Is it Possible to Pray Too Much?

How much prayer is too much prayer?

Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we will ever have. But what about when our devotions clash with our responsibilities to our loved ones? Or attendance to other obligations?

Today, Fr. Mike tells us what it means to "pray without ceasing"... and what it doesn't mean.

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[SydneyCarton]

This made me realize that I spend more time praying for my grandfather than I do seeing him. Visiting him more often would fulflfill at least part of that prayer because I know he enjoys it when I visit him, especially when I bring chinese food.

[mikebuckley]

You can’t pray too much, pray while you work
Pray while you fulfill all your obligations
God will help you do everything better
When studying for my exams I used to pray my study notes to God and tell him all about what I was learning.

[michaelhensel]

I never thought feeding the poor as a prayer itself and doing Gods work. That’s awesome. I always thought of it as just doing his work.

[vincentcorso]

I struggled with this concept

I use to get angry when my kids would interrupt my prayer time I. The morning

Then I thought is that how God would want me to react to my children who do know know any better

So now I embrace when they interrupt me and bring Jesus to them in that moment . I break up my routine and instead of a vocal or meditative prayer I make it a living prayer

Wouldn’t you know they don’t interrupt me as much anymore. I leave it in Gods hands

[teresaromero]

Every time I tried praying, I’d get interrupted by a family member. I decided to wake up an hour before everyone else to have private and uninterrupted time with my Lord. I love praying when everyone else is sleeping. I feel my Lord’s presence and I thank Mother Mary every time, for bringing me closer to Jesus. Thank you Father Mike. This hit the spot.!

[trevajana]

Reminds me of something I recently read about Saint Phillip Neri:

More important for him was a commitment to be generous with his time and energy. “If we wish to help our neighbour, ” he taught, “we must reserve for ourselves neither place, nor hour, nor time.” When one of the fathers of the Congregation refused to answer the door to those who came for confession or alms, because he was saying his prayers, St Philip would have none of it. He admonished him and the other fathers and brothers that when they were called for, they were to come immediately, no matter if they were praying or anything else, for in doing so they would be “leaving Christ for Christ.”

[dzevelalucy]

Last Tuesday I was preparing to go for morning mass when my line manager called that I go cover up for my colleague at a client's house. I told God that I was preparing to go for mass and since I have to go give my vulnerable client her personal wash, I'll go and do it with all the love and happiness that I could have in church.

[melissastrahl]

This is a very good point, Father. My daughter asked me to entertain the baby while she made dinner. I had planned to go to mass but she forgot. So I played with the baby, because my daughter is expecting…I figured the Lord would understand. Obligations as Nana are important to me but I also make time for the Lord—I do my best.

[erin_the_extra]

I’m so glad you made this video! I have religious OCD/scrupulosity and it has completely taken hold of my mind for over a decade. Every time I try to talk to someone about it they always say “oh no it’s not possible to pray too much, prayer is a good thing!” But I have compulsive mental prayers that I have to say sometimes 10+ times per minute just to feel okay. It’s really unhealthy and more related to anxiety than an actual relationship with God. I’m working on healing my relationship with prayer, because it’s such a beautiful thing. My brain just happened to latch onto it as a compulsion. So it’s nice to have a metric as to what constitutes “too much” prayer that I can remind myself of to get me out of a compulsive prayer cycle, because my compulsions take up a lot of time and energy and definitely keep me from fulfilling other obligations to the best of my ability. Now I can remind myself of that and hopefully soothe my anxiety about not saying the compulsive prayers as much!

[tutyga]

Ora et Labora. Most of the time, we can pray and work. But definitely there are times, when we need to give undivided attention to pray and to perform our obligations.

The problem arises when other members of the family don't share our faith nor do they understand our need to focus our being with the Lord.

[TruthWillprevail]

Jesus is coming back soon. Heavenly Father please keep me and my boys same from evil. Please pray for me and my children. I’m so discouraged. I’ve had people come against me that do not know me. And say my testimony isn’t real!! But OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS the truth and my heart! Prayers are all I truly NEED and want. Jesus hear my prayers. I still trust in you and will keep my faith even though it is so very difficult at this time. I’m constantly faced with hardships and can barely support my two sons and myself. After losing my job for declining the vaccine. I’m a single mom and I’m discouraged. Both of my children are autistic. I am working so please don’t pity me. I’m just not making enough to get by. I know God doesn’t give us more than we can handle I will keep faith even though I truly want to give up. Jesus hear my prayers and keep me and my kids safe.

[Bigchilezlife]

Yesterday I had a bad day that I don’t get a interview for a job for 5 weeks and month but blessed be God... I got a interview! And I hope god can put Bernadette in my path for my future holy wife and love. I love her ❤

[heidi]

I think saint sister Faustina Kowalska in her diary wrote, that one day she prayed 1000 Hail Maries but not missing out any of her daily duties. So, she made an emphasis on both: prayers and duties.

[carolined]

Pray in the morning to start the day and ask God for guidance and protection. In the evening to thank for the day no matter what.

[christinehenley]

To much time serving the local parish or things like KofC, diocesan counsel, the deaconate formation, etc..is an understatement in our house growing up. Oddly enough the Diocese awarded the sacrifices we had to make and TOTALLY abandoned my Deacon father.
I wonder sometimes why I'm Catholic, however, humans didn't establish Christianity, Jesus Christ did.
It has totally crushed his heart.

[gilcostello]

I don't know anyone in the world, digital and otherwise, who is a better catechist than Fr. Mike. I claim that as a man who has been more critical of the clerical class than anyone else in the world, while still abiding in the morals/faith and dogmatic/doctrinal teachings of the Church. Fr. Mike in true humility probably doesn’t realize he is a saintly man (if not a saint, certainly a saint in the making); and it occurred to me that every saint, and every saint in the making, always reside firmly in the concrete world, not getting lost in the weeds of academic high abstraction. He is truly a gift from God.

[samrashe]

I pray at anytime. I pray working in the yard or just outside or at work even while I'm driving. But I still pay attention to my wife and children

[skyelord]

Pray a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus starting June 7, with the intention of a rained-out baseball game on June 16 in Los Angeles, and the conversion of sinners.

[CWfNv]

Yes! Very good thoughts. Quality time with family is necessary, because it won't always be available. God Bless.

[larrylim]

Understand what pag without ceasing really means. Use God's gift of discernment and intellect to identify the right balance. Set a well planned regimen on all your daily activities. Stick to it and update periodically. Pray, fast and do charity works to offer for your petition in discerning the right balance. Congrats.