Why secret prayers?

[english_guy]

Hello everyone,
why does scripture say “say your prayers in secret, and not to put on a show in public”? (not the exact words I know),and we are told to worship God in church?,In full public view, I find this a little bit confusing, does anybody else?.

                         God Bless, and thanks in advance for any replies. Mick.



   Sunny but cold in Recession hit England

 

[thistle]

Hello everyone,
why does scripture say “say your prayers in secret, and not to put on a show in public”? (not the exact words I know),and we are told to worship God in church?,In full public view, I find this a little bit confusing, does anybody else?.

                         God Bless, and thanks in advance for any replies. Mick.



   Sunny but cold in Recession hit England

Matt 6:6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 6. Because he who should pray in his chamber, and at the same time desire it to be known by men, that he might thence receive vain glory, might truly be said to pray in the street, and sound a trumpet before him: whilst he, who though he pray in public, seeks not thence any vain glory, acts the same as if he prayed in his chamber. (Menochius) — Jesus Christ went up to the temple, to attend public worship on the festival days.

 

[Fidelis]

From the Navarre Bible:

[5] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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5-6. Following the teaching of Jesus, the Church has always taught us to pray even when we were infants. By saying “you” (singular) our Lord is stating quite unequivocally the need for personal prayer—relating as child to Father, alone with God.

Public prayer, for which Christ’s faithful assemble together, is something necessary and holy; but it should never displace obedience to this clear commandment of our Lord: “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father”.

The Second Vatican Council reminds us of the teaching and practice of the Church in its liturgy, which is “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows …]. The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with others, but he must also enter into his bedroom to pray to his Father in secret; furthermore, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he must pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)” (“Sacrosanctum Concilium”, 10 and 12).

A soul who really puts his Christian faith into practice realizes that he needs frequently to get away and pray alone to his Father, God. Jesus, who gives us this teaching about prayer, practised it during His own life on earth: the holy Gospel reports that He often went apart to pray on His own: “At times He spent the whole night in an intimate conversation with His Father. The Apostles were filled with love when they saw Christ pray” ([St] J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 119; cf. Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; etc.). The Apostles followed the Master’s example, and so we see Peter going up to the rooftop of the house to pray in private, and receiving a revelation (cf. Acts 10:9-16). “Our life of prayer should also be based on some moments that are dedicated exclusively to our conversation with God, moments of silent dialogue” (“ibid”, 119).