Praying With Fervour?

[justfran]

Alright, so we all know that a perfectly said prayer is said using all your heart, with all your strength, with attention and fervour. Now, the dictionary.com. meaning of fervour is something like "intensity of emotion" or something like that.
So I looked at what heaps of Catholic websites had to say on this and they all say stuff like "You ought not to look for sweets or jam to eat with your daily bread, as children do; but to imitate Jesus more perfectly in his agony you could say your Rosary more slowly sometimes when you find it particularly hard to say: "Being in agony, he prayed the longer," so that what was said of our Lord when he was in his agony of prayer may be said of you: he prayed all the longer." from [url="http://www.theholyrosary.org/"]this site[/url]. While it all seems really honourable just to keep at it and just try to concentrate, I find that the mentality that I derive from stuff like this is "Must. Be. PERFECT. Or. ELSE." - you know, with ROBOTIC, METICULOUS attention to what is being said. OR ELSE.
And I find I get really agitated with that, even after one "Hail Mary", using all my heart and strength in the way that ppl imply to me.
Sure I mean, if I go too far off the track then I repeat the prayer, but I thought prayer was supposed to be about making one calm and at peace with God and His Creation! How do you come to that and pray with all your strength and heart at the same time?

[StColette]

well I don't have anything to post now we talked about it on an IM

[justfran]

ok well just in case someone else is having the same problem, this is basically what I was told:
1. There is no try. Forcing it doesn't work
2. If you pray out of love for God, it's good.
3. "Just because you don't feel it doesn't mean it's not there."

[StColette]

and the most important is to pray that your heart be opened so that you can begin to feel emotions more when you pray. Everything begins with prayer and this is no different.

1. Forcing it doesn't work

That's because you are making yourself do something that you don't actually feel without have to pursade yourself that you feel that way.

2. If you pray out of love for God, it's good.

Completely and entirely wonderful !! To love God is to love all that He is and has created.

Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender. -- St. Therese of Lisieux

To love God is something greater than to know Him. -- St. Thomas Aquinas

Love God, serve God: everything is in that. -- St. Clare of Assisi

3. Just because you don't feel it doesn't mean it's not there

Like I explained in the IM, different people feel emotions differently. Some are affected by emotions very deeply while others are not. This does not make them any less of a person or Catholic.

To finish off I leave ya with this quote

"For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." - Saint Therese of Lisieux

[Cure of Ars]

Emotions should not be the focus or goal of prayer and it would not work to try to force these emotions. St. Teresa of Avila has a lot of good things to say about prayer (she’s a doctor of the Church) and at times prayer was very dry for her. Here are some quotes by St. Teresa. Note that when she talks about consolations she is talking about having good feelings during prayer.


[quote][b]Content with Consolations[/b]

I feel I must repeat this important point: at the beginning we must not become content with the consolations we may receive at the early stages. That would be like building our house on sand. At this stage you are beginning to build a beautiful castle, and you must build it on strong virtues, not temporary consolations. Neither should we complain about a lack of consolations at this stage. Rather, embrace the Cross which Jesus bore upon his shoulders and realize that this Cross is yours to carry too. We are free in the same measure we are able to suffer.

You may also make the mistake of thinking that you will be better able to bear your trials if God will only grant you inward consolations. Remember that God knows what is best for us, and that we are not capable of asking for what is best for us. All that beginners in prayer must do is this: labor and be resolute, preparing themselves with diligence to bring - their will into conformity with the will of God. This ability is the greatest thing that can be accomplished on the spiritual journey. [/quote]
[url="http://web.mit.edu/tcc/www/sss5.html"]http://web.mit.edu/tcc/www/sss5.html[/url]

[quote][b]Use No Force[/b]

You will not be able to enter all the dwelling places through your own efforts, even though these efforts may seem to you great, unless the Lord of the castle himself brings you there. Hence I advise you to use no force if you meet with any resistance. Once you get used to enjoying this castle, you will find rest in all things, even those in- volving much labor, for you will have the hope of returning to the castle, which no one can take from you.[/quote]
[url="http://web.mit.edu/tcc/www/sss5.html"]http://web.mit.edu/tcc/www/sss5.html[/url]

If you are interested I would also read this;

[url="http://www.goodnews.ie/wisdomlinedmar.htm"]http://www.goodnews.ie/wisdomlinedmar.htm[/url]

Edited August 12, 2004 by Cure of Ars

[Fides_et_Ratio]

Saint John of the Cross is awesome. You should check out his works as well.

He is my favorite Saint. By far.


And St. Teresa of Avila rocks too. They have a lot in common. And a cool history together.

[phatcatholic]

justfran,

i think the reason that the saints and the church fathers speak of a prayer life that seems untouchable is b/c they strive for the ideal. i believe it is our calling to strive for the ideals in life. it is the work of the Church to bring this world closer and closer to communion w/ God until the day when Jesus comes again and can unite the world to himself more perfectly. of course, the most we can do to achieve this end is to give God all that we have. we are not called to be "perfect" in the strictest since, for none of us are. but, what we are called to do is love the best way we know how, live the best way we know how, pray the best way we know how. all God asks of us is that we try our best. so, don't become discouraged when you see that your prayer life pales in comparison to the great mystical relationships many saints were able to achieve thru prayer. just try your best, work w/ what you have and what you are capable of. God will be content w/ this, and he will take care of the rest.

pax christi,
phatcatholic

[justfran]

yeah I did get a bit discouraged for one or two days and i didn't pray as much as I normally do - not just that but also because at times i just didn't get around to it or was feeling a bit headachey (I didn't finish Friday's Rosary until Saturday morning) and then I found out that I was too late to send my intentions to Lourdes.

Still, I do have faith that God's mercy is infinite and that my intentions (I'm still praying that my family's hearts will change and they will be saved) will be granted. Nothing about it as far as I know would be against God's Will - He'd absolutely love it if all my family accepted Christ into their hearts and converted, and I've been doing what I can to witness to them.

[justfran]

I kinda feel really discouraged that I got discouraged. I feel as though just because I stopped my prayer routine on Friday (only praying the Rosary), God's not going to grant me my petition...I know I shouldn't doubt, but still I'm praying.

Edited August 16, 2004 by justfran