Favourite ways to pray

[MarysLittleFlower]

Please share  is it the Rosary? Adoration? Mental prayer? Favourite devotions? Of course the Holy Mass, the greatest prayer.

Edited November 25, 2015 by MarysLittleFlower

[Peace]

I dunno if I have a favorite. I am only really used to "Mental Prayer" being the convert that I am. Interested in hearing what other people like, though, and why.

[chrysostom]

Besides Mass...

Rosary and adoration.

Very conventional I know.  I'm not sure if I have a "favourite" at this point.  I need all these things.  Mass because it's Mass, it's everything, it's the fount of all my life, it's the Mystery of Mysteries, it draws me to Heaven.  Rosary because it's my little lifeline, my knotted rope to grasp in a storm.  It never fails.  It makes me dwell on what is most necessary.  It's the prayer I pray when I get tired of mental prayer and don't have the energy to do anything fancy.  It's the bread and butter.  Adoration because there I meet Jesus face to face - or at His feet - and prolong Mass.  It draws me into Christ's life.  There I can be silent and remain with Christ and console Him.  It's an anchor of love.

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thanks for sharing Peace and Chrysostom! I see what you mean Peace about mental prayer and being a convert, I'm a convert too and I started doing mental prayer before too, but I have realized recently that the Church has really developed mental prayer. After reading St Teresa and books on mental prayer I think there's so much of it I never heard as a Protestant! Chrysostom, I love Adoration too. Especially combining it with mental prayer. Of course the Mass and the Rosary. But Adoration is like a way to love Jesus more in the Mass too. Its such a restful time and makes me think of meeting Him face to face someday. I agree too with what you said about consoling Our Lord. I believe He wants this. 

Edited November 25, 2015 by MarysLittleFlower

[chrysostom]

14 minutes ago, MarysLittleFlower said:

But Adoration is like a way to love Jesus more in the Mass too. Its such a restful time and makes me think of meeting Him face to face someday.

St. Ambrose:

Face to face, 
Thou hast made thyself known to me, O Christ; 
I have found thee in thy mysteries.

[Spem in alium]

The same as above: Mass, Rosary, adoration.

I'm incredibly fortunate that I can do all three every day, and particularly that I am able to adore the Lord first thing in the morning. I am an early riser and I go to our convent chapel before anyone else is awake. It's just me and Him in the early morning light. I can sit at His feet in silence and stillness, and just be with Him. In a way, it reminds me of the Resurrection.

 

 

Edited November 25, 2015 by Spem in alium

[NadaTeTurbe]

Mental prayer and lectio divina 

Mental prayer because it's a good way to get closer to God. I always feel like everyone around me have mystical experience with God, when I never "feel" Him. But a priest have told me that I don't need to "feel" something to do mental prayer. I've not a mystical mind - it's okay, I still love God and want to love Him all my life. 

Lectio Divina for various reasons : 
- The Bible is splendid, wonderful, and magnificent. My favorite books are the Psalms, the Song of Songs, the Gospel according to Saint Luke, and the book of Judith. 
- Since I have not a mystical mind, I feel like I can get closer to God by reading His word
- No matter how many time I read a part of the Bible, everytime I understand something new
- Vatican II asked catholic to read and study the Bible 

[Julie]

This probably falls under the broad heading of "mental prayer", but my favorite it a very casual kind of prayer: inviting Jesus into my running thoughts during the day. I used to sort of talk to myself, thinking of daily things and running through stuff. Now, I try to address all of those thoughts to Christ. It sounds kind of simple and childish when I write it, but it makes sense to me. God loves me and I love Him. We don't only talk to those we love about important things- we also share trivialities throughout the day: little joys and frustrations, funny things, worries, etc. I want God to be my most intimate friend, to share in every part of my life, even the trivial stuff. This is a good way for me to do it. 

Of course, that doesn't mean more directed prayer isn't important- little ejaculations when I think of them, offering up tasks and troubles. Also, all of it nourished by liturgical prayer and traditional devotions like adoration and the rosary.

[MarysLittleFlower]

1 hour ago, Julie said:

This probably falls under the broad heading of "mental prayer", but my favorite it a very casual kind of prayer: inviting Jesus into my running thoughts during the day. I used to sort of talk to myself, thinking of daily things and running through stuff. Now, I try to address all of those thoughts to Christ. It sounds kind of simple and childish when I write it, but it makes sense to me. God loves me and I love Him. We don't only talk to those we love about important things- we also share trivialities throughout the day: little joys and frustrations, funny things, worries, etc. I want God to be my most intimate friend, to share in every part of my life, even the trivial stuff. This is a good way for me to do it. 

Of course, that doesn't mean more directed prayer isn't important- little ejaculations when I think of them, offering up tasks and troubles. Also, all of it nourished by liturgical prayer and traditional devotions like adoration and the rosary.

I do that too and personally I believe Our Lord likes it when we do that even on earth people who love each other share everything. 

6 hours ago, Spem in alium said:

The same as above: Mass, Rosary, adoration.

I'm incredibly fortunate that I can do all three every day, and particularly that I am able to adore the Lord first thing in the morning. I am an early riser and I go to our convent chapel before anyone else is awake. It's just me and Him in the early morning light. I can sit at His feet in silence and stillness, and just be with Him. In a way, it reminds me of the Resurrection.

 

 

That's beautiful I want people to visit Jesus, but the times of being alone with Him in church are so special. And yes just to 'be' with Him. St John Vianney said " Redouble your fervor, you are alone to adore your God; His eyes rest upon you alone."

Edited November 25, 2015 by MarysLittleFlower

[HopefulHeart]

Mental prayer, especially praying with the Scriptures. I read a Scripture passage, talk with Jesus about it, and then write down my thoughts in my journal.

Adoration, because it's one-on-one time with Jesus!

The Rosary and the Mass.

I also pray two novenas every day during the school semester: the novena to the Sacred Heart and the novena to St. Joseph. Both are beautiful and helpful!

[Spem in alium]

7 hours ago, MarysLittleFlower said:

That's beautiful I want people to visit Jesus, but the times of being alone with Him in church are so special. And yes just to 'be' with Him. St John Vianney said " Redouble your fervor, you are alone to adore your God; His eyes rest upon you alone."

That's right. I love to be alone with Him. One of my Sisters was talking about this kind of subject once, and she said she likes to do her adoration in private because the tabernacle is closed, which for her signifies intimacy and exclusiveness. And then, she said, when Jesus is exposed on the altar she feels the whole community should be there because He has come out to meet us. I agree with her.

Simply "being" with Jesus can be very difficult, though, because we always seem to want to be doing something, and because we worry about being distracted. During my adoration time I'll often read or meditate on Scripture, and usually I sing hymns quietly to myself or talk to Jesus about how I'm feeling about certain things. He knows how I feel, of course, but I believe He likes me to tell Him anyway.  

[chrysostom]

3 hours ago, Spem in alium said:

One of my Sisters was talking about this kind of subject once, and she said she likes to do her adoration in private because the tabernacle is closed, which for her signifies intimacy and exclusiveness. And then, she said, when Jesus is exposed on the altar she feels the whole community should be there because He has come out to meet us. I agree with her.

Simply "being" with Jesus can be very difficult, though, because we always seem to want to be doing something, and because we worry about being distracted.

I agree too.  It hasn't been easy to get to adoration often, so the following doesn't really apply for my situation currently, but when I am able to do it often I too prefer to adore when the tabernacle is closed.  The intensity of the exposed Host is sometimes hard to deal with for repeated long periods.  I feel compelled to simply look and gaze at that point, and while that is all well and good, for me personally I prefer to leave that for more solemn moments, or at least to space it out a little and do it on Thursdays.  I feel a little more "at home", so to speak, when the tabernacle is closed.  The veil of Heaven is let down a little more and my thoughts can wander a little without feeling inappropriate.  Also, the more private nature of adoration of adoration at a closed tabernacle can perhaps let one enter a little more into the mystery of Jesus' abandonment and loneliness.  It also teaches me that adoration need not stop at being in a church with an exposed Host but can continue anywhere the heart wishes to transport itself spiritually to where the Eucharistic Jesus is.

[Spem in alium]

20 hours ago, chrysostom said:

I agree too.  It hasn't been easy to get to adoration often, so the following doesn't really apply for my situation currently, but when I am able to do it often I too prefer to adore when the tabernacle is closed.  The intensity of the exposed Host is sometimes hard to deal with for repeated long periods.  I feel compelled to simply look and gaze at that point, and while that is all well and good, for me personally I prefer to leave that for more solemn moments, or at least to space it out a little and do it on Thursdays.  I feel a little more "at home", so to speak, when the tabernacle is closed.  The veil of Heaven is let down a little more and my thoughts can wander a little without feeling inappropriate.  Also, the more private nature of adoration of adoration at a closed tabernacle can perhaps let one enter a little more into the mystery of Jesus' abandonment and loneliness.  It also teaches me that adoration need not stop at being in a church with an exposed Host but can continue anywhere the heart wishes to transport itself spiritually to where the Eucharistic Jesus is.

Yes, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament can be quite intense. We have monthly retreats in our convent, with Mass, Exposition and Reconciliation, and at our last retreat because I had a free day I stayed in the chapel with Jesus for most of the time. It was a beautiful day, but very intense, because it was for quite a long period. At some moments, it was just me and Jesus. A great blessing to be before the Lord in that way, though. 

When I'm in private adoration, I sometimes feel as though I'm a bride being brought into her husband's tent or home. He is resting in the tabernacle, and I come to rest with Him. It's such an intimate moment and so personal. Even though the tabernacle is closed and I can't see Jesus, I feel as though He is revealing Himself to me completely -- and, of course, I know He can see my heart. 

[Credo in Deum]

In front of people so everyone can see how holy I am. 

 

 

[Nihil Obstat]

A friend yesterday was telling me about a young married couple. He had met the husband and they were acquaintances. Husband was Catholic, wife was quite Calvinist. But she would go with him to their local Mass. The local Mass here being quite bad. Very noisy, very irreverent, rock music, the whole nine yards. My friend had invited the husband to our parish, where there is a 24 hour adoration chapel. The husband took his wife there for an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and right afterwards they attended our traditional Low Mass. She registered for RCIA the next day. It was the prayerfulness and the reverence, and especially the silence that did it. What she remarked was "finally, this is what Catholicism is!"