Devotions

[tinytherese]

I desire a more rejuvenating prayer life but I feel as if I have some stuff in the way. I ask certain saints to pray about particular intentions everyday and I'm afraid that I might be talking to them too much. Praying for these certain intentions takes time and it's like I'm crossing the names of the saints off on a prayer task completion list. I often get distracted when praying to them so it takes even longer. I say an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be for the holy father and ask Our Lord to look down on him in mercy. I say three Hail Marys for the conversion of a few particular people. And I "spiritually adopt an unborn child" by saying this short prayer that Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen recommended. "Jesus, Mary, Joseph I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn child that I have spiritually adopted and which is in danger of being aborted." Then I pray one mystery of the rosary since saying the whole thing takes too long and just doesn't work for me anymore.

I feel bad for cutting back on the number of saints that I talk to because they are my brothers and sisters in Christ and I don't want to ignore these dear holy souls, but then again a real relationship doesn't invovle saying mechanical things to a loved one EVERYDAY. Besides I seem to be forgetting another aspect in regards to the saints, that we are meant to study, remember, and imitate their lives. I've done that hardly at all for quite some time. That may be of more benefit to me to live out what I'm praying about.

Most of all, there's my relationship with Our Lord that's really suffering. It's like He's saying, "Hi, remember Me? The love of your life? The reason for your hope? I've been waiting here for you to [i]come[/i] to Me and to [i]talk[/i] to Me. I've always been here beside you and always will be. I long for you now and long for you to be with me forever in heaven. When you are feeling sad, don't cry by yourself, come to me and cry on my shoulder and I'll hold you. When you feel angry, come to me and tell me about it. If you don't know what to do about a problem I'll help you figure it out. Afterall, I am [i]the way[/i]. If you feel happy about something, I would like to hear the news and I will delight in it with you. So please come home to me. I miss you."

[tinytherese]

Any imput phrom the phamily?

[Brigid]

[quote name='tinytherese' post='1676328' date='Oct 13 2008, 05:07 PM']Most of all, there's my relationship with Our Lord that's really suffering. It's like He's saying, "Hi, remember Me? The love of your life? The reason for your hope? I've been waiting here for you to [i]come[/i] to Me and to [i]talk[/i] to Me. I've always been here beside you and always will be. I long for you now and long for you to be with me forever in heaven. When you are feeling sad, don't cry by yourself, come to me and cry on my shoulder and I'll hold you. When you feel angry, come to me and tell me about it. If you don't know what to do about a problem I'll help you figure it out. Afterall, I am [i]the way[/i]. If you feel happy about something, I would like to hear the news and I will delight in it with you. So please come home to me. I miss you."[/quote]
wow...

that's pretty much exactly what He's been saying to me for the past two months. sad that it takes me two months to start listening, huh?

I can't help you, because I don't have the answer, either. I'm not managing to fit much prayer at all into my life besides visiting Him in my school's chapel for 5-10 minutes a day.

I know what you mean about reciting a list... I've had that feeling, too.

I love the prayer by Bishop Sheen - I might just have to use that.

I wish I could help. I'm sorry. Maybe some other members of the phamily will weigh in with their thoughts?

[philothea]

Well, the honest answer to "How do you handle it?" is "Not very well." But! That doesn't stop me from having ideas.

I had a kind of similar problem recently with praying the rosary. First off, I'm absolutely horrible at praying the rosary. I can't barely think of one thing at a time, much less two. If I actually start paying attention properly, a single decade will take me half an hour. Or, I can whip through a whole set of mysteries without having actually paid attention to any of it.

So... I figure what matters is intention and quality, not quantity, right? Nothing else makes sense. I finally decided to just spend X number of minutes a day on my rosary, and whatever I managed to cover, got done. Pick up the next day.

You might want to try the same with your own prayers: schedule a set amount of time for devotions, for mental prayer/meditation, for reading, whatever seems suitable.

I will add some more suggestions tomorrow, from St. Escriva. Now it is my bedtime!

Edited October 14, 2008 by philothea

[Noel's angel]

Go back to basics. It looks like you're trying to cram too much in, to the detriment of your relationship with God Himself. Philothea's suggestion about the rosary is one I would echo. Try your best. Saying a whole Rosary whilst distracted is less fruitful than concentrating wholly on one decade.

Go to Him. Go to Him as often as you can. Try and sit before Him every day if possible. Sometimes just sitting in silence can do wonders because we are giving God time to talk to us. Tell Him your worries, fears, hopes-everything.

Don't worry about not talking to all the saints. If there is one saint, or a few saints you feel you admire, stick with them. Ask for their intercession daily. If there are specific problems in your life, find out if there is a patron saint for these and ask them for their assistance.
Always remember though, put God first.

[Mr.Cat]

[quote][b]1 Corinthians 3:2[/b]
"I gave you milk to drink, not meat; for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able; for you are yet carnal."
[url="http://www.drbo.org/chapter/53003.htm"]http://www.drbo.org/chapter/53003.htm[/url][/quote][b]I speak from personal experience[/b], [b][u]so this may not apply to you[/u][/b], but it may be that its time to move from milk onto meat ([i]metaphorically speaking[/i]). You may be depriving yourself of the full meal that you need right now to be a Soldier of Christ, as we are summoned and commanded to be in the Sacrament of Confirmation. There may be at different times in one’s life there may be time for milk and for meat. Most of all the meat that is the most sublime and precious gift to man, the Sacrament of the Eucharist, moreover in Holy Communion... [i][color="#C0C0C0"](Be properly disposed, State of Grace, for Holy Communion.)[/color][/i]

Maybe some of the writings of [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintl05.htm"][b]Saint Louis Marie de Monfort[/b][/url] and [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/sainta09.htm"][b]Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori[/b][/url], in particular I am thinking of [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintl05.htm"][b]Saint Louis Marie de Monfort[/b][/url]'s writing on the Holy Rosary, [i][url="http://www.montfort.org.uk/Writings/Rosary.html"]The Admirable Secret of the Rosary[/url][/i], and [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/sainta09.htm"][b]Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori[/b][/url] writings on Our Lady that can be found in the link.

Moreover the writings of [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintj18.htm"][b]Saint John Mary Vianney[/b][/url], [url="http://www.throughthefamily.org/stjohnvianney.html"][u]which it is said[/u][/url]: "[i]the devil once revealed to him that if there were three such men as he alive at one time, the devil's kingdom would be destroyed.[/i]" The link, [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintj18.htm"][b]Saint John Mary Vianney[/b][/url], has two of his catechetical writings on prayer, I strongly suggest to anyone reading them.

Look at some of the sermons by [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintj18.htm"][b]Saint John Mary Vianney[/b][/url], some can be found in the book “[i][url="http://www.theworkofgod.org/library/Sermons/JdVianey/Sermons2.htm"]Sermons of the Cure of Ars[/url][/i]”. There is a particular sermon on prayer from this writing that comes to mind, it may be too staunch and blunt for some ([i]it most certainly was for me when I first read it[/i]), but it may help put things into perspective. ([url="http://www.theworkofgod.org/library/Sermons/JdVianey/Sermons2.htm#HIS%20PRAYER%20IS%20A%20LIE"]His prayer is a lie![/url]) Also look at some of the quotations of [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintj18.htm"][b]Saint John Mary Vianney[/b][/url], some are in the link.

Pray the Rosary and do not care how much time is spent in praying the Rosary, do not be impatient with one’s self or one’s prayers, but moreover Our Lady and God. Remember that one can pray anywhere, anytime, and any position; but that the most becoming position for prayer is kneeling upright, moreover towards the Most Blessed Sacrament. "[i]We should consider those moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament as the happiest of our lives.[/i]" - [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintj18.htm"][b]Saint John Mary Vianney[/b][/url]

Keep one’s life in proportion and do not over plan, but then again don’t cut one’s self short or under plan. Approach life in truth and in moderation, keep the body and mind strong, but most of all the soul... Love Holy Mother Church, who is our mother indeed; see in her words of morality and doctrine the echoing of her Divine Spouce, our Blessed Lord.



[i][color="#C0C0C0"]My intention in writing this is that it helps someone, so I hope that it helps you.[/color][/i]

Edited October 14, 2008 by Mr.CatholicCat

[Mr.Cat]

[quote name='Mr.CatholicCat' post='1677273' date='Oct 14 2008, 02:10 PM']Look at some of the sermons by [url="http://saints.sqpn.com/saintj18.htm"][b]Saint John Mary Vianney[/b][/url], some can be found in the book “[i][url="http://www.theworkofgod.org/library/Sermons/JdVianey/Sermons2.htm"]Sermons of the Cure of Ars[/url][/i]”. There is a particular sermon on prayer from this writing that comes to mind, it may be too staunch and blunt for some ([i]it most certainly was for me when I first read it[/i]), but it may help put things into perspective. ([url="http://www.theworkofgod.org/library/Sermons/JdVianey/Sermons2.htm#HIS%20PRAYER%20IS%20A%20LIE"]His prayer is a lie![/url])[/quote]Here is the link to the sermons...

[url="http://www.theworkofgod.org/library/Sermons/JdVianey/Sermons.htm"]http://www.theworkofgod.org/library/Sermon...ney/Sermons.htm[/url]

Edited October 14, 2008 by Mr.CatholicCat

[tinytherese]

Thanks for the help everyone! The hard part is narrowing down which saints are the really important ones to ask for intercession.

Sts. Mary, Joseph, Gemma, Blessed Pier Giorgio are the patron saints of the chastity club that I am trying to start at my secular college. I even ask for Pope John Paul II to pray for it because I am secretly dedicating it to him, since through him God gave us the gift of Theology of the Body.

Sts. Peter, Paul, and Maria Goretti: that I will be able to properly explain the club that I am starting to my loved ones at the appropriate time (specifically my dad--let's not go into details as to why,) and for one couple that is going through something seriously disturbing that I don't even want to state on phatmass, for all of those going through the same thing, and that no one will ever have to go through with it again

St. Paul: that we will grow during his year, that people going to the pilgrimages to his holy cites that they will grow by going and have safe travels there, that I may become a saint, and be a real missionary for my secular school

St. Clare of Assissi: to transform the media, channel flippers to EWTN that they may convert and be sanctified, and for what the former Fr. Francis Mary Stone is going through

Patron Saints of the Youth: that I will properly evangelize on my campus, that I may become a saint, and for rock solid Newman Centers and or FOCUS groups on all secular college and university campus (Mine doesn't have either of them. )

Our Lady of Guadalupe: for the conversion and sanctification of my family, friends, and aquaintances

Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Gianna Molla: for the pro-life movement, pro-life healing, and for a culture of life--a culture of love, authentic abstinence and natural family planning education throughout the whole world, more medical advancement so that both mother and child can live in child birth, and for this to spread throughout the whole world since not every country is even as medically advanced as us

Our Lady of the Smile and St. Therese (Patron Saints of My Blog): that what I write may always be in line with church teaching and only speak words of truth, if not then may it be corrected and may the views know about the correction so as not to fall into error, for many more viewers, may they grow from viewing it, even opening the door to conversion, that I myself will grow from what I have composed, and that I will produce top quality work

St. Therese (my confirmation saint): that all may endure and bear all spiritual trials well, that we may all practice her little way of heroic trust in the Lord, total confidence in His mercy, and love and understand our neighbors (particularly that I may do that for my dad)

Benedict (my guardian angel): that I may be led closer to Our Lord, grow spiritually, be protected from all spiritual danger, and for him to pray for the holy father (since I gave him his name)

St. Joseph: for the grieving and the loved ones of the dying that they may receive the help that they need during this troubling time for them, receive all of the graces that they need, and be converted and sanctified, for the dead that they may receive the last sacraments before death and may they convert, that if at all possible that their purgatory time may be wiped out or at least shortened, and for the release of souls from purgatory or that their time may at least be shortened, for the holy father (since Joseph was his former name,) and most especially that we may properly love Our Lady and Our Lord as he did

Our Lady: for the conversion of the world, may those in third world countries receive the help that they need, that no communist country (with all of their horrible errors) may become super powers (just look at China, it's getting more powerful,) for all of those in places where the followers are few that they will receive the encouragement, courage, and the ability to evangelize, for her to continue to ask the Most Holy Trinity to continue looking down on us in mercy, apologetics regarding Our Lady, and most of all that we may properly love her Son

The Holy Couple Sts. Joseph and Mary: in the (unlikely) even that I have a future earthly husband, to pray for him and his loved ones, and if I do not have one than may it go to someone else's future husband and his loved ones, that they may be protected from all physical and spiritual danger, that they may receive the graces that they need, be converted, sanctified, and be guided,

for true manhood and true womanhood, that we may emulate what they are meant to be, learn them, and teach them



Who to cross off from this list? They are all so important.

[Noel's angel]

You don't need to cross any of them off the list. I wouldn't like to suggest something like a rota, but you could ask for their intercession on different days. Or, simply mention them in your prayers and ask for their intercession. It is not necessary to focus on one at a time. It isn't like having to ring them up separately, they can all hear your prayers.

[philothea]

Keep them all on the list! Just spend a set amount of time (I can't say what is reasonable for you) and rotate through them. Also, that way, you don't have to hurry.

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
pray the Liturgy of the Hours. that way you can still pray for saints' intercessions.

[MissyP89]

Here's what works for me. It might fix your relationship with God and cover your favorite saints all at once.

Pray to the Lord for all of your needs FIRST and foremost. Chat with Him throughout the day, not necessarily prayers, just talking.

And when you go to do your bedtime prayers, name all those intentions to God, who is the one who has the power to answer you. Then, before you finish, say something like, "Saints [name a bunch!], I know you have a special love for these issues. Please pray for and with me for the things I've asked God, etc."

I like to ask the saints to help me make my prayer life "better". They are the closest to God, you bet they pray perfectly! So if my prayers are ineffective or selish, I ask the saints to pray to God the way I meant to, if that makes sense.

And don't stress over the rosary. Like others said, focus on as much as you can. Just a decade means just as much to our Mother. You did what you could, and that's plenty.

[Mr.Cat]

Make a personal litany...

[she_who_is_not]

I have a personal litany! Plus, I find that reading scripture before bed always puts me in a place of meaningful conversation with God, and I hope dedicates my sleep to Him as well. That way, even if some of my other devotions have fallen away during the day, I know that I can spend some "quality time" in prayer. Also, I sometimes take time on my lunch hour to meditate on the cross and passion.
These are just little ways, I eke out time for more "meditative" prayer throughout the day. Wasn't it St. Theresa who said that prayer was an intimate sharing between friends. Like Missy said a quick chat can really bring you closer together.
Peace always.

[tinytherese]

Thanks everyone this helps a lot.