their individuality in prayer, while still appreciating the rich history of the Church.

Allow, oh Lord, your Catholic children to learn and grow from traditions of their fellow Christians, and bring all Christians together in the holy name of Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father. Let our lives be guided by the Holy Spirit in all things.

Amen
 
Because it’s simpler. And it’s encouraging, when you think that so many people before you have used the same prayers. This is the power of tradition. But nobody compels you to use only pre-scripted prayers. You can always pray using your own words. It’s not a matter of either/or of better/worse.
 
So many of us do pray our own prayers daily. Some of us, and that is a general statement, have difficulty with unwritten or our own verbal prayers. Written or scripted prayers help us to focus and help us on our way. I am not a great thinker so I do use formulated prayers a lot. I don’t think God cares how we pray, but that we do, with the intention of lifting up our hearts and souls to Him.
 
Country_Gal said:
Why is it that Catholics usually pray pre-scripted prayers instead of making their own?
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Some people feel comfortable doing it that way in order to make sure that they don’t leave anything out. There is nothing at all wrong with spontaneous prayer, and I do believe it is helpful for a person’s spiritual growth to attempt it even if they don’t think they’re good at it, if nothing else, at least in a private setting. God is not interested in our eloquence. What matters is that you are praying.
 
Just as Jesus taught us the Lord’s Prayer, a lot of catholic prayers come from scripture and are deep in meaning. While we all say our own prayers from time to time, these scripted prayers can be used in group settings which makes them more powerful when said in union with others
 
I, personally, use both scripted and ad lib prayers.
Scripted is most often used at church but also for my morning prayers.
The ad lib prayers are throughout the day and consist of thanksgiving, praise and prayers for help.
If you think about it, any time you think of God you’re praying. There’s an unscripted prayer every Christian prays.
I do think you’re generalizing a bit here, maybe through your fallen away-ness you’ve forgotten or were never exposed to teaching that taught you to reach out to Christ as just yourself. Also remember, part of praying is just listening.
God bless you.
 
Country_Gal said:
Why is it that Catholics usually pray pre-scripted prayers instead of making their own?
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I’ll speak for myself, because it helps me to keep focused on what I’m saying, instead of thinking of what I want to say and how I want to say it, there’s the possibility that I may lose my train of thought, be distracted etc. Sometimes I’m sure people do this (unconsciously perhaps) based on superstition, as if pre-scripted prayers are inherently more powerful (translation: more able to bend God’s will) than an off-the-cuff prayer said with fervour.
 
I, too, say both throughout the day. I pray scripted prayers, especially those from the bible,
Our Father, Hail Mary, or some of the Psalms; but I also pray scripted prayers written by the
Popes, favorite Saints because I could never be as eloquent as they are and they inspire me.
I say those prayers I know “by heart” when I am in difficult situations, such as when I was
driving on an icy road and cars were skidding around me. I had to think about the situation
but the prayers came easily. When I am very troubled, it is also easier to pray scripted
prayers so I can focus on the prayer and not let my mind wallow in the troubles.
 
Country_Gal said:
Why is it that Catholics usually pray pre-scripted prayers instead of making their own?/QUOTE

If you read the prayer threads there are often very nice, prayers fellow CAF members have made if their own, There are also prescripted prayers as we join together to pray for each other.
Mary
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I call my unscripted prayers conversations with god, Mary, and any saints who make their way into my conscience mind, but I do this throughout the day, not necessarily during my prayer time. I have a great calling to the rosary, our lady helped me from sinking into utter despair during my cancer treatment. As a mark of thanks, I always begin my prayers with the rosary. Sometimes reflecting on the mysteries leads me to contemplation, sometimes they lead me to a reflection on my life, sometimes I just say the rosary.

When I have time, I follow the rosary with a careful reading of the bible, using a lectio divina approach, I’m developing with the help of my spiritual advisor. Ultimately, I think Catholics tend towards formal prayers because they are a wonderful link to our historical heritage, and a good starting point for reflection and contemplation.

One thing you learn when working on your prayer life with a spiritual direction is that sometimes the less you say, the better you communicate with god. If we think about it we tell god about our feelings, problems and needs for our benefit. He already knows about them.
 
Robertanthony said:
I’ll speak for myself, because it helps me to keep focused on what I’m saying, instead of thinking of what I want to say and how I want to say it, there’s the possibility that I may lose my train of thought, be distracted etc. Sometimes I’m sure people do this (unconsciously perhaps) based on superstition, as if pre-scripted prayers are inherently more powerful (translation: more able to bend God’s will) than an off-the-cuff prayer said with fervour.
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The bolded.
 
Country_Gal said:
Why is it that Catholics usually pray pre-scripted prayers instead of making their own?
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Because we usually pray together. And pre-written prayers are the only way for everyone to be praying the same thing together.
 
It is mostly because we don’t want to repeat “Lord, we just ask…” 15 times before finishing the prayer.

Seriously, we can pray however we desire to. However, the common prayers of the Church have great efficacy if they are prayed with faith and reverence.
 
po18guy said:
It is mostly because we don’t want to repeat “Lord, we just ask…” 15 times before finishing the prayer.
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:rotfl: I grew up protestant and when people would do that, it would annoy me. I dread prayer before big family dinners because of this. lol.
 
lol, haha 😃

I’m a fan of spontaneous prayer and you have my word that that phrase will not cross my lips a single time, precisely because it’s too cliche!
 
po18guy said:
It is mostly because we don’t want to repeat “Lord, we just ask…” 15 times before finishing the prayer.

Seriously, we can pray however we desire to. However, the common prayers of the Church have great efficacy if they are prayed with faith and reverence.
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KendraDZ1902 said:
:rotfl: I grew up protestant and when people would do that, it would annoy me. I dread prayer before big family dinners because of this. lol.
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How Not to Pray It’s the first example given. 😃
 
Country_Gal said:
Why is it that Catholics usually pray pre-scripted prayers instead of making their own?
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I like the scripted prayers. “The Lord’s Prayer” is a scripted prayer. I can repeat that and not get tired of it.

Further, other prayers…like the rosary, we were told would have special benefits attributed to them. I believe that, so hence, I pray the rosary. We were promised certain benefits with certain prayers. With the rosary, there are 15 promises associated with it, besides the fact Our Lady asked us in different approved visions to pray it daily.

ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=438582&Pg=&Pgnu=&recnu=

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy has similar promises. divinemercy.org/chaplet/promises-of-jesus.html

The prayers are also often like poetry. Personally, I like them.

In fact, there was a time I was in a New Age Church, and one time, they called a 24-hour prayer marathon…someone had to pray all that time, in shifts. Well, I was wondering what these people intended to even say! I know things we’d say in a Catholic Church.

I had considered doing a shift, but being, I almost never saw any of them pray, I wouldn’t have known what to say!

I just felt there would have been only so long I could have made up my own before I ran out of material! If I wanted to pray longer, it’d sound something like a filibuster!
 
Most Catholic pray pre-scripted prayers when praying in a group, but they probably improvise their prayers when they’re praying as an individual and to themselves. Other than stating intentions, I don’t really feel comfortable announcing my intimate personal prayers to other people.
 
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