Daily Prayer Time

[Myles Domini]

St Francis de Sales in his 'Introduction to the Devout Life' which is written for people in the world recommends that we do an hour of mental prayer every day in addition to praying the Rosary, doing the examination of conscience, morning prayers and so on. Given that you go by the name 'Philothea' I am guessing you dont disagree.

PS) Edit if you find it difficult to concentrate etc. dont worry just by St Francis de Sales' book he has plenty of handy meditations therein.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Myles

[philothea]

[quote name='Myles' post='967533' date='May 1 2006, 05:48 PM']
St Francis de Sales in his 'Introduction to the Devout Life' which is written for people in the world recommends that we do an hour of mental prayer every day in addition to praying the Rosary, doing the examination of conscience, morning prayers and so on. Given that you go by the name 'Philothea' I am guessing you dont disagree.
[/quote]
I wouldn't dare disagree.

That sounds like it would add up to about two hours. Hmm!

[Dust's Sister]

I shamingly only pray about 10 to 30 minutes a day.

Although I meditate on God more then that because I think about God everyday... so is thinking about God the same as praying?.. I think someone once said that, I don't know who though...

When I do say the rosary it takes me 30 minutes.. so maybe I should at least add that to my daily routine.

Edited May 2, 2006 by Dust's Sister

[jezic]

i would say thinking is different than praying.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

How often do I pray? Not nearly enough as I ought.

How often should one pray? "Without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). We should strive to do everything in prayer and in thanksgiving to God.

[Myles Domini]

[quote name='philothea' post='967553' date='May 2 2006, 12:06 AM']
I wouldn't dare disagree.

That sounds like it would add up to about two hours. Hmm!
[/quote]

Something like that...

[azaelia]

I sadly only pray about 10 minutes or less every day. I try to say the Divine Mercy every day, but I usually forget. After letting my prayer life remain stagnant for so long, it's hard to revive it.

[franciscanheart]

I seriously recommend purchasing the Divine Mercy CD from remnant! I do it not only because they are my friends, but A) because I completely support their work (their apostolate) and B) because it is so great to have in the car. It takes no more than 15 minutes to pray it with the CD and then you don't have to worry about forgetting the words. The music is beautiful and totally respectful. I know I've heard a handful of people say that if it weren't for the CD they might not remember to pray it each day. It makes it so easy to pray on the way to school or work or to dinner with friends!

Seriously.

[Myles Domini]

[quote name='azaelia' post='968172' date='May 2 2006, 02:19 PM']
I sadly only pray about 10 minutes or less every day. I try to say the Divine Mercy every day, but I usually forget. After letting my prayer life remain stagnant for so long, it's hard to revive it.
[/quote]

I know how you feel Azaelia. I've only just started to get back on track after a long spell of lukewarmness and when I mean long I'm talking months. Think of it this way when a man is laying face down freezing on the mountainside he has two choices: 1) Freeze to death or 2) Start crawling and keep going until he reaches safety. Its worked for me to have the same attitude. I refused to let my lukewarmness turn to complete coolness, I refused to freeze to death and just started crawling and when I'm faced with a challenge or a temptation I refuse to contemplate failure. I tell myself that I am going to be the one of those that makes it off the mountain, one of those remarkable stories, and I buckle down praise Jesus and go for it. Its done wonders for me lately. Its no more hard or easy than you want it to be. The whole Church militant, Church suffering and Church triumphant is on yourside and the grace of God is in your soul. Make the choice and follow it through with the utmost intensity and you'll make it. Up until last week I was down to doing Mental Prayer every now and again and for only short periods of time at that. But by the grace of God I have found the fire to get myself back to the ranger station. Already today I have spent a total of an hour doing various spiritual exercises and I dont say that to boast, I say it simply to show that if you throw yourself into it, God will help you make a complete turn around.

[Josie07]

At least if you pray once a day, it doesn't matter how long you spend.

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

Aside from the typical devotions like rosary, or spiritual reading, i try for twenty minutes of silent contemplation in the morning, and twenty more in the afternoon.

The days i commit to this, i am so much better off, the days i don't, well, its a slow fall into decay spiritually.

SHAOM

[Tindomiel]

[quote name='Josie07' post='968392' date='May 2 2006, 11:51 AM']
At least if you pray once a day, it doesn't matter how long you spend.
[/quote]
I'd definitely agree that quality means a lot more than quantity. Right now I try to spend at least a half an hour total on morning and night prayer, but I don't always do such a good job. My family always says the family rosary, but I didn't count that time, because it's not something I do on my own.

I know what azaelia means about lukewarmness, though. I always start slipping offtrack a month or so after a lot of spiritual highs, and I really have to just grind my teeth and work at it to keep up.

[franciscanheart]

If we arent talking to God, worshipping Him, keeping the communication, nothing we do is as good as it could be. We care for our physical health and we neglect our spiritual health? Our spiritual health has so much more importance in our lives than so many of the things we waste our time doing. Nourish yourself!

For everyone suffering from lukewarmness: [url="http://daughterofstjohn.blogspot.com/2006/05/heart-to-heart.html"]read this[/url].

[benedictaj]

I said 1-2 hours, but that IS counting Mass, and the Office. I try to get to Adoration for at least 30 minutes a day, and I pray the Rosary, and when I remember, the Divine Mercy chaplet. - Also, I tend to pray Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy, continuously....our world needs His mercy!!! I sometimes say the St Bridget prayers, as well.

Prayer is a funny thing, the more you do it, the easier it gets to cope with life, and all it randomness. The less time I spend practising the presence of God, the more I focus on the rest of the world, I just lose touch with Him! Prayer tends to be dry for me most of the time, I really only get consolation from Mass. But at the same time, I don't think I could live without it.

People should spend as much as they can in prayer...pray without ceasing, and striving to continually offer everything back to God. But I think its easier said than done. I don't think I pray enough...for me. Maybe for each person it is different? each person needs a different level and/or frequency? hehe I don't know. All I know is that for me, prayer is vitally important, and I really need to put aside extra time for it. I'm terrible at waking up in the mornings, so I think thats what I'll work on next.... lol.

(eg: I need to read my sig )

God bless+

Edited May 3, 2006 by memtherose

[morostheos]

I definitely don't spend as much time praying as I should. It's amazing how much time I waste during the day then how much I complain to myself about praying for only 20 minutes in the morning and 15 at night....

We should pray more because we NEED it. It's so important to make time. Even if you just start out by saying a short prayer when you get up and another when you go to sleep, then at least you're starting and ending your day with what's most important - God.