This week Brian and Joey talk about prayer.
What exactly IS prayer? Jesus told us how we should pray in the “Our Father”, but how do we incorporate memorized recitation with freestyle monologue? We cover a lot in this episode!
As always we welcome any feedback! Email Brian at bmarana@gmail.com and Joey at jmarana@gmail.com. In addition, subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-catholic-attic/id1083052009
The Marana Family 
Good one!
QUESTION: what do you guys think about the people in the congregation that purposely stand themselves out during communal prayer? Like, they say it louder, slower, or faster, so that it’s very noticeable to the other people around them. It always bothers me and it takes me out of that “zone” I try to go to when saying the prayers as a whole. It may seem trivial, but I’m wondering what your thoughts on that are.
I actually think the very effect that they are having is what they want, which is to be noticed. What they may not (or may) realize is how disruptive or distracting it is to you. You aren’t the only one that has noticed this, but at least for me I have come to try and accept these people as part of our family. Whether we like it or not. I liken it to an annoying cousin or maybe an obnoxious relative, it isn’t just tolerance but rather a compassionate acceptance (hopefully) that allows us to see them with good intention despite their actions. In that respect, it may also be their own continuing process in trying to discover “how” they should pray, and possibly feeling that if they receive some validation from others (ironically so) that they can get some feedback that they are on the right course. Maybe it’s like those dancers with no fear, who get on the dance floor and act a fool. Whether it is genuine expression or embarrassingly bad imitation of what they think dance should be like, in dance or prayer it’s easy for our practice to go unexamined.