Your Prayer Schedule?

[morostheos]

Mel, thank you so much for starting this thread! I have been stumped with the same question recently, and this thread is so helpful!

[morostheos]

oops, I was so happy to read everyone else's responses that I completely forgot to add my own!

I'm still trying to figure out what works best, but I try to do either morning or evening prayer each day (both is a really good day!) and then a meditation on the Gospel. I got a book, called [url="http://www.catholicfreeshipping.com/Products/cfs_mymeongobyre.html"]"My Meditation on the Gospel" by Rev. James E. Sullivan[/url]. It's been a good starting place for my meditation time. My prayer life had kind of disintegrated into basically nothing, so now I'm trying to build it back up again. I was putting my main focus into LOTH, but I decided to switch and make sure I got in a meditation time every day instead.

I think I found a priest to be my spiritual director, too, so hopefully I'll be getting a little more guidance on how to move forward from here.

[Sister Rose Therese]

I can't remember the exact quote but St. Teresa thought that some time in mental prayer was an absolute necessity for the spiritual life.

When I was discerning I made sure that I read from the bible, a meditative reading, and prayed the rosary every day. I had a few other prayers/ chaplets that I prayed regularly. I went to daily Mass and adoration whenever I could. Sometimes I prayed evening prayer from the liturgy of the hours.

I have seen the Magnificat prayer book. It looks quite good. It had a shortened version of morning and evening prayer, I think, and it also had the Mass readings and had a short commentary on the readings for the day. If I remember right, their website shows samples.

[Nunsense]

[quote name='Sister Rose Therese' date='06 January 2010 - 03:55 PM' timestamp='1262753714' post='2030654']
I can't remember the exact quote but St. Teresa thought that some time in mental prayer was an absolute necessity for the spiritual life.

When I was discerning I made sure that I read from the bible, a meditative reading, and prayed the rosary every day. I had a few other prayers/ chaplets that I prayed regularly. I went to daily Mass and adoration whenever I could. Sometimes I prayed evening prayer from the liturgy of the hours.

I have seen the Magnificat prayer book. It looks quite good. It had a shortened version of morning and evening prayer, I think, and it also had the Mass readings and had a short commentary on the readings for the day. If I remember right, their website shows samples.
[/quote]

Oh yes, Sister, absolutely 100% agreement with that one! While a lot of prayer is talking to God, mental prayer is listening for God, and it feeds the soul in a totally different way. Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament can also include mental prayer, although some people like to read or pray the Rosary at this time.

My favorite time is just being alone with the Beloved in a state of loving attentiveness and letting Him speak to my heart.

[melporcristo]

[quote name='morostheos' date='05 January 2010 - 08:56 PM' timestamp='1262750189' post='2030592']


I think I found a priest to be my spiritual director, too, so hopefully I'll be getting a little more guidance on how to move forward from here.
[/quote]

Yay!!

Yes, I called a priest friend for guidance last week and he gave me the smack down. He basically said I was "barely getting by". Setting aside feeling sorry for myself, I realized how true it has been! And its easy for me to just turn around and blame something silly like my secular job (barista at a cafe & librarian at a 2nd chance high school).

I know many of us have different aspects and ways of praying ... but I'm happy you all are posting because it helps us persevere. Also, Someone mentioned praying in groups is very helpful - AGREED!! Plus, I think there's a partial indulgence (at least if you pray a rosary in a group of 2 or more).

Edited January 6, 2010 by melporcristo

[Jennifer G.]

Prayer in the morning asking God to help me throughout the day, and one in the evening as a brief act of contrition and praying for family. I also pray the Rosary daily before bed, and at times I meditate on Scripture. If I had time go to Daily Mass, and daily Eucharistic Adoration, I would. I'd also try to squeeze in some of the LOTH, but since I work, and also go to bi-weekly faithsharing/Rosary groups, weekly Bible Study, and other group study sessions (the new Mass translations, comparing the Old and New Testaments about Jesus founding the Church) from one of our priests, it's kind of hard to fit that all in.

[Totus Tuus]

The book called "The Manual of Prayers" has a very beautiful set of morning and evening prayers that are shorter and less complicated than the LotH. I used them for a while.

[holly.o]

One prayer I love - & try to do every night before literally laying down to sleep - is the Chaplet of the Sacred Heart:

[url="http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/chaplets/chap55.htm"]chaplet[/url]

It's a prayer Jesus can't refuse, & I believe it has opened my heart to be more in love with His Sacred Heart.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Sister Rose Therese' date='05 January 2010 - 09:55 PM' timestamp='1262753714' post='2030654']I have seen the Magnificat prayer book. It looks quite good. It had a shortened version of morning and evening prayer, I think, and it also had the Mass readings and had a short commentary on the readings for the day. If I remember right, their website shows samples.[/quote]
though i only use the Magnificat book for Mass readings and the reflections, they also include essays, blessings, prayer at night, hymn of the month, and always a painting and reflection on the painting in the back. it is well worth the $6 every month (i think it's less if you have a subscription).

[quote name='melporcristo' date='05 January 2010 - 11:29 PM' timestamp='1262759369' post='2030701'] Also, Someone mentioned praying in groups is very helpful - AGREED!! Plus, I think there's a partial indulgence (at least if you pray a rosary in a group of 2 or more).
[/quote]
inviting the saints (particularly your patron saints) and the angels to pray with you is praying in a group.

[TeresaBenedicta]

I'm finding, whilst at home, that time doesn't seem to be much of a factor as to whether or not I pray regularly. At school I have a fairly consistent prayer life that, at it's bare minimum, includes daily Mass and a holy hour. Despite being an extremely busy college student.

But when I'm home, when I have all the time in the world, I find that I hardly pray at all. Most days it's [i]either[/i] Mass or a holy hour. Sometimes neither. I don't even get in the LOTH most days. Laziness, I suppose. There's no real excuse.

[morostheos]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' date='06 January 2010 - 01:33 PM' timestamp='1262799236' post='2030922']
I'm finding, whilst at home, that time doesn't seem to be much of a factor as to whether or not I pray regularly. At school I have a fairly consistent prayer life that, at it's bare minimum, includes daily Mass and a holy hour. Despite being an extremely busy college student.

But when I'm home, when I have all the time in the world, I find that I hardly pray at all. Most days it's [i]either[/i] Mass or a holy hour. Sometimes neither. I don't even get in the LOTH most days. Laziness, I suppose. There's no real excuse.
[/quote]

I find the same thing - the more free time I have, the harder it is for me to get my prayers done. Strange, isn't it?

[Nunsense]

[quote name='morostheos' date='07 January 2010 - 09:01 AM' timestamp='1262815271' post='2031130']
I find the same thing - the more free time I have, the harder it is for me to get my prayers done. Strange, isn't it?
[/quote]


That is why a schedule is so important, even on days off! I usually pray the night before I go to sleep, that God will help me get up in the morning to get to 7am Mass. If I can get there, then everything seems to fall into place a little easier after that. I can stay for Adoration after Mass, and pray the Office, and the whole day just seems to fit into a routine better from that point on.

I would highly recommend trying to get up at the same time every day, with perhaps a day of rest (like the Lord God!) to sleep in, but even on the rest day, to have a set routine for saying prayers. Nothing helps like getting into a habit!

[Sister Rose Therese]

Oh, I completely forgot about the prayer groups! How could I do that?! I did participate a few prayer groups regularly.
Yes, praying in community is very important to your spiritual life. Besides the increased effectiveness of praying with others, the others is the group provide encouragement, someone to be accountable to, sometimes a little admonition. They also give you a way to practice charity, patience...

And, yes, having a schedule is very important. It takes discipline to make time for prayer. And you know how it is... when you start slacking on the discipline in one area, everything else seems to slide down that slippery slope with it.

I can't remember who said this to me but... "If you want something to get done, give it to the busiest person."

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='Sister Rose Therese' date='07 January 2010 - 10:48 AM' timestamp='1262875706' post='2031728']
I can't remember who said this to me but... "If you want something to get done, give it to the busiest person."
[/quote]

That explains a few things...

[Starets]

Our Horarium for weekdays:

3:40AM Rise
4:AM Vigils, then breakfast
5:45AM Lauds, followed immediately by Mass and breakfast for guests
7:50 Work Meeting, then private study
8:45 Terce, followed by work meeting for guests, followed by work
1:PM Sext, followed by lunch, then personal time or [s]naptime[/s] Horizontal Lectio
3:30 None
4PM to 5PM Lectio
5:20PM Silent Prayer in Church
5:50PM Vespers, followed by supper
7:10PM Chapter Meeting
7:30PM Compline, followed by Grand Silence

[stlmom]

Horizontal Lectio, is that a Benedictine specialty?

[melporcristo]

[quote name='nunsense' date='06 January 2010 - 03:52 PM' timestamp='1262818360' post='2031186']
That is why a schedule is so important, even on days off! I usually pray the night before I go to sleep, that God will help me get up in the morning to get to 7am Mass. If I can get there, then everything seems to fall into place a little easier after that. I can stay for Adoration after Mass, and pray the Office, and the whole day just seems to fit into a routine better from that point on.

I would highly recommend trying to get up at the same time every day, with perhaps a day of rest (like the Lord God!) to sleep in, but even on the rest day, to have a set routine for saying prayers. Nothing helps like getting into a habit!
[/quote]



TOTALLY agreed. But I'm not saying I have such a set schedule that follow it to a minute, but after my 2nd year teaching, I noticed my room mate always had an agenda book with her. I kind of made fun of her with it but when I kept forgetting things, I realized how important it is to have one. For a while, after morning prayer, I used to go over my agenda of things I had to do that day and go over them with Christ. That might be something I have to do again since this is the 3rd time I've been late for something like daily Mass or work. EEk! But good thing Our Lord understands!

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Staretz' date='07 January 2010 - 12:17 PM' timestamp='1262884626' post='2031794']
Our Horarium for weekdays:

3:40AM Rise
4:AM Vigils, then breakfast
5:45AM Lauds, followed immediately by Mass and breakfast for guests
7:50 Work Meeting, then private study
8:45 Terce, followed by work meeting for guests, followed by work
1:PM Sext, followed by lunch, then personal time or [s]naptime[/s] Horizontal Lectio
3:30 None
4PM to 5PM Lectio
5:20PM Silent Prayer in Church
5:50PM Vespers, followed by supper
7:10PM Chapter Meeting
7:30PM Compline, followed by Grand Silence
[/quote]

Strange question, but do you eat at all between 5 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.? It just seems like a looong stretch between meals...

[Starets]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' date='08 January 2010 - 05:39 PM' timestamp='1262993947' post='2032710']
Strange question, but do you eat at all between 5 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.? It just seems like a looong stretch between meals...
[/quote]
We can get a piece of fruit from the kitchen if we want to and besides some people wait till after mass to have brekky

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Staretz' date='08 January 2010 - 07:07 PM' timestamp='1262995665' post='2032717']
We can get a piece of fruit from the kitchen if we want to and besides some people wait till after mass to have brekky
[/quote]

Ahh, claro. Thanks!