The Our Father said again and again is the Prayer of Jesus. Is that a repetitive prayer? What about reciting the psalms over an over. Please, no Catholic bashing.
If I may offer this, when you are thinking of daily things, then take that moment to include them in your prayer time with quoting a scripture that would cover it. Thank the Lord for peace, for direction concerning those thoughts., then continue in your usual prayer routine.Do you find prayer repetitive? Do you loose concentration when praying?
Sometimes i rush my prayers without a lot of thought. This is wrong i know. I do try to concentrate but do find it hard.
For those of us who recite the Rosary (Please, no Catholic Bashing on this) i also get lost in the day etc when praying the Rosary.
I know this is all normal but i really do wish i could push aside thoughts of the day, of life and just concentrate on God alone!
Is this the same for you or not. If not, help!
The repetition of Psalm 136 proves that repetition is not what's vain. But rather, the vanity or emptiness of praying as the known Gentiles of Jesus' day did, which was to idol gods which neither lived, or heard or had power to aid the idol worshiper.The Our Father said again and again is the Prayer of Jesus. Is that a repetitive prayer? What about reciting the psalms over an over. Please, no Catholic bashing.
My assertion was that too much repetition constitutes harassment.It boils down to intent, doesn't it? Is a prayer offered out of vanity or sincerity?
Your statement that too much become harassment doesn't persuade me. I am Anglican after all. Our worship is centered around common prayer. Although our prayers vary from week to week, the entire Church prays the same prayers every week. Thousands of voices praying the same prayer. I believe there is power in those petitions, including their quantity. Did not our Lord teach us all to pray the same prayer? I reject that doing so constitutes harassment.
We asked for no Catholic Bashing.Well no catholic bashing here, but Jesus said not to use vain repetitions when praying..
Calling all repetition "vain" is Catholic bashing.I'm not seeing any Catholic bashing. This thread is actually pretty civil, considering the forum.
Great post.Thus far this discussion pretty much overlooks the meaning of an adjective which is to modify a noun. In this case "vain" modifies "repetitive prayer." The prohibition is not on repetitive prayer but on "Vain repetitive prayer," that is praying for the sake of appearances.
The Bible also says to, "pray without ceasing." Repetitive prayer as practiced in some traditions (e.g., "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner", The Rosary, etc.) is viewed as fulfillment of the admonition to pray without ceasing.
I think if you are publically doing repetitive prayer so others will see you as such a righteous, holy person you are engaging in Vain repetitive prayer. But it you are praying more modestly and privately, what you are doing is praying without ceasing.
Do you find prayer repetitive? Do you loose concentration when praying?
Sometimes i rush my prayers without a lot of thought. This is wrong i know. I do try to concentrate but do find it hard.
For those of us who recite the Rosary (Please, no Catholic Bashing on this) i also get lost in the day etc when praying the Rosary.
I know this is all normal but i really do wish i could push aside thoughts of the day, of life and just concentrate on God alone!
Is this the same for you or not. If not, help!
Do you find prayer repetitive? Do you loose concentration when praying?
Sometimes i rush my prayers without a lot of thought. This is wrong i know. I do try to concentrate but do find it hard.
For those of us who recite the Rosary (Please, no Catholic Bashing on this) i also get lost in the day etc when praying the Rosary.
I know this is all normal but i really do wish i could push aside thoughts of the day, of life and just concentrate on God alone!
Is this the same for you or not. If not, help!
With some of the video's I put together I like the image of Jesus, the Bible, along with the rosary beads...
Maybe it is Jesus that helps with the 'correct' imaging i ones mind?
How can one read the Bible without imagining the story / passages etc?
No, it's a legitimate theological belief of many denominations. It's a point that is refutable by Catholics. "Bashing" implies hate or at least an unwillingness to engage with a counter argument. But simple theological disagreement doesn't rise to that level by itself.Calling all repetition "vain" is Catholic bashing.
Well, it is always good to imagine / see the suffering that Jesus went through for us. I cannot think of anyone who reads about the Passion of Our Lord not to be struct with sorrowful images in ones head!
What is wrong in being with Christ while in prayer? What is wrong with putting an image to the prayer? Can it not be God that is putting that image there?
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