Praying in public...

[Momzilla]

I'm travelling this week, and as a result I'm eating all of my meals with business colleagues, not a one of whom is Orthodox. I'm also reading "Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells", in which Gallatin emphasizes the importance to the Orthodox of sacramental acts in every day life, including prayers, fasting, etc.

The book was a reminder to me that I really need to start saying prayers before meals, and the fact that I'm travelling now got me wondering about saying prayers "publicly", i.e., in front of people of varying faiths/nonfaiths. For example, I'm attending a banquet tonight, at which I will be seated with a couple of federal judges and various lawyers and their spouses. I know that I would feel incredibly awkward saying a prayer and then crossing myself before eating under those circumstances. I also know, however, that my devotion to God should be more important than any momentary embarrassment.

How do y'all handle situations like this?

 

[Moros]

So pray silently and cross yourself. Worst than can happen is they'll assume you're a Catholic. Not a big deal.

 

[Eusebios]

MomZ
I too would recommend the short silent " Lord Jesus Christ bless this the food and drink of your servants, for you are Holy , always, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen." accompanied by crosssing. It is quick and will not draw unmerited attentionj. This is what I do in highly public arenas.
For what it's worth ( Hey, Isn't that Buffalo Springfield?)
Eusebios.

 

[Oblio]

... what's that sound, everybody look what's going down ...

 

[Iacobus]

I'm travelling this week, and as a result I'm eating all of my meals with business colleagues, not a one of whom is Orthodox. I'm also reading "Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells", in which Gallatin emphasizes the importance to the Orthodox of sacramental acts in every day life, including prayers, fasting, etc.

The book was a reminder to me that I really need to start saying prayers before meals, and the fact that I'm travelling now got me wondering about saying prayers "publicly", i.e., in front of people of varying faiths/nonfaiths. For example, I'm attending a banquet tonight, at which I will be seated with a couple of federal judges and various lawyers and their spouses. I know that I would feel incredibly awkward saying a prayer and then crossing myself before eating under those circumstances. I also know, however, that my devotion to God should be more important than any momentary embarrassment.

How do y'all handle situations like this?

Hi Momzilla

It can be a little touchy in a crowd like you'll be in. While it feels a little weird at first, I've found that with time it becomes very natural to just pray silently and then cross myself. I've never had anyone even notice I did it. It just seems an uncomfortable thing to do because I wasn't used to doing it before.

James

P.S. -- if there is some kind of communal blessing, I just pray silently underneath it, and cross myself when its done.

 

[Momzilla]

Thanks for the help, guys. James, I think you're right--probably no one will even notice. I just tend to be on the self-conscious side.

 

[Alfred M]

I was really self-conscious about crossing myself in public as well...you just kind of develop into the process. I agree about the quick silent prayer and a quick crossing. And about being thought a Catholic...on one occasion I was actually spoken to by someone after a meal and praised for my prayer at the table, but was then told I was crossing myself "backwards". lol

Alfred, lowliest of sinners

 

[Filia Mariae]

Momzilla,

I'm a little uncomfortable praying in public as well, much of which stems from the fact that I was not raised in a religious family and religion and prayer were seen as things that were to be entirely private and certainly not discussed or demonstrated in public.

It's still hard for me to pray in public, but I usually just go with a quick silent prayer and then cross myself.

 

[MariaRegina]

I was really self-conscious about crossing myself in public as well...you just kind of develop into the process. I agree about the quick silent prayer and a quick crossing. And about being thought a Catholic...on one occasion I was actually spoken to by someone after a meal and praised for my prayer at the table, but was then told I was crossing myself "backwards". lol

Alfred, lowliest of sinners

okay!

And I can always tell when we have Catholic visitors in our Temple. They genuflect before the Altar or walk on their knees to the iconostasis. However, our priest is so welcoming. He blesses them and gives them holy oil from the shrine. In many Catholic churches here in the Los Angeles area, insurance policies do not allow them to have lit candles. So we have hundreds of Catholics coming into our Temples before Divine Liturgy to light our candles (the big novena ones that last 5 to 7 days) and then they go to their Catholic Church down the street. Pray for them. They are saints too. The unsung heros of Catholicism.

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

I will be seated with a couple of federal judges

In that case, pray at full volume "Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed: but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy, holy, holy art thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us."

I have trouble praying in front of people (outside Church) cause I don't want to look like I'm trying to look pious (if that makes any sense). I feel a little like a Pharisee. But it can be done subtly, and it is a nice quiet witness to your faith.

Once my wife and I prayed before a meal at a restaurant, and a nice guy came to us and said "Way to give the glory to God!" We thought that he ways making fun of us, but then he said "No, seriously. That's great that you guys prayed before your meal! Are you saved?"

Moses

 

[geocajun]

When I am eating with my normal non-Catholic partners at work, I always cross myself, and pray silently in my head. When I eat with Catholic partners at work, I cross myself, and pray outloud with them. When eating with salesmen or others that I do not normally eat with, depending on the situation, I will sometimes omit physically crossing myself, and just bow my head and pray, still adding the words "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" in my head.
The reasons I do this are that I do not want "make a scene", and I do not want make the meal/meeting akward.

I used to have problems with praying in public altogether, because I would mentally focus more on those around me, than on my prayer, which would cause my prayer to seem like empty ritual. I am happy to say, that after lots of practice, and patience with myself, I no longer have any scruples about praying in public

 

[Eusebios]

In that case, pray at full volume "Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed: but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy, holy, holy art thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us."

\Moses

Great idea Moses!

 

[Matrona]

In that case, pray at full volume "Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed: but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy, holy, holy art thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us."

Moses

I love it!