Are Christians suppose to pray according to Canonical Hours?

Thanks Floss. I will wait… (I am curious though, what made you say ‘no’ so quickly).

Not to stray off the topic too much but, when a person prays they are communing with God, scripture says,” as a friend talking with friend.” The more you talk to Him, not with a wish list, the better your relationship will be. Anytime I’ve stopped praying, reading my bible, attending church, singing praises, my life always feels empty and spiritually I find myself drifting further and further away from God. A regular time for prayer at home in your “prayer closet” will serve to enrich and strengthen your faith in and trust of God. Jesus always took time to pray, especially in the morning. But He did take advantage of every opportunity He had to give thanks, and pray to the Father at other times during the day. Take your cue from Jesus.

God gave us the Holy Bible, to show us his will. Everything one needs to know, is in it. We cannot truly know God, without reading it. We can have a relationship with him, in the spirit, but, he also wants one with us, in the word. So that we can not be deceived. Saturate yourself with it, it will be your guiding light, in the middle of the darkness. Your manna, when you are hungry. Your friend, when you are lonely. Your road map, to the promised land. Your wisdom. Many have given their lives that it may be available to you.

Blessings…

By the looks of it, the ‘NO’ camp is leading! Would anyone agree that the Canonical Hours had (have) in some way a good influence on Christian worship? I, personally, have had deeply emotional experiences during liturgical musical celebrations. Notably the Matthaus Passion by J.S. Bach, or the older ‘Magnificats’ (Kuhnau, Monteverdi). Would these rigid structures fail in bringing one closer to God?

NO Im a christian and there is nothing in the bible that says you have to pray for a certain amount of time there is nothing that says you have to pray at all.

My long(er) answer is that:

Are we SUPPOSED to?: No

CAN we if we find it helpful?: Yes, so long as it remains a meaningful pattern of true worship. There’s a risk it can become a meaningless ritual, but at its best, a pattern of prayer shared by a community of the faithful (e.g. a monastary, convent, dispersed order of lay people or an entire Church), can be a very valid way of meeting God in prayer.

The hours aren’t what counts. It’s the freedom to come to God and the desire to do that which matter.

I like the other answers you’ve been given. I’d also like to hear from people who have experience of prayer at certain times of the day, as I believe they may be able to speak about its richness in their life with God.

Thank you all! I have learned some very interesting things here… (last post)

nope I think just the muslums do that

Are they billable hours??? lol. Actually nowhere in scripture does it dictate when to pray, as for 5:00 p.m., or whatever. There are however a multitude of scriptures on the subject of prayer. Take a concordence and look it up.

We have Canon hours? I got A rifle that sounds like a Canon but I’m Not going to Fire it a lot just for prayer. . . . Bullets cost money.

I understand that but what does it have to do with Canonical Hours?

Wow! Short answer: no.

Now wait for the long answers…

The Bible says ‘Pray without ceasing’.

it isnt commanded in the word of god ANYWHERE that prayer has to come at certain hours and minutes during the day. The whole point of christianity is having an open relationship with God. And Open Communication. We pray as we are talking to a friend… Do you talk to your friends at only certain times during the day.. scheduled… etc..? so.. thats why… hope this helped.

Good thing I’m not Roman Catholic. . . the Nun’s would want to string me up. . .

BIG NO