Where do you go to be alone with God?

chozometroid

This is a two part question...

I was curious about the churches of some of the posters on here. This was more a curiousity about the Catholic church, but the question is for everyone.

Do they have their doors open most hours of the week?

I haven't personally had the experience of going into a church any day/time of the week, just to sit and pray. I do like my quiet alone time with God, but rarely have it. Most churches I do know of are open only during regular scheduled services, and possibly have daily office hours, but I'm not sure if the sanctuary is open.

So where do you go to be alone with god?

I don't believe that one must be in a church to be in God's presence. It's just the atmosphere and general purpose of the church that makes it desirable for this type of encounter. I enjoy being outside next to nature and having some time to reflect and think on the things of God, and talk to Him.
I'm still planning on having some "closet" time where I will "pray to my Father which is in secret" like the Bible says. That would be a good quiet place.

Esmeralda34

Hi Chozometroid

Preferably by the sea or walking in the mountains is where I find most solace. However, currently living in a city rules that out for me.

My grandfather is dying with very little left in him. I'm not in my home county and wanted some quiet time in a church. Yet I found yesterday that the church at the back of Grafton St, St. Teresa's I think had closed it's doors when I went by just after 6.30.

I am so upset and heartbroken, and though not someone that would be considered a "Holy Joe" would have given anything to talk to a priest. Still would... Yet any Catholic church I find myself in, is empty of kindly priests. Perhaps a confession box is the only place to talk to them directly these days?

Es

JimiTime

Immersed in his beautiful creation is my 'ideal'. Sea, mountains, lakes, rivers. The further away from mans monstrosities the better.

PDN

I like to pray while walking my dog down country lanes.

I bet the dog wonders who I'm talking to!

Turtwig

PDN wrote: »

I like to pray while walking my dog down country lanes.

I bet the dog wonders who I'm talking to!

I don't think he does(...ooh that's an intersting topic for another thread )
I think he tries to enjoy every smell:P

kelly1

chozometroid wrote: »

Do they have their doors open most hours of the week?

From the churches I've seen, I think most close around 6pm or later if you're lucky.

chozometroid wrote: »

So where do you go to be alone with god?

I go to my bedroom to pray and to a Church when I can. Or when I'm out walking alone, I have a chat with the Lord about my joys and sorrows.

chozometroid wrote: »

I don't believe that one must be in a church to be in God's presence. It's just the atmosphere and general purpose of the church that makes it desirable for this type of encounter.

For Catholics, a church is a special place because of the physical presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle.

homer911

Protestant churches would not have a tradition of being open outside the hours of formal services, although recently my church experimented with two weeks opening at lunch time.

In this day and age with limited clergy and increased valuables in churches (sound systems, projectors, computers, musical instruments), it seems less likely to happen.

Find a park, walk by the sea, an empty office, or failing all else, the toilet stall!

pikachucheeks

I think you can be alone with God anywhere - it doesn't matter where you are!

I suppose for me, it would be my room. It's a private space for me, where I can be alone with my thoughts and speak to God.

prinz

Esmeralda34 wrote: »

... Yet any Catholic church I find myself in, is empty of kindly priests. Perhaps a confession box is the only place to talk to them directly these days?

Es

Esmeralda, try to get in contact with your local priest, or indeed any priest and ask for the time for a chat. Priests don't hang about in the Church all day because they have a parish and parishoners to care for Generally speaking they'd be only too happy to organise a time to meet you for a cup of tea and a chat.

As for me I don't really have a special place, in the city too so it's a bit difficult to get away at times. I love being out by the sea or down the country up a mountain, but I also love getting lost in my own little world walking down the street in Dublin ( apologies to anyone I've walked into it happens quite a lot - actually met a nice priest like that, God works in mysterious ways ). And from time to time I go into churches during the day if I'm out and about during the week. I love that church on Clarendon Street, such a contrast to Grafton St... just silence.. there's a church on the quays, (not sure which one but it's just down from Bachelor's Walk) I think it's the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, that's a perfect getaway for a few minutes.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Fanny Cradock

Esmeralda34 wrote: »

Hi Chozometroid

Preferably by the sea or walking in the mountains is where I find most solace. However, currently living in a city rules that out for me.

My grandfather is dying with very little left in him. I'm not in my home county and wanted some quiet time in a church. Yet I found yesterday that the church at the back of Grafton St, St. Teresa's I think had closed it's doors when I went by just after 6.30.

I am so upset and heartbroken, and though not someone that would be considered a "Holy Joe" would have given anything to talk to a priest. Still would... Yet any Catholic church I find myself in, is empty of kindly priests. Perhaps a confession box is the only place to talk to them directly these days?

Es

Terribly sorry to here this, ES.

Churches of most denominations generally have some form of daytime and afternoon activity/ worship running throughout the week. For example, if you stick around at the end of the weekday Eucharist (in my experience there is usually one at lunchtime) I'm sure the priest will be happy to hear your concerns if you loiter at the back and explain your need. Aside from this, it might be best to simply check the timetable posted online or outside the building to see when the next event is going on - then you nab the priest! I pray that you'll be strengthened through this time.

As for the OP, I generally find my moments with God to be in nature and in an empty church. The times where I slow down, power down the laptop and turn off the iPod and just take some moments to stop and think about God. However, the rather frenetic pace of life means that I sometimes find it difficult to disengage from daily worries, shopping lists, appointments, etc., etc. Lately I've also been living in countries that don't really do the whole "Christian thing" and I've found these moments to have become a rarity. Still, things are on the up, and I'm spoilt for choices now!

postcynical

chozometroid wrote: »

This is a two part question...

I was curious about the churches of some of the posters on here. This was more a curiousity about the Catholic church, but the question is for everyone.

Do they have their doors open most hours of the week?

I haven't personally had the experience of going into a church any day/time of the week, just to sit and pray. I do like my quiet alone time with God, but rarely have it. Most churches I do know of are open only during regular scheduled services, and possibly have daily office hours, but I'm not sure if the sanctuary is open.

So where do you go to be alone with god?

I don't believe that one must be in a church to be in God's presence. It's just the atmosphere and general purpose of the church that makes it desirable for this type of encounter. I enjoy being outside next to nature and having some time to reflect and think on the things of God, and talk to Him.
I'm still planning on having some "closet" time where I will "pray to my Father which is in secret" like the Bible says. That would be a good quiet place.

For your bolded question, I still prefer the peacefulness of a midweek church. If there is silent adoration in progress then so much the better. Even if others are around I feel this a very powerful and concentrated form of prayer.

Most of the time though, I like praying when walking to work or especially if I can get into the countryside or by the sea for a stroll. These are more prayers of thanks and wonder at the beauty of God's creation and how lucky I am to be able to enjoy it than concentrated petitions. It's interesting how many posters here enjoy God through and in nature.

Sadly most of the days are so busy that it's nice just to be able to show my hands to God or say a quick our Father as a breather from work. But it's these days that make the joy of a concentrated period of prayer so intense.

OP - Many Catholic churches are open all day or at least until about 6, in the cities and in smaller towns. Try and find a church with an evening Mass, perhaps they're more likely to be open.

PDN

chozometroid wrote: »

This is a two part question...

I was curious about the churches of some of the posters on here. This was more a curiousity about the Catholic church, but the question is for everyone.

Do they have their doors open most hours of the week?

For my own church it would be horrendously expensive in winter to heat a large building for the sake of very few people popping in during weekdays. So, we have set aside a few rooms in our offices as a Prayer Centre and people pray there each weekday from 9am to 1pm.

Stones85

I like sitting in an empty church........ just me and JC and silence....... nice time to think about things past and look to the future. Nice way to make an important decision.