Privacy!

crystal waters · #1 Aug 20, '12, 4:25 am

How do you find peace and privacy to pray each day? Especially at home?

Aefensang · #2 Aug 20, '12, 4:47 am

Pretend you have to make a visit to the Throne, lock the bathroom door, turn on the ventilation fan if you have one, get on your knees (bonus penance if it's an especially hard set of tiles), and do your thing. Lean against the wall or a laundry hamper if you are unstable. If your bathroom is very far from windows (i.e. street noises), the sense of peace is very beautiful.

It may sound cheeky of me to suggest this, but God is present even in rooms that we prefer not to think of as having His presence.

Put down a big towel if you are uncomfortable.

bzkoss236 · #3 Aug 20, '12, 6:29 am

The classic, kneeling next to your bed before going to sleep (or even laying in bed before you go to sleep), works great usually. Or set some time first thing in the morning. If you don't have time for prayer time, you make time. You can also make your actions prayer. Say a short quick prayer stating that a particular action (like doing housework or chores) will be your prayer for such and such a purpose and make every moment of your life prayer and praise.

UpUpAndAway · #4 Aug 20, '12, 6:36 am

At home? I don't. It just isn't possible in my home. I try to pray elsewhere as much as I can. Because I attend the earlier of two daily Masses at my church I can pray between the time it ends until the start of the second Mass, which gives me 25-35 minutes of pure, undisturbed spiritual bliss. At Tuesday evening Adoration I get about 45 minutes; that will soon increase to two hours (and change to Friday evenings). Weekends, however, are more complicated.

I recently had sole responsibility for the upkeep of the rectory garden bestowed upon me, so when I go there to work I'm always alone. Even if my priest is in the rectory, I don't bother him and he doesn't bother me. How blessed I am to have this privilege! There are few places in my world as conducive to prayer than the rectory garden

If I must pray at home I just grit my teeth and do the best I can. I like Aefensang's suggestion. Should try that sometime

Elisabeth51 · #5 Aug 20, '12, 7:37 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystal waters

How do you find peace and privacy to pray each day? Especially at home?

Being an organ student I have the keys to the church for practise----practise time and prayer time meet. At home---I get up at 4 am or I get no privacy.

I don't know about anyone else's parish priest, but ours has said more than once that although we have to keep the doors locked because of security now days, if anyone wanted to pray---day or night--to just knock on the rectory door and he'd open the church, and I know he does.

englishredrose · #6 Aug 20, '12, 8:50 am

my back garden is my best place usually though I live alone so its not quite so urgent as your situation. I am also more unusual that I seem to pray better with lots of noise thinking about the wedding (choir) on saturday they were really noisy the first lot and some how that drew me nearer to God when everyone else were finding the wedding too noisy I was able to use it.

But I don' t do worded pray well at all anyway but that another topic etc

missmorgan389 · #7 Aug 20, '12, 9:33 am

I just work with what I have. It is very challenging to pray at my house as well, but I have to make it work. I get distracted easily, but I'm sure God would understand my intention to pray.

Nelka · #8 Aug 20, '12, 1:31 pm

When I get up in the morning everyone else is still in bed so I have time for a quick prayer otherwise it is at the end of the day when they are all in bed again.

**AlanFromWichita** · #9 Aug 20, '12, 1:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elisabeth51

Being an organ student I have the keys to the church for practise----practise time and prayer time meet. At home---I get up at 4 am or I get no privacy.

I don't know about anyone else's parish priest, but ours has said more than once that although we have to keep the doors locked because of security now days, if anyone wanted to pray---day or night--to just knock on the rectory door and he'd open the church, and I know he does.

I'm lucky because I have a key, and go in usually once a week or so to practice the organ, usually late at night when it's dark and mystical.

At home, my son had an idea. His apartment was hard to get privacy from the neighbors even, like he could hear them if he was in his living room or his bedroom. So he actually emptied a quiet walk-in closet and put a comfy chair in it, so no he literally goes into his "inner room" and closes the door, to read about his faith and pray.

Alan

dje101 · #10 Aug 20, '12, 3:42 pm

I work from 11a-11p, so by time I get home, everyone is already asleep. I get to sit out in the living room and watch EWTN, read, and pray all I want without interruption (usually). If someone happens to get up while I'm doing my thing, I just take it to my room and do my scripture reading a prayer there.

Sometimes, I'll just leave the house and go to a local parish with my brother. We both need quiet time and prayer time. There's nothing wrong with just saying, "hey, I'm going to the church for a bit."

Aggies08 · #11 Aug 20, '12, 5:35 pm

I know a few people with devotional closets.

Personally, I will pray in bed at night, or I just go to church; we are lucky enough to have 24/7 exposition. I sing devotional songs at home, though